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The motor, not the screed bar, decides how effectively a vibratory screed works. Four power options are available: petrol (Honda GX25 or GX35), single-phase electric 230 V, three-phase electric 400 V and battery-powered 22.2 V. They differ in centrifugal force — from 700 N to 3 kN — and in weight, which ranges from 7 to 30 kg.
Vibratory screed motors fall into four groups by power source: petrol, single-phase electric 230 V, three-phase electric 400 V and battery-powered. Petrol units deliver high centrifugal force at low weight (Enar QZH: 1,500 N at 7 kg), while three-phase units provide the strongest vibration for heavy double-beam screeds (Enar QP: 3 kN).
| Motor | Power source / engine | Weight | Centrifugal force | Frequency |
| Toolsa High Screed TA-MCD | petrol, Honda GX35 (1.3 hp) | 12.7 kg | – | – |
| Toolsa Thunder Screed TA-PCD | petrol, Honda GX25 (1.1 hp) | – | – | 9,500 rpm |
| Enar QZH | petrol, Honda GX25 | 7 kg | 1,500 N | 9,000/min |
| Enar Tornado H | petrol, Honda GX25 4-stroke | 10.7 kg | 1,500 N | 9,000 rpm |
| Altrad Belle Easy Screed Pro | petrol, Honda GX35 (1 kW) | 14.6 kg | – | 83 Hz |
| Enar QZE Turbo | electric 230 V | – | 1,300 N | 1,200/min |
| Enar Tornado E | electric 230 V | 9.8 kg | 700 N | 3,000/min |
| Enar QP (double beam) | electric 400 V | 30 kg | 3 kN | 3,000/min |
| Enar Tornado E-BATT | battery 22.2 V | 14.5 kg | 1,750 N | 1,200/min |
A petrol screed is the choice wherever there is no power supply — on open slabs, roads and large foundation pours. Honda GX25 and GX35 engines deliver 1,500 N of centrifugal force at weights from 7 to 14.6 kg, and the 0.58 l tank covers continuous work without refuelling during a single pour.
Petrol remains the most popular choice on most construction sites. In enclosed spaces it is ruled out by exhaust fumes — there the answer is an electric unit, and increasingly a battery-powered one.
A single-phase 230 V screed is enough for lighter beams and plugs into a standard socket — the Enar QZE Turbo generates 1,300 N at 1,200 vibrations per minute. A three-phase 400 V unit powers heavy double-beam screeds: the Enar QP reaches 3 kN and 3,000 vibrations per minute at 270 W power draw.
Before choosing a three-phase version, make sure the site has an industrial power connection — this is the most common reason a stronger motor cannot be started.
A battery screed frees you from both the cable and the fumes, so it works well in halls, garages and finishing jobs. The Enar Tornado E-BATT runs on a 22.2 V battery rated at 14.5 Ah and generates 1,750 N of centrifugal force at 1,200 vibrations per minute — more than petrol units with the Honda GX25 engine (1,500 N).
The price for that freedom is weight: the Tornado E-BATT weighs 14.5 kg against 7 kg for the Enar QZH petrol motor. On larger pours it is worth having a spare battery so work is not interrupted while the concrete sets — fresh mix does not wait for charging.
The beam is matched to a specific motor, not the other way round — every manufacturer supplies its own beams that fit only its own drive units. The Husqvarna BT 90 section works with the Husqvarna BT 90 motor, the Husqvarna BD double beam with the Husqvarna BE 20 motor, and Toolsa Thunder Screed and High Screed beams only with motors from those series.
Beams are not interchangeable between manufacturers. Before buying a spare beam, check which motor it is designed for — a mismatched beam will either not mount on the drive unit or will not transmit vibration evenly.
The cross-section of the beam determines how the screed is guided over the concrete. Beams with an L-shaped cross-section are one-directional — the screed can only be pulled towards you. Beams with a hat or rectangular cross-section are two-directional, so the screed can be both pulled and pushed, which speeds up work on wide pours.
In practice you buy one motor and several beams of different lengths, then fit the one that matches a given pour. Altrad Belle Easy Screed beams cover 1.9 to 6 m at weights from 8 to 24.6 kg, so a single motor handles both a narrow corridor and a wide foundation slab.
Centrifugal force is matched to the length and weight of the beam — the longer the beam, the stronger the motor required. The three-phase Enar QP handles beams of 2.5–4.5 m and 3.5–6 m thanks to its 3 kN. A motor that is too weak for a long beam will not carry vibration across the full width of the pour and the concrete will be compacted unevenly.
Total set weight also matters: the heavier the screed, the faster it tires the operator during long shifts — a 6 m beam alone weighs 24.6 kg, plus the motor. Ready-made sets are available in complete vibratory screeds, and beams alone in vibratory screed bars.
Choose your set in this order:
Motors from our own brand Toolsa are available exclusively at NORWIT.PL. The Thunder Screed TA-PCD with a Honda GX25 engine runs at 9,500 rpm — the highest frequency in this comparison, which translates into finer vibration and a smoother surface. The more powerful High Screed TA-MCD with a Honda GX35 (1.3 hp) keeps noise at 50 dB(A).
You buy the motor separately when you already have a working beam and simply replace the vibrating unit. A complete screed is a motor pre-assembled with a beam of a given working width, ready to use straight away. Toolsa offers both series as complete units, with working widths from 2 to 3 m.
| Complete Toolsa screed | Engine | Working width | Weight (with beam) | Other |
| High Screed | Honda GX35 (1.3 hp) | 2.4 m / 3 m | – | 50 dB(A), hand-arm vibration 9 m/s² |
| Thunder Screed | Honda GX25 | 2 m / 2.5 m | 17 kg | 9,500 rpm |
The weight of a complete screed includes the beam, so do not compare it directly with the motor weights in the table above.
Alternatives are available from Enar and Altrad Belle, with the full range in vibratory screed motors.
A petrol motor suits open sites without power, 230 V electric works with a standard socket and short beams, three-phase 400 V drives long double beams, and battery power fits anywhere a cable gets in the way. Centrifugal force from 700 N to 3 kN is the key parameter for comparing these options.
A full breakdown of screed types and buying criteria is in our guide on how to choose the right vibratory screed for concrete. Ready-to-use machines are available in vibratory screeds, including floating and double-beam versions.
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