Bosch Power Tools hosted an ‘innovation day’ at its UK head office in Denham. Amongst discussion of the latest news from the company and insight into its training provision for merchants and professional users alike, a number of new product updates were revealed — including the expansion of the firm’s 18V cordless range.
Said to offer the best of “corded power with the freedom of cordless”, Bosch has expanded its 18V cordless range into tool classes “once thought beyond the reach of battery-powered equipment.” Indeed, the models in the ‘BITURBO’ range combine what the company describes as its best motor with its best battery system — the ProCORE18V — to produce “enough power to tackle the heaviest applications”.
The manufacturing giant — established in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch as a “Workshop for precision mechanics and electrical engineering” and operating in the UK since 1898 — says that its latest saws, rotary hammers and angle grinders are now more powerful than all previous Bosch cordless products and give the equivalent performance to corded tools rated between 1000 and 1800W.
The key to their increased capabilities is “optimum co-ordination between a specially developed brushless high-performance motor, advanced electronics and high-powered Bosch ProCORE18V battery packs.” This is said to allow full use to be made of the batteries’ potential to drive and maintain high currents for more power-intensive applications.
With just one compact 8 or 12Ah capacity ProCORE18V battery, Bosch claims that the BITURBO models are as powerful as competitor machines requiring two batteries. This, in turn, gives the added advantage of reducing tool weight and size for easier handling. Furthermore, as part of the Bosch Professional 18V System, BITURBO tools — along with their batteries and chargers — are fully compatible with all others in the company’s 18V range.
In addition to their high power, the new products have also been designed to offer high professional specifications. All but one of them can be fitted with a Bosch connectivity module, which opens up the possibility of remote adjustment, data transmission and many other benefits. Most also have an on-board user interface whose interactive display speeds up adjustments and keeps the user informed of tool status, including battery charge level and temperature. Electronic safety systems include Kickback Control on the rotary hammers and angle grinders.
Highlights from the range include the first appearance of cordless SDS-max rotary hammers. Three models are available and, for compact size, the GBH 18V-36 C Professional BITURBO Rotary Hammer leads the SDS-max segment. According to the company, the tool delivers performance worthy of a 1000W corded tool.
With impact energy of 12.5 J, the low weight GBH 18V-45 C model is said to match the powerful 1500W corded GBH 8-45 DV model, but it is lighter even with a ProCORE18V 12Ah battery in place.
Judged against a comparable 1800W corded model, Bosch says that the GKS 18V-68 GC Professional BITURBO Hand-held Circular Saw is 15% quicker and — with the 8Ah battery — 225g lighter. Its bow-shaped front handle design is intended to provide a comfortable and controlled grip in any position and easier, safer movement, even for mitre cuts.
Cutting depth can be set easily at the touch of a button, with an increased maximum of 68 mm. User interface and connectivity functions include adjusting speed and selecting the ‘eco mode’ to extend runtime by up to 30%. In total, four saws form part of the new line-up.
The four Angle Grinders in the range — GWS 18V-15 C, GWX 18V-15 C, GWS 18V-15 SC and GWX 18V-15 SC — compare favourably with the firm’s 1500W corded tools. In addition, Bosch says that when tested against its most powerful cordless angle grinder previously available, they cut up to 50% faster.
As well as Kickback Control, their safety aids include Drop Control, braking functions, Soft Start, Restart Protection and an auxiliary handle with vibration damping. GWX models also feature the Bosch X-LOCK keyless accessory-change system.
Introduced earlier in the year, X-LOCK is designed to ensure faster and easier changes, with no spanner, nut or flange to get lost. Described as a “genuinely tool-less alternative”, all users have to do is bring the accessory and grinder connecting surfaces into contact and press. A reassuring ‘click’ sound confirms they are firmly locked whilst to remove a disc, all users have to do is flick a lever on the grinder.
Bosch says that changeovers can be completed in five seconds — which is five times faster than normal — and can even be done whilst wearing gloves. A comprehensive range of more than 130 X-LOCK accessories is said to cover everything from metalwork and stonework to plumbing, tiling and other cutting and grinding tasks. Almost all of these can also be used on older, non-X-LOCK angle grinders with conventional clamping systems.
