Designed with the aim to complementing Comet’s segment of professional cold-water pressure washers, the new K Xtreme XL meets the needs of an extremely professional clientele.
With a pressure of up to 1,000 bar, this superior performance machine - the most powerful in Comet’s range - will appeal to shipyards and construction sites and “finish the deal”, confirming Comet as the manufacturer with the largest offering of pressure washers on the market.
We talked about this with Luca Croci, Mechatronics Engineer and Technical Team Leader.
I am Technical Team Leader within the Comet technical department, responsible for the design and development of all professional pressure washers, either cold or hot water, and of steam generators for the entire group, thus, for Comet, Lavor Wash brand products and other sister companies.
I have been working in Comet since 2007, the year when I started my professional career in this very company, right after completing a dissertation, developed in collaboration with Comet. Subsequently, I also did a training internship within this same company, progressively specializing in the area of pressure washers. I began by dealing with hot-water pressure washers, and then followed, over the years, the evolution of technologies and, in particular, the significant increase in the powers used.
To give you an example, when I started working a professional pressure washer went up to 250 bar; at that time, it was unthinkable to have, especially on a large scale, pressure washers of higher powers and pressures. Today, on the other hand, we can easily reach 1,000 bar.
Undoubtedly, one of the main challenges is to keep up with the demands of the market and our customers. As a multinational company with a wide range of products, we have to face daily with specific needs: from the creation of machines designed for special processes up to the need to adapt our products to specific geographical or national contexts.
Added to this is the continuous regulatory update, especially in the environmental field, with increasingly stringent regulations. Finally, it is crucial to maintain a high level of competitiveness by constantly aiming to increase the technological and quality level of our machines.
Two versions are available:
A pressure washer combining high flow rate (30 liters per minute) with high pressure (500 bar), ideal when tough dirt needs to be removed in large quantities or over large surfaces, while maintaining a continuous and powerful water flow that improves operating efficiency.
Such a combination also provides enough power to destroy solid or adhering materials.
Fields of application:
A pressure washer with 13 liters per minute flow rate and 1000 bar pressure, an extremely powerful machine suitable for industrial and specialized uses.
A machine providing efficiency and time savings: the 1000 bar pressure allows faster and more effective operations, reducing time compared to machines with lower pressure.
Ultra high-pressure water cleaning can also replace sandblasting in many cases, reducing dust and environmental impact.
Fields of application:
The idea was to complement Comet’s professional cold-water pressure washer segment.
Our range include for several years now the K Xtreme, basically its younger sister which was limited in performance and power.
The need therefore arose, at the request of our branches or from our very professional clientele, for a machine with superior performance. In fact, this pressure washer mainly finds application in shipyards or construction sites.
It is the most powerful machine in Comet’s range, equipped with a 30 kW electric motor and an extremely professional HPP pump.
This motor pump unit is designed to be able to work for so many hours without special maintenance. It is a machine that plays on its power to make cleaning operations faster and more effective.
This is undoubtedly a main theme. The term pressure washer remains correct and necessary, as it clearly defines the primary function of the machine: cleaning with water. It is also the term used in the relevant regulations, so we can rightfully continue to call it that.
However, it is important to note that it is much more than just a pressure washer, at least in the common understanding of the term, which is often associated with washing the car or driveway at home. In fact, we are talking about a very versatile and high-performance tool that can harness the power of the water jet to perform complex tasks which, in the absence of this technology, would require the use of chemical additives.
Thanks to the water power alone, it is possible not only to speed up working times - a plus that is very appreciated in shipbuilding - but also to work on large surfaces, carry out paint stripping operations and replace processes such as sandblasting, while minimizing the use of detergents, chemicals and pollutants.
The distinguishing factor, over all, is power. The 30/500 is characterized by high water flow rate combined with still significant pressure, thus generating water power capable of removing solid or strongly adhering materials. In some fields, it can even be used for logging.
The 1,000-bar machine, on the other hand, focuses all its power on pressure. This makes it ideal for very precise and targeted operations, such as localized removal of paint, rust or concrete, or for water-cutting jobs on specific points, such as marine structures or architectural elements.
