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The industry’s first watertight battery-powered extrication tool line is expanding as HURST Jaws of Life® introduces nine new tools that will give first responders a full selection of extrication solutions that are completely operational underwater.

The company that has revolutionized the rescue industry again and again, HURST Jaws of Life introduced its innovative eDRAULIC® Watertight Extrication Tool (EWXT) line with water-resistant casing last year. Using a potting process, tool engineers designed a protective compound for the internals of the HURST Jaws of Life EWXT. When submerged in fresh water, water enters the tool case, but the potting creates a seal that prevents moisture from getting to components, allowing the HURST Jaws of Life EWXT to remain operational while underwater without risk of damage to the battery or any loss of performance.

“The expansion of the HURST Jaws of Life EWXT line to include 12 battery-powered, watertight rescue tools means first responders can be completely equipped with the speed, power and strength they need to get to the patient faster – no matter the extrication scenario,” said Bruce Johnston, director of marketing and product development for HURST Jaws of Life. “Whether they’re in a submerged rescue operation where an external power source simply isn’t accessible and hose lines add complications, or on the roadside facing the advanced high-strength steel of a late model car, EWXT is designed for today’s performance needs.”

Tools in the EWXT line feature the same high-performance features and benefits as their eDRAULIC 2.0 counterparts but are more than three inches shorter, providing additional maneuverability in confined spaces. Additionally, the use of a brushless DC (BLDC) electrical motor in HURST Jaws of Life EWXT products offers longer battery runtime.

The nine new tools in the eDRAULIC Watertight Extrication Tool line include two spreaders (SP 333 EWXT Spreader, SP 777 EWXT Spreader); three cutters (S 789 EWXT Cutter, S 799 EWXT Cutter, S 378 EWXT (available Fall, 2020) ); three combination tools (SC 258 EWXT Combi, SC 358 EWXT Combi, SC 758 EWXT Combi); and one Ram (R 522 EWXT Ram). The tools complement the previously launched S 788 EWXT Cutter, SP 555 EWXT Spreader and R 521 EWXT Ram.

All models in the EWXT line are IP 58/Battery IP 68. HURST also recently earned National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1936 2020 compliant status for many of its EWXT and eDRAULIC 2.0 rescue tools, with additional tools currently holding NFPA 1936 2015 compliant status undergoing testing for the new 1936 2020 standard.

Features and benefits of the HURST Jaws of Life EWXT products include an axial piston pump design, brushless DC motor, optimized weight and improved LED lights. Additional tool highlights include:

  • The S 799 EXWT is the lightest all-9 NFPA rated cutter.
  • The S 378 EWXT (available Fall, 2020) is lighter and stronger than its competitors with the widest blade opening at 7.99 inches.
  • The SP 333 EWXT offers the best combination of power and spread distance in a spreader under 40 pounds.
  • With an extended reach of 59.2 inches, the R 522 EWXT Ram weighs 1.1 lbs. less than its eDRAULIC 2.0 predecessor.
  • The S 799 EWXT (A9/B9/C9/D9/E9/F5) and S 789 EWXT (A8/B9/C8, D9/E9/F5) Cutters offer Best in Class NFPA cut rating performance.

This year, NFPA has expanded its series of material category tests from five tests to six for rating cutter and combination tools in their ability to cut high-strength metals to include the new “High Strength Materials” test, otherwise known as the F bar cut test. The HURST Jaws of Life S 799 EWXT and S 789 EWXT’s F5 rating illustrates the cutter’s high performance against the design and metal types of the ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) structures in today’s automobiles.

“The expansion of the HURST Jaws of Life EWXT line continues our tradition of advancing the rescue tool industry to ensure first responders can be successful at the scene,” said Mike Canon, vice president of sales for HURST Jaws of Life. “As the only IP 58 rescue tool in the world and the only IP 68 rescue battery in the world, the HURST Jaws of Life EWXT advantage is clear.”