Into the future with cordless tools and a clear sense of responsibility: Bosch expands battery platforms and drives sustainability

Stuttgart/Leinfelden-Echterdingen – Cordless working around the house, in the garden and on construction sites is becoming increasingly popular. Both private and professional users no longer want to miss out on the benefits of using cordless tools. Accordingly, Bosch Power Tools is consistently accelerating the expansion of its two 18 V battery platforms and is cooperating with other renowned partners – for the benefit of the users. This will save users even more money, space, and time in the future. A pile of incompatible batteries and chargers from different brands will be a thing of the past. Another advantage: By purchasing a Bosch battery, users are choosing a system whose added value will gradually increase over time.

Growing battery platforms – partners and users relying on Bosch

The Professional 18V System based on Bosch technology has been developed to increase efficiency and effectiveness on construction sites. It is one of the world’s leading platforms for professional cordless tools. One year after this system was opened to other manufacturers, two more renowned brands – Fein and Heraeus – have joined the partnership. In addition to products from Bosch Power Tools, Brennenstuhl, Klauke, Ledlenser, Lena Lighting, Sonlux, Sulzer and Wagner, professional users will also be able to utilize, for instance, special tools for metal working and special light applications, e.g. for surface disinfection in the fight against the corona virus, with one of the more than 60 million professional 18 V lithium-ion batteries from Bosch that have been purchased. Since 2008, these batteries have been compatible with almost all 18 V tools from Bosch Power Tools designed for professional use. The company’s portfolio of cordless innovations is also being extended. Particularly significant are the Biturbo tools which attain performance dimensions that were previously reserved for corded tools. The Biturbo GBH 18V-36 C Professional and GBH 18V-45 C Professional rotary hammers, which are unique on the market, are two examples here. Their specially developed, brushless high-performance motor has been optimally coordinated with the electronics and battery. The resulting drilling performance was confirmed by an independent test institute and is regarded as a benchmark for cordless rotary hammers on the market.

The Power for All Alliance battery platform, which was created for applications in the home and garden, is also welcoming two new members, Steinel and Flymo, right on time to celebrate the first anniversary of its formation. In addition to innovative power tools, garden and home appliances from Bosch and products from Gardena, Gloria, Wagner and Rapid, users can thus look forward to even greater flexibility in the future when implementing DIY projects and maintaining and beautifying their gardens. The battery portfolio offered under the umbrella of the Power for All Alliance already includes 75 tools. One special highlight from Bosch Power Tools for the summer season is the AdvancedShear 18V-10, for example. The first grass and shrub shear in the 18 V battery system is designed for medium sized hedges and grass edges and can powerfully trim up to 85 square meters of hedge with just one battery charge.

Bosch Power Tools has set itself the goal of working resolutely on the further development of both battery platforms in the coming months and years. “By opening our battery technology to other manufacturers, we struck the right note with the users. We are therefore delighted that other well-known potential partners have again indicated their interest in cooperation and want to shape the cordless future together with Bosch,” said Henk Becker, President of Bosch Power Tools.

Sustainability as a guiding principle for action

Opening the battery platforms to other manufacturers proves that systematic gearing of the product portfolio to users’ needs is the guiding principle of the action taken by Bosch Power Tools. On this basis, more than 100 new products are successfully launched on the market every year. The orientation towards changing user needs and derived requirements is also reflected in the sustainability strategy of the company. A look into the future shows that Bosch Power Tools wants to take its responsibility towards society even more seriously.

In accordance with the sustainability strategy of the Bosch Group, this will mean focusing on increasing energy efficiency. Bosch Power Tools is aiming to save around 75,000 MWh by the year 2030. This corresponds to the average annual electricity consumption of 3,000 two-person households in Germany. In 2020, savings of more than 5,000 MWh were achieved through energy efficiency projects. This was mainly attributable to the use of energy-efficient production technology. This year, around 20 projects will be implemented, reducing energy requirements by a total of more than 10,000 MWh. An important contribution is being made here, for example, by the refurbishment of the energy supply center at the headquarters in Leinfelden-Echterdingen and the commissioning of a photovoltaic system at the plant in Penang, Malaysia.

The company is also working intensively to reduce its ecological footprint at product level by focusing on the principles of the circular economy. By introducing cases made of recycled plastic in the DIY segment, Bosch Power Tools has saved more than 2,200 tons of plastic raw material and thus more than 3,000 tons of CO₂ since 2019, for example. In addition, by switching from plastic blister packaging to cardboard packaging, more than 50 tons of plastic waste have been eliminated.

The new Quigo Green cross line laser is another example of the implementation of the sustainability strategy of Bosch Power Tools. It is the first measuring tool from Bosch whose housing and accessories are made of 90 percent recycled plastic. As early as in product development stage, the focus was to reduce the CO₂ footprint from the product and the accessories through to packaging. The new packaging is therefore also made of 70 percent recycled paper, has an environmentally friendly water-based coating, and no longer contains any plastic foils inside. The size of the packaging was also optimized. In addition, the new Quigo Green consumes 50 percent less energy than its predecessor thanks to optimized electronics ‒ saving more than 340 tons of CO₂ with just one product. “To act sustainably is an integral part of the defined values in the corporate culture of Bosch. With the new Quigo Green we are setting a milestone in sustainable product development in the measuring tool segment,” said Becker.

As part of the Bosch Group, Bosch Power Tools is a worldwide pioneer in climate protection. In 2020, every plant was operated with zero carbon emissions for the first time (Scope 1 and 2). The emissions outside the company’s direct sphere of influence (Scope 3) will also be consistently reduced by the year 2030 – by 15 percent compared with the base year 2018.