Australian Pump Industries has lifted production of its 4,000psi A-Class pressure cleaners to meet the increased demand from professionals using high pressure water blasting equipment looking for machines with maximum capability that fall into A-Class operator safety rules.
The new safety standards (AS/NZS 4322.1) apply to all users of high pressure cleaners, Aussie Pumps Chief Engineer John Hales said.
“Machines are categorised according to their performance levels. A-class machines fall under 5600 bar/litre per minute. That means machines that have performance levels in excess of 4,000psi and more than 20lpm ie: 21 or 22lpm fall outside that range and move into B-Class.
“It is mandatory operators of B-Class machines are formally certified by trainers operating under the auspices of a registered RTO (Registered Training Organisation),” John said.
“The realisation the world has changed with the new safety standards is still sinking in,” John said.
“Many operators of professional pressure cleaners do not realise under the new standards they should now be certified and their machines re-equipped with essential components that include E-stops, hose-protection devices and, in certain applications, foot valve controllers.”
Australian Pump’s Ultra, 4,000psi 20lpm machine falls into the A-Class.
“We’ve had to boost production numbers substantially to meet the demand as users decide to ‘get pure’,” John said.
This heavy duty machine is part of Aussie’s registered award-winning ‘Scud’ design. Aussie’s Scud series deliver better results and offer users OHS advantages not found in other units, John said.
“For example, the Scud design has virtually no ‘sharps’ and its ergonomics allow easy movement on site. The weight distribution and four big 13” steel wheels with flat-free tyres make the blaster extremely manoeuvrable,” John said.
“The machine is as easy to push around as a baby’s pram.
“The Ultra packs real whack and when used with an Aussie heavy-duty turbolance delivers a whopping pressure rating of 6,800psi. That turbo rating does not impact on the classification of the machine which is always rated based on its pump bar/litres per minute rating, not the impact or effectiveness of the work being carried out.
“The big machine is powered by a Honda GX630 23HP heavy-duty electric start twin-cylinder engine and features a ‘Big Berty’ Bertolini triplex pump with a slow speed pump and a gearbox drive. The company chose to use Honda engines because of their excellent market reputation, their service support network and famous ease of starting.
“Honda engines start the first time every time,” John said.
“That’s why customers love them and won’t go for third world copies.”
Australian Pump was fast to respond to the new standards by modifying the Ultra to bring it into the A-Class category.
“The A-Series machine is completely compliant with the new standards but doesn’t require the operator to be certified,” John said.
“Our A-Class training program is available free of charge for operators of all machines in the A-Class category,” he said.
The training program has been warmly received by the market as a real effort by Aussie to help operators to stay safe on the job.
“Our efforts in this direction are all part of our ‘Safe Operator’ program,” John said.
“Our slogan of ‘Faster, Smarter, Safer’ is not just empty words but a mantra by which the company operates. It drives our advanced, innovative designs and reinforces a clear understanding we are out to cut times, improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. We expect the market to continue to embrace the new Ultra ‘A’ model and to come with us on a journey of helping to make users safer and more efficient,” he said.
Contact: 02 8865 3500 or visit: www.aussiepumps.com.au