It was very important. The design of this machine was relatively straightforward precisely because it is the top of the range: we were able to integrate all the technological and quality solutions we thought best, without any particular constraints or compromises.
Unlike other cases, we did not have to carefully balance market needs or face very crowded competition because the target segment is more niche. It is a machine born almost entirely from the hand of design and R&D.
Of course, like any of our products, this model has also aligned itself with market trends, but with the goal of offering something distinctive, capable of raising the standard compared to the alternatives present.
It finishes the deal, it is the icing on the cake: the machine we actually lacked in the range to say that we are the manufacturer with the largest range of pressure washers on the market.
It should be emphasized that this machine is not suitable for home or light use and, although it meets all safety levels required by mandatory regulations, it must be used by highly qualified and trained personnel, together with appropriate protective equipment such as helmets, face shields, anti-shearing gloves and waterproof overalls.
It is a professional machine that requires an experienced user; in addition, it employs a 30 kW motor that requires robust water and power supply systems.
Purchasing a machine of this kind, capable of working for significantly more hours than lower-end products, means making a long-term investment in reducing response times and saving on the cost of the operators involved.
We had several requests for quite some time already, especially from our branches and customers working in port areas or with companies dealing with construction site fleets and machinery. The request to include the machine in our range also comes from them.
The market, then, is there, but we can consider it a niche compared to the general turnover of pressure washers or cleaning tools. The goal is to increase the number of units produced, broadening the machine’s spread, making its full potential understood and, as a result, extending the catchment area and turnover.
The special novelty of this machine is the presence of a pressure-resetting unloader valve. This means that the moment the operator releases the gun lever, de facto machine stops its operation.
The hose connecting the operator to the pressure washer immediately relieves pressure once the lever is released. This has two significant advantages: on the one hand, it makes the hose much more easy to handle, facilitating the operator’s movements; on the other hand, it is an important safety feature, both for the operator and the machine.
The moment the operator reactivates the gun lever, the pressure does not come back abruptly, but rises gradually. This avoids the so-called “round in the chamber”, which on such powerful machines could be a critical issue in terms of safety and mechanical wear.
As this was a project developed in collaboration with the group’s sister companies, the main challenge was to build an effective synergy, succeeding in synthesizing the different technologies and skills to the best of our ability, with the aim of manufacturing a competitive product on the market: technologically advanced, high quality and with an appropriate price point strategy.
Going back to my role’s personal challenges, these same dynamics recur in every project. But, in this special case, the real complexity was precisely creating a constructive dialogue between different approaches and visions, arriving at the right balance between all the components involved. Synergy, in the end, was the most delicate but also crucial aspect for the success of the project.
It is a daily challenge: to constantly put oneself on the line, to question one’s choices - even those made months or years earlier - and to adapt lucidly to changes. The goal is always the same: to give our best to keep our products at the top of the market, both in terms of quality and innovation.
Of course, it is an honor to be part of this company and this group. The fact that I have been here for many years, in this position, is in fact the calling card of my satisfaction. I have always tried to repay the trust placed in me by putting enthusiasm, dedication and a sense of belonging into my daily work - and that of the team I manage. To be part of this company and this group is a source of pride for me, as is to contribute to the development of highly professional products designed to concretely meet the specific needs of our customers and ensure their full satisfaction.
Choose the machine in the right way and according to the characteristics of your plant, because the machine must be evaluated on the field. An incorrect choice could be a reason for dissatisfaction not due to the quality of the product, but to the wrong choice.
So, first of all, try to form an opinion and turn to our sales network for appropriate advice. In the specifics of the K Xtreme XL, should the prerequisites for such a machine be there, you will get great satisfaction from a pressure washer that is extremely powerful and, at the same time, easy to handle and makes operators’ work simple. You will be fascinated!
We sincerely thank Luca Croci, Technical Team Leader of Comet S.p.A., for detailing the features and process that led to the birth of this innovative and powerful pressure washer.