Introducing the Iska Hybrid Pro: Hot Air Weed Control and a Blower in One Machine

Two jobs. One machine. No open flame.

The Sefmat Group, the French manufacturer behind the Ripagreen range, has announced the market launch of the Iska Hybrid Pro, a new hybrid weed killer that combines hot air thermal weed control with an integrated blower function. For anyone building an Integrated Weed Management programme, this is a genuinely significant piece of engineering, and here's why.

Developed for municipalities, landscapers and infrastructure operators, the Iska Hybrid Pro has been built around the three demands we hear most often from UK grounds teams: maximum safety, high efficiency, and environmental compatibility.

How It Works: Thermal Shock Without the Flame

The Iska Hybrid Pro uses a hot air system powered by low-pressure gas (biogas, propane or butane), controlled by a battery that regulates the electronics and airflow.

Here is the crucial difference from traditional gas burners: there is no open flame in contact with the ground. Heat is generated internally within the unit and directed onto the plants as a controlled stream of hot air. This delivers a thermal shock at the cellular level, and the plant gradually dries out and dies back.

If you know our Ripagreen thermal lances, the principle will be familiar. Heat ruptures the cells that carry out photosynthesis, so the plant can no longer convert light into energy and starves. There's no need to char or burn anything; a short "hot shot" is all it takes. The Iska Hybrid Pro takes that proven approach a step further by removing the external flame entirely, opening up sites where flame-based equipment has traditionally been ruled out.

"With the Iska Hybrid Pro, we wanted to maximise the advantages of gas-powered thermal weed control while eliminating the risks of an open flame. The combination of hot air technology and an integrated blower function allows professionals to perform multiple work steps with just one device."

Julien Marigot, Managing Director, Sefmat Group

Why the Built-In Blower Matters: Prevention Is Better Than Cure

At Kersten UK, our whole approach to Integrated Weed Management starts from one principle: weeds are a symptom, not the cause. The real problem is the detritus, dust, leaves and organic matter that accumulate on hard surfaces, decompose into soil, and give weeds somewhere to root. Treat the weed but leave the detritus, and you are booked in for a repeat visit before you've even packed up.

That's why the integrated blower function is, for us, the most interesting part of this launch. With one machine, operators can:

• Clean surfaces before or after treatment
• Remove leaves, dust and debris
• Improve the efficiency of the weed control itself
• Achieve a clean and professional result

Blowing the surface clear before treatment exposes the target weeds for a more effective hit. Blowing it clear afterwards removes the loose material that would otherwise decompose into next season's growing medium. In other words, the Iska Hybrid Pro combines a remedial action (thermal control) with a preventative one (surface hygiene) in a single pass. That's exactly the layered thinking behind the case for Integrated Weed Management.

It's worth being clear about where hot air fits in the wider toolkit. Hot air does not penetrate the soil, so it's most effective on annuals, mosses and young growth. That's precisely why we pair thermal treatment with mechanical weed management: sweepers and weed brushes remove the soil buildup, which shifts the weed population away from stubborn perennials and towards the annuals that thermal tools kill so efficiently. A hybrid machine that keeps surfaces clean as it treats them slots straight into that regime.

Ergonomics and Autonomy for Real Working Days

Thermal weed control only works commercially if operators can keep going all day. The Iska Hybrid Pro system includes:

• A carrying system designed for optimal ergonomics over long shifts
• A mobile cart for the gas cylinder, giving maximum manoeuvrability and autonomy across large areas

Where It Fits

The Iska Hybrid Pro is suited to an unusually wide range of sites: roads, pavements, urban areas, car parks, gravel paths, mulched surfaces and industrial facilities. It also unlocks the sensitive public spaces where flame-free operation really earns its keep: cemeteries, playgrounds, schools and hospitals. Cemeteries in particular are a site type we're asked about constantly. They demand precise, quiet, respectful working around memorials, planting and dry floral tributes, and a flameless hot air system with built-in surface cleaning is close to purpose-made for the job.

For UK local authorities working towards the pesticide reduction goals of the National Action Plan, and for contractors whose clients increasingly specify glyphosate-free maintenance, hybrid hot air technology offers a practical, defensible route forward. If you're at the start of that journey, our overview of thermal weed management and our guide to building a weed management strategy are good places to begin.

See It for Yourself

Want to see the Iska Hybrid Pro in action, or talk through where it fits within your Integrated Weed Management programme alongside sweeping, brushing and thermal treatment? Get in touch with the Kersten UK team on 0118 986 9253. We're always happy to arrange a demonstration and help you find the right chemical-free approach for your sites.

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Kersten UK supplies professional weed control and surface maintenance machinery to councils, contractors and facilities teams across the UK, and developed the Lantra-certified Integrated Weed Management training syllabus.