Wacker Previews Two Dozen New Products For 2008

Leading light equipment manufacturer Wacker Corp., Menomonee Falls, Wis., recently gave construction-industry editors a peek at some two dozen new products the company will introduce at World of Concrete 2008 next January.

The new and improved products range from concrete saws and electric breakers to generators, compactors, trowels, climate control products, and a brand new line of compact wheel loaders.

The climate control products and compact wheel loaders represent the company's expansion into new types of products. The dehumidifiers are designed to dry flooded buildings quickly and the ground heaters thaw, prevent freezing and help cure concrete.

The compact wheel loaders, in 1.8-ton, 2.5-ton and 3.0-ton operating weights, are designed, says Wacker, to out-perform skid-steer loaders in capacity, speed and transportability.

Here's a brief rundown of Wacker's new offerings:

Wacker's new 1.8-ton WL 18, 2.5-ton WL 25 and 3.0-ton WL 30 compact wheel loaders are designed to deliver the performance of wheel loaders and to be an alternative to skid-steer loaders. All three models offer efficient operation, high payloads, ergonomic design, and excellent breakout force. All three also feature articulating bodies for maximum maneuverability.

A new carburetor for two-cycle rammers will make starting quicker and easier. A new purge bulb simplifies priming while eliminating any chance of over-priming. The rammer family of compactors will continue to offer low overall weight, 65-hour run time on one tank of oil, and a low-engine-oil shutoff protection, and reduced hand-arm vibration, and EPA certification.

Wacker is the first U.S. manufacturer to offer a 36-inch trowel with factory-installed wheel kit for improved maneuverability around job sites. Three new 48-inch trowels offer patent-pending torsion assist for easier steering; a choice of liquid- and air-cooled engines; and variable blade speeds from 20 rpm to 165 rpm.

The new EH 27 Low Vib electric breaker offers 18-percent more power with 28-percent less hand and arm vibration. Its leaf-spring dampening system cuts vibration in the entire upper housing, including the handles so operators can work longer with higher productivity.

The new GV portable generators combine commercial-grade quality with value pricing and offer the features that are really needed on a job site. They are ideal for powering electric pumps, breakers, drills, vibrators, saws, heaters, and other tools. Key features include: operating weights from 128 pounds to 221 pounds, horsepower output from 5.5 to 13, commercial-grade Honda engines, quiet operation, 120/240V output, and maintenance-free alternator.

Wacker's new line of mobile generators offers a wide variety of factory-installed options that can customize a generator for the dealer's or contractor's needs. Each one comes with the security of a full two-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. One option is a 135-gallon extended-run fuel tank that provides up to 72 hours of operation at full output, permitting unattended weekend operation of pumps. Other options include a cold-weather package and an environmentally safe fluid-containment package.

A brand new line of products for Wacker is its family of climate control products, which are useful for drying out buildings, thawing, preventing frost, curing, and air-heating applications. The trailerized portable units can easily be towed to a job site to provide complete climate control. The Dryvex MC 5200 system, patent pending, is for quick drying of flooded buildings in all types of weather to prevent mold. It can handle up to 270,000 cubic feet of space and remove up to 900 gallons of moisture per day. The CH 5000 Cross Heater can be used in thawing, frost prevention, curing, and heating. It works from outside the structure and includes 5,000 feet of transfer hose that can thaw up to 10,000 square feet of ground with the standard hose length, or 45,000 square feet with optional longer hoses.

Wacker will exhibit all of these products, and more, in its display at the World of Concrete show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., in January.