Truck & Fleet ME December 2014

lubrication how to keep a vehicle moving

011 DECEMBER 2014

MIDDLE EAST A supplement of Cmme

a balancing act tyres for your fleet

tested for 5,000,000 hours C and K ranges get most rigorous testing in Renault Trucks’ history

we test drive renault trucks’ new c and k ranges, built for construction and heavy-duty applications

MAN

BEST QUALIT Y

2012 · 2013 · 2014

Top quality – TÜV-tested.

MAN impresses in the TÜV Report for the third time in a row. MAN kann.

MAN is the truck manufacturer with the highest number of vehicles that pass the TÜV statutory vehicle inspection with no defects. That makes it official: the outstanding quality of vehicles as well as our tailor-made services have come out on top once more. You can find the complete report (in German) at www.vdtuev.de. To find out more about what MAN can do, visit: www.man-middleeast.com

CONTENTS

A supplement of Cmme

02

MIDDLE EAST

GROUp ChAiRMAN AND FOUNDER DoMiniC DE SouSa GROUp CEO naDEEM HooD GROUp COO Gina o’HaRa pUBLiShiNG DiRECTOR RaZ iSLaM raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5483 EDiTORiAL DiRECTOR ViJaYa CHERian vijaya.cherian@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5472

08

editOrial

renAult truCks piCks A winner The team at Renault Trucks pulled out all ranges, the C and K for construction and

advertiSinG

heavy duty applications. It was their largest

COMMERCiAL DiRECTOR MiCHaEL STanSFiELD michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5497

ever launch event in the Middle East, and catered to customers across the region.

SALES EXECUTiVE BiPin SonEJi bipin.soneji@cpidubai.com +971 4 433 2856

Local importer Al Attiya also played an excellent host, and given the volumes of

TEsT dRivE

02 / tough As roCks

ASSiSTANT EDiTOR nEHa BHaTia neha.bhatia@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5476 SUB EDiTOR aELRED DoYLE

the stops for their launch of two new truck

18

ACTiNG EDiTOR STian oVERDaHL stian.overdahl@cpidubai.com +49 176 759 89 250

heavy vehicle traffic on the roads around deSiGn

Doha, it was obvious to see why Renault

Renault Trucks has launched the new C and K ranges of trucks for heavy duty applications.

Trucks and Al Attiya recently invested

ART DiRECTOR SiMon CoBon

$6.5 million in a new workshop.

JUNiOR GRAphiC DESiGNER PERCiVaL ManaLaYSaY

FEaTURE

sellers of commercial vehicles. The country’s

Qatar presents the perfect prospect for

08 / A bAlAnCing ACt Keeping suitable tyres on your vehicle fleet is an expensive but necessary part of the business.

MarKetinG

demanding construction schedule is marching forward, and the onus is on contractors and businesses to perform. This in turn

CirCUlatiOn & PrOdUCtiOn

means investing in reliable and productive

nETwoRK

12 / mAn wins bus deAl MAN and AMA Motors win contract for supply of 127 low-floor buses to Bahrain’s MoT.

DATABASE AND CiRCULATiON MANAGER RaJEESH M rajeesh.nair@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 440 9147

vehicles, to ensure that companies aren’t caught out by under-performing vehicles.

On the test track the new vehicles performed smoothly, and it was clear from the comments of the test drivers, design team

FEaTURE

14 / know your oil Using the incorrect lubricant or not changing it frequently can affect components throughout your entire vehicle.

MARKETiNG MANAGER LiSa JuSTiCE lisa.justice@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5498

and company executives that there is a lot of trust in the new vehicles. It’s the kind of trust that comes from thousands of hours spent by the design team and the robust verification processes, as well as the rich heritage within

pRODUCTiON MANAGER ViPin V. ViJaY vipin.vijay@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5713 diGital DiGiTAL SERViCES MANAGER TRiSTan TRoY MaaGMa

PUbliShed by

the truck builder that has contributed to the

aT ThE show

18 / pmV liVe reView MAN Truck & Bus’ 8x8 and the launch of Ford Trucks in the UAE were the big news.

final product. It will be interesting to learn customers’ assessments, but the first impression is that Renault Trucks has produced a winner.

Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 www.cpimediagroup.com

Top 10

Printed by

24 / the future is 3d 3D printing is set to bring many advantages for the automotive industry, both for OEMs and for dealers and spare parts sellers.

Registered at iMPZ Po Box 13700 Dubai, uaE

Printwell Printing Press LLC © Copyright 2014 CPi. all rights reserved

Stian Overdahl ACting editor

While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

DECEMBER 2014 TRUCK&FLEET ME 1

TEsT TesT DRivE Drive

Renault tRucks believes its new c and k Ranges are its toughest ever. we took them for a test drive on a race circuit in lusail

2 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

TEsT TesT DRivE Drive

T

he Losail International Circuit, north of Doha, is normally the scene of high-speed races such as the world Superbike GP, where drivers like Valentino Rossi whip around the track with eye-blisteringly fast lap times. So it was perhaps appropriate that the Renault Trucks driving instructor was telling me off – in his distinctive French accent – for driving one of their new K Heavy Construction trucks around the track “like it is a race car”.

He might have had a point. My driving style certainly wasn’t going to win any prizes for fuel economy, and braking sharply ahead of

corners wasn’t going to get me any gold stars for safety. But in fairness, the truck wasn’t under load, andthe main reason I was accelerating heavily was to see how the new Optidriver, Renault Truck’s automated gearbox, handled the demand for fast gear changes. After all, I’d just been told by the previous driving instructor, as I manhandled my way around the track driving a manual gearbox, that the updated Optidriver is the best automated transmission in the industry.

It’s a bold claim from the French truck company, but attending their Middle East launch of the new C and K ranges in Doha was enough to get the sense that they have no problem being bold or unconventional, whether it’s a handlebar

moustache on a test driver or the front design on the new range of trucks. And while there may be some murmurs about how much of the componentry has been supplied at a group level, one came away with the feeling that Renault Trucks remains firmly in control of their own product and design destiny, with a firm view on the unique style of vehicles they want to produce for the market. This being vehicles with a clear emphasis on heavy duty reliability, as well as being comfortable and well-fitted for drivers.

Renault Trucks launched the new C Construction and K Heavy Construction ranges, which will be the major model lines for the Middle East. Also on show was the D range,

DECEMBER 2014 TRUCK&FLEET ME 3

Test Drive

which was launched in 2013 as a facelifted model, while the faithful Kerax remains in the range, and was on show. It comes after the T-range – the European specification vehicle for the brand – was given the prestigious International Truck of the Year award for 2015.

