SHOW TRIALS
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Richard Scrase previews the Municipal Vehicles in Action Exhibition, where visitors will be able to test many of the exhibits • Of the 60 stands at this year's Municipal Vehicles in Action Exhibition, more than half will provide visitors with hands-on experience. Local authority plant engineers and fleet managers will have the chance to operate anything from a Schmidt compact suction sweeper to a Unimog 1,000 fitted with a snowplough on the front and a grass cutter at the rear.
The driving opportunities may give visitors to the Transport and Road Research Laboratory an enjoyable time on April 16 and 17, but the fun at Crowthorne, Berkshire, will not disguise the generally depressed state of the municipal market.
Local authority spending limits and pressure for commercial standards in local authority vehicle fleet management have contributed to this decline in orders. Although most of the major municipal vehicle manufacturers will attend the exhibition, there are some notable absentees.
Ford, for example, originally booked a 192m2 stand, but decided to pull out of the exhibition a few weeks ago. A spokesman said: "We have decided to withdraw from the show because we have no vehicles to show."
Chloride will not attend this year. The company's batteries are used extensively in municipal electrically powered vehicles, but the company has decided to direct its energies at the Temperature Control and Storage Exhibition, which takes place at the same time.
Even Seddon Atkinson Municipal has decided not to take a stand. Instead its vehicles are to be displayed on the stands of specialist vehicle body builders. A company spokesman said the company expects to have "somebody at the exhibition, but not something, if you see what I mean."
Despite these notable absentees, Volvo, Leyland Trucks, Renault Dodge and several smaller companies have decided to exhibit some exciting new vehicles at the show, and we include those in the following pages. • The star of the Leyland Trucks exhibits will be this specially adapated Freighter fitted with a Norba refuse collection body. The vehicle, which was first revealed in C:M (November 9 last year), is being shown in public for the first time at MVEIA.
It is based upon Leyland's Freighter 16.13 standard model, but the cab floor has been moved forward 300mm, the cab floor dropped by 150mm, and the roof has been raised. Leyland claims the alterations improve access to the cab, enabling up to five refuse collectors to travel in the vehicle in comfort.
By re-positioning the cab and fitting asymmetric rear springs Leyland has reduced the problem of overloading on the rear axle. 'Me vehicle is also fitted with a front-mounted power take-off and a bumper tow hitch.
• Newly refined versions of the familiar Schmidt SK150 compact suction sweepers will be demonstrated. Refinements include a low-pressure oil cooler, high-capacity cooling fan, upgraded hydraulics, and electronic fault diagnosis equipment. Schmidt will demonstrate both the SK150 and the turbocharged diesel version, the SK150S, together with wanderhose, snowplough and 350-litre capacity gritter attachments. • Renault Dodge will have the largest stand at the show. Pride of place on it will go to a G170 newly fitted with a gritter body.
There are no pictures yet available of the finished vehicle, but Renault says it is a standard G170 fitted with a gritter body by Econ of Ripon, North Yorkshin An 11.5-tonne rear axle is fitted to th vehicle, which is owned and operated 133 Merton Borough Council in London.
• Renault Dodge's well established 50 series, which is now available in an electrically powered version, will be featured at MVE1A. The company will demonstrate the vehicle in its bus and welfare ambulance guise, and a number of optional fittings will be exhibited including wheelchair lifts, rear tailgates and demountable seating.
Automatic transmission and power steering are offered on the vehicle as optional extras.