by Bryan Jarvis and Miles Brignall In British tipper manufacturer
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Hytec has gone on the offensive to counter claims by American producers that their underfloor tipping gear is safer and more reliable than the traditional British frontend lifting mechanism.
In the run-up to the Tipcon conference in Harrogate next week, Bolton-based Hytec has fired the first salvo in the battle for sales with an attack on the US tests that seemed to indicate greater stability for underfloor systems.
Hytec has enlisted the support of Ian Kerry, the man responsible for maintenance at CCC's Liverpool operation, who says the US tests did not reflect actual working conditions. "Fully tilted the underfloor sys tems are very stable," he says, "but everyone in the trade knows the most critical point in the tip is at 30°. At this point the underfloor gear is at its least effective."
He points to the experience of firms like ARC, Redland and Tarmac which all use the front end gear.
But Keith Nowell, marketing manager at Boltonbased manufacturer Edbro, says his firm makes both systems and there is a place in the market for each of them.
Although the underbody can be better suited for the larger tippers there is a weight penalty and the technology is more sophisticated, he says: "We still sell more front-end systems. Buyers need to decide which is most suited to the type of loads carried on differing terrains."