Cockeysville, Md. – October 12, 2026 -- GEARWRENCH is entering the Power & Utility hand tool category with more than 50 tools across more than five product categories, built for power transmission and distribution professionals.
The lineup was developed with working linemen and validated through months of field testing. Hundreds of linemen took part in product testing and field evaluation, according to the company. The tools target underground, ground-level and overhead work.
Utility capacity and grid reliability pressures drive demand for specialized tools
Utilities face growing pressure to expand capacity, strengthen aging infrastructure and improve grid reliability. GEARWRENCH says demand for specialized tools is rising as a result. It also notes that safety requirements and jobsite practices have advanced significantly, while many tools used across the industry remain largely unchanged.
The company, a brand of Apex Tool Group, draws on more than 30 years of hand tool innovation for the new range.
Nut stop sockets, one-hand blade releases and safe-failure designs target jobsite safety
Safety features include nut stop socket designs, one-hand blade releases and safe-failure mechanisms. Durability features include proprietary heat treatments, striking faces and solid steel shanks. Oversized controls and glove-friendly features address usability for crews working in gloves.
Three featured categories cover ratcheting wrenches, cable cutters and impact sockets
Lineman Ratcheting Wrenches: The wrenches use nut stop technology and large bidirectional switches that allow direction changes with gloves on. An IEC 60900 isolated grip is designed to improve safety on energized connections.
Compact Ratcheting Cable Cutters: A one-hand blade release is intended to protect the operator while cutting. Power Assist Mode reduces handle span by 40% to limit hand fatigue. The blades are forged steel.
Impact Sockets & Adapters: A nose-down design improves clearance on hot line clamps, and a reinforced slot increases durability in high-torque applications. The sockets use a proprietary heat treatment, which the company says delivers industry-leading impact life. The safe-failure adapter design is meant to reduce injury risk if an overload occurs.
GEARWRENCH will show the full Power & Utility lineup at Booth 811 during the International Lineman's Rodeo in October 2026.