Milwaukee Tool Virtual Automotive First Look recap: Ratchets, PACKOUT Drawers, and more

Milwaukee Tool has a storied history when it comes to bringing the automotive industry a variety of new tools for the year. The company is gearing up for a powerful spring, as evidenced during its recent Virtual Automotive First Look event. The order of the day was introducing a variety of power tools, hand tools, accessories, and storage solutions designed specifically for automotive maintenance. 

A crop of new products are heading to virtual and physical shelves from this month throughout the middle of May. From new PACKOUT organizers to breakthroughs in cordless power tool tech, the Milwaukee showcase was jam-packed with new goodies to look forward to, whether you're a mobile tool dealer seeking new stock for your truck or a technician looking for the most efficient ways to service vehicles. 

Here are the products we learned about from Milwaukee Tool’s Virtual Automotive First Look event, from impact sockets to high speed ratchets.

Ratchet & Socket Sets with PACKOUT

Milwaukee Tool is offering three ratchet and socket sets in PACKOUT Low-Profile Organizers with its Ratchet & Socket Sets with PACKOUT product combos. These sets are compatible with the PACKOUT Modular Store System for quick storage. All sockets feature FOUR FLAT Sides, which are anti-roll and wrench-ready. They all come with size engravings as well for readability. All ratchets in each set come with a slim profile head and 90 teeth for 4° of arc swing, which should be useful for tight spaces. These sets are available to purchase now.

M12 Fuel High Speed Ratchets

These PACKOUT Drawers come in both 2-drawer and 3-drawer varieties. They're crafted from impact-resistant polymers, include all-metal ball bearing slides, and feature metal reinforced corners. They're meant to be stacked on top of each other for a variety of use cases. The 2-drawer variety will be available in February 2021 and the 3-dawer version is coming in March 2021.

M18 Fuel 1/4" Blind Rivet Tool w/ONE-KEY

The M18 FUEL 1/4" Blind Rivet Tool w/ONE-KEY installs rivets using high speeds and a lengthy battery life. It accomplishes this with Milwaukee's M18 FUEL. It's expected to launch in March 2021.

Milwaukee Stubby Ratchets

The Milwaukee Stubby Ratchets offer 4° of arc swing to allow for work in tighter spaces. They come with a slim-profile head and flush directional lever as well as a stubby handle for better accessibility. They'll be launching in April 2021. 

Milwaukee Extended Handle Ratchets

The Milwaukee Extended Handle Ratchets come with 4° of arc swing for better accessibility in tighter spaces. They also feature longer handles for better leverage in the instance of more stubborn nuts and bolts. Each ratchet has a slim profile design and flush directional lever. They'll be launching in April 2021.

Milwaukee Flex Head Ratcheting Combination Wrenches

The Milwaukee Flex Head Ratcheting Combination Wrench Sets offer 2.5° of arc swing and 144 ratcheting positions. That makes them ideal for tighter spaces. All flex head wrenches come with double-stacked pawls in the ratcheting mechanism as well as a flexible head. They all include a MAXBITE Open-End Grip for better leverage with nuts and bolts, with what Milwaukee Tools claims offers 25% more torque than smooth-faced wrenches.

M12 Fuel Low Speed Tire Buffer

The M12 Fuel Low Speed Tire Buffer is an intriguing new product that will no doubt turn some heads. Milwaukee Tool calls it the "world's first cordless tire buffer." It's a full pneumatic replacement that comes with a complete day's runtime. It's targeting a May 2021 release.

SHOCKWAVE IMPACT DUTY Sockets

The SHOCKWAVE IMPACT DUTY 6 Point Socket Lineup comes in 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", and 1" drives, with impact extensions, adapters, universal joints, reducers, socket rails, clips, and retaining rings. This line focuses on durability and long-lasting markings when used in high-torque applications. They’re set to arrive in May.

Though this current crop of products was focused around the February through May season, when spring is getting ready to bring showers and flowers, there's no doubt more to look forward to from Milwaukee Tool.

We'll bring you more from the brand as we learn about additional product showcases further down the line.