Short answer: CAS (Cordless Alliance System, initiated by Metabo in 2018) and AMPShare (launched by Bosch in 2022) are both open 18 V multi-brand battery platforms. CAS lists more than 50 brands and 500 tools; AMPShare more than 35 brands and 430 tools. For surface preparation the practical difference is that MontiPower®'s cordless tools run on CAS, not AMPShare.
Two multi-brand battery alliances matter to industrial maintenance operations: CAS (Cordless Alliance System), initiated by Metabo, and AMPShare, led by Bosch. Both work on the same principle: one battery platform powers tools from multiple participating manufacturers. The platforms differ in size, brand composition and the specialist tools available in each ecosystem.
For a maintenance operation choosing a cordless platform to standardize on, or deciding whether to add grit-free surface preparation tools that use its existing battery inventory, those differences matter. This article is a factual comparison of both systems as they apply to industrial and maintenance use. MontiPower's Ultimate cordless tools are CAS-compatible; that context is relevant to the comparison and is stated directly where it applies.
What CAS and AMPShare have in common
Both systems are open battery platforms that let a single battery pack power tools from multiple manufacturers. Both are built around 18 V as the voltage for professional-grade tools. Both use standardized battery interfaces and battery management electronics so that packs work safely across participating brands. And both have been joined by manufacturers outside the founding brand, which compete on their tools rather than on proprietary battery lock-in.
The value proposition for tool users is the same in both cases: reduced battery inventory, simpler logistics, and the ability to build a multi-brand tool program without managing several incompatible battery systems.
CAS: specialist depth and the largest brand count
CAS was initiated by Metabo, the German power tool manufacturer based in Nürtingen, and launched in 2018 with nine founding partners: Metabo, Rothenberger, Mafell, Eisenblätter, Collomix, Haaga, Starmix, Eibenstock and Steinel. MontiPower® joined in early 2021 alongside TRUMPF and GESIPA. The CAS website now states that one battery powers more than 500 tools from over 50 brands in the 18 V class.
The brand composition of CAS is notably broad in specialist and industrial applications. Participating brands include manufacturers of specialized cutting, fastening, grinding, pipe-working and surface preparation tools, including MontiPower, alongside general trades tools. This makes CAS particularly relevant for operations that run a diverse tool mix with specialist industrial equipment.
CAS battery packs include Metabo's high-capacity LiHD packs. High-capacity packs suit continuous-load applications such as surface preparation: MontiPower quotes approximately 25 minutes of surface preparation time per 8 Ah, 18 V pack for the Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless.
AMPShare: Bosch's multi-brand 18 V system
AMPShare is led by Bosch, which announced the alliance in 2022 with partners including Fein and Rothenberger; by September 2022 more than 25 brands had signed up, and the alliance has kept growing. Bosch now states that AMPShare is compatible with more than 35 brands and over 430 tools. Its brand mix is strongest in trades and construction-related categories, with a growing range of specialist partners.
AMPShare runs on Bosch Professional 18V batteries, including the high-performance ProCORE18V range. For operations already standardized on Bosch Professional 18V tools, AMPShare compatibility is straightforward: the existing Bosch battery inventory also powers AMPShare tools from other partner brands, subject to each manufacturer's confirmation of specific pack compatibility.
A common point of confusion: Milwaukee's M18 platform is not part of AMPShare. M18, like most other major-brand platforms, is a single-brand system, so an M18 fleet needs a separate battery pool for any CAS or AMPShare tool.
Direct comparison: CAS vs AMPShare for industrial maintenance
| Factor | CAS | AMPShare |
|---|---|---|
| Initiating brand | Metabo (Germany) | Bosch (Germany) |
| Launched | 2018 | 2022 |
| Participating brands (as published) | 50+ | 35+ |
| Compatible tools (as published) | 500+ | 430+ |
| Voltage | 18 V | 18 V |
| Battery packs | CAS packs, incl. Metabo LiHD | Bosch Professional 18V, incl. ProCORE18V |
| Specialist industrial tool coverage | Broad, including surface preparation | Growing; mainly trades and construction categories |
| MontiPower® surface preparation tools | Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless, MBX® Cordless, Vinyl Zapper® Ultimate | None |
| ATEX-zone surface preparation | Not a battery-platform question: the pneumatic Bristle Blaster® is the ATEX-evaluated option on either platform | |
Brand and tool counts are the figures each alliance published at the time of writing; both grow regularly, so check the current lists before you standardize.
The surface preparation gap in AMPShare
The most significant practical difference for maintenance operations that want cordless surface preparation is that CAS includes MontiPower's bristle-blasting and belt tools. The CAS-powered MontiPower line comprises the Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless, the MBX® Cordless and the Vinyl Zapper® Ultimate. In documented tests on standard steel the Bristle Blaster® produces cleanliness comparable to ISO 8501-1 Sa 2½ / SSPC-SP 10 with a 65–85 µm Rz (2.6–3.3 mil) anchor profile; results vary with steel grade, rust grade, belt and technique. AMPShare's published line-up does not, to our knowledge, include a comparable bristle-blasting tool, so check the current AMPShare tool list if this capability is decisive for you.
This is not a criticism of AMPShare. Its design and brand composition reflect its primary market focus. It simply means that an operation wanting blast-comparable cordless surface preparation inside a single multi-brand battery ecosystem will currently look to CAS.
