 |
| Main Menu | News By Date | News By Supplier | News By Category | About Us |
|
LEAF BLOWER'S TANK RELIES ON DUPONT ZYTEL TO SHOW FUEL LEVEL, WITHSTAND RUGGED USE
Durability, good looks, and "see-through" practicality come together in a fuel tank for STIHL BR 420 Series backpack blowers and sprayers for professional landscapers. The tank is made from a new translucent, glass-reinforced grade of DuPont Zytel nylon resin. It consists of two injection molded parts, an upper and lower body. They are vibration-welded around their perimeter to produce a leak-resistant seam. The tank material, Zytel FE5322, provides the required combination of translucence, strength, stiffness, toughness and fuel resistance, according to Jorge Theresin, Stihl's production planning and control manager. "The translucent tank allows the operator to check the level of oil/gas fuel, and it looks much better than opaque gray tanks used on other models," Theresin says. "Looks really count in our market," he adds. The material's retention of its initial translucent white color during molding and subsequent welding also helps attract buyers. The use of Zytel FE5322 allows Stihl to engineer a tank that withstands the rigors of heavy use by professional landscapers, other commercial users and government agencies. It provides excellent resistance to impact and aging effects as well as attack by gasoline and oil. The strength and stiffness of the glass-reinforced Zytel resin helped Stihl engineers combat potential fuel leaks around the tank's filler cap. To avoid them, Stihl uses a patented cap that screws into an internal thread in the fuel tank neck. "A snug fit is essential during operation, so we need an exceptionally rigid tank construction material that resists flexing when subjected to vibration forces. Glass-reinforced Zytel meets the need perfectly," says Theresin. Stihl mounts the tank onto the backpack frame and uses ring buffers to dampen vibration. Frame mounting also allows easy access to blower parts in the event of repairs. STIHLBR 420 Series blowers weigh 19.6 pounds (8.89 kg) and are equipped with a two-cycle engine capable of producing 180 mph (80 m/sec) air velocity. Stihl, a global organization with U.S. operations based in Virginia Beach, Va., produces a full line of powerful, lightweight and versatile outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. The company's products are sold through independent servicing retailers of power equipment from coast to coast. For more information or locations of nearby dealers, visit Stihl's web site, stihlusa.com or call 1-800-GOSTIHL (467-8445).
|
| ©2008 New Materials International |