Product News
Power-Assisted Pruners
Power-assisted pruners are designed to make the tedious task of pruning easier, safer and also help ensure the last vine is cut as well as the first. The pruners reduce the action of making a cut to a simple pull of a trigger, relieving stress on the operator’s hand and reducing the chances of a repetitive motion injury. By reducing fatigue, the manufactures also claim the pruners help ensure consistency throughout an entire pruning job, as less tired workers can focus on making the best cuts in the cleanest and most consistent manner possible.
The pruning systems featured here are powered by a battery attached to a vest or harness worn by the operator, but a few companies also produce pneumatic pruners powered by a tractor-mounted PTO air compressor.
Most pruners handle different cutting modes that vary in how much the cutting blade opens so the pruner can be adjusted for the thickness of the material being cut. Running different cut options can also save battery power and increase work time. The pruners have safety controls to reduce the risk of operator injury, and some systems support different implements for other types of work.
INFACO
Introduced this fall, the Electrocoup F3015 by Infaco features a smaller lithium-ion cobalt battery that weighs 1.79 pounds and provides up to nine hours of working time and can be recharged in 90 minutes. The shears have a cutting capacity of 40 mm or 1.57 inches. Optional cutting heads can extend capacity to 65 mm. Other features include on/off and battery power indicator lights on the shears, a power switch and 10 different half-open positions to suit pruning needs. Infaco also offers a patented conductive safety glove connected to the pruner with a spiral cord. When the cutting blade contacts the conductive material, the cutting motion is stopped immediately. Batteries for the pruners can also be stored in a “hibernation” or sleep mode when the pruning season is over so battery life isn’t compromised. Price: $2,197.
infaco-usa.com
ZENPORT
The SCA3 ePruner by Zenport has a 1.5-inch cut diameter and weighs 1.9 pounds. The pruner’s cutting action can be switched from 0.75 to 1.5 inches with a push of a button, and the cutting edge is made with SK5 Japanese steel. The lithium-ion battery can hold a charge for 14 hours or about 17,000 continuous pruning cuts. Price: $818.
zenportpruners.com
CAMPAGNOLA
The Cobra EVO pruner by Campagnola is the company’s latest version of power-assisted shears and features a larger cutting capacity. The Cobra features four cutting modes, 100% or full capacity at 1.38 inches, 70%, 40% or manual, in which opening and cutting is controlled by the operator. Weighing 2.02 pounds, the Cobra is powered by a lithium-ion battery with an operating life of 10 to 14 hours with a recharge time of eight hours. Distributed by Brewt Power Systems. Price: $2,195.
brewtpowersystems.com
FELCO
The 811 pruner by Felco is a hybrid of the company’s orchard and vineyard pruners designed to offer power as well as speed and precision. The shears have a cutting diameter up to 35 mm or 1.38 inches and feature several “semi-open modes” ranging from 50% to 60% to 70% and can be activated with the trigger or remote control. The battery harness can carry two Li-Po batteries that can be used sequentially or simultaneously. The supplier reports one battery can last a half day to one full day, depending on usage. Charging time is two hours. Price: $1,950.
felcousa.com
