Vanguard, Briggs & Stratton’s brand for commercial power solutions, is focused on supplying highperformance engines and battery solutions to the professional and industrial trades.
The brand allows companies to overcome power related obstacles such as lack of consistency with battery usage across the working day. Its game-changing battery systems are designed to be efficient and longlasting, giving construction trade organisations, such as WOLFF, the ability to combat issues faced across the industry.
There are a number of challenges that are faced by professionals in the construction industry. These can include a lack of consistency, flooded batteries and sustainability concerns. One of the most significant challenges is the lead-acid batteries that have traditionally been used for ride-on floor strippers. The technology used in lead-acid batteries does not allow for consistent use across a full eight-hour working day which can result in reduced productivity and efficiency, as well as increased health and safety risks and complicated scheduling.
WOLFF, part of the Uzin Utz SE, has been a premium partner for the global flooring trade industry for over 70 years. The company is known for its award-winning, high-quality machines and tools, which are used for removing floor coverings.
The issues surrounding a lack of consistency and reduced productivity drove WOLFF to seek a battery system that would work from start to finish with no loss of performance. To deliver this, WOLFF needed a fixed battery that had the capacity to deliver consistent power for a significant timeframe without sacrificing efficiency and capability. This was achieved by working with Briggs & Stratton and its Vanguard commercial battery systems. WOLFF is utilising Vanguard power technology with its first ride-on floor stripper ‘Independence’ through the use of the 48V 5.0kWh fixed battery Packs (Fi5.0), which deliver constant performance of up to 12 hours.
WOLFF’s engineers had gone to market to identify suitable lithium packs and found that Vanguard’s Fi5.0 was the perfect fit. Its 51.6 V nominal voltage sat perfectly on a 48-V DC bus, while its 98.7 Ah / 5.0 kWh capacity could be paralleled with up to ten packs, so that two units combined would deliver the more than 10 kWh needed for powering a double shift ensuring both consistency and efficiency.
The use of Briggs & Stratton’s Vanguard Fi.5.0 battery model allows the Independence floor stripper to have a completely maintenance free drivetrain. There is no requirement for outgassing and refilling, meaning the need for daily water top-ups, eye wash stations and explosive hydrogen management are all mitigated. Moreover, health and safety paperwork downtime is minimised.
Vanguard’s battery system delivers reduced noise levels and zero local emissions for WOLFF. The fixed battery packs have also ensured that the Independence floor stripper system is not just powerful but economical as well. The Vanguard Fi5.0 also provides 2,000 cycles before capacity drops to 80% – this translates to five years of daily charging with Vanguard supplying an 8-year commercial warranty for the battery. In addition, the battery was the perfect size to integrate into the machine, sized at 78 cm wide. This all highlights how integrating with Vanguard was the ideal choice for WOLFF.
Conveniently, the battery packs in the Independence share the machine’s native 48-V rail, meaning no DC converters are required. Data from the batteries flows straight onto the machine’s one-hand remote and CAN messages from the Battery Management System are decoded by the WOLFF controller. The Independence stripper comes with two 1050 W chargers that plug directly into the wall at 230V, both refilling overnight or a single pack can recharge to full in three hours. By working with Briggs & Stratton, companies who operate in the construction industry can be backed by the quiet yet powerful Vanguard fixed battery solutions which allow the latest innovations to operate with consistency, strength and efficiency.
Steffen Hoffman, Application Engineer at Briggs & Stratton EMEA, states: “Our Vanguard Fi5.0 battery is the perfect fit for electric indoor applications such as the Wolff floor stripper, as it operates with zero emissions at the point of use and reduces noise levels. When used in parallel, the two batteries communicate via CANbus and the J1939 protocol, which provides real-time data on charge level, temperature, and current flow providing the operator with convenience and consistency. Optimal load balancing, extended runtime, and maximum system reliability and safety are assured.”
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