A big push for waste
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by Bryan Jarvis • Waste handling is becoming a growth market for push-out trailer specialist Wisbech Bulk Systems.
WBS managing director George Booth says waste vehicles represented 16% of last year's production, and this proportion is increasing: "1997 was a pretty poor year all round," he says, "so any growth area is welcome."
With Wilcox concentrating on tipping ,414 products and Bridge Bodies absorbed within WBS, the takeovers have proved worthwhile. Although Weightlifter's purchase of PPG came as a bit of a surprise, Booth thinks such consolidation will help stem some of the damaging effects of price cutting.
He expected importers such as Stas to become active but adds: "Our aftersales service takes some beating so we're not unduly wor tied on that score."
Recent orders won by WBS include a dozen 57.5m3 ejector trailers for West Yorkshire Waste and 11 more for Polkacrest of Wrotham, Kent.
West Yorkshire's WBS trailers will be used with a batch of new 360hp Volvo FL10s; Polkacrest has ordered 360hp Scania P124GAs. Both operators have opted for 6x4s—the double-drive axles will provide extra traction on difficult sites.
Unusually, Polkacrest's trailers have aluminium roofs to provide a degree of compaction. They are 300rnm lower than standard to suit local waste transfer stations.
The trailers have tandem RO-R axles, Flexair air suspension and run on lowprofile 425/65 22.50n widesingle tyres. Wisbech uses a five-stage Edbro hydraulic ram to power the ejection plate system.