Choosing Qatar for Renault Trucks’ largest ever launch in the Middle East was an interesting decision, and a sign of how important the market has become. The company says it expects market growth of 30% between 2012 and 2015.

The launch was a well choreographed affair, with a gala dinner at the Diplomatic Club that featured two of the new trucks placed on the beach against a backdrop of the skyline of the Doha Pearl, with flamethrowers for added emphasis, a feat which required the sand to be specially compacted. Held over two days, it was attended by more than 250 customers, dealer staff and industry professionals.

Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks, was along from the headquarters in Lyon, as were members of the design and development team responsible for the final product and regional management including Lars-Erik Forsbergh, president Renault Trucks Middle East.

Local dealer Al-Attiya Motors and Trading Co. provided support. Earlier in the year, AMTC had opened an expanded $6.5m workshop in Doha, a development which had helped them win a tender for 190 trucks from Doha Municipality, one of the largest tenders in its history. Roughly 2,000 Renault Trucks are currently in operation across Qatar.

The words on everyone’s lips, from the design team to Forsbergh, were durability and robustness.

It’s a fitting aspiration for the brand, which has a long track record of success in the mining segment in Africa due to precisely this quality. If every truck brand wants to have its area of dominance, it seems that Renault Trucks is aiming to put itself forward as the rugged hauler or construction vehicle,

The benefits of tech One feature of the truck design process to be contended with in the modern era is the fact that across the typical six- or seven-year cycle, from design board to finished product, the technology available to the design team advances significantly, whether mobile computers or 3D printing. As one of the newest truck ranges on the market, it seems that Renault Trucks has been able to take full advantage of the newest technologies.

This includes the use of immersive reality to design the dashboard and cabin, whereby drivers were placed in a driver’s chair with virtual reality goggles and sensors and asked to manipulate the controls on the dashboard, as well as checking the external visibility, both for the overall design of the windshield and for mirror placement. The company also used 3D printed parts for prototyping the cabin, and saving on time and machine tools.

uncompromising on quality but without too many of the fancy electronics and features unnecessary for repetitive production work, and which can push a vehicle’s price point past being competitive.

But in the case of the new C and K, Renault Trucks’ quest for durability verged on obsession, or even mania. While Airbus tested its A350 aircraft across a temperature range from -40°C to 40°C, Renault Trucks had to go one further and test its trucks in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 60°C. In all, the trucks racked up five million test hours, and the endurance testing carried out on the new vehicles was the most demanding in the company’s history.

First, the trucks were driven on test tracks in France, both high-speed driving on asphalt, and on difficult tracks to simulate extreme off-road conditions. This type of testing allows the equivalent of a full year of use in the real world to be replicated in 20 weeks. There was also extensive stress testing in the workshop, where hydraulic actuators can perform continuous movement to push a part to breaking point. Parts were monitored, and if there were

“The new ranges of trucks have been tested in Oman for over a year. Oman presents the type of extreme conditions in terms of heat and topography that are ideal to test a truck to its limits” 500hp: Horsepower on the K 500, fitted with a DXi 13 engine 4 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

The ultimate performance

Volvo Ocean Race special edition DISCOVER MORE DURING THE ABU DHABI (UAE) STOP OVER 15th December – 3rd January

Test Drive

any breakages, the cause was analysed and then the component was re-engineered.

In the next phase, the company sent out 300 test vehicles to job sites around the world for testing and product validation, including a K 500 that spent a year working at a quarry in Oman, hauling rock on rough roads. This means that customers know the trucks have been well-tested in local conditions, says Forsbergh.

“These trucks have been tested for over a year in Oman in some of the toughest regional settings. Oman presents the type of extreme conditions in terms of heat and topography that are ideal to test a truck to its limits. The new Renault Trucks ranges performed extremely well, with no issues reported. This is vital for businesses who need to be able to rely fully on their vehicles for the maximum productivity.”

On the Losail Circuit, half of the trucks were equipped with the new Optidriver automated gearbox, and the other half with the 14-speed group-supplied B 14 manual gearbox. There’s also an Allison Transmission available.

Renault Trucks has spent a lot of engineering time developing the new software on the Optidriver, and it’s certainly a slick operation. The uptake of automated gearboxes by the market has grown significantly in the past few years, as all truck makers have pushed the technology, which is well-suited to the relatively low-skilled

driver base in the region. With the on-board computer controlling the clutch and dictating the gear changes, it means less wear and tear on the drivetrain and improved fuel economy; and it certainly makes life easier for drivers, whether that means keeping them alert for longer or allowing them to fulfil more work functions.

There’s lots of reasons to choose an automated gearbox for your fleet, and after clumsily using the engine brake on the manual box, I quickly discovered how much easier the engine brake or retarder is to operate with the Optidriver. With the retarder active, engine braking (optimum at high engine revs) is simply a case of downshifting the gears manually using the Optidriver gear shifter beneath the wheel, which can even be done with both hands remaining on the wheel.

Best approach angle in the industry The benefits of five million

The K can be used to haul

performance in the Gulf.

hours of testing weren’t

rocks and aggregates with a

Meanwhile, the C range can

going to become completely

gross combined weight (GCW)

still tip the scales at up to 100

apparent to Truck & Fleet

of up to 120 tonnes for the

tonnes GCW for the tractor head

ME after only a few laps

6x4 tractor head. The 6x4 is

and trailer when fully loaded.

on the test circuit, but here

available with a tandem drive

The range is powered by newly

the impressive vehicle

axle with 3.46 reduction in the

developed Euro 3 engines. The

specifications and statistics

hubs and a ground clearance of

smallest is the DXi 7, a 7.2 litre

help tell something of the

332mm. It’s also available as a

engine with power ratings of

story: the K range has an

6x4 rigid chassis with GVW up

280hp and 320hp, available

approach angle of 32 degrees,

to 40t, or 8x4 rigid chassis with

only on the C range. The two

the best in the industry,

a GVW of 48-50t. A permanent

larger engines, the DXi 11 and

helping it navigate steep hills

all-wheel drive version is also

DXi 13, are available on both

and embankments and turn

in field testing, following in the

the C and K ranges. All engines

through tight, inclined corners.

footsteps of the impressive

are 6-cylinder in-line, and the

Its front bumper is 100% steel,

Kerax all-wheel drive vehicle,

most powerful DXi 13 has a

incorporating heavy-duty

which has become an

power rating of 500hp and

headlamp protection.

industry standard for off-road

torque of 2400Nm.

