FUTURESQURCE 2010
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Page 47
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What's new for those operating in the public sec
We've seen the future
The annual Futuresource show rolled into London last week and CM went to see the array of commercial vehicles on display.
Words: Ian Tonkin / images: Graham Richardson
The theme at this year's Futuresource event at London's ExCel was 'more from less: Exhibitors were eager to showcase products that deliver better environmental benefits from fewer resources on smaller budgets. CM looked at how commercial vehicles are, excuse the pun, driving the waste management industry. There was a mixture of new products from BMC and Dennis Eagle, as well as Mercedes-Benz and the new Fuse Canter range. There were also a few shiny trucks (and an oversized bulldozer) that caught our eye and a rather unique Ford Transit. Here, then, are the highlights from Futuresource 2010.
Stocks Sweepers OAF LF55
Sleeks Sweepers was in prime position to snowcase its range of roadsweeping equipment. Managing director Jeff Stock says: "The brand new S6400 sweeper is mounted on a OAF LF55.220 chassis and the lightweight vehicle, plus our kit, means added payload for the user."
Also on the Stocks Sweepers stand was a Volvo FM12 with 420hp and Globetrotter cab The vehicle carries a remounted body. whicn its makers say can save the customer roughly 225,000 versus buying an all-new body.
BMC low-entry cab
Like Volvo, BMC is still a new player in the low-entry cab market It has just launched a new narrower, lower cab for waste collection companies.
Inside there's space for three people with good cab access on both the driver's and passenger's side.
The truck is powered by a 285bhp, 6.7-litre Euro-5 engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This BMC is backed by a two-year unlimited mileage warranty, and costs £62,000.
Volvo Trucks
Volvo is a relative newcomer to the low-entry cab market, but that didn't stop it from previewing its new LEO rigid truck. Based on a regular FE chassis, the LEO is aimed squarely at the waste collection and recycling sector. The cab measures 2,300mm wide, which Volvo says is adequate enough to accommodate three operatives and a driver. The LEGS step height is 440mm and features doors that open out 90 degrees for improved access. The Swedish manufacturer has already secured 18 orders since launching the LEC earlier this year, and a spokesman says it "fully expects to build on this initial take-up in the coming months".
Mercedes-Benz
Moicedes was one of the few chassis manufacturers that exhibited and the firm had a range of its new products for potential customers to see.
All the bottom end of the scale was the Sprinter NGT (CM 4 February). The chassis cab is powered by 4 regular petrol engine, but is also capable of running on compressed natural gas.
llongside the Sprinter was Mercedes's popular refuse truck: the Econic. This particular example, the 262OLL, is powered by a 282bhp Euro-5/EV engine and features a 6x2 rear-steer axle and a four-man lowientry cab.
Next to the Econic was a 3.5-tonne Fuse Canter, noticeably without the 'Mitsubishi nomenclature, As majority shareholder, Daimler seeks to give the
brand its own identity, distanced from its roots. The show's example is a 3C13 and is powered by an all-new 3.0-litre, 130hp engine that, like the bigger Econic. is rated to the Euro-5/EEV standard. It has been fitted with a plastic box body from Link-Tip. which it's claimed saves overall weight and is also cheaper and easier to maintain than a traditional steel body.
Caterpillar D7E
Dwarfing all the trucks at the show was this, the Cater pi. I ar D7E, Weighing in at 28.8 tonnes GVW, it is capable of shifting 14rn, of rubbish at a time, Heavy-duty 24-inch tracks provide grip on slippery landfill sites and was definitely one of the heavy-hitters of the show.
Dennis Eagle
No refuse-collection-based exhibition is complete without a Dennis Eagle. and on its big stand was a new prototype battery-powered body. A regular 13.1-tonnne Phoenix steel body is mounted to an Elite 2 chassis, but instead of the compactor running on the diesel engine's power take-off, this one runs off its own lithium-ion battery pack.
Terberg Machines
One of the most attractive HGVs at the show could be found on the Terberg Machines stand. The 300hp Euro-5 Volvo FE is plated at 26 tonnes with a payload of up to 10 tonnes and 23m3 of volume.
This particular vehicle features a nearside hydraulic lift On this instance for the European market) that is designed to collect underground skips in Antwerp, Belgium, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The system is driver-controlled from inside the cab, and for safety, the firm has flied the Volvo with seven cameras and twin safety are alongside the hydraulic lifter.
Dennis Eagle MD Norman Thoday says: 'We are experimenting with a number of new technologies and one of those is a battery-powered body. It reduces noise and fuel consumption and can operate for the duration of a typical fiveto six-hour shift. Once back at base. the unit is recharged overnight ready for the following day."
Thoday said Dennis Eagle is looking to begin trial of the vehicle with a selection of councils soon.
Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment
Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment chose a T350 Ford Transit van as a base vehicl€ for its bespoke 'Gum and Graffiti Removal Unit'. The Transit is kitted with bespoke shelving, mixing and cleaning items for treating dirty walls and pavements. It also comes with a water tank for its Karcher high-pressure sprays, and an onboard scale ensures the vehicle and axles are never overweight