Metabo tools are made by Metabowerke GmbH, a German manufacturer of professional power tools headquartered in Nürtingen, Germany, which is owned by Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. of Japan.
Metabo is a professional-grade power tool brand founded in the 1920s in Germany, known for angle grinders, drills, saws, and construction tools designed for metalworkers, construction tradespeople, and industrial professionals.
Koki Holdings is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and also owns Metabo HPT, the North American rebrand of the former Hitachi Power Tools lineup, making it the parent of two distinct professional tool brands sold under different names in different markets.
Knowing who owns Metabo helps explain how a historic German professional tool brand became part of a Japanese-led global power tool group that also encompasses the former Hitachi tool legacy.
This article covers who makes Metabo tools, where they are produced, who owns the brand, its history, how it compares to a rival, and whether the tools are any good.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Makes Metabo Tools?
Metabo tools are made by Metabowerke GmbH, a genuine manufacturer that designs and builds its own tools at its Nürtingen, Germany headquarters and production facilities.
Metabowerke is a medium-sized manufacturer focused specifically on professional users, targeting metalworkers, the building trade, and renovation professionals rather than the DIY consumer market.
The company operates 23 distribution companies and works with over 100 importers, reflecting its broad international reach across professional tool markets.
In North America, Metabo HPT is a separate brand also owned by Koki Holdings, representing the rebranded Hitachi Power Tools lineup that was renamed in 2018 when KKR separated the business from Hitachi Ltd.
Both Metabo and Metabo HPT now operate under one roof within Koki Holdings America Ltd., as confirmed on Metabo HPT’s official history page.
Where Are Metabo Tools Made?
Metabo tools are made primarily in Germany at the company’s Nürtingen headquarters facility, where manufacturing, engineering, and quality control have been based since the brand’s founding.
Metabo has maintained a strong German manufacturing identity throughout its history, with its core product lines engineered and built in Nürtingen to meet stringent professional quality standards.
Some components and certain product lines may be sourced from other countries within Koki Holdings’ global manufacturing network, which spans Japan and multiple other locations.
Koki Holdings has committed to a “One Koki” strategy that combines the best engineering capabilities of both Metabo’s German operations and its Japanese production network across both brands.
Who Owns Metabo Tools?
Metabo is owned by Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. of Japan, which was formerly known as Hitachi Koki before investment firm KKR acquired the Hitachi power tools division in 2017.
Hitachi Koki had acquired Metabo from the German power tool market in 2016, bringing the German brand into the Japanese group shortly before KKR’s acquisition of the entire Hitachi Koki business.
KKR, the American private equity firm, is now the controlling owner of Koki Holdings, which manages both Metabo and Metabo HPT globally alongside the HiKOKI brand used in markets outside North America.
Metabo’s full ownership history from its German founding to today is documented in the brand’s company profile.
What Is the History of Metabo?
Metabo was founded in the 1920s in Nürtingen, Germany, taking its name from the “Metallbohrdreher,” a hand drill that the company produced in its early years.
The company expanded its range steadily throughout the twentieth century, earning a strong professional reputation particularly for angle grinders and metalworking tools used in the building and construction trades.
In the 1980s, Metabo launched its first battery-operated tools, beginning its evolution into the cordless professional tool market that now makes up a major portion of its business.
Hitachi Koki acquired Metabo in 2016, bringing it into what would become Koki Holdings after KKR’s 2017 acquisition, making the German brand part of a Japanese-owned global professional tool group.
Metabo Tools vs Bosch Professional Tools: How Do They Compare?
Metabo and Bosch Professional are both German professional power tool brands competing directly in the European trades market.
Bosch Professional is part of the Robert Bosch GmbH group and has a far broader product range, larger dealer network, and stronger global brand recognition than Metabo.
Metabo focuses more narrowly on heavy-duty professional tools for metalworkers and construction trades, with a reputation for exceptional durability in demanding industrial environments.
Professional tradespeople who work primarily in metalworking and heavy construction often prefer Metabo, while Bosch Professional is the broader choice for mixed-trade professionals needing the widest tool range.
Are Metabo Tools Any Good?
Metabo tools are highly regarded among professional tradespeople, particularly metalworkers, for their durability, build quality, and long service life under demanding conditions.
The brand’s angle grinders are considered among the best on the market for heavy-duty metalworking, with many professionals preferring them over competitors for sustained high-load use.
Koki Holdings’ ISO 9000 certification and ISO 14001 environmental management certification confirm a manufacturing operation committed to consistent quality standards across all products.
The cordless CAS battery system, which allows Metabo batteries to work across a wide range of tools from multiple compatible brands, is a genuine competitive advantage for professionals building a cordless lineup.
For professional metalworkers, construction tradespeople, and industrial users who want German-engineered tools built for sustained heavy-duty use, Metabo is one of the clearest recommendations in its class.
For more on related professional tool brands, see Who Makes Milwaukee Tools and Who Makes DeWalt Tools.
Frequently Asked Questions About Metabo Tools
Who makes Metabo tools?
Metabo tools are made by Metabowerke GmbH, a German manufacturer headquartered in Nürtingen, Germany. The company is owned by Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. of Japan, which is controlled by investment firm KKR.
Is Metabo the same as Metabo HPT?
Metabo and Metabo HPT are both owned by Koki Holdings but are separate brands. Metabo is a German professional tool brand. Metabo HPT is the North American name for the former Hitachi Power Tools lineup, rebranded in 2018.
Are Metabo tools made in Germany?
Yes, Metabo tools are primarily made in Germany at the company’s Nürtingen headquarters facility, where the brand has manufactured professional tools since its founding in the 1920s.
What is Metabo best known for?
Metabo is best known for its professional-grade angle grinders, which are widely used in metalworking and construction. The brand is also known for its CAS battery system, which enables cross-brand battery compatibility with selected partner tools.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.