Ruthmann Reachmaster launches the new Bibi 33BL Primo Lithium, which offers a removable lithium battery power source system. The Bibi 33BL, the latest product from its Italian partner, Almac, launched during the ARA Show, also offers an all-electric drive, replacing the standard unit’s hydraulic drive.
Ebbe Christensen, president of Ruthmann ReachMaster, explains: “The new Bibi unit is not only offering the unparalleled bi-leveling and self-leveling capabilities the market has come to know from these units, but also a completely new way of thinking how to power – and charge – the next generation of electric powered units.”
The Bibi 33BL is equipped with a 210-amp lithium battery pack that can easily be removed and taken to a charging station, or be replaced with a fully charged battery, offering virtually infinite use of the unit.
”This new system allows an operator maximum flexibility as far as keeping the unit charged,” says Christensen. “It can be charged on the unit with a standard 110v 15/20-amp extension cord, but you can also leave the actual unit on site, and just bring the battery system to a location that offers a standard 110v plug-in. The battery pack is a complete system with batteries, BMS, and charger. So, if you have a spare battery pack, you can just replace it, or instead of having the physical space needed to charge multiple units, you only need very limited space to charge the system, and in cold winter locations, you don’t need to take the entire unit inside, you can just take the battery pack in.”
The other new feature is an all-electric drive, with a maximum speed of 2.7 mph. “Our customers will love it as it is super-fast compared to the hydraulic version,” Christensen adds.
Additional features include self-adjusting tracks, and forklift pockets for easy and safe on/off loading on trucks.
“We are showing and towing the unit through the first quarter of the year for shows and demos, taking orders now for May production and June/July deliveries,” says Christensen. “We have carried an electric version of the Bibi for the past years, but this is truly a new and better concept than anyone has seen before. Best of all, from a price point of view, we can offer it at the same level as the previous generation of battery-powered units, and overall, we are one of the few suppliers in the market that are lowering our prices on these units effective March 1st, 2024. Stabilization of the rate of exchange and Almac’s extraordinary ability to get the supply chain back to pre-COVID is now going to benefit our North American customers in 2024.”