Cordless Power Tools

Cordless Power Tools — HiKOKI & Metabo

AIMS Industrial stocks 255 cordless power tools from two brands: HiKOKI (formerly Hitachi Power Tools) and Metabo. We haven't tried to be an everything-to-everyone cordless catalogue — we've gone deep on two trade-grade platforms that hold up to daily industrial use, and we carry the depth of range (drills through to specialist metalworking tools) that lets a workshop or site team standardise on one battery platform and stay on it for years.

This is a competitive category — the big box tool retailers and the brand-owned stores will always beat a specialist industrial supplier on sheer brand count. Where AIMS earns its place is depth within the HiKOKI and Metabo ranges (including the specialist metal-fabrication tools most tool retailers don't bother stocking), product knowledge from a team that actually understands trade and industrial applications, and the service that comes with buying from a supplier who deals in industrial procurement, not just retail. If you're already on the HiKOKI or Metabo platform, this is likely the deepest range you'll find in one place.

Quick reference — platforms and tool families

Cordless tool families we stock

Drilling, driving and rotary hammers

The bulk of the range: brushless drill drivers, hammer drills and impact drivers across 12V, 18V and 36V, plus SDS-Plus and SDS-Max rotary hammers for masonry and concrete. Both brands offer these as bare tools (skin only, for topping up an existing battery fleet) or as combo kits with batteries, charger and case.

Impact wrenches

1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" square-drive impact wrenches in both 18V and 36V, used for wheel work, structural bolting and general high-torque fastening where a rattle gun on a hose isn't practical.

Angle grinders

115mm and 125mm grinders for everyday cutting and grinding, through to 180mm and 230mm for heavier structural work — available with slide or paddle switch depending on the model.

Saws

Circular saws (including plunge-cut with guide rail), mitre saws, a cordless table saw, reciprocating/sabre saws for demolition-style cutting, jigsaws for curved and detail work, and cordless chainsaws.

Fastening and nailers

Brad, finish and framing nailers plus metal-connector nailers and rivet nut guns — mainly HiKOKI, for site framing and fixing work where a compressor and hose aren't wanted.

Sanding, surfacing and finishing

Random orbital and belt sanders and 82mm planers for timber and surface prep work.

Metalworking specialty tools

This is where the Metabo range in particular goes deeper than most cordless catalogues: nibblers and metal shears, die grinders, band files, pipe belt sanders, fillet weld grinders and metal bevelling tools — genuinely useful gear for a fabrication shop or steel-fixing crew that most general tool retailers simply don't carry cordless versions of.

Site and outdoor equipment

Blowers, vacuums, worksite lights, DAB+ radios, heat guns, caulking and grease guns, air compressors, and outdoor power equipment (brushcutters, line trimmers, mowers) built onto the same 18V/36V battery platforms as the trade tools.

Battery platforms — HiKOKI MultiVolt and Metabo

HiKOKI 18V and MultiVolt (36V)

HiKOKI's MultiVolt system uses a single battery that automatically switches output — it runs HiKOKI's 18V tools at 18V, and when fitted to a MultiVolt tool (larger grinders, saws, rotary hammers) it delivers 36V, with no manual switching required. That means one battery family covers both the everyday 18V tools and the higher-power 36V tools in the HiKOKI range, which simplifies the battery inventory for a crew standardising on the platform.

Metabo 12V, 18V and 36V (18V x2)

Metabo's cordless range runs on three tiers. PowerMaxx 12V covers compact, precision work. The core 18V LTX/LiHD range covers everything from drill drivers to the metalworking specialty tools. For the highest-demand tools — large angle grinders, rotary hammers, mowers — Metabo uses a dual-battery 36V architecture (two 18V batteries in series, rather than a dedicated 36V cell), which means those existing 18V batteries also power the heaviest tools in the range.

Battery compatibility — what's genuine and what isn't

HiKOKI and Metabo batteries are not interchangeable between brands — this is standard across the cordless tool industry, and platform choice should be made with that in mind. Within HiKOKI, 18V batteries work across the standard 18V range and MultiVolt batteries work across both 18V and MultiVolt tools. Within Metabo, 18V batteries are shared across the 18V range and the dual-battery 36V tools; the 12V PowerMaxx range uses its own smaller-format battery and isn't interchangeable with the 18V range. If you're unsure which battery a specific tool needs, check with our team before ordering — we'd rather answer that question up front than have you sending a tool back.

Choosing a platform

For most trade and workshop buyers the decision comes down to what's already in the toolbox and what the work demands. If you're starting from scratch, 18V is the sensible entry point on either brand — it covers drilling, driving, grinding and general cutting, and both HiKOKI and Metabo sell combo kits (tool, two batteries, charger and case) that are better value than buying tool and batteries separately. Add 36V (MultiVolt or dual-18V, depending on brand) once the work calls for sustained high power — large grinders, structural cutting, rotary hammer drilling in concrete — where an 18V tool starts to run hot or run out of puff. If the work is precision or confined-space (service, electrical, cabinetry), Metabo's 12V PowerMaxx tools are worth a look for their size and weight alone.

Brand choice matters more than most buyers expect, because it's a multi-year commitment once batteries are bought. HiKOKI's MultiVolt architecture suits a crew that wants one battery family to cover the full tool range without thinking about it. Metabo's depth into metalworking-specific tools makes it the stronger pick for fabrication, steel-fixing and welding-adjacent trades where nibblers, shears, die grinders and bevelling tools see regular use. For general trade and construction work, either platform is a sound choice — talk to us about your existing kit and the work ahead, and we'll help you land on the platform that fits, not just the tool in front of you.

