The MACH 4® Line Blade Trimming System News Click on the links below to read the latest news from Aero-Flex® Technologies. Aerodynamic Line Blade Also Reduces Noise, Fuel and Engine Emissions: Breakthrough in Trimming Technology Offers Superior Cutting MACH 4® Trimming System the End of a 10-Year Odyssey For Inventor Vince Morabit Significance of MACH 4® Trimming System To Homeowners, Commercial Operators and OPE Industry   Aerodynamic Line Blade Also Reduces Noise, Fuel and Engine Emissions: Breakthrough in Trimming Technology Offers Superior Cutting NEWS RELEASE June 2005 The new Mach 4® Trimming System and Flexible Line Blade – a significant breakthrough in current technology -- enablesgas-fired string trimmers and incorporates four strong aerodynamically streamlined cutting line blades that offer s operators to trim grass and slice through heavy weeds, vines and light brush faster, better, easier and with less noise, less fuel and less engine emissions. The innovative cutting head from Aero-Flex® Technologies, Inc. fits virtually all everal significant advantages over conventional monofilament lines. Because the blades dramatically reduce both air and grass drag, the trimmer can operate with less than half the engine power and at much lower speeds normally required for conventional trimmer lines. The result is a reduction in noise, fuel, engine emissions and wear and tear on the trimmer. The Mach 4 system offers a greater range of trimming applications and allows multiple cutting power ranges for light grass to heavy weeds and vines where monofilament lines can’t even begin to cut. The hassle free system also substantially reduces frustrating interruptions and simplifies the reloading process when the line blades need replacement. The blades easily snap into place. They will last up to 20 times longer than monofilament line, and there are no spools, no rewinding, no rethreading and no harassing complexities when you need to feed more line or replace the spool. The higher mass, stronger line blades uniquely glance off fences without catastrophic failure. When edging at lower speeds, they will far outlast conventional line and can go 50 times farther without having to stop to advance or replenish line. The cutting head and four line blades cost $21.95 at retail, and a package of 10 replacement line blades costs $4.95. MACH 4® Trimming System the End of a 10-Year Odyssey For Inventor Vince Morabit NEWS RELEASE June 2005 Vince Morabit and his sons, also mechanical engineers, came up with the idea about 10 years ago of producing a stronger and more durable aerodynamically shaped line blade for string trimmers that would replace conventional monofilament lines and provide better, more efficient and more useful cutting performance. That was the easy part. After a decade of dogged and persistent developing, refining and testing, he is now bringing to market the Mach 4® Trimming System and Flexible Line Blade that does everything they visualized…and more. The 65-year-old mechanical engineer uniquely designed the line blades that would snap easily into the cutter head and eliminate the need for spools, rewinding and other harassing complexities experienced when replacing or feeding more line. The line blade he developed also lasted up to 20 times longer than monofilament line. Making the product fit virtually all gas-fired trimmer models and manufacturing it at a low enough cost to make it competitively priced were the major stumbling blocks. Five years ago Mr. Morabit introduced his first version of the system – called the Aero-Flex® Endurance Trimming System – and there were mixed results. Although it was higher-priced than he wanted and it did not fit all trimmer models, product sales and positive feedback gave him added incentive to plow more effort and resources into additional research and development of the Mach 4 system. Now, Mr. Morabit’s 10-year obsession has become a reality. With the help of his sons Chris and Mike, and daughter Michelle along with a small and equally persistent staff, Aero-Flex Technologies, Inc. is manufacturing and marketing the product that fits the vision Mr. Morabit first had in 1995. The concept of Mach 4 was the result of Mr. Morabit’s considerable experience in the outdoor power equipment field and his strong educational background in mechanical engineering. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, he also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut. Much of his work experience came from 20 years with Homelite – which has been a major manufacturer of chain saws, string trimmers, generators and other outdoor powered equipment. He began as a test engineer and served in numerous diversified positions with his last seven years as the company’s Director of Product Integrity. In 1982 he left Homelite to open Piedmont Technical Associates, Inc., a consulting business to the Industry based in Rock Hill, S.C., and started Aero-Flex Technologies in 1995. Mr. Morabit is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and for more than 25 years has voluntarily served on four National Subcommittees of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), involving brushcutters, string trimmers, chain saws, backpack blowers, and specialized tree trimming. He holds nine patents, and has several in the International arena. He also has given numerous seminar presentations on safety and other important outdoor power equipment topics, including those to members of the American Pulpwood Association, International Ergonomics Society, National Equipment Service Dealers Association (NESDA), Society of Professional Engineers and American Society of Quality Control Significance of MACH 4® Trimming System To Homeowners, Commercial Operators and OPE Industry NEWS RELEASE -May 2005 The technological breakthrough achieved by Aero-Flex® Technologies, Inc. in developing the powerful Mach 4® Trimming System and Flexible Line Blade is expected to have a major impact on the outdoor power equipment industry, according to its inventor and company founder Vince Morabit. "The strong aerodynamically shaped, high mass line blades are a major advance over monofilament lines because they dramatically reduce air and grass drag, thus converting power from wasted drag into better, more efficient and useful cutting performance and benefits," explains Mr. Morabit. "The improved grass trimmer can now be used for many more applications with the added efficiency. It enables the trimmer to be operated at much lower speeds, which will save significant fuel costs while lengthening the running time on a tank of fuel. There is also a sharp decrease in engine emissions and noise – both important EPA considerations – and less wear and tear on the trimmer." Mr. Morabit points out that the Mach 4® system was developed and refined after several years of research and field testing, and was brought to market only after it could be used with virtually any gas-fired trimmer. "We also wanted to make the unit as hassle free as we could," he adds. "It stops the usual harassing interruptions, eliminates complex reloading, runs quieter, smoother and more durable. It actually creates a new welcomed and pleasant experience in trimming. The line blades are easily snapped into place and will last up to 20 times longer than monofilament line. There are no spools, no rewinding, no rethreading or harassing complexities commonly experienced when you have to replace or feed more conventional line," he concludes. Because trimmers will now contain more useful energy and power from the Mach 4 technology, Mr. Morabit believes trimmer manufacturers can re-design their units and use smaller engines, smaller parts and even smaller gas tanks while meeting the increasingly more stringent noise and engine emissions regulations of EPA and local ordinances. "The current trimmer engine EPA regulation of grams per brake horsepower is a negative way to achieve the total intended effect or reducing total emissions because gas-fired power tools have in actuality converted unnecessarily to much bigger power sources to help achieve these ratios," he asserts. "Trimmer engines have actually grown an estimated average of 35 percent in size, from 22cc to 28cc, to meet this regulation, while a major increase in total fuel consumption has occurred even though the EPA’s grams/horsepower ratio may appear to be more favorable. In reality, because of greater fuel consumption, corresponding emissions have likely increased as well as a further dependence on foreign oil. "The Mach 4 system is a better answer because it makes the grass trimming job easier and faster with a potential product weight reduction of 40 percent while reducing fuel consumption by at least 60 percent," he explains. Mr. Morabit also makes the point that Aero-Flex® Technologies has been able to bring this innovative product to market at a cost that is competitive with monofilament lines. The cutting head and four line blades cost $21.95 at retail, and a package of 10 replacement line blades costs $4.95. Back to top