I must agree with Randall Coe, Vice President of Marketing for Bosch’s North American Power Tools Division. Bosch is not just a hammer company anymore.

The Bosch Global Leadership Tour held in the North American headquarters of Bosch Power Tools & Accessories in Mount Prospect, Ill., was an eye-opening event that introduced the media to a wide range of new cordless products and ideas from the innovative people at Bosch.

Each tool introduced during the 3-day event was further aided by a hands-on experience. For example, I used the Edge, a metal cutting saw blade, and it cut through everything from cement to metal pipes. According to Bosch representatives, this blade is made up of cutting edge treatment combined with a new blade material to help optimize longer lifetime in metal cutting applications.

In introducing Full Force Technology, Bosch representatives explained how a patented air chamber design enables nailers to utilize 100 percent of the air coming from the compressor to drive the fastener, rather than saving air in reserve to return the driver to the “ready” position. The result is a family of nailers that are 20 percent smaller and 10 percent more powerful than other tools. Overall, I learned that Bosch’s seven new nailers and five new compressors, along with Full Force Technology, is just a start. Bosch reps told me segment-specific innovations will help make its pneumatic fastening lineup the best on the market, including framing, roofing, finish, and compressors.

I was also introduced to the DareDevil Spade Bits, the GPL5 C 5 Beam dot laser measuring tool, and other amazing tools from chisels to mason drill bits to circular saws to sabre saw blades to cordless screwdrivers (all sizes) to woodworking routers, planers and jigsaws.

I was later introduced to a dozen new products that are sure to shape the market. For example, the talk on future battery technology was very interesting with Bosch’s drive train development from Super Duty 36 volt to standard 14.4 and 18 volt packs. Bosch reps say they have the “best built battery and best built lithium-ion.”

I was most impressed by a who’s who of Bosch managers who took the time to talk with me individually, including Frank Carroll, President of Bosch Power Tools Division; Chad Reynolds, Group Marketing Manager for Bosch Accessories; Steve Angus, Linear Edge and Abrasives; Jack Wolfe, Director of Measuring Tools; John Ronn, Group Product Manager for Fastening Systems; and Tony Pauly, Market Development Director, to name a few.

“We are No. 1 worldwide,” Coe said. For more information, visit www.boschtools.com.