As the engine quickly brakes, the driver can tap down several gears in short succession, quickly slowing the vehicle; but if the driver is downshifting too quickly, which would overload the engine ona manual box, the gear is held until the revs drop to a safe level. This driving style means that drivers can rely heavily on the retarder, keeping the brakes cool for a time when they’re really needed for swift deceleration.

On trucks with the DXi 11 engine and Optidriver, the Optibrake retarder with power output of 303kW is fitted as standard, while matched to the DXi 13 and Optidriver is the Optibrake+, with a power output of 414kW. Outside of the cab, the face of the vehicle has also been radically redesigned, with the logotype placed lower, over the grille. Speaking at the gala evening event, Renault Trucks design director Hervé Bertrand, who has received several awards for designing the new ranges, noted that the large front would be able to sport the customer’s logo, not the truck maker’s. “We didn’t see the benefit of adding a big Renault Trucks logo, because we believe that the biggest logo should be yours, not ours. We’re the only ones doing that.”

Bertrand says the direction from the company’s management to the design team was to build larger trucks but keep costs low. This led to the design team focusing heavily on the total cost of ownership (TCO), from the perspective of aiming for long life for parts and components. Durability also feeds into the residual value of the vehicles, an important component of the TCO equation.

In all, the company has spent around $2.5 billion on developing the complete new range, and the first impression from Doha is that the trucks are very good. Just how good will become apparent over the coming years, as customers put them out to work.

$2.5 bn: Amount Renault Trucks has spent developing its new range 6 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

FEATURE

A Balancing Act

Industry experts tell Truck & FleeT Me about the rIght tyre specIfIcatIons for the regIon, and the perIls of not adherIng to them

E

arly in November 2014, Dubai experienced what residents hoped was the first rain of the country’s winter season. Fleet operators in Dubai must have had their fingers crossed hoping their drivers and vehicles would emerge unscathed from driving on Dubai’s roads, whose drainage systems are infamously unable to cope with rainwater accumulation.

Fleet operators were right to worry. In March 2014, 704 accidents were recorded within a 16hour span on a day of similar rainfall in Dubai.

Of the various causes of these accidents, one emerged which is often ignored by drivers in this region – tyre safety.

8 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

Tyre bursts are a common cause of accidents in Dubai, and as asserted by Colonel Jamal Al Bannai, assistant director general at the Directorate of Traffic, drivers need to step up their game with tyre maintenance and awareness to reduce fatalities.

“Before travelling, many people check their engine oil and the engine, but forget to check the tyres’ validity, and we want to raise awareness about that,” Al Bannai said at the launch of Dubai Police’s 45-day ‘Summer Without Accidents’ campaign in August 2014, educating people about the importance of checking the condition of their vehicle’s tyres.

Regional climatic conditions are, as Dubai Police has recognised, a crucial factor to consider

when developing tyres for local vehicles. As Pierre Granzotto, marketing & sales director at Michelin Africa, India and Middle East (AIM), explains, the firm invests copious amounts of time and money in research and development before launching its products.

“Michelin puts its tyres through extremely rigorous testing, taking into consideration GCC and regional usage conditions. The company only approves tyres that pass these tests. In addition, Michelin also develops tyres locally, such as the new Michelin X Line Tropic D. This drive axle tyre was developed under the leadership of the AIM product development team.”

Granzotto says that the pre-production processes which went into the development of

FEATURE

“Before travelling, many people check their engine oil and the engine, BUt forget to check the tyreS' validity”

the X Line Tropic D tyre are rigorous.

“In order to offer a highly resistant tyre with the right performances for the region, the product development team conducted an 18-month-long field test of different prototypes in the Arabian Peninsula, covering a total distance of 18 million kilometres with more than 100 hours of field inspections," he explains.

"This latest addition to Michelin’s truck tyre line-up will be launched early 2015 in the Middle East.”

Notably, as Granzotto mentions, his colleagues tested the tyres around a region comprising more than just the GCC countries, such as Yemen and even parts of Jordan. This ensures the final product can be used across each market without

requiring any modifications to appease different local standards.

“Michelin ensures that its tyres which enter the Gulf markets are certified by the Gulf Standards Organisation [GSO]. For other regional markets, the company confirms that tyres meet international regulations such as UNECE [Europe], FMVSS [USA].”

But not all products in the UAE are standardised, predominantly due to the countless spare parts shops around the country, notorious for passing off fake tyres as authentic products to make a quick buck. These rip-offs include tyres which have been waxed and cleaned to appear shinier, usually in order to attract retail buyers of passenger cars. Few outside the automotive industry realise that the gel which adds sheen to the rubber can also, eventually, absorb heat and reduce the tyres’ durability, as well as leave the vehicle susceptible to skidding on smooth roads.

Vehicle modifications have typically been advised against by UAE traffic authorities, and various campaigns launched by Dubai Police aim to inform drivers in the emirate about the perils of driving vehicles with wrongly-sized tyres (a common modification undertaken in the city).

Even if the inauthentic parts work well with your vehicle, these products, the result of what are politely referred to as parallel markets, are rarely compliant with the Gulf’s standards. Only Type A and Type B tyres can be sold in the UAE, due to their region-appropriate heat resistance properties. Type C tyres are designed for use in countries without the temperature highs found in the Gulf.

“Local authorities have implemented certain standards and regulations, such as a heat resistance rating, with which manufacturers need to comply,” Granzotto says.

“If tyres which do not comply with local standards are brought into the region, for example through parallel import, then this will lead to the usage of an unsuitable tyre by consumers, which could pose a safety issue. We at Michelin always recommend consumers to buy tyres only through the official dealer or distributor network.”

Smart tyre tagS for Uae in 2015 Cars in the UAE will have to carry special tags denoting their safety and specifications, local daily Gulf News reported last month.

An anonymous official told the daily that tyres which are genuine but not suitable for the UAE market endanger motorists and increase the probability of road accidents.

Tyres in the UAE must be able to withstand high temperatures, since those meant for colder regions wear out faster or even burst, risking the lives of the driver, passengers and other road users.

To promote tyre education and discourage the purchase of inexpensive fake alternatives, the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) will introduce a smart tag system by 2015.

