See the lights in Switzerland
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by Bill Godwin Swiss operators take fewer than 3,000 trucks a year over 3.5 tonnes and the majority of European truck manufacturers stayed away from the Geneva Show, so the emphasis was on the light end of the market. But there were around 100 exhibits from body and trailer builders. Two impressive Kenworths, trimmed to European specs, were shown by the Swiss distributor, who also hopes to relaunch Foden chassis into the Swiss market—partly to make up for the withdrawal of Steyr. The new Renault Master appeared at Geneva as a 4x4, and a factory-built 4x4 variant of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314 is now in production.
The only European truck manufacturer to display heavies at Geneva was Renault, with the latest Magnum and this Mack CH 613 6x4 tractor featuring a 428hp V-MAC engine. The use of Mack engines in Renault products is set to grow.
• A dual-role Scania 124 8x4 chassis was displayed by Armin Netter for use as a heavy-duty tractor or with a demount dropside body. A Fassi crane is mounted behind the cab.
• German-made Klaas extensionladder-type access lifts were displayed in a number of load classes. Shown here on a VW LT chassis, the Klaas design enables cost-effective handling of loads up to 400kg for furniture or office removers.
• Several bodybuilders brought Mercedes Actros-based vehicles to the show, including this Puma ready-mix hopper on an Actros 2640 6x4 chassis. UK multi-wheelers have yet to arrive.
• Hess has equipped a Volkswagen 1.146 with a fifth-wheel subframe assembled from Alusuisse components. This was one of a number of lightweight artics on show for users requiring vehicles for unrestricted night and weekend operation.