Cordless technology is redefining the power tool business, and attendees at the recent Ace Tool Co. national dealer expo in St. Petersburg, Fla. got a chance to learn about Ingersoll Rand’s new cordless tools in a training seminar hosted by Mike Purtell, the strategic account manager for Nestor Sales LLC, the parent company of Ace Tool Co., and Andy Mandel, Ingersoll Rand project management team leader.
“The cordless technology has come leaps and bounds over the last five or even 10 years,” said Purtell at the outset of the presentation.
Mandel then explained the W 7150, a 1/2”, 20V, high-torque, cordless impact wrench in the company’s IQV20 Series 20-volt lithium-ion battery platform. “When technicians think about an impact wrench, everything is about power,” Mandel said. “However, we must also consider many other benefits, include durability, comfort, battery life, cost, brand reputation, service warranty and ease of maintenance.”
In designing this tool, Mandel said the company had two groups in mind – the automotive technicians and the jobbers.
He noted there are broad acceptance considerations for a cordless 1/2” impact wrench. It requires more than beating the competition. It also means providing a proposition that matches or beats that of 1/2” air impacts in general.
The tool also features 4-pole motor, rare-earth neodymium magnet motor, rubber-over molded grip and improved battery technology. The tool has 780 ft-lbs of torque. “It’s a better battery, a better motor and a better switch,” Purtell said. It also achieved 1,100 ft/lb nut busting torque.
Mandel said the tool’s durability was tested against repeated drops to the concrete ground and for exposure to fluid, and it surpasses life cycle targets. Mandel noted the company made changes as a result of aggressive field trials.
Secondary user concerns are comfort, balance, power compared to size, power compared to weight, and whether or not the vibration falls in line with lower power competitors.
Looking at other tools in the company’s IQV20 Series 20-volt lithium-ion battery platform, Purtell presented the W5130 3/8” Impact with 180 ft/lb, 1.5 amp battery.
Moving to new cordless ratchets, Mandel presented the R3130 3/8” 20V ratchet with maximum power of 54 ft/lbs, working torque of 10 to 45 ft/lbs and 0-225 rpm speed. “When you need that medium to heavy duty torque, there are not a lot of ratchets out there to use,” Mandel said.
Turning to new products in the IQV20 Series 20, the D5140 1/2” drill/driver with high speed of 0 to 1900 rpm and low speed of 0 to 500 rpm.
“Air tools will never go away,” Mandel said. “For ease and convenience, cordless is there. We can’t ignore the fact that this is the direction.”
“People want more from an impact platform than just ratchet,” Mandel added.
The Ingersoll Rand warranty for the IQV20 product line (free of defects in material and workmanship) includes a 1-year replacement on bare tool and charger; 2-year replacement on the battery; and a 3-year repair. For more information, visit www.irtools.com.
