Vic Beckwith is marketing manager for Scarab, the road sweeper
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manufacturer; CM tracked him down on the company's stand at the IWM show in Torbay (CM22-28 June). "The 3.5-tonner is a bit too small for what we want," he said. "We were interested in the 6.2, but the 7.5-tonne NQR is the ideal vehicle. We saw it as a concept vehicle last year and we introduced our own model just three months ago. its light, compact and has the right size wheelbase for us to add our equipment, including a 4.2m3 stainless-steel body.
"We don't use the standard gearbox," he added. "Instead we install a hydrostatic unit driving two pumps. One operates the sweeping gear and one of the biggest suction fans on the market; the other drives the rear axle. It gives us smooth control and a speed range of 0-60mph, but in sweeper mode we limit it to about 15mph. We use the same sweeping equipment that we put on our 16tonne model and that still leaves us with a payload of 2.75 tonnes.
"The standard turning circle is 11.8m which gives us the manoeuvrability we need, both for urban and precinct operations.
"The NQR cab Is small, but even with our control equipment there is room for three people. But it doesn't leave much room for any tools so we mount our own tool locker outside. It has a low cab so visibility is good close up all around the vehicle."
Beckwith was impressed by the vehicle's environmental credentials. Be said: "The engine conforms to Euro-2 noise and emission limits and, compared with the twin-engjned alternative sweeper, the Scarab can save 11,000 a year on fuel."