Ingersoll Rand has teased that their “Next-Gen” cordless power system is coming soon.
Judging from the image, which Ingersoll Rand posted via social media, this looks to be a 40V Max cordless power tool platform, presumably in an 18V/20V Max form factor.
Will the new Ingersoll Rand IQ40 cordless system replace their existing IQ20 system? What about backwards compatibility?
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Is IR IQ40 a 40V Max-class system in a 18V/20V Max form factor, a la Makita XGT or Metabo HPT MultiVolt?
This seems like an interesting development, but to be honest I haven’t thought about Ingersoll Rand cordless power tools in a long time. I’m sure there have been some developments, but I haven’t heard about any new IQ12 tools since 2017 and IQ20 tools since 2016. I eventually assumed they gave up.
Here, it looks to me like Ingersoll Rand simply took one of their IQ20 20V impact wrenches and batteries, and slapped IQ40 and 40V branding on it.
I found images of an IQ40 battery and charger on Ingersoll Rand’s website – shown above is how it compares to their IQ20 battery and charger.
So, the IQ40 battery does appear to be a 10-cell battery that’s simply configured for 36V/40V [Max] operation as opposed to 18V/20V [Max].
10 Li-ion battery cells can be connected in a 5-series/2-parallel configuration to deliver 18V, or in a 10-series configuration to deliver 36V. Energy storage is going to be the same for 5S2P and 10S battery packs utilizing the same cells, and max power delivery per cell also remains the same.
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I suppose this counts as “next-gen,” but so far IR doesn’t look to be doing anything new.
It also does not look like Ingersoll Rand is using larger form factor cylindrical Li-ion battery cells, or stacked pouch-style cells similar to the ones Dewalt PowerStack, Flex Stacked Lithium, or upcoming Milwaukee Tool batteries are based on.
Looks can be deceiving, but what’s shown in Ingersoll Rand’s “Next-Gen” IQ40 cordless power tool teaser doesn’t appear to be based on next-generation tool or battery tech to me.
IR seems to have been largely idle for too many years, letting competitors such as Dewalt, Milwaukee, and tool truck brands grab a foothold in automotive maintenance, heavy equipment, and other industries.
Will Ingersoll Rand’s Next-Gen IQ40 cordless tools push back on competitors’ ingress into traditional air tool territory?
More than 3 weeks ago, Ingersoll Rand captioned their teaser image on social media with:
More rugged, more powerful, twice as fast. The next generation is about to be introduced.
What do you think is our next innovation?
Surprisingly, Ingersoll Rand’s social media post – the only place they shared news about this IQ40 line of tools so far – did not receive a single guess. Their sole comment so far is just a series of emojis.
What do you think is their next innovation? Do you care?
P.S. If anyone from IR is reading this, it has been too many years – I’d love for any info or insights you’d be willing to provide!
Update
Update 9/12/2022: I heard from an Ingersoll Rand representative today, who informed me that their “IQ40” teaser actually refers to a new “QX Series cordless torque multiplier” tool.
Tim
I ran the IR 19.2 Lithium jobs with the swivel pod batteries and at the time they were the best tools money could buy.
I had one of the 20v impacts and hammerheads and same.
I’m sure they’re not playing games with their 40v system but their user base is much different than you’d think they are.
Stuart
Absolutely. I consider IR to typically be a no-compromise brand, but they’ve been very slow to innovate in the cordless space.
I tested some of their tools before, and they were superb. The only problem is, IR hasn’t expanded their cordless lineups very much, and their tools became outdated fast while competitors innovated at a fast pace and continue to do so.
From what I’ve seen, IR cordless tools mainly appeal to IR air tool users. However, Milwaukee Tool and other cordless power tool brands have also been targeting IR air tool users with much success.
IQ40 might be next-gen for IR, but last-gen or two-gens-ago for other brands.
For instance, if the battery is built with 18650 Li-ion cells, what about 21700 or stacked pouches?
As mentioned, IR’s social media post had just a single emoji-filled comment, and no other guesses or obvious enthusiasm. Replace IR branding with Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, or even Bosch, and how many answers would a similar post receive to the “what do you think is our next innovation?” question?