Tags will be readable by smartphones and confirm compliance with UAE specifications, such as manufacturer, vehicle type, country of origin, date of production, weight, pressure and speed range. Addititionally, an RFID chip will be embedded in the tyre, ready to be scanned by inspectors using hand-held devices, and the information in the chip will be held in a central database.

“This will solve two things: protect the consumer from parallel imports not designed for our region, and protect traders because wrong use ruins the reputation of the trader or brand,” engineer Jasem Al Ali, head of the conformity section at ESMA, said.

“Many parallel importers dump tyres meant for other regions into the local market to make money. That’s not ethical or safe for the consumer.”

An ESMA smart app allows motorists to understand the meaning of engravings on tyres. It shows a sample tyre with typical engravings, which can be tapped for more information and explanation.

DECEMBER 2014 TRUCK&FLEET ME 9

FEATURE

top 5 tyre maintenance tipS 1. Turn your front wheels: Pointing the wheels out in one direction gives you better access to the tread of each tyre.

2. Check for wear: You should check the centre of the tread, as well as each side of it. This will also tell you if your tyres are over- or under-inflated.

3. Check your pressure: The vehicle handbook will tell you the right pressure, which should be checked regularly because pressure will drop over time.

4. Visually inspect your tyres: If anything looks out of the ordinary, it probably is.

Bulges are not good, and nor is cracking along the sidewall.

5. Do all of the above regularly: You’d be Maintaining your fleet's tyres may be expensive but is necessary for safety.

There’s some bad news for fleet buyers who believe that checking tyre treads prior to purchase is all that is needed to ensure quality: while most tyres are manufactured to ensure that the tread – which contains the engraving – cannot be tampered with, experts suggest it is not impossible to find rehashed engravings on the parallel market. The grim situation is not helped by the lack of tyre education across the market, an error even some fleet operators may be guilty of.

Pranay Mehta, division manager at JASPA General Trading Company, in conversation with Truck & Fleet ME in Dubai, expands on these mistakes regarding tyre safety and the consequent impact on road safety.

“The market here isn’t like Europe or the USA; not everyone using the vehicles is aware of the dangers that tyre malpractices can cause. Lack of awareness regarding what safety measures to undertake before starting the drive can be very dangerous. This includes checking tyre pressure, removing any external objects from the tyre

treads, and checking no erosion has taken place.

“After-market services may or may not be up to the standard, and the level of caution exercised by fleet operators also differs. But tyres are a very important part of any vehicle, largely because maintaining them requires substantial investment,” he explains.

The quality of driver behaviour in the country is often blamed for the poor state of tyres, and dangers are compounded if the vehicle in question falls in the heavy duty category. Fit an unsuitable tyre on your fully-laden vehicle driven over long distances, and you’re bound to discover the most common and hazardous threat an automobile in motion can face – tyre punctures.

To plug those gaping holes, Mehta’s firm brought a range of products by OKO, a British puncture sealant manufacturing company, to the UAE in October 2014. OKO sealants are liquids which are typically pumped into tyres prior to the vehicle’s use and retain their liquid form while the tyres are in motion, inside either the

“if tyreS which do not comply with local StandardS are BroUght into the region throUgh parallel import, they poSe a Safety iSSUe” 10 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

amazed how often it slips your mind. Put a note in your calendar or diary every month to make sure you remember.

tyres’ tubes or treads. In the event of a puncture, the sealant solidifies to fill the puncture in order to ensure no air loss occurs, and the vehicle can continue to move without feeling an impact.

While these sealants are popular in more mature commercial vehicle markets such as in Europe, the idea that a tyre puncture can be fixed instantaneously through the use of a simple sealant is, as Mehta admits, relatively new to the region.

“OKO has been in the international market since the 1970s, and even royal armies of various nations have approved its use on their vehicles,” he says. “OKO’s products are not new internationally; it is simply something that hasn’t been used in the region before. So it’s very important for us to spread awareness that these sealants are not an additional expense, but almost like an insurance for your tyres.”

Jaspa, like Michelin, does not import products which do not comply with GSO standards, and Mehta is glad to offer the market a product he believes fleet operators are ready to embrace.

“We hosted an educational seminar a couple of months ago to educate our existing buyers about Oko products, and our focus was to show them the benefits of using these sealants as a method to combat downtime.

"Fleet operators are starting to see the definition of cost as going beyond money, and including time. No operator wants downtime, so for them to use a preventive sealant to ensure their tyres work just fine is a justified investment,”

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Minibuses.

Keep your business on track.

Pioneers carve out their own route and stick to it steadily.

And when it comes to sheer determination, the new Sprinter is the best ever, pioneering in its segment. It comes with ultimate safety features to keep you safely on track.

A Daimler Brand

The Sprinter is the safest minibus in its class with standard features like the innovative ADAPTIVE ESP速 system which secures the stability of the vehicle.

The special quality of this urban passenger transport solution is also apparent when it comes to comfort: A spacious interior and convenient seats paired with a comfortable suspension ensure a relaxing travel in the new Sprinter from the first mile.

The all-rounder for your passenger transport. The new Sprinter - sit back in comfort and enjoy a safe journey.

NETWORK

NETWORK 12 14

YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE MIDDLE EAST’S TRUCK AND FLEET OPERATOR NETWORK AL SUwAIDI MOvES 252t

The MAN buses will be delivered with a lightweight aluminium body.

MAN wiNs order for 127 buses to bAhrAiN MAN Truck & Bus and its dealer in Bahrain, AMA Motors, have won an order from the Ministry of Transport to supply 127 low-floor city buses.

The supply contract includes training facilities, parts operation and maintenance for operating the MAN bus fleet. The order is made up of 88 Midi buses and 39 city buses with MAN Lion’s City design, and production has already started.

They will be delivered with an Caetano aluminium body to facilitate weight savings, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

“The MAN Lion’s City buses which will be utilised in Bahrain will use lightweight materials and innovative body construction to ensure high standards in quality,” said Pedro Teixeira, MAN Area Bus Sales Manager Middle East.

“Functionality, ergonomics, large interior space, simple maintenance and high safety standards are the key features of the buses, which expect to have a lifetime of over 25 years due to the quality of the materials used.”

Teixeira said that MAN and its distributor AMA Motors are privileged to be contributing to the upgrade of the Bahrain bus transport system.

