Ergonomic compact angle grinders for continuous use

FEIN ErgoGrip: low-fatigue, powerful, reliable and durable

Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1 April 2015. FEIN presents compact angle grinders with a new grip concept: The extended handle narrows to the rear making FEIN ErgoGrip tools very ergonomic and allowing users to work continuously without tiring. The grinders are particularly suitable for industrial users and manual trades in applications involving a lot of heavy-duty grinding and cutting. The powerful compact angle grinders with FEIN ErgoGrip will be available from specialist retailers from April 2015.

Ergonomic handle shape for continuous use

North Americans have been using so-called "rat tail" tools for decades. This handle shape, hardly ever seen in Europe, allows users to safely grip and guide the tool when holding it in a defined position: angle grinders are not clasped around the motor housing like rod-shaped tools, but are held by the extension of a narrow handle. All the force can then be applied in the direction of work. FEIN is the first manufacturer to include angle grinders of this design in its range at all power ratings between 1100 and 1500 W, even for stainless steel processing.

The power tool manufacturer has more than 100 years of experience in the development of angle grinders. "We trialled various grip designs in extensive studies and practical tests to find the optimum handle shape. Our main priority was maximum contact between the palm and handle. Thanks to the slim grip zone with large contact face, for which a patent is pending, the user has to exert less force and doesn't tire as quickly," says Rainer Warnicki, head of product development at FEIN. Weighing upwards of 2.4 kg, the tools are among the lightest on the market.

Improved control and safety

The new compact angle grinders with FEIN ErgoGrip have a narrow, convex handle. With a handle length of 120 mm, users can guide the tools with ease even when wearing thick welder's gloves. They can maintain a good grip and work flexibly on even complex components. Angle grinders with FEIN ErgoGrip are available with a lockable switch or dead man's switch which has to be continuously actuated. Tools with a dead man's switch cut out immediately if the user releases the switch. They were developed especially for industrial sectors with very stringent safety requirements, for example refineries and container construction. To reduce effort, both variants are operated with two fingers.