agnum signs up with big Signature
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Renault's Magnum flagship is set to meet Euro-3 with Goohp of Cummins' finest...
• by Brian Weatherley As predicted by Commercial Motor, Renault plans to offer Cummins' 15-litre all-electronic Signature engine in its flagship Magnum tractor in Europe. following the launch of a Signaturepowered Magnum in Australia at the recent Brisbane Truck Show.
Down-Under
The Mack-badged Magnum (pictured, above right) is available Down-Under with the DOHC Cummins engine rated at 500 or 565hp. eMexpects it to take over from the ageing Mack E9 VB engine as the most powerful engine for European Magnums— not Least as the big Mack will not make it past Furo-3 next year, The Signature fits easily under the Magnum's flat floor cabin; it attracted a lot of attention at Brisbane. Renault must now pick a power rating.
Mack has already revealed that its 12-litre straight-six E7 ETech engine (fitted in European Magnums and Premiums) will ultimately produce up to 550hp.
The E7 is currently rated at 470hp in the Magnum, but if RVI decides to offer the Signature its unlikely to be under 550hp and more likely to be around 600hp.
While demand for the Signature would be limited, it would allow Renault and Mack to offer an engine with a bigger swept volume and more power than the E-Tech through a proprietary manufacturer like Cummins to operators who want more power.
In the Australian Magnum the Signature is coupled to an 18speed Fuller constant-mesh box, but RVI would doubtless want a synchro box for European models.
With ZF having taken over the European production of RVI's heavy truck gearboxes, its likely that a Signature engine would be coupled with a ZF transmission rather than Renault's own B1B synchro box.
• ERF will also offer the Signature in its EC range from Euro-3 if there is sufficient operator demand; it might even spec a new Detroit Diesel engine.
At the Brisbane Show ERF's parent company Western Star confirmed that it will take the Signature in its cabover Commander model which is built by ERF in Britain and based on the UK EC tractor. ERF managing director John Bryant said: "Yes we'll be putting the Signature in the Commander. We've already received orders for it in the EC for New Zealand, and we can cool it under the EC cab."
Following the launch of the latest 14-litre 550hp Detroit Diesel 60 Series engine at Brisbane. Bryant added: "If there's a demand for it, we'll install It too."
ERF already fits the 12.7-litre 60-Series Detroit in the EC127.
ERF's parent Western Star plans to fit the Signature engine (above) in the Commander cabover (left) which is built at ERF's Sandbach factory. ATEGO TRIO Halton Borough Council has added three new Mercedes Atego 6x4 chassis to its fleet. all with specially adapted Bunco Epoke 5300 spreaders, supplied by Daman Vehicle Rental of Runcorn. They all have the usual hopper gear with a separate system that uses the spinner disc to replace rock salt spray with non-corrosive de-icing liquid to treat steel bridges and their approaches.
COOL DEBUTANTES
Thermo King's latest fridge units for 6-9m trucks are now available in the UK. The TS-200, TS-300. TS-500 and TS-600 are said to use up to 25% less fuel, while combining improved reliability and quicker pulldown times. The TS range feature Thermo King's Scroll Compressors, "whisper-quiet" operation and RAOUL chlorine free-refrigerant.
PITCH MIRROI.
VBG has launched the 135SF fifth-wheel slider. The pitch is now 37.5mm, and all replaceable parts are modular and bolted on. VBG has also developed a drawbar coupling with a fully integrated air mechanism which can be released only when the trailer brakes are applied.
S1ACKAM1 BODIES Rayleigh-based Essex Bodybuilders has designed demountable bodies with reinforced, specially profiled corners, that can be stacked one on top of another to save on yard space. GRP boxes can be supplied fitted with anodised alloy cantrails and galvanised frames to cut out painting costs.