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Executive Report: Hilti maintains its initiative EHN’s power tool specialist Phil Mist continues to be impressed by Hilti’s innovation, having given its latest launches a thorough hands-on assessment. Hilti
has
earned
a
reputation
for
high
quality
throughout
its
range
of
rotary
hammer
drills,
demolition
hammers,
and
construction
fixings.
Not
surprisingly,
it
has
a
programme
of
constant
innovation
and
continuous
product
updates.
Barely
a
month
goes
by
without
the
company
announcing
a
new
initiative,
and
during
almost
every
quarter
throughout
the
year,
it
seems,
a
new
power
tool
comes
on
to
the
UK
market.
This
is
great
news
for
the
manufacturer’s
sales
personnel,
who
constantly
have
something
fresh
to
talk
about.
However,
Hilti
products
are
known
to
carry
a
premium
sales
tag,
Recently, Hilti introduced the first models in an innovative range of rotary drilling and demolition hammers in the UK, incorporating features which should become cornerstones of its hammer range for the next few years. The line-up has now been augmented by two more models. The smaller tool, the TE 106, is a compact chiselling machine weighing just 3.6kg. Powered by a 700watt motor and having a single energy blow rating of only 2.5J, it punches well above its weight. Designed principally for repair work rather than demolition, the tool has a maximum blow rate of 4,010bpm and in tests it removed tiles and plaster, and chased concrete, with ease. It is easy to use, having a ‘D’ shaped rear handle with an in-built level of vibration reduction, a rubber-padded area at the front, and a large on/off switch with a lock-on facility. Hilti claims a tri-axial vibration rating of 7.9m/s2 for the TE 106 when chiselling (measured to EN60745-1:2006) and 10.5m/s2 when using the scaling adaptor (to EN5349), levels that are difficult to argue against following hands-on evaluation. The SDS-Plus front end, designed for lightweight chisels and points, can be quickly changed to a needle adaptor for removing rust and paint, and for cleaning concrete. With an up-rated hammer mechanism and other internal improvements, Hilti claims that the tool can outlast competitors by a factor of up to three times. Filling the gaps A
new
demolition
hammer
in
the
6kg
class
helps
fill
one
of
the
gaps
in
Hilti’s
range
under
this
category.
The
TE
500-AVR
has
the
same
Active
Vibration
Reduction
found
in
the
considerably
larger
The TE 500-AVR is powered by a mighty 1,100watt universal motor, which operates at up to 3,180bpm and has a single energy blow rating of 7.5J. Weighing just 5.7kg, it can be used not only downwards, but also for breaking concrete in a horizontal position. The tool is said to offer an improvement of 40% in performance over previous models, effectively doubling the amount of concrete that can be broken before reaching the HAV exposure limit value (ELV). Constant speed electronics also boost performance. A
360°
front
handle
and
a
large
rear
handle
with
a
simple
lock-on
switch
enhance
operator
comfort
and
give
total
control
over
the
machine,
even
under
extreme
load.
With
service
intervals
set
at
100
hours,
the
TE
500-AVR
is
said
to
offer
an
increase
of
20%
in
reliability.
A
service
light
illuminates
when
maintenance
is
necessary,
and
the
tool
eventually
shuts
itself
down
if
this
is
not
carried
out.
During
servicing,
the
elastomers
should
be
changed
to
maintain
low
vibration
levels.
In
comparative
breaking
tests
against
several
competitive
machines,
the
TE
500-AVR
came
second
only
to
the
The
TE
500-AVR
has
a
two-position
rotating
knob
on
the
left
hand
side,
with
one
position
enabling
the
chisel
to
be
set
in
the
required
direction,
while
the
other
is
a
hammer-only
setting.
The
front
The machine has a double seal around the ram and fewer working parts in the hammering area, together with an oil-lubricated front end. The hammer section is isolated from the gearbox and this, together with the robustness of other components, reduces wear at the front end. A large fan cools the motor during prolonged use. Whilst the TE 500-AVR looks similar to the established TE 40-AVR, its major distinguishing features include a different chuck mechanism, a lock-on switch and the inclusion of separate gear and hammer mechanism compartments. Hilti’s theft protection system (TPS) is also incorporated, which the customer can choose to activate or not. Both the TE 500-AVR and TE 106 tools are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, lifetime service and cost repair limit schemes.The advanced features in these two machines provide superb value for money, with high levels of performance, low vibration emissions and extended service intervals. They certainly maintain Hilti’s reputation for innovation, quality and performance. • T
0161
886
1000 Executive Hire News › Archives › September 2007 › Executive Report › Hilti maintains its initiative
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