AVRO's show biggest ever
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LAST WEEKEND AVRO, the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators, formed by CM in 1976, held its fourth annual exhibition and conference. This year's venue was at Chateau Impney, Droitwich. The allocation of 100 exhibition spaces was taken up by 35 supplier members.
Efficient communication systems can reduce vehicle operating costs, claims Motorola Electronics Ltd of Armstrong Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire. Vehicle operators with radio contact can reroute or re-assign drivers to breakdowns as they happen, so eliminating "back tracking" and saving time, fuel and vehicle wear.
The saving can easily pay for a radio system in less than 18 months, claims the company. On show were vehicle two-way mobile units which included the CD100, Maxar and MC80 models each with a variety of options.
TFL, a division of Edbro (London) Ltd was showing recovery vehicles which are in daily use including a Transporter "Rescuer" and hydraulic recovery cranes from 7.5 tons to 20 tons.
A new unit of modular design, the MRS 1000, incorporates free wheel lift, hydraulic extending boom crane with twin winches, hydraulic stiff legs, and slewing hydraulic 1Cirry loader crane.
Each item of equipment can be supplied separately to suit individual installations.
TKM Vehicle Services (UK) Ltd, importers of Jeep four wheel drive vehicles has intro duced a recovery vehicle based on the J20/46 chassis.
The unit on show was equipped with a "Bulldog 2" single boom with remote control, electric winch and snatch block.
A high power-to-weight ratio is provided by a 5.9 litre V8 engine, coupled to a three speed automatic gear box with a low range. For lighter recovery work a six-cylinder power unit is available with a four-speed manual gearbox.
Both these options can be specified with either rightor left-hand drive controls.
Mora Hydraulics AB, of Sweden may be a new name to many British operators. Its Easy Reach and under-vehicle lift with extending main boom is being marketed by CVE Ltd of 8 Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey. The Mora unit is fitted to many existing Ministry of Defence recovery vehicles.
Eight new models have been introduced by Wreckers International of Canton Hill, Hertford, increasing its range to over 16 models for 1980.
Six of the new models were exhibited including the Bulldog Cruiser four-ton electric car/light van unit with electrohydraulic options, the Century 1020 medium .range fully hydraulic unit, the Century 1030 heavy duty fully hydraulic unit with a three-stage 27ft boom.
A twin boom Bulldog Dominator included hydraulic transmission and winches with 60,000 lb capacity while an EKA system was designated especially suitable for damage free recovery of buses and coaches.
The Safelift Air Cushion system which incorporates square lifting bags was also on show.
A wide range of transporter/recovery bodies were being offered by Hayflake Commercial Systems Ltd, Old Bath Road, Newbury, Bucks. Steel cab extensions include full-width access doors, steps, glass and trim. Hand-operated hydraulics tilt equipment can also be included where required.
The transporter bodies are constructed in steel box section and bolted to the chassis using the manufacturer's mounting points. A central locker houses ten-inch pressed steel ramps and three pairs of hinged wheel chocks, set in the structure, and four pairs of D rings provide vehicle security.
A fully automatic car recovery system was on dis play by Brimec Ltd of Clay Hill Bristol. It had a body which could be moved rearward by hydraulic rams until it tilted down to ground level when the winches are put into operation to draw the vehicle up onto the ramp.
Rapid Engineering, the garage and maintenance de partment of Rapid Recovery Services of 21 Acre Lane, London, were showing a body which had been in constant use for over 15 months. Built primarily for the company's own use, the completely detachable body, housing the ramps, is being made available to other operators.
The Marquiss Relay Wrecker manufactured by Marquiss Transporters of West Lothian, Scotland, is fitted with a passenger cab and Bulldog Series 4 crane. Its compact construction is said to make it particularly suitable to use in central city locations but has the capacity to carry up to six passengers.
B. Dixon-Bate Ltd of Tarvin Road Chester had a 1.5 tonne capacity folding recovery on show. The Trackaway-R can be folded flat beneath the floor of Bedford CF or Ford transit light commercials. This has the benefit of leaving the floor area clear for normal operation. In the stowed condition it measures only 36.24m wide 6.5in high 61.73in long and weighs 82.5kg (1821b). A range of Vetler Lifting bags and Pipe Sealing bags exhibited by Holywell (Schwarz) International Ltd of Newcastle upon Tyne have been designed primarily for safety and rescue work.
.The bays can be used to recover vehicles or lift difficult loads while some types of sealing bay can be used to seal damaged tankers.
The equipment starts from the P100E/H car and light vans unit which can lift 2 tons and winch 5 tons, a platform recovery vehicle for 2 car recovery, the "5E, with the same lifting and winching capacity as the P100E/H.
There is a medium recovery unit, the 2050, which can lift 10 tons and winch 10 tons, finally a heavy recovery unit, the 200A, with a capability of lifting 20 tons and winching 34 tons.
Reeve Burgess Limited of Chesterfield, who manufac ture personnel carrying bodywork, exhibited a Reebur crewcabbed recovery vehicle, based on a Ford 'A' Series chassis supplied by Stormont Engineering Ltd., of Hildenbo rough. Itoliad a ramp and recovery mechanism by Ellis & Sons Ltd. of Tonbridge.
The vehicle exhibited was one of several which will be based at various Esso service stations throughout the country and operated by Dart Oil Company Ltd., a subsidiary of Esso Petroleum Ltd.
Sedelmayer of Munich have supplied damage-free and wrecker recovery equipment on the continent of Europe ad abroad since 1965. They ,ere showing their Road Rol skate, the Ruck-Zuck, )wing axle capable of woring to a gross vehicle weight f 7.5 tonnes. The company rid system range of trailers, le original Tow-Lift damageee recovery crane with recker attachment, the utopacker fixed-bed transnrter and the new remote mtrolled Quickloader draulic tilt-bed transporter titable for light-weight lassis were also on show.
Crane Fruehauf showed the olmes Cadet 1000 fitted to a ny Bedford CF chassis. This !hide is fitted with an elecic winch which enables it to we a 4 ton lifting capacity. lectro-hydraulic boom lift 'stem which does not !cessitate' a PTO unit. Suit )le for towing and light covery work.
They also had on show the Dimes Trooper 1100 on Ford Series chassis. ydraulically-powered for se of operation the boom tends, retracts, raises and overs by hydraulic power.. Crane Fruehauf also were owing the Holmes 750X7 ted to an American Ford 000 6x4 chassis.
Truck Care Ltd exhibiting at /R0 for the first time are )rld distributors for MFC Air ishions.
The company entered the cushion market in October 79 and together with their perience in general recovery ye assisted to develop the original concept by introducing a new Cushion named the D3. This cushion will be used in conjunction with and to assist the new D2 range.
Fastlash III, the first ever polyester cargo control system to have a strength identification strip woven into the webbing was on display on the Span Set stand.
Designed as an 'all-in' package for the control of 12 tonne loads, Fastlash III consists of four eight-metre polyester lashings, each with its own ratchet tensioner, prethreaded for immediate use and packed in a tough stowaway bag.
Delta link-end fittings and two wear sleeves per lashing are also included as standard and the webbing, made from 100 percent polyester is a full 50mm wide.
For extra safety, Span Set recommend using their specially designed anchorage hook for use with Fastlash III. It has a strength factor of three tonnes and is the only optional extra to the system.
The company also displayed their range of polyester Roundslings which vary in strength from 1,000 kg to a massive 30,000kg.
The special advantages of the Span Set Roundsling are their strength, light weight, and colour coding. All Roundslings bear a label showing the WLL in four different lifting modes. The safety factor is 6.0.