Page 14 - OPE July-Aug 2021

MARKETPLACE
Generators & Water Blasters
adequate power for essential services. And smaller inverter generators are
favoured by town dwellers, lifestyle blockers, those populating motorhomes and caravans, and free spirits living off the grid.
Blue Wing Honda GM, Damien Smyth, says: “Fieldays was a positive event for us, and we experienced lots of enquiry for portable product,” adding that Honda has been trading very well for the year with increased demand for generators.
But it’s been an unusual year: “We usually see a spike around inclement weather and storms but we’re yet to see too many so far this year. Despite that, generator demand is high,” says Damien.
Kiwi “staycations” may be one aspect driving generator demand: “It makes sense, with people spending more time in New Zealand, travelling locally and camping, that portable models would be highly sought- after.”
Whether they’re planning ahead or upgrading, Damien Smyth says people are looking for stable power sources with
off-grid and mobile homes driving that. Elsewhere, far-sighted farmers and
businesses are investigating larger portable inverters to ensure they have full standby generation in place before the next major weather event strikes, demand inevitably spikes, and freight becomes even more problematic.
Portability is a desirable feature on farms as farmers can use a generator in an area where it is needed most, as back-up for a milking shed or up beside the house.
“We’re finding that industrial generator demand is also buoyant,” says Honda’s Damien Smyth, adding: “However supply for everything is a challenge at the moment.
“We are fortunate, however, to have a good pipeline for generators and plenty of stock, so local Honda dealers can support customers who need the product now.”
Lack of new generators no barrier
Power solution businesses leverage off trade shows like Fieldays and, while demand is high in 2021, suggesting more end-users are
planning ahead, new generator models were thin on the ground this time round.
Not currently selling outside of its main dealer channel, Yamaha Comms Manager, Scott Kennedy, concedes that the brand has not launched any new generators in the last 12 months since launching the new EF2200IS which completed the brand’s line up from 1,000W all the way up to 11KVA.
At Yamaha’s level, customers are shopping for quality, reliability, and quietness.
“We are still seeing strong growth in sales year on year,” Scott reports. “Online sales through ShopYamaha continue to show strong growth and, since the lockdowns, consumers are confident in researching and making significant sized purchases online
– as long as they have confidence in the brand.”
At BE Pressure, Director John Lahman highlights generators as one of his core products that sold particularly well at Fieldays.
“It’s a varied market; generators just
go everywhere. We’ve been doing a lot of business with both the Honda-branded product and in our own BE-branded, Honda-powered range. They’ve been selling right across the board,” her says, before adding “I can’t pinpoint precisely why.”
“In the past at Fieldays we’ve found people to be a little uninformed about product options and applications.
“But this year we found they knew what they were looking for. Some had new solar systems and were looking for that final component that solar companies don’t sell – and that’s a generator.”
One BE model that John says “shone through” was the Powerease Deluxe.
“We tend to find a lot of people buy generators on price rather than what is best suited to the job at hand, so we always encourage them to look at a slightly bigger generator than they perhaps need because it’s easier to start at the top and work your way backwards.”
John Lahman says the Powerease “won’t fail anybody”, offers portability when
014 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT JULY/AUGUST2021
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AES BUILDS ON FOUR DECADES OF WATER BLASTER EXPERTISE
AES IS CELEBRATING a major
milestone, chalking up 40 years of building water blasters that are proven to last.
“Our Tornado Water blasters have evolved from one model first produced in 1981 to the current line-up of 14 different models with a variety of pressure and flow rate combinations to meet customer needs,” explains AES Director, Alan Bisley.
AES’s Tornado range features genuine Honda petrol engines (with a 3-year NZ warranty) and European-made A&R
or Udor Ceramic plunger pumps and components. The company offers three direct-coupled (high-speed) pump models for light and general usage.
Adds Alan Bisley: “Our 11 heavy duty models are fitted with a Udor reduction gear-box and Udor low-rpm pump, and
typically last three to five times longer than direct coupled pumps.”
Tornado water blasters are fitted with
a pressure gauge that verifies operating pressure, a vital instrument for checking the correct operation of the pump and unloader valve, and a separate bolt-on unloader valve “which costs a little
more initially but will save the owner
on substantial repair costs later on. The unloader valve is one of the highest wearing components on a water blaster and will need to be replaced typically three or four times during the life of a high- pressure pump.”
Tornado Safety features include a burst disc or safety valve to help protect not only the pump from over-pressurisation but the operator from possible injury, and a heat- sensitive thermo protector valve to lessen
the likelihood of overheating due to poor operator practices.
AES has been importing Udor pumps from Italy since the early 1980s and in 2011 were appointed sole importers of Udor high pressure plunger pumps for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Udor pumps feature brass pump heads, solid ceramic plungers and stainless- steel valve assemblies. Long life and low servicing costs are standard features
of Udor pumps and gearboxes, and the pumps are available from 4L/min to 240L/ min and from 60 Bar (900psi) to 1,250 bar (18,100psi)
On top of which, Alan Bisley says the AES team prides itself on “unbeatable spare parts back-up” with parts on the shelf and ready for immediate nationwide dispatch.
www.aesblasters.co.nz
Powerease Deluxe Series Generator
BE PRESSURE HAS
introduced a High-Load Wool Press & Welder Model in its Powerease Deluxe generator range. Billed as powerful and reliable, the G11000-RELT MAX features a compact heavy-duty frame that is powder-coated in black, waterproofed spec panel, 8-inch flat- free wheels with handles, special anti-vibration mounts and a 3-in-1 digital meter (hours, voltage, frequency). The Powerease 17HP single cylinder petrol engine with electric start delivers up to 8,500W (max 8,000W continuous) for 12V 8A DC output and a long range is guaranteed thanks to a 25L fuel tank.
www.bep.kiwi