Garant launches into cordless electric excavators

These will go on sale from Monday, November 11, mainly in RONA stores. “We also have several manufacturers, such as the Richer Group, who have ordered them from us and who will sell them to their customers,” says Pierre-Yves Martin, general manager of Garant.

“We are going to launch two other snowblowers next year, phases 1 and 2. And the 62-volt batteries can be interchangeable,” he adds.

The general manager reveals that around 4,500 units were produced for the season. However, he is aware that this launch comes late in the first year. “Usually, products [d’hiver]it arrives sooner than that in stores,” says Mr. Martin.

180 degree swivel head

Traditionally, Garant manufactures non-motorized products. The production of electric shovels is brand new for the Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud company.

“When I joined the company three years ago, we did a strategic review with our team. We asked ourselves which category we could go into,” says Mr. Martin.

“We are very advanced in snow and summer shovels. And I saw that we had a hole to fill with power tools. Winter is what we know the most.”

— Pierre-Yves Martin, general manager of Garant

However, when Garant enters a new niche, the manufacturer always wants to present an innovation. “We made almost 70 different versions of the shovel. And for us, it is very important that the design comes from Quebec. This is why we are proud and there is no one else in Canada.”

The main innovation lies in the possibility of rotating the chute 180 degrees. The snow is directed up to a distance of 7.5 meters (25 feet).

“All other models on the market throw snow forward. Some models throw it a little to the left or right,” relates the general director.

“With the head that we developed, it works like a conventional snowblower. And there is a crank on the top of the chute that allows you to throw the snow four heights. And the action of rotating the chute is easy to do, once you have the electric shovel in hand,” he adds.

Designed in Quebec

The shovel was designed and tested in Quebec. But it is made abroad.

“It would be too expensive to make this here. Especially for batteries,” says Mr. Martin.

“It would not have been realistic,” continues Isabelle Leclerc, vice-president of human resources and marketing. “Suggested retail price of $599.”

She confirms what her director general maintained earlier. “Next year, there will be two snowblowers. One 21 inch and one 24 inch self-propelled. We are finalizing the last concepts,” she concludes.