Both markets were estimated to grow between 3.1% and 5.5% per year in the coming years. However, due to the recent COVID pandemic, it's safe to assume that growth will slow in the near future. This is mainly due to challenges in the supply chain (availability of raw materials, transportation interruption) and in production processes (factory closures). While Bosch has a broad approach, Milwaukee is a little more refined.
Yes, they are owned by the huge Techtronic Industries conglomerate, but Milwaukee is still focusing exclusively on the power tool market. When it comes to power tool brands, did you know that Bosch owns Dremel? That Milwaukee and Ryobi are owned by the same company? That the same company that owns Festool also owns Sawstop? This infographic shows the hand size of each company, 26% of revenues from power tools, by circular area. Stanley Black & Decker is in the larger circle because he has the highest revenue from hand-held power tools (26%). Nearby is the Bosch hand and power tool business.
And so on until you reach Positec, JPW Industries and Ingersoll Rand, and the smaller circles represent their respective smaller revenues. In the power tool industry, it's almost impossible to compare warranties by brand alone, because almost every power tool has its own warranty policy. The tools are very accessible to homeowners and hobbyists, and if you're building a collection of tools for your home, Kobalt is worth checking out. To make it easier to find out who owns your favorite tool brand, or to search for which companies own a lot of brands, I've created an easy-to-use database below.
They are buying companies that partner with OEMs and ODMs (such as Stanley Black & Decker) to manufacture their tools and distribute them under their own brands. Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation is an American company that develops, manufactures and markets electrical tools. Since five of the biggest corporations own brands that cover more than 50% of the market, it's often bought from the same handful of companies. The two power tool manufacturers could be seen as two branches of the same company, Milwaukee providing services to professionals and contractors, and Ryobi focused more on homeowners and semi-professionals.
You'd be fine with either option, but if you're looking for a tool that will last over time, Milwaukee is the clear choice. Despite its reputation as a “local brand,” the fact is that only some of the tools Milwaukee produces are made in the United States. Known for its screwdrivers and hand tools, Ideal Industries is the owner of the Western Forge, Pratt-Read and SK Pro Tools brands. Ryobi tools may not be as robust as the Milwaukee tools, but they're still perfect for anyone who wants to venture into DIY.
That said, it all comes down to the specification and source of the raw materials needed for the tool. But if you've ever decided to take a closer look at these brands, you might have been surprised to discover that the most popular tool brands are owned by just a handful of companies. You would expect a tool company to stand out for the quality of its tools, but while Bosch makes excellent tools, that is overshadowed by the fact that they are 90% owned by a charitable organization, the Robert Bosch Foundation. Hart is another tool company owned by Techtonic, so you know you're getting high-quality tools at a reasonable price.
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