Page 15 - OPE July-Aug 2021

MARKETPLACE
Generators & Water Blasters
welding and high capacity to run most things that people would want to plug into it.
“It appeals across the commercial range and also for lifestyle block farming but is not suitable for the motorhome/campervan market because it’s a bit big and heavy. We have other models to suit those customers’ needs,” he adds quickly.
Staying with Fieldays, John Lahman found there was a commercial angle to enquiries from the likes of food cart/ coffee cart buyers, plus “a definite increase in customers wanting remote-start and auto-start for backing up a ‘loss of power’ scenario.”
Often this means backing up solar systems, whether they’re off-grid or on-grid.
Farmers at Fieldays, he adds, were interested in an all-round generator that they could use around the farm, and in particular something they could weld with, a task that demands specific power and reliability.
In the semi-rural lifestyle market, says John: “People are less likely to be looking to run a welder but need a small generator to run the lights, flush the loo and pump water back to the house.
Water blasters running hot
BE Pressure’s broad range of Fieldays customers extended to those shopping for a pressure cleaner, including trailerised models.
Supply issues however have required a workaround: “We’re actually getting a little low on stock,” concedes John Lahman, “and this year we had to direct pressure blaster traffic through very attractive pricing to what we could promptly supply.”
The upside was that customers were looking up rather than down in price, he found: “People were looking for a better quality blaster than they’d had in the past, not the mass-merchant type machine, but a credible motor and pump with good back-up service and they were well researched and armed with plenty of specific questions for the team.
“A lot of rural people also approached us, along with truck wash operators, lifestyle block owners and contractors with diggers. It really was a big cross-section of people.”
Another major category player and Fieldays exhibitor, Kärcher has also experienced significant growth over the last 12 months, even with the water restrictions
and benefitting from 50% more power compared to using a standard garden hose.”
Asked whether Kärcher was observing
a “flight to quality”, a trend where buyers are investing more in quality products, or upgrading to higher-spec models, Christie Yuen confirms that “unit sales of higher-end water blasters have definitely surged in the past year as people see the value of spending the extra $100-300 to acquire a better value- for-money product, better water blasting performance in return, and longer machine life.
“It is also about getting the water-blasting job done as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
Having said this, Kärcher’s K3 entry-
to-mid range machine remains a best seller for its price point. Perfectly adequate for light use, consumers looking to complete larger, longer tasks may benefit by looking upwards in specification.
Indeed, explains Christie Yuen: “It is very important to educate consumers about buying the right water blaster for the right job.
“If they’re looking to water blast multiple areas around the house, it is important for them to understand which machine will best fit their purpose and expectations.
“And depending on how often the water blaster is being used, we do recommend getting the machine serviced every two to three years.” n
HEAVY-DUTY
ELECTRIC
BLASTER
KÄRCHER IS BELIEVED TO be
the only brand in the local market offering a heavy-duty electric water blaster. The Kärcher K7+ is a top-end model that comes with a seven-year domestic warranty and one-year trade warranty. Technical specs include a 2,200W motor, and 2,600psi of pressure with water flow rate of 8.5L/min. Coverage is rated at 60m2 per hour. With a range of accessories and detergent included, the Kärcher K7+ can knock off a range of hard tasks around the home with ease.
www.karcher.co.nz
“People were looking for a better quality blaster than they’d had in the past, not the mass-merchant type machine, but a credible motor and pump with good back-up service and they were well researched and armed with plenty of specific questions”
“Full standby is not required, so it rarely needs to be a ‘flash’ inverter, and it can be a bit noisy because the neighbours are probably going to also be running a generator when the power’s down.
“A lot of those places are on gas, which means they’ve got hot water, so they just want to run lights until power is restored.
“For this, they just want to be able to pull the generator out of the garage and plug in to the cord that the electrician’s put in for them.”
The general consensus is that portability stops around the 11-12KVA mark because above this level, generators become too big and heavy to lift comfortably, and there are work safety considerations.
As we know from previous winters, forward-planning pays dividends when it comes to major weather events.
“When a big one occurs,” John Lahman explains, “people rush out to buy generators, but you often can’t get them there because roads are closed, and freight is delayed.
“Yes, we get the calls and the spike in interest, but we can’t promptly supply the product where it’s needed.
“If we dispatch the same day, we get an order, it can take five to seven days to reach the lower part of the South Island.”
in place across the Auckland region for a six-month period.
“Sales are very healthy year to date,” reports Marketing Executive, Christie Yuen, before adding that the brand won’t be sitting on its laurels: “We have some very strong marketing activity across
all platforms to ensure the water blaster category maintains good momentum for the coming season.”
In terms of features that resonate most with domestic users, Christie Yuen says although users are often attracted to the PSI the water blaster can deliver “It is important to note that having enough water flow rate to support the PSI is just as important to deliver an excellent high-pressure cleaning result.”
With the cost of water rising in some cities and water management top of mind everywhere, in terms of water saving, Kärcher launched a Clean Smart campaign last year to raise awareness of using recycled water in a water blaster wherever possible. The campaign was well-received around NZ.
And, although a pressure washer appears to be profligate with water, in fact it’s not: “By using a Kärcher water blaster,” says Christie, “you are saving 80% more water
New high-powered pressure cleaner
NOW FEATURING AN electric-start
Powerease Professional engine and practical two-wheel trolley, the new US-manufactured Powerease Pressure Cleaner offers 4,000psi performance at 15L/ min and has an advanced AR Plunger
Pump. The Powerease 15HP R420 Electric Start engine with lithium battery comes with a two-year commercial warranty and conforms to the Australian PESA 2017 Emissions Standard. Meanwhile the heavy-duty plunger pump has a built-in unloader valve
and drive speed of 3600 rpm. Accessories include 15
metres of hose, four quick
nozzles, gun, and lance.
www.bep.kiwi
more at www. facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
JULY/AUGUST 2021 NZ OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 015