IR last sent a cordless tool announcement PR to me in 2017, and then 2016 before that. How often do Milwaukee and Dewalt come out with new impacts and other automotive tools to replace traditional air-powered tools? Then you have all kinds of auto maintenance and general purpose worklights, and similar.
Even if an IQ40 tool is the best tool money can buy at launch, how long will that be true for?
That makes all this even the more interesting to me, and why I wish someone at IR were available to answer Q’s.
Craig
I’m a Automotive mechanic. I use Bosch and Ingersoll Rand 12/18/20v power tools exclusively. I’ve owned my IR 12v and 20v tools since 2015. I recently bought Bosch’s new 1/2 impact and core 8.0/6.3/4.0 21750 batteries instead of Ingersolls new brushless impacts because of the batteries!
I have Bosch lithium batteries from 2010 that work fine. Ingersoll Rand hasn’t innovated or revamped Thier batteries since going from the 3.0ah to 5.0. and the batteries are expensive! Those average batteries hold back the potential of their excellent tools.
Im not investing any more into IR cordless until I see them doing the same!
Mike
IR, makes good industrial stuff. But batt tools nobody cares about IR.
Franck B.
I thought IR cordless tools were mainly used in factories? So their users are very demanding.
Franck B.
By “demanding” I meant for innovation, not for reliability or performance.
Stuart
It depends on the tools.
Their air tools are/were popular it auto garages and in heavy equipment maintenance, industries where cordless tools have been increasingly winning users over.
MM
Correct, they certainly had (and maybe still have?) a large presence in the auto industry. I still use my 20+ year old composite bodied IR pneumatic impact wrench from time to time, as well as a pair of die grinders. And it seems that many of their cordless tools are focused on that industry too. I have recently kicked around the idea of buying into their cordless platform specifically for the bandfile sander and their “body saw”, both of which are also targeted at the auto industries.
I do have the Makita LXT bandfile, and it works great, but it does have one big disadvantage: it uses an uncommon size of sanding belt, 3/8″ x 21″. The 21″ length is the oddball. 13″ and 18″ lengths are far more commonly available, and in better quality. Any auto body supply place has things like Norton Blaze or 3M Cubitron belts in those sizes and they honestly stomp the snot out of the Makita branded belts. The Ingersoll sander uses the 13″ belt making these an option where they just aren’t for the Makita.
TonyT
Hmm, Ryobi 18V band file uses 1/2″ x 18″.
MM
That 18″ length is much more common than Makita’s 21″ .
Franck B.
I also meant “aren’t demanding”. Sheesh, time for another keyboard on my laptop.
Jason. W
i work for a automotive manufacturer. Our trim lines use almost exclusively IR brand impact guns. Any job that requires a specific torque will either use IR or Panasonic. outside of the factory I have never once seen a IR tool.
I can say with certainty that these IR tools can take a daily beating and keep performing. But when they do go, they require a good level of skill to be able to fix.
Kevin
IR is one of those brands that’s a little mysterious to me. The only thing I really know about them is they’re presence exists mostly in the industrial space and they moved headquarters from Bermuda to Ireland for tax purposes. Just speculating here but I don’t think they care about competing with the big 3 cordless brands. It appears they’ve carved out their niche and are content stating there; I base this off their product portfolio and marketing campaigns (or lack thereof) – they must have a very modest marketing budget compared to the aforementioned, whose marketing budgets are sky high. I just believe it would be hard for them to enter that arena. The prosumer marketplace is already cutthroat and they wouldn’t have much of a leg to stand on. The portfolio of cordless tools alone is extremely lackluster (they have no variety). I don’t want to come off as critical though. I wouldn’t criticize that business strategy in the slightest. They have a couple of things they do, and they do them well. There’s space for that mentality in virtually any marketplace, wether you’re selling tools, or kitchen appliances. I’m sure it has potential so long as they don’t drop the ball on rollout or offerings. I, like many others, will probably never consider buying them, but I’m sure there’s plenty of industrial companies that will. So in short, no, I don’t really care what they put out, but I just have to wonder if they were designed with me as a customer in mind from the get-go.
fred
You can usually make money by sticking to your knitting – even if that means you stay a niche player. But I think that Stuart was hinting that other bigger players may be targeting the IR niche which may be eroding.
