Fleet Trailer and Body Builder Autumn 2019

OFFICIAL IRISH JOURNAL OF TRAILER INNOVATION AWARDS

Volume 17 Autumn 2019

COLLABORATIONS: • Schmitz Cargobull & AOC Commercials • Volvo Trucks & Roadmaster

www.fleet.ie | 3

Contents Autumn 2019 4 News • Volvo Trucks hitch on to Krone Trailers • Xlite alloys for Tiger Trailers • NewCold links with Gray & Adams • WABCO supports TIP Trailer Services

19 Feature Milestone moments for Moffett Engineering

6 Viewpoint Drivers’ Hours exemption

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22 Pin Pics Big load carriers

8 Collaboration I Schmitz Cargobull & AOC Commercials 10 Report Thermo King driving on with new services and green products Fleet Trailer & Body Builder Magazine D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819/ 9372826 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 Email: enquiries@fleet.ie ISSN: 1649-9433 www.fleet.ie Editor: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie Contributors: Cathal Doyle, Evan O’Dwyer, Rob Van Dieten, Laura Reeve Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Paul White, Rob Van Dieten, David Clynch, Paul Sherwood, Tom Cunningham Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Vahey, Paula Mullarkey Advertising: Mary Morrissey - mary@fleet.ie

14 Advertorial SDC Aftermarket Department

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16 Global Info from Vestas, Talbert & Goldhofer 18 Product From Rushlift and Kögel

Fleet Transport/ Fleet Car/ Green Fleet Management/ Fleet Van & Utility/ Fleet Bus & Coach/ Fleet Trailer & Body Builder/ Fleet Maritime are published by JJDS Publications Ltd. Registered Office: D’Alton Street, Claremorris, County Mayo. Co. Reg. 368767 Directors: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh.

Disclaimer: Fleet Trailer & Body Builder Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers.

The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.

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Design: Eamon Wynne

12 Collaboration II Volvo Trucks & Roadmaster

The one stop shop for trailers and support services The mission: to provide smart solutions for complex transport tasks. The solution: to intelliW gently connect information and offer comprehensive support services Wover the lifetime of the trailer. With our TrailerConnectW telematics system and tailorW made premium support services, you can use our pioneering trailer solutions to get ahead. www.cargobull.com/uk

www.fleet.ie

4 | NEWS I

Volvo Trucks returns to Krone for demo test trailers

A

s seen at the Fleet Transport Irish Truck of the Year Awards 2020 assessment programme, in association with AIB Finance & Leasing, Volvo Trucks United Kingdom & Ireland, has once again chosen Krone to supply new trailers for its demonstration and support fleet.

Two Krone Dry Liners, both fully loaded to 44 tonnes GVW, are currently being used by Volvo’s Head of Media & Product Demonstration, Martin Tomlinson and his team for events, customer test drives and PR/photography assignments.

“The reason we return to Krone is because of the high build quality and finish, which match our specific demands. Our relationship with the sales team also plays a big part as they are easy to deal with and manage my expectations every time.

No need to look elsewhere,” explained Martin.

In recent times Volvo has taken delivery

of a tandem-axle Krone City Liner to test urban routes in London and before that, a Krone Profi Liner curtainsider which was successfully used to trial a limitededition FH16.750 from Gothenburg to the tip of Scotland.

“It’s an easy choice,” added Martin, “the Krone quality ethic is comparable to our own – uncompromisingly high standard of product with a premium service to match.

As always, with Krone, in both respects

we know where we stand.”

Manufactured in Herzlake, Germany, the Dry Liner is designed for UK/ European operational flexibility, with up to 2.800mm internal loading achievable with a 1250mm fi ft h wheel height in the UK and Ireland. The standard 10-year guarantee against perforation corrosion and suitability for export at the end of term also contribute to the trailer’s high residual value.

Xlite wheels on new lightweight Tiger Trailer’s Clearspan Curtainsider

T

he weight saving elements of the Xlite forged aluminium wheels have helped Tiger Trailers introduce a new lightweight tri-axle Clearspan Curtainsider Trailer, which is 500kg lighter than its conventional equivalent. As a result Xlite has been selected as the Original Equipment (OE) supplier to the Winsford, Cheshire based trailer company going forward.

With the Xlite, the new trailer will allow operators to carry a greater payload of up to 29.5 tonnes for more sustainable and profitable operations. The trailer uses steel components that are twice the strength of the structural steel typically used in chassis construction without adding any additional weight, which has allowed Tiger Trailers to develop one of the lightest tri-axle clearspan curtainsider currently available on the market.

Xlite forged aluminium wheels in size 11.75 x 22.5 in a machined fi nish are homologated across all three axles, giving a further 114kg weight saving against standard steel. Xlite and Xbrite wheels, which are five times stronger and 40 percent lighter than the standard steel equivalent, are spin forged from a single aluminium billet, a unique manufacturing process using a CNC machine to produce a higher degree of production accuracy and a truer running wheel.

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

Xlite is available in machined and polished finishes, while Xbrite goes through several automated treatment stages which permeate the metal deeper to deliver a wheel with the highest levels of corrosion resistance and shine. Wheels are available in 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5 inch sizes.

NEWS II | 5

Gray & Adams loads up with NewCold

N

ewCold, the pan-European deep-frozen storage and logistics specialists, has recently introduced a fullyautomated handling solution in England which, says the company, sets new standards in maintaining temperature integrity and efficiency in the cold chain.

Designed in close partnership with Gray & Adams and produced at the trailer builder’s Doncaster manufacturing facility, the aptlynamed ‘Pod’ draws on the latest automated loading technology and according to NewCold is a first for the UK. The Pod’s key function is to bridge the gap between the deep-frozen production or storage environment and NewCold’s auto-loading 44-pallet double-deck trailers – also designed and manufactured by Gray & Adams.