The general manager of AMA Motors, Simon Keen, explained that a newly formed joint venture company, Bahrain Public Transport Company, “will support the company by supplying the training facilities, parts operation and local knowledge to ensure that the bus operation is maintained with the highest standards in quality and safety.”

Al Suwaidi Equipment and Transport Company Limited (SET) has used a Nicolas MHD vehicle to transport a 252-tonne liquid separator from Jubail to a gas refinery in Khursaniyah, operated

by Saudi Aramco. The Modular Heavy Duty (MHD) vehicle can carry concentrated loads in a number of configurations. Drive was provided by a V8-powered Mercedes-Benz Actros.

The day of the transport saw strong winds added to the already difficult transport conditions, creating extensive sand drifts on the roads used by the transport. The hydraulic axle packer of the heavy duty module came into its own on the uphill climbs, stabilising the load, especially on the thirty-kilometre desert that formed the last part of the route.

Thanks to its precise steering, at the refinery site the load was able to be deposited safely at its destination on a pre-prepared sub-structure.

The MHD has a platform height of just 845mm when lowered. Its modular design means it can be used with an array of configurations, and vehicles can be coupled lengthwise or crosswise, depending on the demands of the job.

SET is one of the largest heavy lift and transport companies in KSA, with more than 1,500 pieces of equipment in its fleet.

Drive came from a V8 Mercedes-Benz Actros.

AUTOmOTivE sECTOR TRADE iN JEbEL ALi FREE ZONE hAs g $1.1 biLLiON iN 2004 TO $4.7bn iN 2013. mENA vEhiCLE sA 12 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

NETWORK

TATA mOTORs TO iNTRODUCE AmT iN COmmERCiAL vEhiCLEs Tata Motors plans to introduce automated manual

than a manual transmission and clutch life also

transmission (AMT) in its commercial vehicles, in

increases, which leads to more savings for the

efforts to improve fuel efficiency and consolidate

consumer. Also it is great for drivers,” said AK

its market share.

Jindal, Tata Motors Head Engineering CV.

“We are looking to provide AMT technology in

The Indian manufacturer is working on

products like the Prima trucks, Xenon XT pick-up

developing the technology indigenously in order

truck and light commercial vehicle Ultra. These

to reduce costs. “We could have done it with

are expected to hit the market in the next financial

imported aggregates, but we are developing the

year,” said Ravi Pisharody, executive director

technology with our suppliers so that we can

Commercial Vehicles at Tata Motors, quoted in PTI.

provide it at an affordable cost,” Jindal added.

Tata Motors executives say the AMT will be

The company is also looking at developing

an improvement from the traditional manual

liquefied natural gas and dual fuel vehicles which

transmission. AMT “gives better fuel efficiency

can run on both CNG and diesel.

ADNOC DECREAsEs DiEsEL PRiCE iN NORThERN EmiRATEs Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Distribution has reduced the price of diesel across all of its service stations in the Northern Emirates, according to the state news agency.

The price of diesel has been brought down to AED 3.05 per litre from the earlier rate of AED 3.45, a reduction of 40 fils. The change is effective from November 4, 2014, across all ADNOC stations in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

“The reduction in diesel price reflects the

ongoing changes in the global price of oil. We have also taken into account the demand of the local market as part of our priority to serve the interests of our consumers better,” said Khalid Hadi, vice president Marketing and Corporate Communications at ADNOC Distribution.

“ADNOC Distribution’s decision to effect the price change will also contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the business sector in the country, specifically in the northern regions,” Hadi added.

GARGASH HANDS OvER 10 AcTROS TO NATIONAL TRANSpORT

Gargash Enterprises has celebrated the handover of 10 Mercedes-Benz Actros heavy trucks to National Transport Est. (NTE), the transport operator’s commercial vehicles workshop in Thouban, Fujairah. The 3848 Actros vehicles, suitable for long-distance transportation and construction applications, are characterised

by robustness, reliability and economy, and are built to perform at their highest ability under the most rigorous conditions, said Thomas Rothe, commercial vehicles manager at Gargash Ent. NTE, founded in Dubai in 1999, is run and owned solely by Hamad Lootah, chairman of Al Jazeera Investments. The company’s main activity is transporting building materials.

“We are delighted to induct Actros Trucks, expanding our palette of fleet vehicles as we intensify our efforts to enhance the experience for our customers,” said Lootah.

“Decisive factors which persuaded us to opt for the Actros were its excellent performance, best residual value and customer-oriented aftersales services. This move is part of our strategy

to remain a leader in quality and innovative transportation solutions, especially to the corporate sector in the UAE.” The trucks were chosen for high dependability, user-friendliness and extended service intervals.

“Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks incorporate the latest innovations and technology in the field, and we are proud to have enjoyed a reputation for supreme power and reliability with our range of commercial vehicles,” said Rothe.

“This major order is the result of the strong commitment of our team and services. We are confident that this partnership with National Transport Est. will yield a trusted long-term relationship and we expect additional momentum by the further expansion of our dealer network.”

gROWN FOUR-FOLD iN ThE PAsT TEN yEARs, RisiNg FROm ALEs hAvE bEEN EsTimATED TO bE FOUR miLLiON A yEAR. DECEMBER 2014 TRUCK&FLEET ME 13

FEATURE

Know Your oil Is the GCC’s automotIve market adequately eduCated about best praCtICes In lubrICatIon manufaCture and applICatIon? Neha Bhatia InvestIGates for Truck & FleeT Me

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n annoying screech from your car, bus or truck could mean many different things, but it might serve you well to upgrade your vehicle’s lubrication before checking for larger issues.Lack of regular monitoring of the lubrication levels of your vehicle could hamper the smooth functioning of even unrelated components. Wrongly chosen or insufficient braking fluid can lead to hazardous brake failure.

Changing your transmission oil is also critical in a region as hot as the Middle East. High load and friction on the vehicle’s transmission generate heat, which can degrade the transmission fluid.

Internal transmission failure is just a step away.

14 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

Besides reducing wear and tear on various components, lubrication also offers other benefits. Adequate lubrication, with the right additives, also prevents foreign material from entering your vehicle’s inner workings, and protects against issues such as corrosion.

Clearly, it’s important that only the best quality lubricants be circulated in the local market. At an educational seminar hosted in Dubai by Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO) in April 2014, Ahmed Farwiz, ExxonMobil’s strategic global accounts manager for Middle East and Africa, revealed the size of the total lubricants market worldwide, and how his firm’s work with FAMCO fits into this picture.

