Makita adopted the new PTI Torque Procedure to measure torque in cordless drills, including driver-drills and hammer driver-drills in driver-drill mode. The new PTI torque testing method, agreed upon by all major power tool companies in the Power Tool Institute, is the industry’s first standard to measure torque in drills. Torque is one of the best means to measure the performance of cordless professional drills, a product used by pro tradesmen that accounts for a significant share of all power tool sales.
“Since Makita introduced and commercialized the cordless market nearly 30 years ago, there has been no single standard for measuring torque in cordless drills, and manufacturers have published figures derived from a range of different testing methodologies,” said Stan Rodrigues, Manager, Regulatory and Compliance Department at Makita. “A single standard with a consistent methodology will produce more accurate measurements for comparison, and is a true win for dealers and end-users of driver-drills.”
Torque Testing Before PTI
Prior to PTI’s new torque testing standard, power tool manufacturers conducted their own torque measurement in-house or with third-party testing labs. Some manufacturers even chose to not publish torque, going instead with the unit watts out specification. Given the variances in methods, most manufacturers’ torque numbers are not very useful for comparison since the testing hardware and methodologies aren’t standard. That’s changing now that the PTI membership is recognizing this and working together to create and promote this new standard.
Editor’s Note: PTI was also at the center of the Petition Drive to the CPSC to stop SawStop. It’s a big reason why they dismissed the SawStop lawsuit against table saw makers.
Makita supports the new standard. For tradesmen, torque is an important factor in the performance of a drill and a single standard guideline will produce consistent data so professional users can make informed purchasing decisions.
Makita is the first to publish torque numbers based on the new PTI Torque Procedure. Just as Makita is the innovation leader in the cordless category, we are the first to adopt this important standard.
Brad Wheeler, Senior Product Manager for Cordless Products
Current members of PTI include:
- Stanley Black & Decker (DeWalt, Porter-Cable)
- Bosch Power Tools
- Delta
- Dremel
- Hilti
- JWP
- Makita USA
- Metabo
- Metabo HPT
- Milwaukee Electric Tool Co
- Robert Bosch Tool Co
- Rotozip
- Skil
- Techtronic Industries Co Ltd (Ryobi/Ridgid)
To learn more about the new PTI Torque Procedure, including the testing hardware and methodology, visit powertoolinstitute.com
