The Cordless Alliance System (CAS) is a cross-brand 18V battery system for cordless power tools. Metabo announced it in July 2018 as a partnership with other tool makers sharing the same battery platform and chargers. CAS now says its batteries are compatible with over 50 brands and more than 500 CAS brand tools, so a Metabo battery can be used in CAS-compatible tools from brands such as Rothenberger, Mafell and Starmix.
The system is aimed at tradespeople who use tools from more than one brand: a plumber with Rothenberger press tools and Metabo grinders, for example, can run both on the same batteries.
This guide covers a selection of CAS brands, Metabo 18V battery and charger ranges, UK availability, and common misconceptions (particularly the confusion between CAS and other battery systems).
How CAS Works
CAS members share one 18V battery platform. In its 2018 announcement Metabo said members would share the same battery platform and chargers produced by Metabo, and Metabo now says its 18V packs are compatible with all 18 V machines and chargers of the CAS brands. This means a Metabo battery works in a Rothenberger CAS tool without an adapter.
Metabo describes its newest LiHDX packs as using tabless technology; its LiPOWER and LiHD packs are not described that way. Metabo says its packs have processor-controlled charge and discharge management and Electronic Single Cell Protection (ESCP) while charging.
Because the batteries and chargers come from one shared platform, you are not locked into one brand charger: Metabo says its chargers charge all battery packs of the CAS brands. Charge times depend on the charger and pack (see below).
TL;DR Compatibility Rules
- Any CAS battery works in any CAS tool, regardless of brand.
- CAS is an 18V battery system.
- CAS states its compatibility for the 18V class.
- CAS member brands are typically specialist or professional-focused (not consumer DIY brands).
- A CAS battery will not work in a Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Ryobi tool (these are separate, proprietary systems).
- A Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Ryobi battery will not work in a CAS tool.
- Availability varies by brand; check each brand UK stockists.
- Metabo says its chargers charge all battery packs of the CAS brands.
CAS Member Brands
The following table lists a selection of Cordless Alliance System brands (all appear on the CAS brands page) and their main specialisation:
| Brand | Primary Specialisation | Typical Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Metabo | General-purpose power tools | Drills, impact drivers, grinders, saws, sanders |
| Rothenberger | Plumbing & HVAC specialist tools | Pipe threading, cutting, pressing tools, drain cleaners |
| Mafell | Fine woodworking & joinery | Precision circular saws, track saws, joinery drills |
| Steinel | Heat guns & adhesive application | Heat guns, glue applicators, shrink-wrap tools |
| Eibenstock | Concrete mixing & drilling | Paddle mixers, core drills, floor tools |
| Haaga | Sweepers & floor cleaning | Cordless sweepers, floor polishers |
| Starmix | Industrial vacuum systems | Wet & dry vacuums, extraction equipment |
| Collomix | Industrial mixing equipment | Heavy-duty paddle mixers, grout mixers |
| Scangrip | Work lighting & inspection | LED work lights, inspection lamps |
| Rubi | Tiling & masonry specialist | Tile saws, grout saws, masonry tools |
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CAS says it has over 50 brands; check the official CAS brands page (cordless-alliance-system.com) for the full list.
Representative Tools by Member Brand
CAS says its batteries fit more than 500 tools from over 50 brands. Below are representative tools from some of the CAS brands.
Metabo — Power Tools
Metabo launched CAS in 2018 and offers a wide range of general-purpose cordless tools.
| Tool | Model Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless Drill/Driver | BS 18 LT BL Q | Brushless, 75 Nm, Quick system |
| Cordless Impact Driver | SSD 18 LTX 200 BL | Brushless, 200 Nm |
| Cordless Impact Wrench | SSW 18 LTX 400 BL | Brushless, 400 Nm, compact |
| Cordless Angle Grinder 125mm | W 18 L 9-125 Quick | 8,500 RPM |
| Cordless Circular Saw | KS 18 LTX 57 | 165mm blade, 57mm depth of cut |
| Cordless Reciprocating Saw | SSE 18 LTX BL Compact | Brushless, variable speed |
| Cordless Multi-Tool | MT 18 LTX BL QSL | Brushless, StarlockPlus |
| Cordless Jigsaw | STA 18 LTX 100 | Brushless, 100mm cut depth |
| Cordless Vacuum | AS 18 HEPA PC Compact | HEPA filter, wet/dry |
| Cordless SDS-Plus Hammer | KHA 18 LTX BL 24 Quick | Brushless, 2.2 J, 3-mode |
Mafell — Precision Woodworking
Mafell brings its precision woodworking tools to the CAS system.
