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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SALTEX Registration Open

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SALTEX Registration Open: Registration for this year’s SALTEX, Europe’s largest annual groundscare exhibition, is now open and visitors will notice some notable improvements to the registration process. 

Visitor registration is an integral part of the customer journey and new for SALTEX 2019 event organisers have partnered with LiveBuzz – the largest registration specialist in the UK which is the preferred supplier for some of the world’s most prestigious events.

SALTEX Registration Open

Commenting on the new registration partnership, SALTEX event director Matthew Knight said: ““It’s important that our visitors, our exhibitors and their customers have the best possible experience at SALTEX. We are always aiming to make improvements to the show each year and following an open tendering process we appointed LiveBuzz because we want the very best in all aspects of the show.

“We are confident that our visitors will experience a best practice registration process – it will be smoother, more interactive and in addition there will be ten registration terminals at the show entrance meaning that visitors will gain faster entry.”

Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 30 and 31 October, SALTEX 2019 will feature over 300 exhibitors including some of the biggest names in groundscare. The two-day event will offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience the very latest industry trends and innovations, enhance their education and learn from industry experts.

The exhibition is the longest-standing event of its kind in the world, having been held almost every year since 1938, and the show is continually evolving with the people of the industry in mind.

This year the show floor will be bursting with everything a visitor needs to increase their efficiency and improve operations – and attendees can expect features such as:

  • NEW! Eco Village – live demonstrations purely dedicated to environmentally-friendly products.
  • Learning LIVE – SALTEX’s world-class free educational programme.
  • Pathology and Soil Science LIVE – a look in detail at the symptoms of turfgrass fungal disease problems.
  • SALTEX Innovation Award – celebrating the very best in new groundscare technology.
  • Ask the Expert – free face-to-face turfcare advice.
  • Outdoor Demonstrations – the latest products in action in an area directly outside halls 6,7 and 8.
  • SALTEX College Cup – land based colleges compete in an academic test of turf management knowledge.
  • Lawn Care Legends LIVE – a fantastic networking opportunity for landscapers and gardeners.
  • Job Clinic – free one-to-one sessions covering CV writing to interview techniques.

Registration is accessible through the SALTEX website and visitors can simply bring their email confirmation (on a phone or a printed copy to the registration desk) which will be located at the show entrance.

SALTEX 2019 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on October 30 and 31.

For more information visit www.iogsaltex.com

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX

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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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Bayer Set To Invest $5.6 billion

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Bayer Set To Invest $5.6 billion: Bayer has announced it plans to invest about $5.6 billion of its research and development budget on alternatives to its glyphosate weed killer over the next decade, according to an article by Bloomberg.

The German company, with U.S. headquarters in Whippany, New Jersey, acquired Monsanto, St. Louis, the maker of Roundup, for $63 billion last June. Roundup was the first glyphosate-based weed killer but is no longer patent-protected and many other versions are now available.

 

This announcement comes as the company faces more than 13,000 lawsuits claiming its herbicide causes cancer. In May, Bayer lost its third straight trial over claims that exposure to Roundup caused cancer.

“While glyphosate will continue to play an important role in agriculture and in Bayer’s portfolio, the company is committed to offering more choices for growers,” according to a statement by Bayer on June 14.

The $5.6 billion (5 billion euros) in spending on new herbicides over the next decade is part of Bayer’s existing 2.5 billion-euro annual budget for crop science research and development, Bayer spokesman Tino Andresen said.

A U.S. judge overseeing federal lawsuits has appointed mediator Ken Feinberg to lead settlement talks over the herbicide litigation. The next case is set to go to trial in August in St. Louis, Missouri.

Click here to read the original article

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