A practical way to build out a fleet on either platform: buy the first tool as a kit (tool, batteries, charger and case), then add further tools as bare units and rotate them across the shared battery pool. It keeps the ongoing cost down once a few batteries are already in circulation, and it's why we stock most models both ways — as a complete kit and as a skin-only tool.

Industries and applications

Cordless demand across AIMS's customer base concentrates in a few areas: construction trades running drilling, driving, cutting and fastening on sites where cord runs and generators aren't practical; mining and MRO teams where cord-tripping hazards and hot-work permits favour cordless even when mains power is available; metal fabrication and steel-fixing shops using the Metabo metalworking range (nibblers, shears, band files, bevelling tools) alongside grinders and drills; facility maintenance and building services crews working in occupied premises where trailing leads aren't welcome; and automotive and heavy vehicle workshops using impact wrenches for wheel and general fastening work. If your application doesn't fit neatly into one of these, our team can still help — get in touch and describe the job.

Brands we stock

HiKOKI

HiKOKI (rebranded from Hitachi Power Tools) brings the MultiVolt 18V/36V system and a broad trade range spanning drills, impact drivers, impact wrenches, grinders, saws, nailers and site equipment. It's a strong choice for tradies wanting one battery ecosystem across compact and heavy-duty tools.

Metabo

Metabo is a German-engineered cordless platform with genuine depth in specialist industrial and metalworking tools alongside the standard trade range. It's the platform to look at if your work includes fabrication, welding-adjacent metalwork, or any of the niche tools (band files, bevelling tools, pipe belt sanders) that most cordless ranges skip entirely.

Why buy cordless power tools from AIMS

We're not trying to out-discount the big-box tool retailers on price — that's not a fight a specialist industrial supplier wins. What we offer instead: genuine depth within the HiKOKI and Metabo ranges, including the metalworking specialty tools that most tool retailers never stock; staff who can talk through platform and tool selection rather than just take an order; and the flexibility to order bare tools, full kits, batteries and chargers separately as your fleet needs change. If you're buying for a business — fitting out a workshop, standardising a maintenance fleet on one platform, or replacing tools as they wear out — that's the kind of order we're set up to handle well, including quoting for multi-unit purchases.

Companion ranges

Cordless tools need the right consumables and accessories to do their job properly. Related AIMS ranges: Power Tools (our full corded and cordless range), Impact Drivers, Drill Accessories & Adaptors, Screwdriver Bits, Cutting Wheels, Angle Grinder Accessories and Safety Equipment & PPE for the operator.

Order from AIMS

For product availability, combo kit configurations, bare-tool pricing or advice on which platform suits your trade, call our team on (02) 9773 0122, contact us online, or request a quote for a bulk or fleet order. We're an Australian-owned industrial supplier and we're happy to talk through the platform decision before you buy, not just after.

Cordless power tools — frequently asked questions

What cordless power tool brands does AIMS stock?

HiKOKI (formerly Hitachi Power Tools) and Metabo. We don't carry every cordless brand — we've gone deep on these two trade-grade platforms rather than wide across many.

What's the difference between the HiKOKI and Metabo cordless platforms?

HiKOKI's MultiVolt system uses a single auto-switching battery across 18V and 36V tools. Metabo runs a three-tier system — 12V PowerMaxx, core 18V, and a dual-battery 36V (two 18V cells in series) for its highest-power tools. Metabo also carries a deeper range of specialist metalworking tools.

Can I use a HiKOKI battery in a Metabo tool, or vice versa?

No. HiKOKI and Metabo batteries are not cross-compatible — this is standard across the cordless tool industry, not specific to these two brands. Battery platform is a brand-level decision.

What is HiKOKI MultiVolt?

MultiVolt is HiKOKI's battery system where a single battery automatically delivers 18V to compact tools and switches to 36V output for MultiVolt-compatible high-power tools, with no manual switching required.

What does Metabo's dual-battery 36V system mean in practice?

Metabo's highest-power tools (large grinders, rotary hammers, mowers) run on two 18V batteries fitted in series rather than a dedicated 36V battery. The practical benefit is that the same 18V batteries already in your kit power both the everyday and heavy-duty tools.

Do I need 12V, 18V or 36V?

18V is the right starting point for most trade and workshop use — it covers drilling, driving, grinding and general cutting. Step up to 36V (MultiVolt or Metabo's dual-18V) for sustained high-power work like large grinders or rotary hammer drilling in concrete. Metabo's 12V PowerMaxx tools suit precision or confined-space work where size and weight matter more than raw power.

Are these tools suitable for trade and industrial use, or only DIY?

Trade and industrial use — that's the segment AIMS stocks for. Both HiKOKI and Metabo are professional-grade platforms built for daily site and workshop use, not entry-level DIY ranges.

Can I buy tools as bare (skin only) units, or only as kits?

Both. Most models in the range are available either as a bare tool (skin only, for adding to an existing battery fleet) or as a kit with battery, charger and case included.

What metalworking-specific cordless tools does AIMS stock?

From Metabo: nibblers, metal shears, die grinders, band files, pipe belt sanders, fillet weld grinders and metal bevelling tools — cordless equipment aimed at fabrication and steel-fixing work that most general tool retailers don't stock.

Which platform should a fabrication or metalworking shop choose?

Metabo, on the strength of its specialist metalworking range — nibblers, shears, band files and bevelling tools alongside the standard grinders and drills.

Can AIMS help me choose between HiKOKI and Metabo for my trade?

Yes — contact our team with your trade, existing tool kit and the work ahead, and we'll talk you through which platform fits rather than just selling you a tool.

Does AIMS supply cordless tools for fleet or bulk orders?

Yes — for multi-unit or fleet orders, request a quote and our team will put together pricing and availability for your order.