Research and development continued to play a key part in the company’s success. Another crucial step forward was achieved in 2005, after many years in development and a multi-million dollar investment, when Milwaukee invented the technology that allowed them to be the first to use Lithium-Ion in power tools. The technology was introduced with the launch of Milwaukee’s revolutionary V28™ LITHIUM-ION battery technology and line of cordless tools. With filed patent applications that resulted in over 40 US & global patents surrounding the technology, Milwaukee became the talk of the professional construction industry and clear leader in Lithium-Ion power tool innovation.

Milwaukee’s V28™ battery was able to give tools twice the run-time and around 50 percent more power than an 18-volt traditional nickel-cadmium battery of the same weight. It also offered fade-free performance and opened up opportunities for more powerful corded tools to become cordless. The innovation led to a line of products, numerous awards from the industry and gained wide exposure and recognitions from leading industry councils and publications. It was soon realized that the significant power advantage provided with Lithium-Ion would give Milwaukee the opportunity to capitalize on the popular 18V market. Designed to enable retrofitting on existing Milwaukee 18-volt nickel cadmium tools, the new V18™ Lithium-Ion system was soon added to the Milwaukee cordless product offering.