For me – my newest IR tool is a IRT2025MAX low-profile pneumatic impact wrench that I hardly use. But I have to say that while my 80gal. IR air compressor is now very long-in-the-tooth, it has required only a modicum of TLC over the years – and still performs as expected every time I power it up.
Nathan
For those that havn’t used then IR cordless tools are amazing for what they do. and while you don’t see it here. I believe they were the first to come out with a cordless, digital, torque wrench/ratchet. At least it’s the first I’ve seen used and I see milwaukee has one now too.
Yes Milwaukee and I would say MAC and Snap On have started to get into the IR playhouse. If you work in commercial production, or in some automotive realms – IR is huge. Example – end of the production line in Tuscalosa AL for the ML series Mercedes there is a machine that runs down all 5 lug nuts at once for the wheel install. there is one per side. It’s electric, and it’s made by IR. can you buy one no but what’s behind that machine is what’s inside any IR impact wrench with torque setting ability.
If you go to some auto shops you will see IR pneumatic and cordless stuff – but today you will see techs buy their own milwukee, MAC, etc cordless ratchets too. IR was first that I know of with a cordless ratchet. I may be wrong – and that was some 15 years ago or more. One of the first highspeed cordless drill I’ve ever seen was an IR device.
I lust after some but I don’t own any. I used to know a few people that bought IR cordless drills vs the rest of the mechanics having Makita or Milwaukee and ths was circa 2008. Today I see all colors out on the flight line when I get out there. Their warranty is a bit like you talked about Hilti. If you have a dealer near you or one of the tool truck guys brings them – it’s no questions asked replacement of kind. Keep on keepin on. and some years ago our local Snap on guy carried IR cordless stuff. again circa 2008.
Stuart
I have never seen IR cordless tools at auto shops, it’s usually Snap-on, Dewalt, or Milwaukee with extremely few exceptions.
Rx9
I believe IR has always had some great quality products, but they’ve been a bit pricey. They’ve produced some novel new pneumatic tools, but their cordless stuff seems kind of behind what the other manufacturers have been doing.
I think they really need to have some unique features and applications if they want this new 40v system to stand out.
Dean
IR is compressors, tools are probably only 3-5% of their revenue
alex
I owned the w7150 when it first came out in 2013 i believe until i sold it on ebay this year. was a phenominal tool even as it got older. ive beat the crap out of it and it still kept chugging. like you said, IR didnt put enough effort for me to build an ecosystem off there tool line. I think on average they came out with 1 new tool a year. If they had all the automotive tools in a cordless form and didnt put out new tools, that would be one thing. they barely have tools on the lineup. batteries are expensive, they never have any sales, horrible marketing but the thing that pushed me away fastest was a theme i saw of them starting something and never following through. the 20v line was ok, the 12v line was dissapointing. they even tried starting a hand tool/socket line which barely lasted. once a company doesnt put in effort to move things along, count me out.
Karrpilot
The few Ingersoll Rand air tools I had, died an early death. One of which was sent back twice during the warranty period. When it broke again and the warranty expired, I tossed it into the scrap metal bin. I am not about to take a chance on their battery tools. I am SO done with that company.
Joe S
I get that Ingersoll Rand tools are usually found in the automotive and/or industrial world, but are they available at all to the general consumer? I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Ingersoll Rand tool for sale anywhere.
Stuart
It really depends on what you mean by “general consumer.”
You won’t find IR at home centers, but the first industrial supplier I checked – Zoro – carries IR cordless products.
A lot of brands are accessible despite not being available at retail stores. For instance, have you ever seen Wera tool sat retail stores or home centers?
Bob+Adkins
Doesn’t sound interesting. Either IR will re-brand tools made in the factory of someone like Hart or Milwaukee or will be made in the USA at Festool prices.
Either way, I don’t think their tools will be any better than DeWalt or Makita and will cost a little to a lot more.
Ryan
Flop just like their hand tools. How did they plan on being number 1 over Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Makita?