| Tool | Model Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless Plunge Saw | MT 55 18M bl | Brushless, 57mm depth, guide rail compatible |
| Cordless Cross-Cut Saw | KSS 40 18M bl | Brushless, 40mm depth |
| Cordless Jigsaw | P1 cc 18M bl | Brushless, precision cut |
Rothenberger — Plumbing & Press Tools
Rothenberger offers pipe pressing and plumbing tools on CAS.
| Tool | Model Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electro-Hydraulic Press | ROMAX 4000 | 32 kN, 12–108mm, Bluetooth |
| Compact Press Tool | ROMAX Compact III | 24 kN, 12–35mm, lightweight |
| Cordless Pipe Cutter | ROCUT 110 | Plastic pipe, 40–110mm |
Steinel — Heat Guns
Steinel makes cordless heat guns for CAS.
| Tool | Model Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless Heat Gun (Standard) | MobileHeat 3 (MH3) | 600W, 570–930°F, 30s heat-up |
| Cordless Heat Gun (Premium) | MobileHeat 5 (MH5) | 1,000W, LCD display, 4s heat-up |
| Cordless Heat Gun (High-Temp) | MobileHeat 7 (MH7) | 1,022°F max, TPO/PVC welding |
Starmix — Vacuum & Dust Extraction
Starmix is a specialist vacuum and dust extraction brand, offering professional-grade cordless cleaning solutions.
| Tool | Model Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum | ISC BATRIX M 36-18V | Dual-voltage, M-class filter |
| Cordless Dust Extractor (L-Class) | iPulse L-1635 | L-class, 35L capacity |
| Cordless Dust Extractor (M-Class) | iPulse M-1635 | M-class, construction dust |
| Cordless Dust Extractor (H-Class) | iPulse H-1635 | H-class, hazardous dust |
Collomix — Mixing & Stirring
Collomix makes professional-grade cordless mixing equipment for construction sites.
| Tool | Model Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless Paddle Mixer | XO 20 NC | 2-speed, up to 40L, HEXAFIX coupling |
This is a representative selection. The full CAS system includes tools from over 50 brands (CAS figure) covering categories such as sweeping (Haaga), metal finishing (Eisenblätter), plaster processing (Eibenstock), tile cutting (Rubi), and lighting (Scangrip). All use the same 18V CAS/Metabo battery.
CAS Battery Models
Metabo sells three 18V battery lines: LiPOWER, LiHD and LiHDX. Metabo says each pack is compatible with all 18 V machines and chargers of the CAS brands. Capacities and weights below are from Metabo UK.
| Battery Series | Capacity | Technology | Weight (approx.) | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Li-Power 2.0 | 2.0 Ah | LiPOWER | 430 g | Light duty, reduced weight | View on Amazon |
| Li-Power 4.0 | 4.0 Ah | LiPOWER | 685 g | General purpose, balanced runtime | View on Amazon |
| Li-Power 5.2 | 5.2 Ah | LiPOWER | 695 g | Extended runtime, trade use | View on Amazon |
| LiHD 4.0 | 4.0 Ah | LiHD (high demand) | 580 g | High-power tools | View on Amazon |
| LiHD 5.5 | 5.5 Ah | LiHD (high demand) | 980 g | Professional daily use | View on Amazon |
| LiHD 7.0 | 7.0 Ah | LiHD (high demand) | Not listed by Metabo UK | Heavy-duty drills, grinding, all-day runtime | View on Amazon |
| LiHD 8.0 | 8.0 Ah | LiHD (high demand) | 980 g | Extended professional projects | View on Amazon |
| LiHD 10.0 | 10.0 Ah | LiHD (high demand) | 1010 g | Extended-runtime production work | View on Amazon |
Metabo also sells LiHDX packs (4.0 Ah, 577 g; 8.0 Ah, 958 g), which it says use tabless technology; it quotes up to twice the runtime of the LiHD 4.0 Ah for the LiHDX 4.0 Ah in extreme applications. Metabo UK does not currently list a LiHD 7.0 Ah pack.
CAS Charger Compatibility
Metabo says its chargers charge all battery packs of the CAS brands. Metabo UK lists these chargers, with its stated charge times for 18 V packs:
- ASC 72 (627382380) — 10.8–18 V charger. 60 minutes for a 4.0 Ah pack, 120 minutes for 8.0 Ah.