“Our work with Volvo and FAMCO is in the

commercial vehicles lubricants [CVL] sector, which is broadly split into on-highway and off-highway work. On-highway includes fleets of taxis and buses, while off-highway vehicles include those used in industries like machinery and construction. Globally, 57% of the total CVL market is taken up by on-highway vehicles, while off-highway vehicles comprise 43%.”

Automotive lubrication is big money; lubrication market volume is expected to grow from an estimated 38,635 kilotonnes in 2014 to 42,781 kilotonnes by 2019, according to a recent report published by international research house MarketsandMarkets. However, lubrication operations do not account for much in the context of a company’s individual operations.

FEATURE

Not changing your lubricant regularly can lead to degradation of many components.

how it’s made: automotive lubricants Lubricants are a combination of crude oils and additives, and the properties of both ingredients play a significant role in enabling high performance. after undergoing a purifying process called sedimentation, crude oil is heated in fractionating towers which produce materials such as fuel, waxes, propane and so on; these vapours are collected and filtered for further use. Lube oil is collected through one of these processes, and additives such as detergent, dispersants and corrosion-preventers are mixed with the oil to build the ideal lubricant for a vehicle.

Repairs and fuel account for 27% and 24% of a typical operational total cost respectively; lubricant maintenance, contrary to popular assumption, remains an underinvested part of vehicle maintenance work. Farwiz explains the consumption by lubricants in the breakdown of total costs of typical maintenance operations undertaken on off-highway fleets.

“If you spend around $100,000 on your maintenance work, then only 3% of that amount will be spent on the maintenance of oils – and this is without accounting for the cost of vehicle downtime. A lot of people think it accounts for around 50%, but that’s a misconception.”

Understandably, the figures differ based on region. Fuel operations are much cheaper in Saudi Arabia, for example, and labour costs are bound to be lower in countries within the Middle East and Africa region compared to Europe.

“But the fact remains that fluids and filters are minimal costs compared to how high we think they are. These costs are very important, because if you spend regularly on your oil operations, then you’re really saving on your other work.

How your vehicle’s lubricants are maintained impacts the performance of your fuel and tyres.”

Farwiz’s claims are an eye-opener for the audience, which as well as FAMCO’s customers from the private sector includes representatives from government organisations like Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police.

The seminar is a clear sign of the local vehicle fleet industry’s willingness to educate itself about international standards and practices, as well as an indicator of how important it is for dealers to organise these events for the local market.

The events are vital in a region notorious for grey markets selling automotive spare parts of all shapes and sizes, from engines to headlights, for every vehicle make on the roads. Operator education therefore assumes greater importance for lubricant dealers and manufacturers, not only to ensure vehicle longevity but also to build a steady relationship between vehicle owner and seller. However, as Mahmoud Al-Theraawi, CEO of MAG Lubricants, tells Truck & Fleet ME, not everybody likes being told what to do. MAG Lube is a manufacturing firm based out of UAE, with an in-house blending facility which boasts an annual capacity of up to 60,000 megatonnes “With some customers, lack of education in the field of lubricants is a prevalent problem, where the customer always blames the lubricants for any problem occurring in his vehicle or equipment,” the lubricant manufacturing chief says.

“But this issue can be solved where technical services are provided by the seller as technical training, used-oil analysis studies and oil recommendations.”

What lubricants customers – including fleet owners and operators, as well as vehicle manufacturers – may not know is that the quality of lubricants manufactured in the UAE can differ widely, as they may be designed for very different uses. While local specifications for lubricants demand a high quality, there are some lubricant manufacturers in the GCC which often produce low-grade lubricants, believes Al-Theraawi, who speculates they are later exported to Africa.

“The major difference between the standards in the UAE and elsewhere is that the UAE uses multigrade oils, whereas some African countries use monograde oils,” Al-Theraawi adds.

Given their composition, multigrade oils work well for the UAE, where summer temperatures can hit a scorching 50°C, but where winter temperatures can drop to a meek 19°C or lower. Knowing the Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) standards for engine oil ratings

“GloballY, 57% of the total commercial vehicle lubricants market is taken up bY on-hiGhwaY vehicles, while offhiGhwaY vehicles comprise 43% of the market” DECEMBER 2014 TRUCK&FLEET ME 15

FEATURE

helps tell the difference between monograde and multigrade oils. Multigrade oils have two viscosity grade numbers indicating their lowest and highest classification (for instance, SAE 10W40). The lower number (10) indicates the relative fluidity of the oil in cold weather, while the higher number (40) indicates the relative viscosity of the oil at high operating temperatures for adequate wear protection. “W” indicates the oil is standardised for use in the winter.

Put simply, multigrade oils provide a balanced performance which, unlike monograde, is largely unaffected by changes in temperature.

“In regions like the Middle East, you want a lube which can compete with the heat, while also be stable in the winter. Therefore, oils like 5w20 are very popular here,” Al-Theraawi says, speaking of the 5w20 oil with a viscosity of 5 in the winter and 20 when it gets warm. Other multigrade oils include 10w30, 5w30, 10w40 and 20w50. Motosel Industrial Group’s CI-4, for instance, is a 15w40 multigrade diesel engine oil.

Manufacturer review and feedback has a decisive impact on the products lubricant manufacturers design. Working with vehicle manufacturers and dealers ensures local lubricant producers avoid making the wrong product for their target market. As Al-Theraawi explains, the pre-production cycle of lubricant creation includes the acquisition of engine and parts specifications from the vehicle manufacturer, followed by interactions with additive providers about the appropriate package for the chosen base oil. “But each of these can only be decided if you know what the manufacturer wants for his vehicle,” MAG’s CEO adds.

Popular additives to base oils include detergent, dispersant, rust inhibitor and corrosion controllers. ExxonMobil’s Farwiz says while there is no “correct” number of additives a lubricant should comprise, ideally producers should avoid adding too many chemicals to the base oil so that fewer complications in the final product crop up, while retaining the properties needed.

For manufacturers of lubricants, the GCC is the model region to produce and sell in, given the high demand in the region, as well as the significant investment in manufacturing facilities – and of course, the abundant availability of the main raw material, oil. Dubai, as a globally recognised hub, allows the efficient import of raw materials and export of finished products, as do many other markets in the region.

As the UAE heralds the regional transition towards greener automotive operations, the lubricants industry will also evolve to better suit local demand for environment-friendly products.

