Wenbro Buyer’s Guide: Drive Units, Concrete Pokers, Submersible Pumps

Time to read: 8-12 minutes

Quick Links:

1. Drive Units
2. Submersible Pumps
3. Concrete Poker Needles

Choosing the right Drive Unit and attachments comes down to matching the fuel source and attachment size for your projects.

A drive unit provides the power needed to operate flexible-shaft equipment such as concrete poker needles and submersible pumps for different applications on-site, from compacting freshly poured concrete to removing unwanted water from an excavation.

Wenbro’s Drive Units, Concrete Poker Needles & Submersible Pumps:

Drive Units:

1. Petrol Drive Unit
2. Diesel Drive Unit
3. Electric Drive Unit

Submersible Pumps:

1. 2-inch Submersible Pump
2. 3-inch Submersible Pump

Concrete Poker Needles:

1. 26mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Pencil Poker)
2. 38mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Classic Poker)
3. 45mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Everyday Workhorse Poker)
4. 62mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Heavy-Duty Poker)
5. 75mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Big Hitter Poker)

Wenbro Drive Units

When choosing a Drive Unit, you must consider its power source. Choosing between petrol, diesel and electric will largely depend on the conditions of the job:

Power availability: If reliable electricity is available, an electric drive unit may be the simplest option.

Mobility: For remote areas or sites without readily available electricity, petrol or diesel provides greater independence and negates the need for a Generator.

Working environment: Electric units can be particularly useful in areas where there are restrictions on emissions such as indoor projects or engine noise in residential developments.

Fuel availability: Contractors already operating diesel or petrol equipment may prefer to standardise around the same fuel.

Application: Consider which Concrete Poker Needle or Submersible Pump will be connected to the drive unit and the type of work being performed.

Wenbro offers three different Drive Unit options, giving you the ability to select a power source that suits your site. Petrol is the standard unit for outdoor site hire. Diesel tends to be purchased for diesel-fuelled sites. Electric Drive Units are perfectly suited for indoor projects or spaces with poor ventilation.

Wenbro Petrol Drive Unit (6hp)

The 6hp Petrol Drive Unit provides a portable solution for general outdoor construction work, including but not limited to concrete pours for slabs and columns as well as concrete testing.

Portability: Because Petrol engines are much lighter than Diesel engines, they’re much easier to lift, load onto vehicles and manoeuvre across uneven terrain.

Lower Upfront Cost: Compared to a Diesel Drive Unit, a Petrol unit requires a lower initial cash outlay, assisting your cash flow.

Cold Starting: Ignites more easily in cold weather without the need for heavy-duty batteries or glow plugs.

Great for: Highly mobile teams and contractors needing lightweight plant machinery on temporary sites.

Wenbro Diesel Drive Unit (4hp)

The 4hp Diesel Drive Unit provides an alternative for sites where diesel-powered equipment is preferred or stored and readily available.

Heavy-Duty Endurance: Ideal for continuous, high-load operation day in and day out with a higher operating temperature threshold.

Running Efficiency: Burns less fuel per hour compared to Petrol Drive Units, drastically lowering operational costs over the machine’s lifespan.

Longevity: Diesel engines feature robust internal components designed to handle harsh site wear, tear and vibration over years of service.

Great for: Long-term hire fleets, heavy construction and continuous stationary operations (like dewatering using Submersible Pumps).

Generally, contractors prefer to hire the Petrol Drive Unit on a per-project basis, while customers looking to purchase generally prefer Diesel Drive Units.

Wenbro Electric Drive Unit (1.5kW)

Where electrical power is readily available, the Wenbro Electric Drive Unit provides a simple alternative to petrol or diesel equipment.

Lower Capital Outlay: Significantly more affordable to purchase than petrol or diesel equivalents.

Zero Emissions: Mandatory for indoor jobs, basement dewatering, tunnels and any poorly ventilated spaces where exhaust fumes can be lethal.

Low Maintenance: Fewer moving parts mean no oil changes, fuel filters, or spark plugs to replace, which drastically reduces downtime while your Drive Unit is in the workshop.

Instant Power: Delivers immediate, consistent torque without needing to idle or warm up.

Great for: Enclosed environments, established sites with reliable grid access and emissions-restricted projects.

Wenbro Submersible Pumps

A Drive Unit can be connected to a submersible pump for removing or transferring water on a construction site.

Typical applications include:

• Dewatering excavations
• Removing water from foundations
• Draining flooded areas
• Removing accumulated water from construction sites
• General water transfer applications

Wenbro offers two sizes.

2-Inch (50mm) Submersible Pump

An alternative for construction-site dewatering and water-removal applications.

Portable: The preferred unit if you ever need to move the discharge pipe while the Unit is in operation, this is because the major weight increase due to the volume difference between a 2-inch and a 3-inch pipe. A 3-inch pipe filled with water weighs 2.5 times more per meter than a 2-inch pipe.

