Cordless Power Tools Survey Indicates Battery Features Most Important to Tool Users

(I-Newswire) July 28, 2009 - WEST CHESTER, Pa. July 2009 � Metabo Corporation, a leading international manufacturer of professional grade portable electric power tools and abrasives for industrial, construction and welding applications, recently completed a blind survey of professional and do-it-yourself (DIY) tool users on important cordless power tool features in anticipation of the company's new 18 V lithium ion cordless tool series launch. Two of the three top-rated tool features related to battery life.

The ten features evaluated in the survey included battery charging time; work time per charge; comfort (size, weight, balance); power/torque; tool life/durability; weight; length of warranty; whether the tool was recommended by someone else; inclusion of a worklight; and battery service life. Each factor could be ranked 1-10 individually, with 1 being unimportant and 10 being extremely important, and was not dependent upon a ranking for another feature.

Participants rated tool life/durability as the most important cordless tool feature. Battery service life ranked second, followed by work time per charge rounding out the top three. This ranking speaks to the increasing demand for robust tool construction and extended battery life to better support users' needs in the field.

A similar, unrelated cordless drill/drivers study recently completed by an independent global research firm that conducts quality and customer satisfaction research supported Metabo's findings and determined that the perceived importance of battery performance increased from 2008 to 2009. Lithium ion tools are more compact, lighter and easier to use than cordless tools with other types of batteries.

Metabo's new rugged 18 V PowerMaster cordless power tools incorporate these highly ranked qualities. The lithium ion series features Metabo's new Electronic Single Cell Protection (ESCP) concept that allows for longer battery service life by electronically monitoring individual cells while in use, and during charging, to prevent damage. In addition, the cordless tools utilize Metabo's unique air-cooled charging technology that cools the lithium ion battery pack during charging. This process shortens charging times by up to 30% to diminish tool down-time and boosts useable tool life per charge.

The aluminum die cast gear housing on the new cordless tools, including a drill/driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw and others, provides optimum heat dissipation and superior durability, making the Metabo tools both rugged and lightweight.

The ranking results of the Metabo survey were computed by totaling the rating number (1-10) given by each of the respondents for each individual feature separately. The sum was used to indicate the overall rank: the highest sum ranked the most important feature. The survey did not indicate Metabo in the questions or website, nor did it mention any other brand name.

The online survey was conducted from mid-April 2009 through the end of May 2009. More than 200 cordless tool users from across the United States responded to anonymous banner ads on various industry web sites.

The survey offered a free cordless power tool as a prize to three winners selected at random, based on a June drawing of email addresses provided voluntarily by the respondents. Winners, as well as additional survey results can be found at http://www.cordless-tools.com/currentNews.html.

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Editorial Contact:
The Simon Group, Inc.
Christina Sanchez or Beth Smith
Phone: (215) 453-8700
E-mail: publicrelations@simongroup.com
Reference # MET-A-9533

Company Contact Information
Metabo Corporation