Battery Power Vs Petrol Power

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Battery Power Vs Petrol Power: There was a time when it seemed petrol powered outdoor tools would always reign supreme. Battery powered tools were regarded by professionals and serious gardeners as no competition. They couldn’t match the power and uninterrupted operation of their two-stroke counterparts.

That time has passed. Today’s Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised the way we work with battery powered tools. Now they can produce the power to equal petrol equipment while producing zero emissions at the point of work. Noise levels are also greatly reduced and the benefits don’t stop there. Vibration is minimised. The lower maintenance costs of battery powered motors lead to substantial long-term savings. Safety is improved by removing the need for fuel filling and on-site storage. There’s no tugging away with recoil starts, with batteries you just charge and go. Instant full power at the push of a button. In many cases one battery will fit a range of tools, interchangeable between a hedgetrimmer, brushcutter, power blower, chainsaw and even a lawn mower.

Battery Power Vs Petrol Power

The traditional argument in favour of petrol and two-stroke, apart from the question of power, was the uninterrupted operation. Batteries quickly ran down and took many hours to recharge. With petrol you just fill up and go. Batteries had a limited life and needed regular, costly replacement. To some extent, operators using outdoor power tools all day long may argue the need to remain with petrol two-stroke for the time being. Professionals arborists need to know their chainsaws are going to work for them all day. Groundcare maintenance contractors and landscapers rely on their petrol brushcutters, power blowers and hedgetrimmers to take the punishment the job demands and maintain productivity. But time is running out for fossil fuels, with legislation and Health and Safety putting the squeeze on the use of petrol power. So it’s good to know there’s an alternative.

Lithium-ion is highly efficient and brings longer battery life, quicker charging times and low self-discharge to the table. The power you need is there instantly, consistently and almost silently. Batteries do need charging but charge times have become greatly reduced using rapid chargers and most people will have a spare battery on charge in readiness. On the subject of replacement, that is easily weighed up against petrol and two-stroke engines needing regular servicing, with associated costs. Today’s brushless electric motor is maintenance-free, producing greener, cleaner energy. Emissions are managed by energy efficient motor controls for speed, power delivery and battery temperature, with the added benefits of improved performance and longer battery life. Using a rapid charger, quick charging also reduces downtime so more jobs can be completed in a day; and there is of course the option of using 4Ah batteries for longer run time.

Battery Power Vs Petrol Power

As professionals know, regular use of handheld petrol-powered tools carries the risk of Hand-arm Vibration (HAV), also known as vibration white finger. This painful condition can be avoided using low vibration tools, which is another benefit of battery powered tools, many of them operating well below the daily 2.5m/s² A(8) Exposure Action Value (EAV) limit.* Other considerations that make battery power a safer option are the fact the operator is not working with and storing flammable liquid. Much reduced noise levels are not only good for the environment in which the work is taking place, the operator is not exposed to high noise levels associated with two-stroke petrol powered machinery.

Taking the arguments in favour of battery power, with the benefits to the environment, the operator, and those in the vicinity, it’s easy to see why many professionals are turning to ‘charge and go’. All the power you need with low emissions, low noise, low vibrations, greater safety and reduced costs. Battery vs petrol? The ultimate choice remains in the hands of the operator and what best suits their needs and working environment.

To find out about ECHO’s range of petrol and battery powered outdoor power tools, speak to your local authorised ECHO dealer, visit www.echo-tools.co.uk or call 0800 597 7777 for more information.

*Daily exposure to vibration is measured by the formula known as an A(8) value. For hand-arm vibration (HAV), the daily ELV is 5 m/s2 A(8) and the daily EAV is 2.5 m/s2 A(8).

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STIHL’s New Cordless Chainsaw

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STIHL’s New Cordless Chainsaw: Ideal for forestry and agricultural work, STIHL has launched the new MSA 220 C-B, the most powerful cordless chainsaw in the STIHL range.

Designed with a high chain speed, the powerful MSA 220 C-B makes quick work of any task and guarantees consistently high-quality cutting performance, regardless of the battery charge level. The new PRO cordless chainsaw is ideally suited for felling, thinning work, construction and wood carving.

STIHL Launch New Cordless Chainsaw

The new MSA 220 C-B comes as standard with the STIHL exclusive 3/8″ Picco Super 3 (PS3) full chisel saw chain with a guide bar length of 35cm/14”. This chain has a high cutting performance and a low kick-back.

