Bass company opts for Volve 110
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VOLVO'S 1-10 1 beaten British and European competitors to be selected as the best 38 tonner for a Bass Group subsidiary.
Tennant Caledonian Breweries fleet engineer Barrie Hall told Brewery Transport Advisory delegates last week that his company opted for the 2+3 configuration in replacing its fleet of 130 Volvo F7 4x2 tractive units operating at 32.5 tonnes.
New tractive units needed an engine rated at between 205 to 230kW (275 to 308hp) to give a fuel return close to 35 lit/100km (8mpg): a fifth wheel height of 1,270mm (50in) for stability and to ensure maximum payload height within the 4.2m limitation.
The unladen tractive unit weight had to be less than 6,400kg. needed a manufacturer with servicing agents in all of the areas in which the vehicles would operate. In assessing lifetime costs, the net purchase price was considered along with maintenance costs, fuel costs, and estimated residual values.
Four vehicles shortlisted were the ERF C40 with Rolls-Royce 290L diesel, the lveco 190/30, the Scania 112MAR 534 and Volvo F10/20.
The evaluations took two years and comprised performance trials, stability testing, noise and brake trials, mechanical evaluation, specific fuel consumptions and an extended 50,(X)Okm in service trial.
The day-cabbed ERF, lightest at 600kg, gave good tolerance on the front axle while the Iveco, heavier than specified, with short wheel base and low plated front axle led to overloads.
In road trials the Volvo FIO proved to be the most frugal and the quickest. The Scania was a close second.
In the first year with 100 FlOs running, fuel consumption is better at 39 lit/100km (7.25mpg), maintenance costs are 4.8p per km with total running costs of I8.5p per km.
ERF is second choice with 20 tractive units now operating and these fitted with the Cummins Lb O engine are showing even better results.
Scania, despite its £42 million annual spend in orders for UK parts and materials, was marked down because it is totally foreign built, although the conference learned "another BTAC company" is operating Scania 6x2 units successfully.