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Ken Brewis
Page 66
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THE MANUFACTURER Ken Brewis is lveco's head of product for mediurn and heavy business. Ifs his job to develop Trakker sales, currently struggling n the UK. He's aware the Trakker has always been seen as a heavyweight a muckaway truck rather than a lightweight aggregate workhorse. But that's about to change.
"We're in the process of lightening the product," says Brewis. "The old EuroTrakker was half a tonne overweight. Now Trakker is down to 9.2 tonnes unladen,"
To achieve this drop in tare weight, Iveco has adopted single-reduction Mentor axles. It has also looked at removing the anti-roll bars and changing to shock absorbers, which have been specified for Ivaco's traditional heavy Continental markets.
The 12-speed EuroTronic automated gearbox also helps here; ifs 77kg lighter than a conventional box. By 2007 he's confident that Iveco will have an 8x4 chassis at nine tonnes, with two-spring steel suspension.
Brewis reports that heavy muckaway trucks currently account for just 10% of the tipper market. ''We need volume to be in the main marketplace," he says, 'Ifs about tailoring the product to the majority of the UK market we're developing an aggregate machine.
"We're looking at every aspect," he adds. 'Disc brakes all round are going to happen, like it or not. We're not reducing the integrity of the vehicle, though; absolutely not. Everything will be durability-tested before it goes near an operator."
However, he believes the next two years will be dominated by engine legislation rather than weight Issues; "Next year is going to be an absolute joy, but 2007 is going to kill us.
Brewis believes there will be huge orders next year, to get trucks built before Euro-4 comes into force for 2007, and warns this will leave a void in sales the following year. And with a four-month lead time on an Sx4 chassis, not counting time at the body builder, things can only get tighter.
"I think that the 8x4 market Is incredibly strong at the moment," Brewis concludes.