New Stanley VIRAX 1-Inch Pressing Tool Is Fast And Versatile

New tool includes interchangeable jaw inserts, one of the fastest cycle times, and other improvements.

Conyers, GA - Stanley VIRAX has launched the first of its Pressing Machines into the U.S. industrial market. The Stanley VIRAX M20+ is a compact pistol grip pressing machine the size of a cordless drill. It was engineered specifically for the professional plumber and mechanical contractor, with new features designed to save time and labor.

Like all pressing machines, the M20+ uses industry-standard fittings to make solder-less joints in copper, stainless and PEX tubing. Because this technology does not rely on solder, joints can be made with residual fluid still in the pipe - a great benefit during emergency repair jobs.

But what's newsworthy about the M20+ are new features that help the user work faster and more efficiently. These include:

• Interchangeable Jaw Inserts. The M20+ will join 1/2-inch to 1-inch copper and 3/8-inch to 1-inch PEX tubing. But rather than requiring a separate jaw for each tubing size - as is the case with many pressing machines - it has a single master jaw that accepts interchangeable inserts. This allows for quick, easy change-out. It also reduces the overall weight of the tool kit by just over 10 pounds, making it easier for the user to carry around.
• Speed. The tool boasts one of the industry's fastest cycle times, according to Stanley VIRAX Product Manager Alan English. "It can make a high-strength connection in just four seconds, so the potential time and labor savings are phenomenal."
• Mechanical Drive. Rather than the standard hydraulic drive, the tool uses an electro-mechanical drive. With fewer moving parts than a hydraulic drive, the tool requires less maintenance and is easier to calibrate. It can also be used in colder temperatures than a hydraulic machine. (Hydraulic fluid gets thicker and slows down when it gets cold.)
• Trigger Safety. Some Pressing Machines are committed to a full cycle whenever the trigger is pressed, but this tool includes a safety that stops the action as soon as the user lets go of the trigger, even if it's only partway through a cycle. This lets the user back off if necessary to readjust a fitting.
• Li-Ion Technology. The M20+ is one of the first compact pressing tools in the U.S. market to use 14.4-volt Lithium Ion battery technology. A fully charged battery will power a full 450 presses - 45% more than other battery types. The tool comes with two batteries and a 30-minutes charger.

The M20+ is compatible with the industry's leading fitting systems, including Elkhart Products Corporation XPRESS, the VIEGA ProPress System and NIBCO Press System.

For more information on Stanley VIRAX go to www.stanleyproto.com

SOURCE: Stanley-Proto