Revolutionary technology for professional cordless tools and robotic mowers

Time for change among landscapers and greenkeepers

As a manufacturer, you have to follow market trends and translate them into innovative solutions. At Kress, they have understood that message well. The brand introduces 2 revolutionary technologies, which will significantly simplify the life of the professional landscaper and greenkeeper. With the 8-minute CyberSystem batteries, Kress offers a unique range of solutions, which can be fully charged in only 8 minutes, have a lifespan up to 10 times longer than traditional batteries and have at least the power of the heavier petrol machines. The innovative RTKn series robotic mowers, on the other hand, mow large areas of grass accurately and efficiently without the need for a boundary wire or fixed reference antenna. Time for a change for the professional, working in large residential gardens, but especially on golf courses, hotel facilities, soccer fields or cemeteries. 

The Kress team is "on tour" to present their latest developments to dealers in different countries. On the occasion of the Belgian premiere at the event center of Hotel Dolce La Hulpe in the heart of Brussels' Sonian Forest, CEO Don Gao took a moment to welcome Greenpro's editors. These are busy and exciting times for the entrepreneur and founder of one of the leading players in battery-powered tools for the DIY market, which has also been targeting the professional for several years with the Kress brand. Still, he seems relaxed. After all, we are at a wonderful, well-chosen location surrounded by greenery and everything is prepared to perfection. The team is ready to deliver his message of innovation and revolution. 

Kress has been distributing battery-powered tools and robotic mowers for professional landscapers and greenkeepers for some 3 years now through specialty dealers, working on commission. The products are delivered to the dealer, but remain the property of the manufacturer until sold. The price is also fixed, keeping margins stable. Therefore, the dealer does not have to deal with additional aspects and can focus entirely on selling and servicing products. Innovation is in the manufacturer's genes. Today, however, they go a step further and bring us to the start of a new era with revolutionary technologies that answer the professional's demands for electrification and robotization of the working environment. Welcome to the post petrol era.

Electrification

The move toward electrification has been underway for at least 10 years and is already very deeply ingrained, especially in the DIY and consumer markets. Until now, however, this transition among professionals has been much slower, even though everyone worldwide is convinced that gasoline-powered products cause pollution and are therefore bad for the environment and the health of the user. According to Don Gao, there are several logical reasons, which cause many not to take the step to battery-powered electric devices: "For gardeners and greenkeepers, charging the existing batteries takes too much time. After all, one cannot change batteries quickly enough. Moreover, the lifespan of those batteries is far too short. Although some manufacturers guarantee 500 to even 800 cycles, in reality it is only 300 and even less. Therefore, with intensive use, the batteries are quickly "extinguished. In many cases, the products also lack the power to run the motor properly, especially in heavy work. Last but not least: the price. The batteries are far too expensive to buy, making it unprofitable."

Kress changes that today with the introduction of a revolutionary solution: the batteries of the 8-minute CyberPack series. "Our R&D department developed a battery that is fully charged in just 8 minutes. Indeed, thanks to an advanced cell technology, the battery remains cool, so it does not need to cool down before charging. So there is not a second of downtime. Furthermore, this innovation offers a solution to the problem of longevity. Indeed, this solution lasts 5 times longer than Lithium polymer cells and even 10 times longer than Li-Ion OPE batteries with cylindrical cells," explains the CEO. "And there are even more advantages. For example, advanced battery communication optimizes performance and charging. When the battery is connected, the Kress Commercial app provides battery diagnostic data, theft protection and all the information for fleet management, among other things. An LED indicator shows the battery's capacity at all times, and an intelligent battery management system watches over communication between the battery and Kress Outdoor Power Equipement products. Finally, we also keep the cost of purchase low, making the threshold very low for the professional to invest in this technology." These batteries can be used for various cordless products in the range: brushless grass trimmers, brush mowers, brushless hedge trimmers, brushless chain saws, back blowers and self-propelled mowers.  

Robotization

Another important issue in our society is the automation and robotization of a wide variety of applications. Our population is aging and, in addition, finding technically skilled personnel remains a challenge. At Kress, they argue that 50 % of a landscaper's work can be robotized. Robotic lawn mowers are already being used by consumers to mow their lawns at home, but for gardeners and greenkeepers as well as the owners of golf centers, hotel properties and other facilities with large fields, this technology is not yet accessible or more difficult to access today. For robotic lawnmowers with boundary wire, dealer intervention is more often required to set up the system. Current systems without boundary wire are also often not suitable for mowing large lawns. Today, with the Mission RTKn series of robotic mowers, Kress launches a revolutionary solution without boundary wire ánd fixed reference antenna.

"We are certainly not the only supplier of such robotic mowers, but again, we go that extra mile. Many systems work via radio waves and go up to 500 meters. In addition, the mower must always see an antenna. That means if there are 100 mowers, 100 antennas are also needed. For the dealer, that involves a lot of work and also a lot of maintenance. With our systems, it is sufficient to link them with 1 single antenna. So if you provide 100 lawnmowers with this revolutionary technology, the startup is much faster. To establish a virtual border, you simply walk along the edge of the lawn with a trolley and this system will transmit the signal. In a few minutes, you're done," Don Gao explains. "These unmanned mowers are ideal for working on large lawns. They work as accurately and efficiently as a lawnmower used by a consumer. They are instructed by the RTKn network, navigating the lawn to mow everything down to the centimeter. The dead-roading algorithm ensures accuracy where lines of sight to the satellites are blocked by trees and buildings. Moving Action Plan (MAP) technology ensures efficient mowing, and the mowers are also equipped with a patented obstacle-avoidance system and automatic leveling blade system, which adjusts to uneven terrain."

Enthusiastically welcomed

These revolutionary innovations are available and Kress is introducing the battery-powered 8-minute CyberSystem and RTKn Mission robotic mowers to dealers worldwide. There is optimism everywhere, because now there are truly suitable systems for the professional who needs to take care of larger lawns and accommodations.