Page 7 - OPE0922

MARKETPLACE
Trimmers & Brushcutters
Are you up for the challenge?
With both battery- and petrol-powered products on the increase, why are there challenges ahead? Steve Bohling finds out why...
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN line trimmers and brushcutters? Let’s get a handle on supply and demand
first.
Mike Roberts, Husqvarna NZ Country
Manager, having already aired his views on the current outdoor power marketplace elsewhere in this edition (see page 2), we turn to STIHL New Zealand Product Manager Phil Needham to get his take on what’s happening in trimmers & brushcutters.
Phil’s “gut feel” is that while the general domestic market has been “probably a little more affected” by last year’s lockdowns etc, for professional and commercial applications it is simply “business as usual to a degree.”
Overall, says Phil, “demand is fairly typical” for the time of year.
Steelfort GM Gavin Lowndes says the firm’s recent launch of LawnMaster trimmers, brushcutters and other handheld products is also “going along quite nicely, probably where we expected it to be.”
Steve Huddleston, Masport’s Sales &
Marketing Manager, says the new Masport 60V Max line trimmer is selling well, his petrol-powered Solo products also.
“Supply has been okay, and we have been able to get our stock in. We were running lowish but that is normal with some stock arriving, so we are optimistic about how well the season is going.
“Obviously, pricing has gone up a lot, but I don’t really think that is really disturbing the market too much. People buy a new tool because they need it and will just buy a different model if price is an issue.”
You can see more on how the overall market is developing on page 2 of this edition.
Now for what’s happening with cordless or battery-powered trimmers and brushcutters.
Battery in trimmers & brushcutters
With growing interest in outdoor power from big name power tool brands operating mainly in the DIY retail market, the domestic user has in recent years seen massive growth in the ranges of battery outdoor power
THERE’S NO TRIMMING QUALITY...
EQUIPPED WITH A solid drive
shaft, Husqvarna’s 325L Line Trimmer is built to take on demanding tasks at home or on the farm. Easy to start thanks to SmartStart and intuitive controls like the Auto Return stop button, the 325L comes equipped with the professional T35 trimmer head which includes Tap-n-Go for quick and convenient line feed.
Smart Start means the 27.6 cc, 0.85 Kw engine and starter have been designed to start quickly with
minimum effort. Indeed, resistance in the starter cord has been reduced by up to 40%.
The 325L also features a straight shaft for extended reach, comfortable grip
for easy manoeuvring, light weight (5.0 kg excluding cutting equipment), high torque grass bevel gear which keeps the cutting equipment parallel to the ground for optimal cutting performance, and
a convenient see-through fuel tank for easier refuelling.
www.husqvarna.com/nz/
more at www. facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 NZ OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 07