Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
Now well into its fourth decade, the company is less well known as the innovators of the life-saving ATV LifeGuard and QuadGuard. Still 100% owned and operated by the same Northland family, the company is rebranding with a new look to signal the bringing together of these three brands.
Back in the 1970s, founder Vernon Suckling started out by manufacturing farm related products from canvas and leather - such as truck covers and saddlery. As horses were replaced with machinery, the company switched its attention to the new farm 'horses', namely quads and UTVs.
This change of direction led to the 'Quad Pod', offering practicality, efficiency and comfort in those colder, wetter winter months. It has gone on to see more than 4,000 units sold in NZ, as well as thousands more overseas.
Over the years, product design and manufacturing has seen the arrival of useful accessories tailored for Kiwi farms such as gun racks, easy-to-use dirt bike carriers and windshields, and windscreen wipers.
One key development was a flexible roll bar for quads - the ATV Lifeguard or CPD (Crush Protection Device) - that mounts on the rear carrier of a quad bike. This provides space under an upturned vehicle in the event of a rollover - saving lives and preventing major injuries.
As that product evolved, development - driven by customer feedback for a lighter and more affordable system - led to the 2019 release of the one-piece, moulded plastic QuadGuard.
As ATVs started being replaced by UTVs or side-by-sides, TRAX adapted and developed to include a large selection of custom-made products. These include full cab, windscreen and roof options for quads and UTVs - all build locally in NZ.
The company has also become a New Zealand retailer for multiple international brands, stocking a wide range of imported accessories to provide the best possible safety solutions to customer requests.