- ASC 145 (627379000) — 12–36 V quick charger. 30 minutes for a 4.0 Ah pack, 60 minutes for 8.0 Ah. The two-slot ASC 145 DUO (627512000) has the same stated times.
- ASC 290 (627372000) — 12–36 V quick charger. 30 minutes for both 4.0 Ah and 8.0 Ah packs.
Metabo also says its 18V packs are compatible with all chargers of the CAS brands, so a Metabo pack can be charged on a CAS charger sold under another brand.
UK Availability
Stock varies by brand and retailer, so check before you buy:
- Metabo — Metabo UK product pages show online retailers and local dealers.
- Rothenberger — check Rothenberger UK or the CAS brands page for stockists.
- Steinel — check Steinel UK for stockists of its CAS heat guns.
- Mafell, Eibenstock, Haaga, Starmix, Collomix, Scangrip, Rubi — check each brand UK site or the CAS brands page for stockists.
Prices and stock change, so compare each brand UK stockists with online retailers before buying.
What CAS is NOT
The Cordless Alliance System is frequently confused with other battery alliances and third-party systems. It is important to understand these distinctions:
CAS is NOT Einhell Power X-Change
Power X-Change (also 18V) is Einhell’s own battery system. It is NOT part of the Cordless Alliance System. Power X-Change batteries will not work in CAS tools, and CAS batteries will not work in Power X-Change tools. This is a common point of confusion — both systems are 18V European systems, but they use different connectors and are completely incompatible.
CAS is NOT Compatible with Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Ryobi
CAS is a completely separate ecosystem from the major consumer brands. A CAS battery will not fit in a Makita LXT, DeWalt 20V MAX, Milwaukee M18, or Ryobi ONE+ tool, regardless of voltage. These are proprietary systems with proprietary connectors:
- Makita LXT — Uses Makita’s proprietary connector. 18V nominal.
- DeWalt 18V XR (20V MAX in North America) — Uses the DeWalt connector. 18V nominal.
- Milwaukee M18 — Uses Milwaukee’s proprietary connector. 18V nominal.
- Ryobi ONE+ — Uses Ryobi’s proprietary connector. 18V nominal.
Whilst all of these systems are 18V class, the connector differs on each system, so the batteries do not fit each other’s tools.
CAS Tools Must Be Explicitly CAS-Compatible
Not every tool from a CAS brand is a CAS tool; for example, Metabo also sells 12 V battery packs, which sit outside the 18V CAS class. Before purchasing a tool, check that it is marketed as CAS compatible or Cordless Alliance System compatible, and check the product manual or contact the manufacturer if in doubt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Metabo battery in a Rothenberger tool?
Yes. Metabo says its 18V packs are compatible with all 18 V machines and chargers of the CAS brands, so a Metabo LiHD 5.5 Ah battery can power a CAS-compatible Rothenberger tool without an adapter.
Is Einhell part of the Cordless Alliance System?
No. Einhell manufactures Power X-Change, a separate and incompatible 18V ecosystem. Despite both systems being 18V, they use different connectors and cannot be mixed. If you own Einhell Power X-Change tools, you must use Power X-Change batteries — CAS batteries will not fit.
How many tools are in the CAS system?
CAS says its batteries fit more than 500 tools from over 50 brands. These include drills, impact drivers, saws, grinders, heat guns, vacuums, sweepers, mixers and plumbing tools.
Are CAS batteries compatible with Makita or DeWalt?
No. CAS batteries will not fit Makita LXT, Makita XGT, DeWalt 18V XR (20V MAX) or FLEXVOLT, Milwaukee M18, or any other non-CAS system. These systems use their own connectors, and none of these brands appears on the CAS brands page.
Where can I buy CAS batteries in the UK?
Metabo batteries are sold by UK dealers and online retailers, and Metabo UK product pages show where to buy. For other CAS brands, check that brand UK site or the CAS brands page for stockists.
What is the difference between Li-Power and LiHD CAS batteries?
Metabo sells three 18V lines: LiPOWER (2.0–5.2 Ah), LiHD (4.0–10.0 Ah) and LiHDX (4.0 and 8.0 Ah). Metabo describes LiHDX as using tabless technology and quotes up to twice the runtime of a LiHD 4.0 Ah pack for the LiHDX 4.0 Ah in extreme applications; it does not describe LiPOWER or LiHD as tabless. All three are 18V CAS packs and work across CAS tools and chargers.