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Executive Report: Tooled-up for hire EHN reports on the latest product launches and new support services from Makita. Judging by the impressive number of power tool introductions from Makita the company’s R & D department has been particularly busy. The launches include new petrol powered, mains electric and cordless products for a wide range of industries. The DPC8112 is the company’s first petrol disc cutter in the 16in category. Weighing 10kg, it is claimed to be the lightest in its class. Its 81cc engine produces 6hp and the same easy-start decompression system is fitted as on Makita’s existing 12in diameter DPC6410. The tool can cut to depths of up to 145cm and maximum wheel speed is 3,800rpm. A five-stage air cleaner is incorporated, with the intake located above the engine to minimise dust ingress. The DPC8112 is targeted at professionals involved in construction, railway line laying and pre-cast concrete work. Makita has launched its first plunge-cut circular saw in the form of the mains powered SP6000K1, which enables straight-sided openings to be made in flat panels. This can be faster and more accurate than boring a starter hole and using a jigsaw. The 165mm blade provides a 55mm depth of cut. At 45° and 50° the cutting depth is 39mm and 37mm. A 1.4m guide rail is supplied, and a rear sawdust extraction port is provided. Powered by a 1300watt motor, the tool is available in both 110V and 240V and is suitable for tasks involving the cutting of worktops, vanity units and panel access operations. There are also additions to Makita’s angle grinder line-up, namely the lightweight 9564H (115mm) and 9565H (125mm) models, which weigh 1.8kg. They have powerful 1100watt motors and incorporate the manufacturer’s Super Joint System (SJS) to protect the operator from injury should the grinding wheel jam. The system is designed to instantly disengage the drive from the motor, enabling the user to release the trigger and free the machine. Makita continues to add to its range of cordless tools powered by Lithium-ion batteries, and has just launched its first 18V SDS-Plus rotary hammers in this format. They are available in a choice of body lengths, with the BHR180 measuring 352mm from the chuck to the back of the body, and the BHR240 measuring 410mm. Both offer rotary hammer, hammer only and rotary functions and produce 1.9 Joules of impact energy. Drilling capacity is up to 18mm in masonry, 32mm in timber and 13mm in steel, and a torque limiter is incorporated to disengage the drive should the bit snag. A rubberised handgrip surface is fitted to reduce HAV and improve grip. Also new is the cordless, compact BTW251RFE impact wrench, a 0.5in square-drive model that weighs only 1.7kg and produces 230Nm of torque, which is said to be greater than the setting for the wheel nuts on a 3.5-tonne vehicle. It measures 165mm from the front tip of the socket drive to the rear of the motor housing. Other Lithium-ion powered launches include the BJV140RFE (14.4V) and BJV180RFE (18V) jigsaws offering a 26mm length of stroke and a maximum cutting capacity of 135mm in wood and 10mm in steel. The 18V BCS550RFE is a new metal cutting saw with a 136mm diameter blade. It has a 51mm depth of cut, can cut 3mm mild steel sheet, and is suitable for use in cable track and steel section installation. Other Makita developments include the launch of an HAV information resource explaining the associated risks and appropriate solutions. This is available as an interactive DVD or can be accessed via the company’s web site. Also being introduced is ToolMinder, a tool tagging system developed in association with Earlsmere ID Systems of Barnsley. It can produce colour-coded tags showing safety information like levels of noise and HAV, which can be secured to equipment. The computer-based system can also be used as a management aid, calculating operator exposure levels when using several tools in a day, with a user-definable database of other relevant information. • T
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211678 Executive Hire News › Archives › April 2007 › Executive Report › Tooled-up for hire
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