Husqvarna’s Fleet Services is intended to help landscaping companies increase their productivity.Photo: Husqvarna
Husqvarna has released a new battery-powered blower and a cloud-based service that connects machines and workers on a whole new level.
Like many outdoor power equipment manufacturers, Husqvarna has focused on increasing the number of its products that use lithium-ion batteries. Such tools are not only more environmentally friendly than gas-powered equipment but can also be more efficient, according to the company.
The 436LiB blower has a cruise control and a power boost button.Photo: Husqvarna
The 436LiB blower features a keypad that allows the user to stop and start at the push of a button. The operator also has the option of using a cruise control button to maintain a constant speed, or the power boost when dealing with difficult debris.
Husqvarna’s new blower can also be paired with a battery backpack for longer run time.
Another innovation that Husqvarna has been working on is Fleet Services, which connects the machines and landscape professionals to an online portal that provides insights that are intended to help boost productivity.
Fleet Services works by attaching a wireless machine sensor to a piece of equipment that then transfers the machine’s data – such as engine-on time, engine RPM and temperature – to the cloud service.
The Fleet Service software then takes this data to determine how productive the company is, when machines need maintenance, when an operator needs more training with a piece of equipment and how much vibration employees encounter.
Husqvarna’s software also stores operator manuals, business leads and information on individual properties. Fleet Services is currently in final beta testing and is expected to be available sometime next year.
