IRTE show defies the slump
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• Despite the depressed state of the industry there was no shortage of exhibitors or ideas at Telford for the annual Institute of Road Transport Engineers show and conference last week.
The 1991 display was the biggest yet, with more than 230 exhibitors. News of the planned 1993 SMMT commercial show at Birmingham was widely criticised — it will clash with the IRTE show forcing many exhibitors to choose between the two. For this year, with truck sales severely depressed, the accent was as much on new ideas as new products.
Scania's most powerful R143 MAX2R 500 Streamline Topline tractive unit made its UK debut at Telford. Powered by the new 368kW (500hp) version of Scania's 14-litre charge-cooled engine, it features the company's EDC electronic fuel management system and cruise con
trol. Transmitting the power from the mighty vee-eight is the all new GRS900 I4-speed gearbox.
At the heart of the transmission is a three-speed box with range change and splitter giving 12 normal driving speeds. In low range drivers can call on a split crawler gear to provide an additional two gears at the bottom of the box.
Swedish rival Volvo was showing three vehicles in the outside display area. At the centre stage was a left-hand-drive European-spec F12 tractive unit with some interesting innovations. Additional engine fairings help the F12 to meet the Austrian 80dB(A) noise limit. Both axles were air suspended and the 3.7m wheelbase tractor's fifth-wheel height was a low 1,050mm. Unfortunately the F12 cannot be fitted with steering-axle air suspension in right-hand drive because part of the system sits where the steering box would be housed.
Another unusual vehicle on the stand was a Scottish-built FL7 drawbar fuel tanker in Esso livery, plated at 56 tonnes. The 18,000-litre tanker is designed for aircraft re-fuelling.
Allied Breweries
Central to the Mercedes-Benz display was a 1733 tractive unit in Heineken's colours ordered by Allied Breweries. The sleeper-cabbed Merc normally weighs in at 6,080kg but this one tipped the scales at a claimed 5,880kg: Allied Breweries wanted the lightest possible tractor and Mercedes' Wentworth Park workshop has shaved every spare scrap of weight from the 1733.
Alcoa alloy wheels and 275 instead of 295 section tyres account for most of the savings, but weight has also been saved by using a lightweight Jost fifth wheel and sub-assembly and an aluminium catwalk.
Even the battery straps have been replaced with lightweight designs, and the battery box and air deflector stabiliser bars have been drilled to save weight. No passenger seat is fitted. Allied has ordered six vehicles and other fleets are also said to be interested.
Engine fairing
MAN's theme was reduced servicing down-time, and central to this was the 17.322 4x2 tractor fitted with the new EC0.320 engine. Like the Euro-spec Volvo F12 it featured extra engine fairings to reduce drive-by noise. With automatic chassis lubrication the 10-litre five-cylinder engine's service inter vals can be extended to 45,000km, equating to a saving of 22,000 over 360,000km, claims MAN.
Vehicle security is an increasing concern among many hauliers and several manufacturers were displaying devices to dissuade would-be thieves.
Romatic's Deadlock system is controlled by a box mounted behind the dash. When the system is activated the ignition circuit is immobilised and the parking brake locked on. Ignition cables and air lines are re-routed through the control box; dummy lines from the box make it impossible to identify the "real" cables and air lines. The Deadlock is available for 12 or 24v systems and costs around t350.
US lamp manufacturer TruckLite was making its first appearance in the UK. On display was its top-of-the-range model 45. Truck-Lite has identified the principal reasons for bulb failure as voltage surge, vibration, water penetration and poor connection. To combat these the 45 model incorporates an antisurge resistor to protect the bulb filament. The bulb is fitted in a shock-proof mounting with soldered connections; each lamp is a sealed unit and external terminals are coated with an NYK anti-corrosion compound. Lenses are made from tough polycarbonate.
The 45 model carries a 12month guarantee—Truck-Lite claims bulb life is up to five times longer than a conventional lamp for an initial cost of around 15% higher. Maxilode is fitting Truck-Lite bulbs as original equipment to its trailer range.
Tyre manufacturer
Another newcomer to IRTE was tyre manufacturer Firestone. On display were the HP 3000 steering-axle tyre and the PSD 3000 drive-axle tyre, both introduced last year.
The HP 3000 features a decoupling groove and comparatively straight tread pattern to reduce wear. It is also available as a super single for trailers and semi-trailers.
Both tyres feature a flat side wall and tread pattern.
Avon tyres also announced two new tyre sizes in its AR140 range at the show. 11R 22.5 and 12R 22.5 models are suitable for all axles on rigids, and tractor unit steering axles.
Warning light
The rise of electronics was demonstrated on Wabco Clayton Dewandre's stand. The company was displaying a training test rig featuring its Category 1 fourchannel ABS system. A warning light signals system malfuncCons, which can be identified by a flash-code system.
Alternatively it can be connected to a diagnostic system in the workshop which uses a "smartcard" to interrogate the onboard electronics. Instructions are given on a small screen and the operator can quickly pinpoint faults. The same system can be used to fault-find on
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Wabco ECAS air suspension and speed limiters, by inserting different smart-cards.
Don-Bur launched two new products at Telford. The NumoSpacemaster is the latest development on the Spacemaster sliding-side body, featuring pneumatic side-door operation. The three-phase functions are controlled from a body-mounted switch panel.
Rear pillar
Firstly the sliding rear pillar which retains the two flush mounted side panels is released. The second phase releases the load-restraining mechanism which holds the panels in place. Finally an over-centre cam engages the top of the rear panel in its sliding track so that it can slide forward.
Closing the body is a simple reversal of the procedure. The control box is programmed so that it will only function if the buttons are pressed in the right sequence. The system was shown fitted to an MAN 17-tonner in Exel Logistics livery. A semi-trailer system was also on show; details of this and the new Don-Bur Hydra-Lifta will be in the next CM Bodybuilder.
Triplex Translock was exhibiting at IRTE for the first time. The anti-roll back device is not new but the company is now targetting Iveco Ford Cargo and Leyland Daf 45 series (Roadrunner) models in the 7,5-17-tonnes GVW range,
Universal joint
The device is mounted on the oil seal housing backplate on the differential where it fits between the differential flange and the propshaft universal joint. Since none of the existing components are modified the vehicle warranty is not affected.
The principal components are a Kevlar belt, fixed at one end in a sliding shuttle, guided round a sliding post and revolving drum and fixed rigidly at its other end, The propshaft rotates freely with the vehicle moving forward, but the belt binds tightly around the drum if the vehicle should roll backwards.
When reverse gear is selected a solenoid activated by the reversing light circuit prevents the system from operating.
A warranty covers normal use for 12 months or 48,000km (30,000 miles); Triplex claims the system will reduce excessive brake and clutch wear.