Magazine

By Leigh Rogers in {CATEGORY} on 25 Mar 2011

With a number of cultural festivals and internationally recognised events running throughout the year, Melbourne is one of Australia's 'foodies', 'trendsetter' and 'sports' hot spots.

It's the perfect base for young entrepreneur George Konstandakos, who plies his trade helping countless hair stylists, fishmongers, butchers and restaurateurs keep their equipment sharp and in top operating condition with his dependable Honda EU10i generator.

After leaving his job as an automotive technician to establish Scissor Tech over four years ago, George capitalised on a need in the market for mobile blade sharpening and scissor repair. Working from a mobile workshop inside his van, George has grown Scissor Tech's customer base from a handful of regulars to more than 250 customers in the Melbourne area.

Stopping outside shops, cafes, bistros, food outlets and hair salons, George uses the Honda EU10i generator to power an air compressor and blade sharpening machine. Lightweight (13 kilograms) and whisper-quiet (52 dB), the Honda EU10i generator delivers a maximum of 1000W/240 Volt AC and up to eight hours of continuous operation on a full fuel tank. After spending many hours of research, George chose the Honda EU10i generator over other makes due to its quietness.

"To minimise disruptions in restaurant kitchens and hair salons, I work from my van outside my customers' shops. Therefore, I needed a generator that was quiet enough to not disturb the patrons sitting outside enjoying their food or coffee," George said. "Numerous people passing by have commented on how quiet and compact this generator is. "At just 52dB, the Honda EU10i is no louder than an idling car engine.

" George takes around 20 minutes to sharpen a set of knives or hair clipper blades, stopping and starting his Honda EU10i generator up to 30 times a day. "I've had the generator for around four years now, and it still consistently starts first time," George said.

"Starting the first time not only reduces OH&S risks, but relieves fatigue, as I start the generator upwards of 20 times a day." Featuring a microcomputer-controlled sinewave inverter that guarantees commercial-quality electricity, and an Eco-throttle which adjusts the engine speed to meet the load demand, the EU10i generator also enables George to power sensitive electrical equipment and perform maintenance on hairdressing tools.

"Occasionally, I will be required to fix the fuse or change the motor inside a hair dryer or hair clipper, and having the sinewave inverter in the EU10i gives me the extra capacity to perform such tasks inside the van rather than needing an electrical outlet," George said. "The Eco-throttle helps reduce fuel costs by adjusting engine speed to meet the load demand.

" Another feature that helps George keep a low profile on busy commercial strips and reduce OH&S risks is the EU10i's low emission performance. "Air emissions are a very important factor for me - I'm often working only a few metres from the generator or in areas with a lot of activity and pedestrian traffic," George said.

"Having a four-stroke Honda engine as opposed to a two-stroke engine billowing black smoke is not only an OH&S benefit, but a benefit to the people around me, and the environment."

For further information regarding the full range of Honda Power Equipment please contact your local Honda Dealer: Dealer Locator Ph: 1300 1 HONDA or 1300 1 46632
honda.com.au

Read more articles in {CATEGORY}, by Leigh Rogers or from March 2011.