Al-Theraawi believes the trend for greater sustainability will help segregate the men from the boys in the lubricant manufacturing market, and is keen to ensure MAG Lubricants does not miss out on the opportunity to grow.

“Low sulphur diesel requirements, made by the UAE’s recent decision to accept Euro5 engines, will reduce toxic vehicle exhaust emissions. Therefore, more piston cleanliness and wear protection will occur, thus increasing the oil drain interval. This will require additive manufacturers to cooperate with relevant technologies, and materials like base oil will be restricted to the high-quality refined type.”

middle east launch for shell pureplus Shell Lubricants in the Middle east, Central asia and Pakistan announced the launch of a next generation motor oil, Shell helix Ultra with Shell PurePlus technology, in September 2014. helix Ultra with PurePlus is the company’s most advanced motor oil ever, featuring a base oil developed from natural gas.

PurePlus converts natural gas into a crystal-clear base oil with nearly none of the impurities found in crude oil for use in premium synthetic lubricants. Base oils are the main component of finished motor oils, comprising 75-90% of the end product. this next generation base oil is then enhanced with Shell’s unique additive ingredients to create Shell’s most advanced fully synthetic motor oil ever, the helix Ultra with PurePlus technology. in hot climates typical to the Middle east, lubricants are prone to exceeding their normal operating temperature, but helix Ultra with PurePlus is less prone to thinning at high temperatures, which Shell says is good for drivers in the region. the ability of the oil to function effectively in different climate conditions ensures that the engine is well protected and is constantly being cleaned.

Shell PurePlus technology base oils are produced at the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GtL) plant in Qatar, a partnership between

57% of the total commercial vehicle lubricants market is taken up by onhighway vehicles.

Shell and Qatar Petroleum. this facility is the world’s largest gas-to-liquids facility, and can produce approximately one million tonnes of base oils per year.

16 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

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SmooTh rollers

MAN Truck & Bus ANd Ford Trucks were The Big sTories AT This yeAr’s PMV LiVe 2014, reporTs NehA BhATiA

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he third week of November was a big one for Ford Motors in Dubai. On the first day of PMV Live 2014, local Ford distributor Al Tayer Motors announced the launch of Ford Trucks in the UAE, officially marking the firm’s entry into the local commercial vehicles segment.

Later in the week, Ford’s creators flew from the firm’s global headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan to transport, assemble and launch the new 2015 Mustang on the 112th floor of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.

18 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

It will be a while before the luxury 2015 Mustang qualifies to be written about in Truck & Fleet ME, but based on Ford’s press conference, it appears the manufacturer’s trucks are ready to be rolled out for the GCC. Ford’s 1843 T tractor, a 3535D 6x4 chassis tipper and a 4135M 8x4 chassis mixer were the backdrop for the press conference hosted

by Martin Penny, general manager of Ford and Lincoln Sales at Al Tayer Motors, and Haydar Yenigün, general manager of Ford Otosan.

Ford Trucks is a registered trademark for heavy commercial vehicles by Ford Otosan, a

publicly traded company which operates as an equal partnership of Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding and is Ford’s medium and heavy commercial vehicle base in Europe.

Yenigün says Ford’s trucks are currently not fitted with any telematics systems which it may have developed in-house; the vehicles have instead been designed to freely incorporate third-party computer and electronic systems.

Work is also underway to develop an autonomous engine for the future generations of Ford Trucks.

“We realised during the establishment of Ford Trucks that we can’t do everything

REVIEW

Back to school at PMV liVe Numerous seminars were held over the four days of the PMV Live show, which was held in Dubai between November 17 and 20, 2014. Some seminars, such as ‘Market Update and Future Forecast of the Middle east’s infrastructure Sector’, were held in conjunction with The Big 5 Show and Middle east Concrete due to visitor crossover for all three shows. However, there were just as many seminars exclusive to the commercial vehicles sector. These included ‘How to be on the Safe Side when importing Second Hand Machinery and Trucks’ by Wolfgang Buhn, managing director of Mevas (Machinery evaluation Service), and ‘equipment Leasing Review’ by Mohammad Al Qahtany, chairman & managing director of First equilease.

Al Qahtany also participated in the panel discussion chaired by Dr edgar P. Small, coordinator of construction management at the American University in Dubai. Topics covered by the panel included identifying the best machinery and equipment options depending on key business factors as well as project scope, size and duration; assessing financing options available for fleet and heavy equipment and requirements to secure traditional bank finance; identifying the pros and cons of leasing as a costeffective and flexible alternative to purchasing; determining the right mix for your fleet and heavy equipment portfolio; and the case for access to funding through trade credit insurance.

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Ford Trucks launched their range for the UAe, sold by Al Tayer Motors.

ourselves immediately,” Yenigün says. “That’s one of the reasons our families of trucks are dramatically flexible in terms of electronics, computer systems like satellites and so on.”

Ford Trucks is also looking to develop an engine and gearbox that can automatically react to the conditions of the road ahead. “The truck will feature a satellite connection which tells the engine what’s coming up in the next five, 10 and 12 kilometres. The engine will then react accordingly based on if the road ahead is, say, a slope upward or down,” Yenigün explained.

Nearby, MAN Truck & Bus held court over the four days of PMV Live 2014, in association with its UAE distributor, Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons. The partners were focused on showing their heavy off-road vehicles, with MAN being an expert in the traction segment with a broad range of axle configurations for off-road applications.

The highlight was the TGS 41.480 8x8 truck, which has been designed for use in rough off-road conditions such as the desert. Fitted with permanent all-wheel drive, any speed differences between front and rear axles, such as during cornering, are cancelled out by the

20 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

centre differential in the transfer case. For driving in difficult terrain, the differentials can be locked. Permanent AWD is available with 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8, and has been offered

by MAN in the GCC for more than 20 years.

Also on display was MAN’s TGS 40.360 6x4 chassis mounted with an 18cbm tipper body, the manufacturer’s special vehicle aimed at the construction industry, and the TGS 41.360 8x4 chassis mounted with a 10cbm concrete mixer. Clearly, MAN was at Dubai World Trade Centre not only for PMV Live 2014, but also The Big 5 Show and Middle East Concrete 2014. The move is unsurprising, given the massive construction growth witnessed by the UAE and other GCC countries of late.

