I n less troubled times, bulk blowers have a small but
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regular niche market. But building and maintaining such vehicles, with their complex pneumatic delivery systems, is just breadand-butter work to specialists like Wisbechbased Priden Engineering.
To gain a better idea of how they are serviced, we shadowed one of the company's senior technicians, Neil Ingham, while he followed the maintenance schedule for an ERF ECri 4x2. and Wilcox triaxle 40tonne bulker combination.
The outfit is operated by BOCM Paul via ERF Leasing, and is serviced as usual every six weeks by the ERF dealer and Lex group member Sellers & Batty of Bury St Edmunds.
But maintaining the blowing equipment and hydraulic tipping systems is a specialist skill that the manufacturer, Priden, prefers to package in newbuild contracts.
Such work represents less than ro% of its total output, but Priden partner Ivan Moden reckons fixed maintenance costs are an important option which help agricultural feed suppliers package their delivery charges more accurately.
Such contract maintenance agreements apply to rigicls and attic combinations alike; they take in all the blowing equipment and air trunking, plus the entire hydraulic system, including tipping gear, hinge bar and PTO. Should there be any damage to the body as a result of, say, a damaged hinge bar, Priden can usually arrange a quick repair job at nearby firm Alibulk.
As well as on-site maintenance, Priden's service vans—two Vauxhall Movanos and a Fiat Ducatoprovide its clients with a complete 24-hour back-up as far afield as Penrith, Plymouth, Carmarthen and East Sussex.
The three vans carry a range of parts and equipment such as electric generators, welding plant and air compressors. They also have a range of lube oils and waste containers, and self-wash and vehicle disinfection systems.