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EFFICIEN
In these cost-conscious times road hauliers are looking for vehicles that can boost their productivity. The Institute of Road Transport Engineers' show at Telford bristled with innovations designed to do just that. Floors were low volumes were high...
• In the absence of an international exhibition, the IRTE's annual show at Telford has become the UK's leading commercial vehicle venue which all sectors of the industry can still afford to attend.
Once again over half of the displays were in the open, but the weather remained kind, so the alfresco exhibitors were not inconvenienced.
Low height and large volume continue to be major themes and both Volvo and Scania were testing operator reaction to their low-height tractive units. When coupled to dedicated semitrailers they allow an internal load height of 3m within the continental 4m height limit.
In the UK the problem is less acute as this can almost be attained with conventional equipment at maximum weight, and exceeded if operating at 32.5 tonnes. But we'll have to wait and see how these vehicles will perform in the second-hand market, as they are not normally compatible with conventional height semi-trailers. For the time being neither of the Swedish manufacturers is offering right-hand-drive models.
Volvo's LHD F10 4x2 tractor is equipped with full air suspension on both steer and drive axles. Its low (960mm) fifth wheel height is achieved mainly by using a thicker section frame which is contoured over the rear axle to allow adequate movement, and by fitting Continental 285/60 low-aspect tyres.
Alongside the low-height R113MW4x2LA tractive unit with rear air suspension, Scania showed an R113MV6x2RB 360 drawbar chassis with full air suspension. With a design weight of 50 tonnes GTW it is poised to take advantage of the 35tonne limit which comes into effect on 1 January 1993.
EXPENSIVE
The air suspension caters for high volume loads and avoids the use of expensive demount systems. With a wheelbase of 5m, a 6.3-tonne front axle and an unladen weight of 7.56 tonnes, this 6x2 will accommodate body lengths of 6.4-7.9m (21-26ft).
Scania's R113 high-volume tractive unit achieves its 960mm fifth wheel height — 260mm lower than standard — using 255/70 aspect tyres.
All-round air suspension is a departure for Seddon Atkinson. It was a feature on the Silver Knight flagship tractive unit_ While this vehicle was powered by a 14-litre Cummins engine Seddon now offers the 298kW (400hp) Perkins Eagle 12-litre unit.
Seddon Atkinson operator B Lakin has developed his own simple, light and effective lift axle ahead of Seddon Atkinson's own development. His twinsteer tractive unit sported an innovative lift/steer axle. The original second steer axle air suspension is coupled to a third air bag mounted inside the chassis. This in turn is connected to the axle by steel cables so dumping air from one to the other lifts and lowers the axle.
ADVANTAGE
As part of the Iveco stable Seddon Atkinson is now able to take advantage of group technical developments. The first of its new 17-tonners is due to be delivered in October. It will feature Seddon's own version of the EuroCargo cab but with proprietary driveline components.
The introduction of Iveco Ford's own New Cargo 17-tonner is said to be "imminent".
Leyland Daf showed its most powerful tractive unit, the FT95.430, but its new 75 and 85 Series vehicles (CM 14-20 May), are still 12 months away.
An FA 45.130 with bodywork by Aitkens of Linlithgow and built for KP Foods has been converted into an integral vehicle with walk-through access.
Nearside entry to the cab has been improved and the roof fairing allows standing room inside. A coach-type plug door gives side access to the load compartment and can be opened remotely with an infra-red control, which could be useful when drivers' hands are full.
CONTROLLED
The 400 Series van on the Leyland Daf stand provides an ideal square shape for freezer/chiller conversion. From April 1992 all foods in controlled categories must be kept at or below 8°C, and the regs for some vehicles become even tougher next year.
GRP Massey's conversion, incorporating a freezer and cold compartments, is cooled by a Polar Pac 16/7500V beam system fitted in the rear section. Powered by a 1kW condensing system, normally charged overnight from an external supply, it has a -25°C capability. Fully insulated the van has a payload of 890kg.
Foden's 6x2 twin-steer tractors can now be equipped with ECAS constant-height air suspension for £3,750. The show model was also fitted with a Tyremate tyre inflation monitor. All the valves on the tractor and on the trailer are fitted with transducers and a signal is relayed to the cab if tyre pressure anywhere on the vehicle drops by more than 10%.
The 4275 4x2 tractor built for Mobil to Pet Reg spec was fully equipped with all discharge equipment on line. It has an unladen weight of 6,020kg and will go into operation at 32.5 tonnes with a tandem-axled tank trailer.
Renault has supplied 20 tractors to Pet Reg specs for Samat UK, a subsidiary of the French fuel and spirit distributor.
The G 340ti 17TD Managers have the base nine-speed transmission behind Renault's 9.8litre charge-cooled engine developing 249kW (338hp).
Mercedes took the opportunity to show off its range of LEV tractive units with low emission engines, including an 1844 with the 320kW (429hp) 14.6-litre vee-eight. We also heard that the 7.5-13-tonne LN2 range is due for a facelift later this year.
