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The UK’s first MegaSpace Titan

30th August 2012, Page 13
30th August 2012
Page 13
Page 13, 30th August 2012 — The UK’s first MegaSpace Titan
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A hydrodynamic turbo clutch, 610hp and 3,000Nm of torque – Cadzow Heavy Haulage has taken on a Mercedes-Benz with a difference

By Roger Brown

CADZOW HEAVY Haulage has taken delivery of the first Mercedes-Benz Actros Titan MegaSpace in the UK. Built by Mercedes in association with German engineering firm Titan, it was painted in Cadzow’s traditional red, green and white livery at the firm’s 10-acre site in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.

However, it features another innovation: the use of the Mercedes PowerShift automated gearbox has led to the replacement of the previous torque converter clutch by a turbo clutch, developed in cooperation with Voith Turbo.

According to Mercedes, it combines “the advantages of hydrodynamics with the comfort of an automated manual gearbox and the high efficiency of a mechanical powertrain”.

Other advantages of the turbo clutch include its low weight and small installation space requirement, which eliminates the disad vantages of traditional torque converter clutches.

For heavy transport operations, the PowerShift transmission allows sensitive, wear-free starting with input torques of more than 3,000Nm and delivery of the full engine power up to the traction limit. Precise and controlled braking is achieved by the powerful, wear-free integrated primary retarder.

High driving comfort

Geoff Davies, spokesman for Bellshill-based Western Commercial, which supplied the vehicle, believes all these features contribute to high driving comfort and help reduce fuel consumption.

“The Voith turbo clutch combined with the fully-automated PowerShift is a special combination,” he explains. “One of the Cadzow drivers went to Germany to try it and was immediately impressed with it. He said it was smoother and faster than the vehicles he is used to driving.

“With the turbo clutch, the truck outperforms ones with the old torque converter systems in its ability to go up inclines – it really is like chalk and cheese.” Mercedes’ heavy haulage version of the new-shape Actros is rumoured to be a year to 18 months’ away from being launched, and the new technology is set to feature on the next generation of Titans.

The MegaSpace cab has a chrome-plated exterior rear-view mirror; speedline aluminium wheels; cab air suspension; headlamp wash system; electric cab tilt and automatic air-conditioning system. Davies adds: “This is the first Titan Actros in the UK with the MegaSpace cab and should help make double-manning the vehicles far easier.

“The cab has a microwave, fridge, and all the other comforts drivers expect [eg Bluetooth].”

A multitalented clutch

The dry single-plate clutch acts as a lock-up clutch for the turbo clutch as well as a normal clutch for driving operation.

It is opened only for starting and when shifting gear, and is then closed in driving operation. The hydrodynamic turbo clutch consists of a driven pump impeller, which absorbs power, and a turbine wheel that outputs power.

Cadzow MD Jim Macauley says the company will look to keep the new truck – which churns out 610hp – for seven or eight years.

“The new Titan will carry the likes of plant and machinery, excavators and dumper trucks,” he adds. “Titans are good motors, good sellers on the second-hand market, and reliability is also good – we are looking forward to running this vehicle.” ■


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