Metabo and Hitachi (now Metabo HPT in the USA) produced both higher quality “professional” level tools, and lower grade “homeowner” or “hobby” level tools.
This is both brands.
Metabo produced lighter weight, lower quality, cheaper tools, similar to Bosch.
Some of those tools have been sold to professionals thru certain outlets, the same way Bosch “Green” (non-professional) tools, were sometimes sold in the USA, in the Bosch Blue color, that Bosch usually used for their professional level tools.
The Metabo 3” ramdom orbit sander was one example, although I think there were also drills without metal gear boxes, and some other tools as well.
The lower quality Metabo tools weren’t ****, they just weren’t built to the same standard as the better tools, and certain parts like motors, might need to be completely replaced if they failed, rather than replacing individual components like brushes etc.
As for Hitachi, they had a wide variety of quality levels, from cast metal tools for timber framing, that were likely similar in quality to Makita’s Tomber framing tools, to miter saws, which were well liked.
These were usually considered “professional” quality, and had prices to match.
Hitachi pneumatic nailers have always been considered top notch, at least until the designs were updated to the newer, less “industrial” looking aesthetics.
Hitachi handheld power tools varied.
The older models were probably considered on par with Makita tools of a similar vintage, maybe plus or minus based on the individual tool.
I think Hitachi may have outsourced production to China earlier than Makita did, and their tools had engineering that tried to cut costs, while still retaining durability.
Bearing in some tools were smaller, but mounted in metal, to prevent destroying plastic motor housings in case of failure.
These tools seem to have been well liked, plus or minus, compared to similar tools from brands like Bosch or Dewalt or Makita, but could usually save you a bit of money.
The older Hitachi cordless tools (NiCd period) were not considered high quality, and might have been equivalent to something like Black & Decker of the time period. Usable, but most professionals opted for Dewalt, or Makita, or Milwaukee, etc.
Hitachi has come out with much better cordless tools since then.
I’m not sure were they fit quality wise.
Hitachi seemed to be trying to up their game as far as performance, with the exception of the timber framing tools, which got dropped from distribution, or at least common distribution in the USA maybe two decades ago.
Hitachi also has the brushless corded grinders, with narrow diameter motor housings that some users really like.
One thing Hitachi was not as good at, which was common with “professional level” tools, was providing a variety of specialty attachments, such as cup or dust collection guards for their tools.
For certain tasks, you really need these for safety reasons.
The current Metabo HPT line is basically just rebranded Hitachi, so the above comments should apply.
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