Versatility: Excellent for steady, moderate-volume dewatering.

Great for: Dewatering below-ground, small construction trenches, utility pits and light commercial drainage.

3-Inch (75mm) Submersible Pump

For applications requiring a larger pumping capacity, upgrade to the Wenbro 3-inch Submersible Pump.

High Volume Displacement: Moves 20% more litres per minute (1 200 L/min) vs the Wenbro 2-inch Submersible Pump, drastically cutting down the time needed to drain deeply flooded areas.

Superior Solids Handling: The wider discharge outlet and larger impellers allow it to more easily pass bigger debris, thick mud and slurry without clogging.

Greater Head Capacity: Delivers the power needed to push water vertically up deep excavations, shafts, or steep embankments.

Great for: Heavy construction sites, municipal flood clearance, mining applications and pumping thick sludge.

Concrete Poker Needles

Freshly poured concrete naturally contains trapped air. If excessive air remains in the concrete, it can result in voids, honeycombing, poor surface finishes and areas of inconsistent density. Using a Vibrating Concrete Poker Needle helps the unset concrete settle properly by consolidating the mixture through vibrations, allowing trapped air to escape.

Proper compaction can help:

• Reduce unwanted air pockets and voids
• Improve concrete density
• Improve the surface finish
• Help concrete flow around reinforcement
• Improve consolidation in corners and difficult areas
• Produce a more consistent finished concrete structure

Wenbro offers Poker Needles in a range of diameters, allowing the Poker to be matched to different concrete applications.

26mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Pencil Poker)

The smaller 26mm Poker is useful where access is limited or where concrete needs to be compacted around closely spaced reinforcement.

Precision Compaction: The slimmest profile available, designed to slip through extremely dense reinforcement mesh where larger heads would jam.

Small Volumes: Ideal for delicate, low-volume pours where over-vibrating could cause aggregate segregation.

Great for: 150mm concrete cube moulds, thin retaining walls and highly congested precast forms.

38mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Classic Poker)

A versatile option for a range of concrete applications.

The Middle Ground: Offers a step up in vibration radius while still maintaining enough agility to work around standard structural rebar and general reinforcing.

Handling: Lightweight enough for an operator to manage for extended periods without severe fatigue.

Great for: Standard building columns, concrete slabs, narrow strip footings and domestic foundation trenches.

45mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Everyday Workhorse Poker)

The 45mm Poker, provides an upgraded option for general-purpose concrete compaction thanks to its heavier weight and stronger force.

Site Standard: The most common general-purpose size for commercial applications, balancing power with manageable weight. This is a core choice for equipment hire companies to keep in their fleet.

Efficiency: Moves significantly more air out of the mix than the 38mm Concrete Poker, meaning fewer insertion intervals along the pour line.

Great for: Slab-on-grade floors, medium retaining walls and general commercial foundation work.

62mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Heavy-Duty Poker)

A larger Concrete Poker Needle suited to projects where a smaller Poker Needle isn’t up for the job.

High Impact: Generates a massive compaction radius, requiring fewer insertion points and speeding up the pour dramatically.

Heavy Duty: Heavier to handle and requires a robust drive unit to maintain the necessary amplitude under load.

Great for: Deep commercial foundations, bridge pylons, thick raft slabs and pours with widely spaced reinforcement.

75mm Concrete Poker Needle (The Big Hitter Poker)

The largest option in the Wenbro Concrete Poker range, suited to larger concrete compaction applications where access and reinforcement spacing allow for the larger poker head.

Maximum Displacement: Compacts large volumes of heavy, low-slump concrete quickly.

Clearance Needed: Not recommended for standard residential walls or tightly reinforced structures, as the violent vibration can damage forms or displace steel.

Great for: Mass concrete pours, dam construction, heavy civil engineering footings and unreinforced slabs.

One Power Source, Multiple Applications

The real advantage of a drive unit system is its flexibility.

With the appropriate attachments, the same drive unit can be used to compact concrete today and assist with dewatering and water transfer tomorrow.

For contractors who regularly perform concrete and general construction work, this makes the Drive Unit a particularly useful piece of equipment.

Whether you need a petrol, diesel or electric Drive Unit, a Submersible Pump, or a Concrete Poker Needle, Wenbro offers a range of equipment suited to different construction applications.

Need Help Choosing the Right Drive Unit?

Not sure which Drive Unit, Pump or Poker Needle is best suited to your application?

Speak to Wenbro.

Our team can help you select the appropriate Drive Unit and attachment for the job, whether you need equipment for concrete compaction, dewatering or general construction work.

Products Featured in This Article:

Drive Units:

Submersible Pumps:

Vibrating Concrete Poker Needles

Frequently Asked Questions