Marshall SPV is a rising star among the body and trailer manufacturers. The Cambridgebased newcomer is well known for its military expertise but exhibited a range of vehicles showing some of the new directions it is taking.
In revising its former Hoynor designs, Marshall has produced an improved version of its doubledecked semi-trailer for evaluation by Comtrans. The 13.5m Above left: Gull-wing sides speed up drops for Whitbread.
Above right: Scania's full air suspension avoids expensive demount systems.
Right: A simple lifting second-steer axle for Seddon Atkinson.
Below: Foden 4x2: built to Pet Regs on line. GRP-panelled dry freighter uses the same car transporter-type chain and hydraulic lift mechanism but with a new aluminium 8.5-tonne second deck, overall weight is down to 9.1 tonnes. There are two king pin positions.
Its full-length floor is slightly higher than before but there is still 1.6m between decks within an overall height of 4.2m Like its predecessors with Group 4 the roof's front edge slopes forwards and there are two pin positions for use with 4x2 and 6x2 tractor units.
Alongside an Iveco Ford 59.12 Daily-based 29-seater bus and a 28m box van for Parcel Force, Marshall displayed its growing expertise in building brewery drays.
Marshall is one of several manufacturers working closely with Whitbread. It bodied one of the brewing giant's development vehicles; an Iveco Ford Cargo 80L15 converted to a 6x2 by Chassis Developments.
The low-floor body system is designed for one-man operation using Swedish wind up side curtains and a curl-up rear flap. Both side opening mechanisms are supplied by CVC.
Another Cargo-based experimental dray for Whitbread featured gull-wing sides. As long as there is at least 1.2m clearance above and to the sides, they simply lift out and fold overhead.
The body was built by Dutch Below left: Massey's chiller body for Mattesson.
Below right: The Metros wop promises fast turnrounds. firm Mostard of Sustern with folding sides which are said to save two minutes per drop compared with sliding curtains.
Don-Bur's close links with the drinks trade was exemplified by an unusual MAN 10.150 drawbar rig which is one of a pair built for Whitbread.
This 6x2 conversion was also handled by Chassis Developments. Complete with 4.95m Palletmaster side curtains it is rated at 11.5 tonnes, while the tandem central-axled trailer has a 3.5m body and an 8.0-tonne limit. Apart from the steer axle, the outfit runs on air suspension and connects via a VBG 620 pneumatic coupling. Aerodynamic fairings and side panelling is supplied by Air Management Systems.
CHILLER
Maintaining temperatures within the 5-8°C temperature range laid down by the 1990 Food Hygiene regulations is vital to meat processor Mattessons Walls, which has recently ordered 50 Leyland Daf 45-130based GRP Massey chiller vehicles.
The body was jointly developed with Hubbard. It uses Polarstac eutectic beam refrigeration with a single-phase condensing unit on the bulkhead. A digital, thermostatically controlled fan maintains temperatures at the 4°C mark.
There were several new noninsulated body systems on show at Telford.
Aluvan demonstrated its Aluplan planked body, which uses aluminium extrusions that clip to adjacent panels at three points. It is available in 2.5-7.0m body lengths, but will eventually be offered at up to 13.5m.
Transliner launched its new Voyager curtainsider system for semi-trailers, while StructureFlex of Holt, Norfolk exhibited its latest Re-flex slide-aside lightweight curtain system. This uses plastic double rollers at the lower rave with bias strips to ensure that the curtains concertina outwards as they open.
Weweller launched the UltraLite suspension with trailing arm parabolic spring which cuts 72kg per triaxle trailer from the weight of its standard 9.0-tonne axle suspension.
Aveling Barford announced the sale of TEC, formerly part of the York group, to an investment team led by Mike Bacon who was previously UK managing director of RO-R.
Container specialist Maxilode was at Telford with a shorter vesion of its Maxiroll rolling-subframe skeletal trailer. It is designed for 6.1 and 9.1m Railfreight containers and is shorter than the standard version for 6.1-12.2m boxes. The shorter model weighs in at 4.78 tonnes unladen.
Fast demount bodies used on Ray Smith's Metroswop system promise economies for its first customer, Exel Logistics, on a distribution contract for Hoover.
The drawbar outfit comprises an air suspended Leyland Daf 2700 pulling an air sprung center-bogie trailer with body alignment rails. Two sizes of body are involved. A pair of 7.8m boxes with double-decking for the larger vehicle will be used to deliver to large retail outlets, while four 3.8m bodies will deliver locally on smaller 45 Series chassis. Ray Smith chassismounted taillifts are mounted on each chassis.
In addition to its new-to-UK 32.422DFT tractive unit for heavy haulage, MAN had a 23.332 FNLL 6x2 rigid lefthooker at Telford with air suspension on all axles.
The outfit will be available for short term rental from 1 June from BRS Trailer Rental, complete with a Schmitz trailer and 7.15m swap bodies.