“It is a pleasure to be back once again at The Big 5 Show [jointly held with PMV Live 2014] to demonstrate our innovative product portfolio and support services which deliver great advantages for our clients in the construction sector, who have relied on our rugged and highquality products over the years,” Markus Geyer, head of sales region Middle East & Africa, MAN Truck & Bus, said. “The continued development

analysis: Market should welcoMe Ford trucks Ford Trucks launched their new 1846T tractor in early 2013, with a test drive event held for journalists in izmir in southern Turkey. even then it was clear the Gulf markets were in their sights, and the truck had been tested in Saudi Arabia for high temperature operation.

Still, the trucks have taken their time to arrive – the launch was originally planned for H2 of 2013. The company has been focused on its core markets: the Turkish domestic market, Western europe and Russia. But it should reassure potential customers that the company is taking its time, and Ford Trucks certainly hasn’t rushed into things with their GCC launch, which has been several years in the planning. entering the GCC markets is a strategic move for manufacturer Ford Otosan, jointly owned by Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding, and there are many good reasons to launch in the GCC. Geographical proximity means shorter lead times out of the factory, and it makes support easier, with shorter flight times for technicians, engineers and sales teams compared with other truck manufacturing countries such as France or China.

There are many Turkish contractors working in the construction sector in the Gulf, as well as other market sectors, who are familiar with the product.

Ford Trucks is experienced at entering new markets with extreme climatic conditions, having successfully penetrated Russia. While in their first launch there they had problems with the extreme cold, this was resolved with the engineering of subsequent models. The message from management at the 1846T launch was that they had done their homework when it came to the environmental conditions in the GCC – sand, heat and dust – and would soon be ready to launch there.

Another benefit is that they are able to tap into the established Ford dealer network, with Al Tayer Motors in the UAe and Al Jazirah Ford selling the vehicles in KSA. These reputable importers have plenty of experience when it comes to aftersales and maintenance, as well as supporting their customers with financing and service. They clearly will be protecting their reputations by offering a topnotch product and level of aftermarket support to their respective markets. in europe and Russia, Ford Trucks has been able to earn the market’s respect. it may take some time here, but the odds are that once customers take delivery of their first vehicles, they too will come to like the Turkish-built range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles.

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caution needed when Buying online Buyers of second-hand machinery and trucks are advised to look out for certain red signals while making the transaction, said Wolfgang Buhn, managing director of Mevas (Machinery evaluation Service). “in a perfect world, you are purchasing a machine or truck [and] the unit is real, the supplier gives you a perfect description, you pay a good negotiated price… you get what you expect to get,” Buhn said. in the real world, however, Buhn pointed out that several problems may arise when buying used machinery and trucks. The equipment and vehicles may not be in the condition advertised, or may even be stolen.

“Trucks have exchanged odometers, and in some cases there are Chinese copies of Western equipment,” he said in his session at PMV Live.

Buhn’s company has come across several instances of fraudulent dealers operating fake websites to scam customers into buying equipment or vehicles that don’t exist.

Some dealers use domain names of existing companies, keeping all details except the phone number and bank account information intact.

Buhn offered several tips. One crucial step to avoid fraud, he stressed, is to ramp up cyber security by installing the latest antivirus software and firewalls and not opening suspicious-looking attachments.

Another important measure is to send an independent, qualified professional to carry out an inspection of the vehicle before any payments are made.

“Be careful if down payment is requested before you can do an inspection or can send someone for an inspection,” Buhn cautioned.

He also recommended asking for a clear picture of the serial number and checking up with the dealer on the service history or repairs carried out on the vehicle. He also advised audience members to properly verify the seller’s bank account details before transferring any money, so as to safeguard themselves from being cheated.

Ford Trucks offer a range of heavy vehicles, including tractor heads, tippers and municipal vehicles.

of the regional construction industry, along with government focus on infrastructure development, bodes well for the sector and is a positive sign for MAN Truck & Bus.” For the commercial vehicle sector, MAN continued to promote its education campaign through its ProfiDrive Training modules. MAN claims this training package can lead to a 10% reduction in overall fuel consumption through better vehicle handling and economical driving techniques for drivers.

MAN representatives at PMV Live also focused on TopUsed, the manufacturer’s programme which seeks to provide high-quality used commercial vehicles for regional customers.

The comprehensive range of top-class used vehicles consists of a large selection from Europe and can be visited in the TopUsed branch in Jebel Ali. The range of vehicles includes all models and types of MAN trucks, buses and coaches.

PMV Live 2014 was held at Dubai World Trade Centre between 17 and 20 November, 2014.

“the continued deVeloPMent oF the regional construction industry, along with goVernMent Focus on inFrastructure deVeloPMent, Bodes well For the sector and is a PositiVe sign For Man truck & Bus” 22 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEMBER 2014

Parting shot

3 d is e The fuTur

motors 44 hours to l cA lo y An mp co An Ic er Am It only took s of 3D technology wIll ct pA Im e th t bu r, cA st fIr 3D prInt theIr r A lot longer fo ry st Du In k uc tr D An r cA be felt In the

i

n September this year, US company Local Motors built the first 3D printed car at a manufacturing show in Chicago. The printing took 44 hours, with additional time needed to mill down the roughly printed edges and install the powertrain – in total, it took four days to build the car. Once finished, they drove it off the show stand, powered by its 12kW electric engine. Local Motors hopes to have the Strati EV road legal sometime in 2015.

And while it’s only early days for 3D in the automotive industry, it’s already being used by industry majors. At the recent launch for Renault Trucks’ C and K ranges in Doha, we learnt how

24 TRUCK&FLEET ME DECEmBER 2014

3D printed parts were used at prototype stage to make parts for the vehicle’s cab interior. ‘Rapid prototyping’ is now becoming increasingly common, and Thierry Hours, vice president in charge of renewing the Construction and Long Distance ranges at Renault Trucks, says 3D printing techniques are likely to be used at production level the next time the range is redesigned, likely to be some time away.

3D printing is also likely to have a huge effect on the aftermarket. It’s not hard to envisage a world where dealers, instead of having a large and extensive spare parts inventory, simply have the part designs and a 3D printer able to print spare

parts on demand. It’s a solution that will save time and money for both customers and importers.

There’s also good reason to believe that 3D printing has a genuine chance to be widely used in the Gulf; the carbon fibre-reinforced plastics compound used in the printing of the Strati EV was supplied by SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), the largest listed company in the Middle East. The ongoing investment in chemical processing plants in Saudi Arabia suggests the country will in the future be a major source of compounds for 3D printing, which may one day go hand in hand with the country’s growing automotive assembly and manufacturing sector.

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