Bosch

Bosch is the brand name used by the company Robert Bosch GmbH. The company was founded in Germany in 1886 and is still headquartered there.

Besides manufacturing power tools Bosch also has divisions dedicated to automotive parts, home appliances, electric bicycles and others.

Availability

In Europe Bosch power tools are widely available and used by amateurs and professionals. In North America Bosch is a less common brand and is mostly known for their tools for working with concrete and metal.

Bosch home & garden (green)

Bosch green tools can be recognized by the green plastic housings. These tools are aimed to be used around by non professional users around the home and garden. Because the expected run time is less than that for professional tools some of the components used are generally less durable those in the professional tools. The green tools sometimes  have some additional features that makes them easier to use for novices and often include accessories that make it a complete kit.

For the garden tools there are no blue counter parts.

Battery systems

Bosch green has its own battery systems.

• YOUseries - 4 volt system
• Power for ALL 12V - previously known as 10.8V.
• Power for ALL 18V - previously known as 18V.

Bosch Professional (blue)

Bosch Professional tools can be recongnized by their dark blue plastic housing. These tools are aimed at professional users who use the tools  multiple times per week. Bosch offers an extenden warranty of three years when the tools are registered online.

Battery systems

• 12V Max - previously known as 10.8V.
• 14.4V - discontinued legacy system
• 18V - all round system.
• 36V - heavy duty system.

Bosch product naming conventions

Most Bosch power tool names start with three letters. For green tools start with the letter "P" and blue tools with "G". This is then followed by a two letter code to indicate the type of tool and then usually a number and some letters.

In North America Bosch uses a completely different naming system for most products and has some labels  like "Chameleon" for multi head drills and "Bulldog" for rotary hammers that are not used in other countries.

• More details about the Bosch product naming conventions