Stihl: NEWS | FEATURES | KIT
PRO ARB PAID A VISIT TO STIHL’S RECENT PRESS EVENT AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM, WHERE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE BRAND’S CORDLESS RANGE – AND NEW LAUNCHES
Cordless power
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arch saw Stihl host a press event at Westonbirt Arboretum. The event’s main news, alongside the launch of the new MS 462 C-M, was a prototype of the Stihl MS 500i, the world’s first fuel injection chainsaw. The excitement surrounding it was palpable; look out for more on this in the coming months. The other big news is the change of the Viking branding on Stihl’s line of lawnmower and groundscare products; the first Stihl cordless mowers launch in spring 2018, and the rest of the Viking range – including petrol and electric lawnmowers, tillers, scarifiers and shredders – will come under the Stihl brand and colours from 2019. The day’s main aim, though, was to demonstrate Stihl’s pro cordless products. Launched in 2009, the range now includes 29 products; as it heads into 2019, Stihl is committed to making all its cordless products compatible with the original AP battery model, ensuring older models aren’t left obsolete. In a demonstration of two Stihl telescopic pole pruners – one battery powered, one petrol powered – the cordless tool proved to be just as fast as the petrol tool. Battery kit is also lighter and quieter, making it ideal for anyone working in a sensitive environment. In addition, it often proves significantly cheaper: “An MSA 200 with the AP 300 battery can run for approximately 35 minutes on one charge, which costs
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Pro Arb | April 2018
around 3p and takes around 35 minutes to charge,” our demonstrator explained. Last year, Stihl launched a number of new products. The first was the FSA 130 brushcutter, a professional battery tool that is available with either a bike handle or a loop handle and is designed to be plugged into the brand’s backpack battery, or an AP battery with a connecting cable to a pouch or backpack. The brand also launched two hedge trimmers, HSA 94 R (for rough cutting) and HSA 94 T (for trimming), each featuring a rotating handle to provide comfort in different positions. Another important launch of the day was the KMA 130 Kombi motor. Anyone currently in possession of an existing petrol kombi attachment who wishes to switch to the battery-powered tool would just need to spend £320 on the new cordless powerhead, plus the cost of a battery, which could ultimately save them a considerable amount in the long run. The new powerhead works with 11 Kombi tools in the range, including hedge trimmer, pole pruner, tiller, scrub cutter and blower attachments. Petrol products aren’t redundant just yet, though: as Stihl explained, range has to be taken into account when using battery tools. When it comes to working in the field, petrol tools are often preferable, providing longer uninterrupted working sessions. Stihl will be focusing on both markets as it goes forward. www.stihl.co.uk
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