As part of STIHL’s PRO cordless range, the MSA 220 C-B is powered by a 36 V Lithium-Ion battery. The new AP 300 S battery is recommended to ensure the best possible cutting performance, and is also compatible with all other tools within the STIHL PRO Cordless system.

The sturdy MSA 220 C-B is suitable for use in any type of weather and also enables cutting work in confined areas, making it the ideal tool for professionals working in horticulture and perfect for use when wood carving. The quiet-running and easy to operate chainsaw is a high quality alternative for many tasks including agriculture, forestry and contract work that does not compromise on performance.

The details at a glance

  • Powerful with a high chain speed

The STIHL MSA 220 C-B starts with ease, accelerates quickly and always maintains a high cutting performance, regardless of the battery charge level. Responsible for this is the electronically controlled brushless electric motor. This EC motor is extremely efficient and works almost wear-free. In addition, the STIHL AP 300 S battery, which is also new, has 25 percent more capacity compared to the AP 300 and can run for up to 45 minutes with one charge. Thanks to the high chain speed of 24 m/s, the work can be carried out quickly even when delimbing smaller sized timber.

  • Strong cutting full chisel saw chain

The MSA 220 C-B is fitted with a full chisel saw chain as standard: the STIHL exclusive 3/8″ Picco Super 3 has a powerful cutting performance, low vibrations and a low kickback. It ensures excellent cutting quality with low feedback. Its high cutting performance increases energy efficiency. This pays off in up to 30 percent more cuts per battery charge compared to a semi-chisel chain. In addition, its wider kerf simplifies work when using a felling wedge.

  • Ergonomic and comfortable

The raised and printed felling line enables precise targeting and exact work when felling small trees. Thanks to the compact design and the soft rubber handle, the tool fits comfortably and securely in the hand. Other practical features include the quick chain tensioner, which enables the chain to be retightened without tools, and the semi-transparent oil tank, which allows the user to keep an eye on the oil level at all times.

  • Modular battery system

The new AP 300 S 36 V Lithium-Ion battery is compatible with all tools within the STIHL PRO cordless system. In addition to the new chainsaw, this includes more than 25 other tools for a wide variety of applications, as well as batteries with different energy supplies and chargers.

For more information on STIHL’s range of cordless tools, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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Spider Showcased At Safety Expo

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Spider Showcased At Safety Expo: Visitors to last week’s Safety & Health Expo at ExCeL London were fascinated by a large, yellow Spider, which took over stand SH1040 for three days.

There was no panic however, it was not a terrifying, brightly coloured arachnid, but a Spider 2SGS remote controlled mower, which took pride of place on the stand of UK distributor, Machinery Imports.

Spider Showcased At Safety Expo

Displayed on an enormous platform at an angle of 55 degrees, the Spider 2SGS was there to demonstrate the latest innovations in safe professional mowing on banks, steep slopes and dangerous terrain.

The extreme gradient of the plinth highlighted the possible working angle of the mower, capable of cutting grass on slopes of up to 55 degrees with an integrated hydraulic winch for additional stability, or 40 degrees completely independently.

These gradients are often referred to in risk assessments as ‘exceeding the safe operating limits’ of standard mowers and requiring additional, specialist machines.

It is in these locations where time and again it is proven that it is just not safe for an operative to work using standard grass cutting machinery, resulting in site damage, near-misses, injuries and sadly in some instances death.

“The Safety and Health Expo was an excellent opportunity to showcase the safety innovations of Spider in professional mowing to a wide, health and safety focused audience,” said Stuart Winwood, Area Sales Manager for Machinery Imports.

“During the course of the show we spoke to many interested parties, from local authorities to power plants and airports, all of whom were fascinated by the safety, productivity and financial benefits of Spider mowers for their business. We’re looking forward to seeing these people again for demonstrations and site visits over the coming weeks.”

The Spider can be found across the UK in high-risk areas such as alongside highways and railway tracks; beside waterways and reservoirs; at airfields; military sites; power stations and heritage properties.

Whilst perfectly at home in these more unusual environments, the versatility of a Spider mower also lends itself to use at more conventional sites such as schools, colleges and universities; private estates; vineyards and orchards; sports venues and golf courses, and municipal areas such as housing estates, parks and gardens.

