Jo Beau® incorporated Briggs & Stratton’s Vanguard® V-TWIN EFI ETC 29,9 Gross kW* (40 HP) BIG BLOCKTM engine to develop a powerful wood chipper - small enough to fit through doors!
THE CHALLENGE
Professional garden equipment business Jo Beau is known for its compact and effective machines, including wood chippers, stump grinders and scarifiers. Originally established in Belgium to repair and sell garden devices, Jo Beau began manufacturing its own machines in 1992 with its first characteristic yellow mobile wood chipper launching in 1998. The company now supplies its specialist garden machinery to professional customers around the world.
As part of its product development, Jo Beau identified the need for a compact and powerful woodchipper powered by a more ecological diesel-alternative engine. The machine needed to be small enough to fit through doorways, while powerful enough to process branches with a diameter of around 18 cm.
The Belgian equipment company was already familiar with Briggs & Stratton and its commercial brand Vanguard®. Already impressed with its outstanding customer support and high quality, the decision to extend the partnership was easy.
THE SOLUTION
Christophe Beauprez, Managing Director at Jo Beau said, “About three years ago, we started designing a new stump grinder with a 37 horsepower Vanguard engine. Since the brand had given us good results in the past, it seemed logical to choose Vanguard again. Why change a winning team?"
Jo Beau selected the powerful Vanguard 29,9 Gross kW* (40,0 Gross HP*) V-Twin horizontal shaft engine with EFI/ETC technology to integrate into the wood chipper. This Vanguard BIG BLOCKTM engine includes electronic fuel injection (EFI) technology which utilises the Engine Control Module (ECM) to tune every single operating point unique to the engine. It takes in all signals from the engine sensors to make cycle-by-cycle decisions on how much fuel and spark to provide the engine and when. This in turn means improved starting at all temperatures, smooth performance at all elevations, quick load acceptance and reduced fuel consumption, which makes the Vanguard BIG BLOCK the perfect fit for this powerful but compact application.
“Vanguard is the go-to solution for commercial petrol engines that deliver as much power as diesel engines with smaller dimensions and better ecological values."
Christophe Beauprez, Managing Director, Jo Beau
DESIGNED TO FIT THROUGH DOORWAYS
Patrick Limberg, Director Sales Commercial Engines EMEA at Briggs & Stratton noted, "When combined with Electronic throttle control (ETC) technology, Vanguard EFI engines can produce the required torque, along with optimized load acceptance, making it the perfect alternative to diesel. When it comes to seasonal equipment like wood chippers that may sit idle during the winter, EFI engines work well thanks to their high tolerance for stale fuel. This reduces the need for related maintenance or repairs due to fuel degradation or gumming.”
Jo Beau and Briggs & Stratton worked collaboratively, with specialist engineers from Briggs & Stratton’s German Power Application Center Europe (PACE) taking a crucial role to help seamlessly incorporate the engine into the new application. This partnership not only ensured optimal performance but quick and efficient development timelines, substantially reducing engineering efforts and expenses.
The resulting Jo Beau® M600 GORILLA™ wood chipper, featuring the Vanguard 29,9 Gross kW BIG BLOCK engine, is only 80 cm wide and easily processes branches with a diameter of around 18 cm into small usable wood chips. This unique combination allows users to reach virtually any job due to its compact dimensions, while still processing large diameters of wood. The machine also combines Jo Beau® drum technology™ with an indestructible feed roller and no-stress system for the first time, which feeds in the branches, including greens, at the pace of the engine.
Vanguard EFI petrol engines deliver multiple benefits, including consistent power output, enhanced fuel efficiency, automatic altitude adjustments, lower emissions and reduced maintenance needs. The advanced diagnostics of Vanguard’s commercial engines also allow for laptop-based engine analysis, simplifying issue identification without the need for disassembly, thereby reducing downtime and repair costs. This technological advantage significantly enhances equipment uptime, boosts productivity, and lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) for Jo Beau’s M600 GORILLA.
Christophe Beauprez, Managing Director at Jo Beau continued, “We introduced the M600 Gorilla at a show, and many people asked why we don't use a diesel engine since it's a larger machine. Our machines are very compact and designed to fit through doorways, which is a big advantage. Vanguard is the go-to solution for commercial petrol engines that deliver as much power as diesel engines with smaller dimensions and better ecological values. Vanguard provided us with the perfect alternative and aligns exactly with the Jo Beau philosophy.”
“When combined with Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) technology, Vanguard EFI engines can produce the required torque, along with optimized load acceptance, making it the perfect alternative to diesel.”
Patrick Limberg, Director Sales Commercial Engines EMEA, Briggs & Stratton
* Power levels are stated gross kilowatts per SAE J1940 as rated by Briggs & Stratton.