Decision framework for maintenance operations
The right platform choice depends on what tools are already in use and what the operation requires:
- Already on CAS (Metabo or another CAS brand): MontiPower Ultimate cordless tools integrate directly with no new battery infrastructure.
- Already on Bosch Professional 18V / AMPShare: AMPShare covers other partner brands. For bristle-blast surface preparation, plan a separate, small CAS battery pool for the MontiPower Ultimate tools alongside the primary platform.
- On a single-brand platform (for example Milwaukee M18): neither alliance shares your packs. The same small, dedicated CAS pool is the practical route for MontiPower cordless tools.
- Evaluating platforms without an existing standard: if specialist industrial tools (surface preparation, pipe and metal working, specialist cutting) are a significant part of the program, CAS's specialist brand coverage is a relevant advantage. If the program is mostly trades and construction tools, compare each alliance's current brand list against the tools you actually need.
- ATEX-classified environments (offshore, refinery, petrochemical): choose the air-driven Bristle Blaster® Pneumatic, which is independent of any battery platform. It has been evaluated to ATEX 2014/34/EU for zone 1 gas and zone 21 dust in combination with specified belts. The site's zoning, risk assessment and permit system still decide whether work can proceed; see surface preparation safety.
Running both platforms: a practical note
CAS and AMPShare are not mutually exclusive. An operation can run Bosch Professional or Milwaukee M18 tools as its primary cordless platform and keep a separate, smaller CAS battery inventory specifically for MontiPower Ultimate surface preparation tools. The battery systems are not interchangeable (a CAS pack does not fit an AMPShare or M18 tool, and vice versa), but running parallel inventories for different tool categories is a common, practical approach where no single platform covers all tool types.
The key planning consideration in a dual-platform operation is battery staging and charging. Separate charger sets are required, and labeling batteries to prevent cross-platform confusion is good practice. For most maintenance operations the surface preparation tool set (Bristle Blaster®, MBX®, Vinyl Zapper® Ultimate) is a small subset of the total tool inventory, so the CAS battery pool for surface preparation is modest compared with the primary platform inventory. Size it for runtime: continuous bristle blasting draws heavily, so plan spare 8 Ah packs per operator for long shifts.
Key takeaways
- CAS (initiated by Metabo, 2018) and AMPShare (led by Bosch, 2022) are the two main open multi-brand 18 V battery platforms. Milwaukee M18 is a single-brand system and belongs to neither.
- By their own published figures, CAS covers more brands and tools (50+ / 500+) than AMPShare (35+ / 430+); both keep growing.
- MontiPower's cordless Bristle Blaster®, MBX® and Vinyl Zapper® run on CAS. The Bristle Blaster® delivers cleanliness comparable to Sa 2½ / SSPC-SP 10 in documented tests.
- For ATEX-classified areas, the pneumatic Bristle Blaster® is the MontiPower choice, independent of battery platform.
- Operations on another platform can run a small, dedicated CAS battery pool for surface preparation.
Related articles
- What Is the CAS Cordless Alliance System? A Guide for Industrial Maintenance Teams
- MontiPower Ultimate Cordless Tools: Built on CAS Battery Technology
- Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless: SSPC-SP 10-comparable surface prep without grit or cord
Frequently asked questions
Who runs AMPShare?
AMPShare is led by Bosch. It was announced in 2022 by Bosch with partner brands including Fein and Rothenberger, and is built on Bosch Professional 18V batteries. It is sometimes confused with Milwaukee's M18 system, but M18 is a single-brand platform, not part of AMPShare.
Are CAS and AMPShare batteries interchangeable?
No. Both are 18 V platforms, but the battery interfaces are different, so a CAS pack does not fit an AMPShare tool and vice versa. Operations that use both platforms keep separate battery and charger pools and label them to avoid cross-platform confusion on site.
Which MontiPower tools run on CAS batteries?
MontiPower's cordless line runs on the 18 V CAS platform: the Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless, the MBX® Cordless and the Vinyl Zapper® Ultimate. MontiPower quotes approximately 25 minutes of surface preparation per 8 Ah, 18 V pack for the Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless, so long shifts need spare packs.
Which MontiPower tool is used in ATEX zones?
Not a cordless one. The Bristle Blaster® Pneumatic is fully air-driven with no electrical parts and has been evaluated to ATEX 2014/34/EU for zone 1 gas and zone 21 dust, in combination with specified belts. Whether work may proceed in a classified area is still decided by the site's zoning, risk assessment and permit system.
Sources
- Cordless Alliance System, One battery for over 50 brands (brand and tool counts). cordless-alliance-system.com
- LIGNA, The nine musketeers (2018; CAS founding partners, Metabo as initiator). ligna.de
- Torque Expo, CAS grows with TRUMPF, GESIPA and MontiPower to 20 brands (2021). torque-expo.com
- Bosch, Battery system for pros expands to more than 25 brands: AMPShare powered by Bosch (2022). bosch-presse.de
- Bosch Professional, AMPShare (brand and tool counts, ProCORE18V). bosch-professional.com
- MontiPower, Bristle Blaster® Ultimate Cordless and Bristle Blaster® Pneumatic product data (runtime per 8 Ah pack; ATEX 2014/34/EU evaluation for zone 1 gas and zone 21 dust).
