In partnership with The Home Depot.
So far, we’ve gone over the Pro Tool Innovation Award winners from brands like Ryobi, Milwaukee, and DeWalt, and we’ve delved into broader categories like cordless tools and automotive solutions. As we continue our coverage of the 2026 PTIA winners, our attention now turns to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) sector.
In this category, there are four award-winning tools that you can find right now at The Home Depot. I’m going over each one to explore their innovative features and show you what makes them stand out!
WINNER: Cordless Augers
RYOBI 18V ONE+ 35-foot Drain Auger
Clearing stubborn drain clogs doesn’t have to mean dragging out a bulky, corded machine. Ryobi’s 18V One+ 35-foot Drain Auger offers an affordable, compact, and cordless solution for clearing blockages in pipes up to 3 inches in diameter. It accepts both 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch cables, giving you flexibility to tackle everything from sinks and tubs to floor drains and main stacks. An enclosed drum helps contain the mess, while an onboard LED work light makes it easier to see what you’re doing in dimly lit spaces.
Ryobi also adds several convenient features to make drain cleaning more manageable. It features automatic cable feeding and retraction to take some of the manual work out of clearing blockages, and an integrated cable lock lets you remove clogs manually when needed. Additionally, it’s compatible with Ryobi’s Link storage system, making it easier to store it in your garage, shed, or truck with the rest of your equipment.
Price: $179
WINNER: Non-Contact Voltage Detectors
Milwaukee Tool BOLT Personal Voltage Detector
Milwaukee’s Bolt system offers a growing selection of safety helmets, hard hats, and compatible accessories for on-the-job safety. This includes the Bolt Personal Voltage Detector, which adds another layer of awareness for professionals working around live electrical sources. It attaches directly to the front mount of compatible Bolt headgear, giving you a convenient way to monitor for nearby voltage without carrying a separate handheld detector. Milwaukee keeps operation simple with a single operating mode, which eliminates potential sensitivity-setting mistakes.
The detector provides both audible and visual alerts, along with a wide detection field to help keep users aware of nearby electrical hazards. Milwaukee also equips it with a rechargeable USB-C battery that delivers up to 32 hours of runtime. An IP67 rating adds water resistance, so you can keep it mounted to your headgear when working in wet conditions.
Price: $329
WINNER: Cordless PEX Expansion
RIDGID RPE 100 PEX Expander
The Ridgid RPE 100 PEX Expander kit comes with everything you need to work with 1/2-, 3/4-, and 1-inch PEX-A tubing. It’s also the first PEX expander in Ridgid’s lineup to feature AutoReturn technology, which automatically resets the expansion head after each cycle. That means less time manually resetting the tool between connections and a smoother workflow when you’re working through a large number of fittings.
It features a paddle-style trigger, which gives you the flexibility to activate the tool from either the top or bottom depending on how you’re holding it. A brushless motor also helps speed up expansion cycles, while built-in LED lighting improves visibility when working in tighter or darker spaces.
Price: $599
WINNER: Cordless Press Tools
Milwaukee Tool M12 FORCE LOGIC Press Tool Kit
Milwaukee continues to find ways to make professional plumbing tools more compact, and the M12 Force Logic Press Tool with One-Key is a great example. Weighing just 3.8 pounds, its one-handed, in-line design makes it easier to reach tight spaces where larger press tools might be too bulky. Despite its small size, this tool delivers 5,400 pounds of force for making connections across copper, PEX, black iron, stainless steel, and other piping materials.
Milwaukee includes Auto-Cycle technology to apply the right amount of force for each press, along with an LED indicator to confirm when a connection is complete. It’s also equipped with One-Key for tool tracking, management, and time-stamped reporting to keep track of your M12 battery fleet.
Price: $1,949 (with two 2.0Ah batteries and charger)
More PTIA-Winning Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Tools
- WINNER – Cable Puller
Milwaukee Tool M18 FUEL 1K Wire Puller 2924-20 - WINNER – Cable/Wire Stripper
Ripley Tools US21-7300 Triplex VariStrip Stripper - WINNER – Punch Tool
SPYDER 605000 6-Die Hole Knockout Punch Set - WINNER – Specialty
LevTech, LLC Plumber’s Xtreme Torpedo Level with AD1 Sprinkler Adapter - WINNER – Cordless Specialty
RIDGID FlexShaft KM-1004 Milling Machine - WINNER – VDV
IDEAL Electrical VDV Edge 62-856 - WINNER – Cordless Wire Crimpers
Greenlee EX1240SLX 12-Ton Crimper