Other benefits of the Spider mowers, including the original ILD01 model, and it’s larger siblings the ILD02 and lowered-profile 2SGS include remote control from a distance for increased visibility and avoidance of harm including HAV and WBV, low weight preventing turf damage and erosion, and high productivity, matching the performance of up to 15 operatives with strimmers – amongst many others.

To find out more and book your free Spider demonstration at a location and time convenient to you, visit www.thwhite.co.uk/machinery-imports/spider

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Parkers Pitches’ New GKB Spreader

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Parkers Pitches’ New GKB Spreader: Renowned for their sports turf management services based in Woolpit, Suffolk, Parkers Pitches has recently added a GKB Sandspreader SP100 to their range of impressive and efficient machinery, through GKB’s distributor Ernest Doe.

Will Parker, Managing Director of Parkers Pitches explains the build quality and simplicity of the machine were main factors when choosing the GKB Sandspreader SP100. He adds, “It’s easy to see just by looking at it just how well it’s built. With minimal electronics and simple adjustment there are very limited things to go wrong but it’s still be able to do very accurate quality work. We also went for the gator mounted option as it is so easy to get around to the many different sites and terrains we visit.”

New GKB Spreader For Parkers Pitches

Parkers Pitches prides itself on their high-quality work to improve and maintain pitches and surfaces, making the GKB Sandspreader SP100 the ideal fit. “This is our first GKB machine and we have been really impressed with the build quality, I have no doubts it will be a machine we will be using for many years to come and the service was top class, even arranging a demo prior to ordering the machine” explains Will Parker.

Enabling you to distribute a great variety of materials, in the appropriate quantities on your sports pitches or golf course, the GKB Sandspreader SP100 will be used over their 6-week renovation period. Will says, “We are looking to spread around 1000 tonnes with this machine and it has been faultless so far. Through the rest of the year it will be used now and then for a bit of top dressing on golf greens.”

Parkers Pitches' New GKB Spreader

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617.

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ISEKI Launch SF224 Mower

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ISEKI Launch SF224 Mower: ISEKI UK & Ireland, distributors of ISEKI compact tractors and mowers are excited to announce the launch of a new out-front mower for the ISEKI range. Superior new features and market positioning offer this as a potential game changer for the brand to explore further avenues. 

Managing Director, David Withers explained; “with the engine regulations coming into place shortly we wanted to offer the customer a competitively priced out front mower with the same ISEKI renowned quality and reliability alongside a new Stage V compliant 22.5hp diesel engine.

ISEKI Launch SF224 Mower

“The New ISEKI SF224 mower offers the most economical way to cut grass commercially with high productivity plus the added benefit of the new 22.5hp engine enabling customers to save on fuel costs and initial purchasing costs of their machinery.

“Offering a range of decks to suit the various customer sites and cutting cycles., customers can choose from the tried and tested Wessex, ISEKI and Muthing flail decks, or the new ISEKI outfront rotary deck.  These options allow the machine to be highly versatile in this competitive market.”

The new ISEKI 60” (1525 mm) outfront rotary deck with three blades ensures that no grass is left uncut even when undertaking tight turns. The cutting height can be adjusted from 25mm to 125mm (1-5”) in 12.5mm (0.5”) increments as required.  A mulching kit is available to order if required.

Product Manager, Richard Tyrrell commented; “when developing the product we studied how people use their mowers, quickly realising storage was a key issue when out cutting for long periods of time.  People were either bringing trailers with them, another vehicle, additional members of staff or tying containers onto the machines in order to carry strimmers, bin bags and other tools.   With the New SF224 operators can be more effective and productive with their time, taking all the equipment with them in the large storage bed on the back of the mower, keeping items safe with the operator, eliminating the need to keep going back to the van to empty bins or change tools.”

ISEKI Launch SF224 Mower

These high-performance out-front mowers are highly productive and manoeuvrable, designed to facilitate grass cutting in difficult areas. The mowers are equipped with easy to use two-pedal hydrostatic transmission and automatic or selectable 4WD. There is also a lockable differential for use when conditions demand. To ensure efficient engine cooling the radiator is fitted with an automatic reversing fan so preventing the blockage of the grill.

Operators are well catered for with a spacious, comfortable platform, ergonomic controls and excellent visibility. The steering column is easily adjusted to suit the operator.

Routine maintenance and servicing is easily carried out thanks to excellent access to the engine, radiator and service points.

In summary the SF224 is designed to be an extremely productive, fuel efficient and high performing mower suitable for numerous applications, stamped with ISEKI quality and reliability.

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