New generation bead booster a ‘real breakthrough’, says Gaither

Gaither Tool is credited for introducing the first portable automatic bead booster, and Gaither Europe has now launched what it considers to be the next generation of modern bead booster – the Gaither Bead Bazooka. This latest model offers the considerable advantage of being lighter and more compact; Gaither reports the Bead Bazooka weighs just 5.5 kilograms – less than half that of the 12.5 kilogram Gaither GB5A. It is also 60 per cent smaller. Gaither believes these reduced dimensions are just one of the advantages the Bead Bazooka offers; it also sees customers being attracted by its pricing and its delivery of the “most powerful automatic rapid air release system” of any bead seating device on the market.

“Every five to ten years an outstanding, really revolutionary product is introduced into the market to make a real difference and we firmly believe our all new Bead Bazooka represents the very latest genuine breakthrough that will certainly change the direction of the industry in the future,” stated Gaither Europe sales director Ralph Dubbeldam. “It offers the same performance levels as the GB5A but is much smaller and lighter, plus its smaller tank ensures easy handling in the workshop and service truck environments – therefore guaranteeing less stress on technicians.”

It is also worth noting that when compared with Gaither’s standard manual booster – the GB5Z, the Bead Bazooka provides up to 40 per cent more power. Other additional benefits include a push-button trigger device that allows users to keep both hands on the tank, thus offering more control and increased operator safety compared with a manual release tank; a new ‘slotted’ double barrel that directs air towards the best overall lift action; and a handle clip system for swift and easy storage.

Gaither comments that when bead boosters were introduced into the European market around ten years ago they instantly became popular with the truck tyre sector through their service workshops. During the past five years, however, the bead booster market has steadily evolved into a multi-market product, with around fifty per cent of sales now being generated by passenger car tyre workshops and fast-fit operations. The reason for this expansion into the passenger car market, Gaither explains, is because a significant amount of car tyres are not properly stored and shipped. They are often tightly packed, which pushes the beads together. This leads to problems when mounting onto a rim as the sidewalls have become slightly compacted; the need thus exists for efficient bead boosters in both the passenger car and truck tyre sectors.

Dubbeldam is confident that Gaither’s new CE and ASME certified Bead Bazooka will in due course replace all current bead booster ranges as customers learn to appreciate the new product’s practicality: “We believe that once an end user has sampled the Bead Bazooka they will not want to revert back to the larger, heavier models and Gaither has shown the way forward for the market with a more versatile bead booster that is 50 per cent lighter and therefore more flexible for use.”

Gaither will launch the Bead Bazooka in all its global markets simultaneously; the product will make its European debut at the Autopromotec 2011 show in Bologna in May.