Greening of the garden

A look at the product range makes one thing clear: Ryobi is positioned to score in the garden segment as well with an extremely versatile programme, thanks to the innovative solutions from Techtronic Industries. “Powerful and tailored precisely to the requirements of the user – and at very attractive prices,” is how Ralf Häfele, managing director of Techtronic Industries Central Europe GmbH (TTI), sees the image of the brand with the striking green tool casing. “We differ from other suppliers in that our programme includes garden tools with electric motors, as well as cordless devices and tools featuring petrol motors. Which means our offer covers the entire range in the field of power tools,” explains Häfele. Product developments in the storage battery segment are a focal point. Here Ryobi relies consistently on the use of lithium-ion batteries of 4, 18 or 36 Volts. When it comes to battery technology, Ryobi is capitalising on its own research and development, so that it now sees a technological lead, thanks to its new Lithium+ batteries with IntelliCell. These are at the heart of the One+ tool series, offering 18 Volt and a choice of 1.5 Ah or 4.0 Ah. Among the more than 35 appliances that can currently operate on these batteries are a number of garden tools. The practical feature here: you buy only the first tool complete with battery and charger, and can then add further tools without requiring another battery. Among the products currently available here in the garden category are a lawn clipper, hedge trimmer, pole pruner and a leaf blower. Other tools are due to follow next year. Ryobi sees many opportunities for applying the 18 V battery technology, particularly in the outdoor segment. Where more power is required the supplier offers an alternative in the shape of 36 V Li-Ion batteries, which are for instance used with the RLM 36X4OH lawnmower with ergonomic cow-horn handles on the height-adjustable shaft. The 36 V cordless RBC 36X26B trimmer features a bike handle and a carrying sling. The battery powering this tool is positioned at the bottom of the shaft where there would normally be a two-stroke motor. The inline electric motor can be found in the longitudinal axis of the shaft. It offers a runtime of up to 90 minutes on one charge. Ryobi is opening up a new chapter for power tools with the introduction of hybrid technology to meet the demand for tools using a variable power supply: a new 18 V trimmer in the One+ series can operate either in…