IRN looks at a selection of new rental-friendly products

Swedish power distribution, lighting and climate control manufacturer El-Bjorn is making a major push into western European markets and will target rental companies in particular.

The company, which makes temporary power distribution boards, site lighting, heaters, dryers, air cleaners and dehumidifiers, is well known in rental and construction markets in the Nordic region and the Baltic States, and now wants to replicate its success in its home markets in other major European markets.

Mike Dibley, El-Björn's business development director for the UK, tells IRN; "We are moving into Europe generally, and we're in discussions with a lot of the major contractors and rental companies. Rental is the big push." Initial target markets will be the UK, Netherlands, France and Germany.

A UK subsidiary company, El-Björn UK, is in the process of being established.

Mr Dibley says El-Bjorn's temporary power distribution boards will be one of the main products, with key selling points including ‘plug and play' capability and the ability to provide powerboards up to 630 Amps.

He tells IRN that contractors can make big savings on costs related to on-site electricians by using complete temporary distribution boards. "We can provide a far greater package - not just small panels", says Mr Dibley.

El-Bjorn, located in Anderstorp in southern Sweden and founded in 1954, claims a 70% share of the Nordic temporary distribution board market. The range of equipment available will include around 90 models, all of which come with five year guarantees.

The company's rental customers in the Nordic region include Cramo, Ramirent, UCO, Skanska Maskin and Lambertsson.

Greenmech adds tracked chipper

Chipper manufacturer GreenMech is adding a tracked version of the Quad Chip 150 woodchipper that it launched last year. The Quad Trak 160 was introduced at the Saltex groundcare exhibition in the UK on 7-9 September.

Built at the company's Warwickshire factory, the Quad Trak 160 uses the same vertical feed rollers, 160 mm x 230 mm in-feed throat and "easy maintenance" square blade system found on the Quad Chip 150.

The tracks give up to 280 mm of ground clearance and the chipper incorporates a 2 mm thick belly plate to protect the engine and chipper. Optional extras include a 360 degree turntable and tilting body kit.

GreenMech's sales director Martin Lucas said the combination of the turntable and tilting body meant that the Quad Trak "can be operated on slopes of up 30º. The tilting body ensures the correct flow of oil to the engine and the turntable allows the chute to be positioned to suit the conditions."

Product highlights

Netherlands company Whisper Power, which specialises in compact, quiet gensets for shipping and yachting markets, has launched a model designed for mobile and stationary applications.

The 3 kW Whisper 3.5, part of the company's Super Compact range, is a one-cylinder diesel generator equipped with a brush-free synchronous alternator, which supplies a high starting current (200%) and a stable power output.

The unit is comes as standard fitted with a digital control panel with an LCD display that starts and stops the system and allows for ‘automatic start' programming. Whisper Power was originally a division of Netherlands generator company Mastervolt International Corp, but was sold off as a separate business in 2007.

The HM1111C is a new 7 kg demolition hammer from Makita that extends the company's AVT (anti vibration technology) hammer range. The tool provides 17.4 joules of impact energy with up to 2660 blows per minute available.

Power is provided by a 1300 W motor available in either 110 v or 240 v mode. Vibration protection measures include the same 2-mass vibration-absorbing handles that are used on Makita's chainsaws, and a soft-start trigger control.

Weighing 7.7kg, the hammer has a vibration rating of 9.2 m/s2 with the forward D handle in operation and 7.1m/s2 with the straight grip in place. The HM1111C is also available as a no-AVT version.

The latest pipeline inspection camera from Ohio manufacturer Electric Eel Mfg is the EelCam EC-8SD, which the company says is "a highly portable and rugged system". A key feature of the new camera is a digital image recorder that stores inspection video onto a SD (Secure Digital) flash card.

The control unit is carried in a 4.7 kg carry case, and includes controls for microphone, lights, camera test port and secondary video and audio outs. Standard with the inspection package is a 1.3" diameter colour camera and 70 m of Gel Rod push cable.

Electric Eel, based in Springfield since 1939, makes a range of drain and sewer cleaning and inspection tools.

Timberwolf says its new TW350TDHB(t) chipper gives the "high performance and versatility demanded by serious chipper operators" but at a "affordable price".

Powered by a 48 kW Hatz 4-cylinder diesel engine, the chipper will process up to 12 t of material per hour.

The ‘letter-box' feed mouth measures 350 mm by 230 mm and a new ‘auto-feed' feature means that the feed rollers ‘sense' awkward shaped material, reversing and re-presenting it without letting go.

This, says Timberwolf, "gives a better chance of crushing and processing the material, all without operator intervention." The chipper was launched at the Saltex groundcare show in the UK on 7 September.