6 minute read
Special Who sells Ride-On machines for removing old wooden floors, carpet, stone, etc?
THE SECRET OF MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
THERE ARE PLENTY OF SOLUTIONS FOR EACH TYPE OF WORK
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Martijn Wouters (Husqvarna Group)
‘Type, location, and scale of a project determine whether or not you choose Ride-On.’
When it comes to Ride-On machines, the Swedish Husqvarna Group stands out, certainly after the takeover of Blastrac at the end of 2020. They provide parquet floor fitters with an extensive range, which further builds on the range of walk-behind machines and even offers a machine which you can stand behind. In some cases you can even operate machines by remote control. Martijn Wouters, sales manager for surface and floors at Husqvarna Benelux since the start of this year after being director of sales at Blastrac Benelux, shows us the range. Before he does so, he takes a detour to the ‘step machines’. This is necessary because you can’t see one without the other.
‘In some cases a Walk-Behind is the only solution. Think, for instance, of works which have to be carried out on a storey. In that case we offer a smaller model which can be dismantled. Our smallest in the series, the BS 75, is easy to dismantle and is especially suitable for smaller projects. Think of the removal of wall-to-wall carpet or PVC, for instance. Then, there’s the BS 110, which cannot be dismantled and has more weight and somewhat more power, although it is still manageable and two people can lift it up. I refer to these machines because it’s important for floor fitters to realise that ride-on machines aren’t the solution for everything since weight is a restriction.’
From stripper to grinder
With the Ride-On machines, Martijn Wouters starts with the BMS 150, which is the smallest Ride-On stripper in the range. ‘Here, we’re talking about a weight of 400kg, which you can raise to 600kg. This BMS 150 is driven by 220 volts, with a smart reel, so that you never cut the leads by accident. It’s very suitable for smaller rooms and ideal for places where you can’t put too much pressure on the floor. Think here of the renovation of flats or care homes where there’s a maximum weight limit of 800kg in lifts. You can always get this machine upstairs for a project.’
‘A heavier machines is the BMS 220, with weights up to 1100kg and ideal for more difficult floors. Think here of the removal of elements such as tiles, epoxy, or chipboard. The BMS 220 is driven by battery and can run for between six and eight hours on a full battery. And so, this Ride-On machine lasts for a whole working day.’
‘The last sit machine which I want to mention is the powerful BMG 2200, a grinder which you sit on. The BMG 2200 has a grinding width of 2.20 metres, possesses a fully integrated system with a dust suction unit, and can be operated by remote control. And so, you can also walk alongside the machine. Here you notice that the dust suction and pre-separator protrude at the rear and that you can use this machine for much more than just grinding. Amongst other things, for instance, you can freshen up floors (e.g. cleaning, polishing, renovating) or you can remove levelling layers or coatings. If you have to do a lot of square metres, this is the ideal machine because it’s highly efficient.’
BMP 4000: a Stand-On
In closing, Martijn Wouters also mentions the BMP 4000. Strictly speaking, this isn’t a Ride-On, but it does have all the benefits of one. ‘This BMP 4000 is actually a milling machines which you stand behind on a sort of platform. This machine is now also available with remote control and is deployed for the removal of top layers, which are literally shattered by a series of tiny hammers.’
For more information or a demonstration, please call Husqvarna on +32-(0)3-6466212 or send an e-mail to bds.customerservices@husqvarnagroup.com
Photo – Husqvarna
During the pandemic, which is hopefully almost over, we all discovered the interior. The renovation market played a big part there, so that machines used for renovation work were in great demand.
What solutions do manufacturers offer? We asked them, for instance, which chisels and blades they fit onto these ride-on machines, what the situation is in 2022 with machines powered by fossil fuels or electrically driven, or what the various machines can achieve in surface and/or working hours.
Traditional stripper
One appliance which manufacturers are promoting is the floor stripper for loosening floor coverings like carpet, vinyl, linoleum, or even concrete or wooden flooring tiles. Here we find that most strippers are electrically driven. Moreover, it is also clear that the battery is the future, since most equipment now operates cable-free. We also notice how the operating width and the blade sections largely vary from 20 to 35 centimetres.
You should remember that there is a direct link between the work surface and the choice of tool. For instance, we note weights of 150 to 500kg for medium and bigger appliances, often with the option of making them even heavier. Really big machines even weigh up to one tonne.
A brief summary
If we summarise the features of professional machines, a number of elements recur frequently. In particular, remember that you should look out for convenience of operation and that the tools are controlled hydraulically. It’s also important that they operate silently and without any emissions, that the work surface can be adjusted in height and angle, that there is no loss of swivel and that tyres don’t leave any marks, that the machines are easy to transport, load, and unload, and that they fit in average size lifts, that there is a wide choice of work sheets, and, finally, that there are various options for increasing the weight.
Another specialist has his say
Bona
The Bona Flexi Sand 1.9 is a powerful multifunctional machine for all floor operations. This machine can be fitted with various drive discs for various tasks such as sanding down to the bare wood, fine sanding, or applying oil. It can even grind concrete using the special disc the Bona Concrete Disc. The magnetic holder of the Bona Concrete Disc makes it possible to change segments quickly and easily, including Diamond, PCD Split, and PCD Maxi. Available segments with diverse functions: The Bona PCD Maxi is for removing thick adhesive residue, epoxy, and carpet foam. The Bona PCD Split is for removing polyurethane, thin adhesive residue, and paint. The Bona Diamond Segment is for removing sinter layers, processing concrete surfaces, and more. You can sand in any direction with the Bona Concrete Disc and the easily replaced magnetic segments.
Renovation of old wooden floors
with the IGEL milling drum for the HUMMEL ®/ELF and the milling attachment for the FLIP ® . Remove: ✔ Paint and carpet adhesive residues, ✔ Leveling compound, ✔ Carpet and cork back residues, ✔ Multiple layers of old varnish and ✔ Lubricating parquet varnishes. Preprocessing: ✔ Heavily cupped floorboards.
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