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Executive Report: Hilti’s latest haul This month sees the power tool manufacturer launching a significant number of new products targeted at hirers. Each year, Hilti launches new products in a series of tranches, one of which is in May. The good news for our industry is that many of those being introduced this month are aimed squarely at hire fleets. One of the most significant is the TE40-AVR combi hammer, a natural successor to the popular TE25 and TE35 with a claimed 20% increase in performance. The 1010watt machine produces more power, having a single blow energy rating of 4.9 joules, with fewer blows/minute (0-3,180), which helps reduce vibration levels. HAV is also addressed by the incorporation of active vibration reduction (AVR). The rear handle is effectively ‘decoupled’ from the rest of the tool by the incorporation of three mountings made from an automotive type elastomer with shock absorbent qualities. Particular care has been taken in achieving the optimum balance on the 5.5kg tool, which has an ergonomic D-grip handle. The TE40-AVR is designed for operational versatility and can accept a variety of interchangeable chucks including Hilti’s TE-C Click chuck (SDS-plus), a three-jaw key chuck, and finally a keyless quick-release chuck. Typical applications include hammer drilling in concrete, masonry and natural stone in a recommended diameter range of 14-24mm, light chiselling work on concrete and masonry, and occasional large diameter drilling. It can also be used for repetitive tasks like anchor hole drilling in concrete. Richard Blain, Hilti’s Product Manager – Power Tools, states that constant speed electronics are incorporated, which monitor the drill speed and avoid fluctuations caused by occasional peaks and troughs in the electricity supply, as can occur with generators. This is also said to give better results when using the tool for mixing various materials with an appropriate paddle attachment fitted to it. Another versatile new introduction is the TE 106 breaker and scaler. Rather than wholesale demolition tasks, its typical applications include remedial work where a light, accurate touch is required, such as scraping excess concrete from joints, tile removal, exposing rebars, and cleaning surfaces of rust, paint and plaster. Hilti says that another significant hire market is in the rail maintenance sector for cleaning the welds made between sections of track. Hilti’s National Tool Hire Manager, Martin Emery, believes that the product will prove very popular with hirers, particularly when supplied with a needle adaptor attachment. This enables precise operation into corners and up to edges and means that remedial work can be undertaken by an electrical tool rather than the need for specialist equipment powered by a compressor. The chuck on the 700watt TE 106 enables much more rapid changing between chisels and the needle adaptor, and the tool’s comparatively light weight of 3.6kg facilitates repetitive tasks and operation above the user’s head. Chisels can be set in any of 12 positions to make it easy to find the optimum configuration, and care has been taken to ensure an effective flow of air over the motor to keep it cool. Hammering speed is up to 4,080 blows/minute with a single impact energy of 2.4 joules. Also new is the TE 7-C rotary hammer, which follows on from the existing TE 6-C model. Weighing in at 3.5kg and rated at 700watts, the machine achieves a maximum hammering speed of 4,020 blows/minute with a single impact energy of up to 2.2 joules. It is designed for drilling over long periods, such as when making anchor holes in concrete, and has a stated optimum performance of up to 16mm in masonry, although it can be used with drill bits up to 28mm in diameter. It can also drill into wood or steel where a high torque is required, and an angular chuck is available for 90° drilling. The tool can be fitted with the DRS dust removal module, which was a finalist in the Safety Zone at this year’s Executive Hire Show. It is manufactured from a hard-wearing composite plastic to avoid leakage, unlike conventional systems using bags made of canvas or other materials, and it can protect both the operator and the environment from dust in food preparation areas, hospitals, IT installations and other sensitive locations. Dust control is also a feature of the new DEG 125-D angle grinder. It can be fitted with a compact, purpose-built dust hood for cutting to depths of 25mm, and a similar dust-free attachment for grinding can be used with diamond cup wheels. The tool accepts 125mm diameter discs and without the dust hood it can cut to a maximum depth of 35mm. It weighs in at 2.2kg and is rated at 1200watts. Hilti’s Active Torque Control (ATC), which has been used on the company’s combi hammers, is incorporated to reduce unwanted recoil movement. If a disc should become stuck in the base material, the ATC function interrupts the electrical current to the tool in a fraction of a second to reduce the risk of injury. In use, the company’s Smart Power system monitors performance based on the pressure applied to the tool to ensure constant cutting and avoid motor wear. A new addition to Hilti’s range of cordless tools powered by Lithium-ion batteries is the SF 144-A drill/driver, a 14.4V machine. Other existing tools in this category include an impact wrench, an impact driver and a hammer drill/driver. Featuring all-metal gearing and an impact resistant glass fibre reinforced housing, it weighs 2.2kg including the battery and chuck, and has a maximum screwdriving torque of 33Nm and 70Nm respectively in soft and hard materials. Cordless drill/driver The CPC (Cordless Power Care) charging system used for Hilti’s Lithium-ion batteries is designed to optimise performance and longevity. Individual cell protection electronics monitor and protect each cell against overheating, overloading and deep discharging. Like Hilti’s other power tools, these cordless products are also backed by Hilti’s Lifetime Service warranty initiative, consisting of an initial two-year no-cost period, a lifetime repair cost limit and a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, which covers the batteries and chargers as well as the tools themselves. Hilti believes that pro-active hirers can benefit by adding products from its latest laser measuring instrument line-up. The same size as a mobile phone, the new PD42 laser range meter can measure from 0.05-200m in and out of doors, to within 1mm accuracy. It can perform area, volume and Pythagorean calculations, and can be fitted to an extension pole to avoid working at height. A built-in optical sight facilitates readings in difficult conditions and measurements can be stored in memory. The
PMC
36
combines
the
functions
of
a
line
laser
and
a
point
laser.
By
generating
five
visible
laser
points
and
two
reference
lines
(horizontal
and
vertical),
it
effectively
replaces
spirit
levels,
plumb
bobs,
squares
and
chalk
lines.
It
can
facilitate
tasks
such
as
aligning
electrical
sockets,
cable
trays
and
pipe
runs,
and
can
transfer
measuring
points
for
aligning
a
drywall
partition.
Also
new
is
the
The PR25 IF rotating laser features Hilti’s Auto Alignment System, which is designed to enable the laser to find its reference point by itself. It can be used for levelling, aligning projecting inclines of up to 5° and setting out right angles. It can be used with the PRA 25 which functions as both a laser receiver and as a remote control. In the former mode its extra-long receiving window facilitates use in all lighting conditions and at distances of more than 150m from the rotating laser. The PR 25 IF has an enclosed rotating head and protective side handles for durability, and Product Manager Nigel Biscombe believes this, together with the unit’s operational versatility, makes it particularly appropriate for hire. • T
0161
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1000 Executive Hire News › Archives › May 2007 › Executive Report › Hilti's latest haul
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