Free interactive tool

Grinder TCO calculator : what your fleet really costs over 6 years

Purchase price represents only 15 to 20 % of the real 6-year cost of a construction tool. The remaining 80 % hide in maintenance, site downtime and rental replacement. Enter your figures below, see the cumulative gap live.

Calculation assumptions based on average data from 120 Sept Tools sites 2023 to 2025 and on the detailed analysis published in the article Total Cost of Ownership for construction tools : the real 6-year breakdown.

Step 1

Pick the brushed grinder range to compare

The model compares 1 Sept Tools grinder (10,000 EUR purchase, 400 EUR/year maintenance, 6-year lifespan) to an equivalent brushed grinder fleet. One brushed cycle lasts 3 months of effective jobsite work spread over roughly 4.5 calendar months, i.e. 16 cycles over 6 years.

Brushed grinder range to compare

Unit price range and productivity ratio adjust automatically based on the selected range.

850 EUR

Move the slider inside the selected range bracket. Recommended median value is set by default.

6 years

Comparison horizon. Default 6 years (Sept Tools technical lifespan with regular maintenance).

Calculation assumptions (full transparency)

Brushed cycle : 3 months of effective jobsite work spread over 4.5 calendar months (pro intermittent usage between jobs). Over 6 years, 16 cycles per brushed machine. Sept Tools : 6-year lifespan with regular maintenance, 2-year minimum manufacturer warranty.

Entry level : median price 400 EUR, productivity ratio 1:3, 48 brushed grinders renewed over 6 years to match 1 Sept Tools.

Mid range : median price 850 EUR, productivity ratio 1:2.5, 40 brushed grinders renewed over 6 years.

High-end pro : median price 2,300 EUR, productivity ratio 1:1.4, 22 brushed grinders renewed over 6 years.

Sept Tools : 10,000 EUR purchase (excl. consumables), 400 EUR/year maintenance, 6-year lifespan, 2-year minimum warranty. Total 6 years : 12,400 EUR.

Median 6-year savings : 6,800 EUR vs entry level (35 %), 21,600 EUR vs mid range (64 %), 39,120 EUR vs high-end pro (76 %).

The calculation stays honest : at 200 EUR (bottom of entry range), Sept Tools becomes 2,800 EUR more expensive over 6 years. The calculator displays this case without hiding it. The final decision also depends on reliability, warranty and the Roanne insourced after-sales.

Reading the result

Your 6-year TCO vs equivalent brushed fleet

Three figures structure the reading : the full Sept Tools cost over the period (12,400 EUR over 6 years : 10,000 EUR purchase plus 400 EUR maintenance per year), the equivalent brushed fleet cost (number of brushed grinders renewed over the period, times the unit price), and the cumulative gap.

The outcome depends on the brushed range picked : entry level median (400 EUR, ratio 1:3, savings 6,800 EUR), mid range median (850 EUR, ratio 1:2.5, savings 21,600 EUR) or high-end pro median (2,300 EUR, ratio 1:1.4, savings 39,120 EUR). The calculator honestly displays the case where Sept Tools costs more (bottom of entry range, 200 EUR).

Why this lifespan gap?

Brushless mechanics in official figures

  • 60 dBNoise level at operator position, comparable to normal conversation, well below the 85 dB regulatory threshold.
  • 0.35 m/s²Measured hand-arm vibrations. Well below the 2.5 m/s² threshold of European Directive 2002/44/EC.
  • IP65Sealed casing, dust-tight and water spray proof. Skip transport, damp depot storage.
  • 1 600 WBrushless motor with constant torque from 500 to 4,800 rpm. Power density sized for intensive site use.
  • x14 to x25Measured lifespan vs equivalent brushed motor on sites 2023 to 2025.

See the details of Sept Tools brushless technology.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about grinder TCO

How much does a Sept Tools grinder really cost over 6 years?
12,400 EUR in total : 10,000 EUR purchase plus 2,400 EUR maintenance (400 EUR per year over 6 years). Excluding consumables (discs, abrasives, vacuum brushes). Manufacturer warranty 2 years minimum, technical lifespan 6 years with regular servicing.

What savings versus a mid-range brushed grinder?
Over 6 years, 21,600 EUR on average, i.e. 64 % savings. The equivalent brushed fleet at 850 EUR per unit (mid-range median price) requires 40 grinders renewed over the period to produce the same work volume. Productivity ratio applied : 1 Sept Tools for 2.5 mid-range brushed grinders.

Why such a gap with high-end Hilti-class?
Even a professional high-end tool (1,400 to 3,200 EUR, median 2,300 EUR) must be replaced every 3 months of effective jobsite work. Spread over about 4.5 calendar months, that makes 16 cycles over 6 years. With a 1:1.4 productivity ratio, that means around 22 grinders renewed versus 1 Sept Tools. Average savings : 39,120 EUR over 6 years, i.e. 76 %.

What is the warranty and lifespan of Sept Tools machines?
Manufacturer warranty 2 years minimum from the invoice date. Technical lifespan 6 years in intensive use with regular maintenance. The average maintenance budget of 400 EUR per year covers wear parts (bearings, seals, cables) and preventive work at the Roanne after-sales.

Why does 1 Sept Tools equal several brushed grinders?
Brushless technology eliminates brush wear, shortens jobsite time through constant torque from 500 to 4,800 rpm, and allows prolonged use without overheating. Against an entry-level brushed grinder, 1 Sept Tools produces the work of 3 machines (ratio 1:3). Against a Hilti-class high-end pro, 1 Sept Tools produces the work of 1.4 machines (ratio 1:1.4). Between those, mid-range sits at 1:2.5.

A free TCO audit on your actual fleet?

On fleets of more than 5 machines, our sales engineers reprocess your maintenance invoices and documented site downtime, and precisely quantify the gap with a Sept Tools brushless switch. No commitment.

Request the full comparison Read the full TCO article
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