For example, as soon as the product leaves the production line at minus 22 degrees, it is automatically loaded through a sliding door at the back of the 60-pallet-capacity Pod, which itself is pre-cooled to the same temperature. From here, following a brief temperaturestabilising period the pallets are automatically transferred into the double-deck trailer, docked to the front of the Pod. Initial loading into the Pod is completed in around 5 minutes, with the whole cycle taking less than 30 minutes. Meanwhile, 3 x Carrier TRS refrigeration systems hold the temperature at a constant minus 25 degrees and being electric, keep harmful emissions to a minimum. Effectively, every deep-frozen package or

pallet remains at a constant set temperature of minus 22 – minus 25 degrees, and at no time during its journey from the production line to completed loading in the trailer is any pallet exposed to the ambient environment or touched by an operative. This not only ensures absolute temperature integrity but virtually eliminates product damage.

NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics added a final phase to its Wakefield plant in the Spring of 2018. Now considered to be the UK’s largest facility of its kind and with around £100m so far committed, the facility handles 3,000,000 pallets annually.

Plus, with a total volume of over 4 million cubic metres, it has the capacity to store 143,000 pallets - at a constant, minus 23 degrees.

So successful has business been for the company that it is actively seeking a second UK site.

WABCO Fleet Solutions supports TIP Trailer Services with Advanced Connectivity

W

ABCO, the leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, and TIP Trailer Services, one of Europe’s and Canada’s leading equipment service providers, have begun an innovative collaboration to fulfill TIP’s digitization strategy by connecting its fleet.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, TIP operates a fleet of 70,000 trailers which are available for full-service leasing and rental to transportation and logistics customers across 16 European countries and Canada. Customized maintenance contracts and other value-added service agreements ensure TIP’s customers transporting goods are kept on the move. The agreement with WABCO will see TIP trailers upgraded with advanced trailer telematics and digital fleet management services providing the best solutions for TIP’s various trailer types. Th is includes not only track and trace capabilities, but also remote trailer health and diagnostics functionalities, as well as safety features such as tire pressure monitoring and cold chain management that support leaner, greener and safer fleet operations.

“With our full-service contracts, we offer the highest levels of safety and efficiency of our trailers on the road. Th is includes service scheduling, maintenance, worn parts replacement and

uptime performance management,” said Bob Fast, CEO of TIP Trailer Services. “Connecting our fleet with WABCO’s full range of telematics, IoT and connected services, gives us the opportunity to implement a fleet-wide platform that is suited to all our asset types and brands. It will enable new data and analytics services which will further upscale our value offering to fleets,” added Bob. “WABCO is delighted to be collaborating with TIP Trailer Services to help support their success through improved asset management and their digital transition,” said Peter Bal, WABCO Business Leader Fleet Solutions EMEA. “Building on this long-term collaboration and TIP’s advanced new connectivity capabilities we are looking forward to working together to create new opportunities for growth and innovation. Sharing our technology and business expertise, resources and data analytics capabilities, WABCO and TIP will jointly drive an innovation roadmap to build first-class, fleet-centric and big data driven services,” concluded Peter. www.fleet.ie

6 | VIEWPOINT

When is a Driver exempt from Driver Hours?

By Evan O’Dwyer, O’Dwyer Solicitors – www.odwyersolicitors.ie

M

uch of the laws that govern the regulation and operation of driver hours come from European Union Law. Th roughout the road transport industry it is known that drivers of heavy goods vehicles must take a mandatory 45-minute break after 4.5 hours driving. This is the basic premise upon which professional drivers conduct their work on a daily basis.

Irish law, in the form of the European Community’s (Road Transport) Working Conditions and Road Safety Regulations 2008 implements the European Law provisions. That law is enforced by the Road Safety Authority hand in glove with the traffic core of An Garda Síochána.

In the vast majority of cases this rule is rigidly applied, necessarily so because there is no blanket exemption available to drivers.

An issue has arisen, however, which has been dealt with by the Irish Courts in relation to one specific sector of the transport industry.

Historically vehicles that were employed

by Local Authorities and which were involved directly and exclusively in the provision of maintenance for the upkeep of roads were exempt from the Drivers Hours’ Regulations. With the passing of time, however, and the evolution of the industry, Local Authorities no longer exclusively deliver their own maintenance product from quarry to road side. We all now know that sub-contractors are employed both by civil engineering fi rms and by Local Authorities for the purpose of carrying out the vast majority of work that has to be done for maintaining and upkeeping our road infrastructure.

The High Court in the case of the Road Safety Authority versus Kieran Kelly Haulage Limited has asserted the current state of the law and how it should be applied.

or docket needs to be presented to the investigating officer to satisfy them that an exemption should apply. If this cannot be established then the driver and also the employer, if the owner of the vehicle will be liable to prosecution.

W hile it is acknowledged that all professional drivers must take a 45-minute break after driving for 4.5 hours up to a maximum of 9 hours per day (with certain exceptions) an exemption now arises for vehicles used by Local Authorities, contractors to Local Authorities or sub-contractors. The key issue here is whether or not the vehicle used is used “in connection with road maintenance and control”. In practical terms this means that only rigid tippers or tractor-units drawing tipper semi-trailers which are used in the course of their work bringing maintenance to, or returning empty from, road works shall be exempt.

In the landscape of road transport this is a very net and small exemption that arises. It is one, however, that all persons involved in road maintenance whether it be driver or owners or transport managers need to be familiar with. The application of the law places fi rmly the emphasis on establishing the exemption rather than simply presuming it. There is therefore a great duty on those seeking to rely upon exemption to driver hours to ensure that at all times paper proof exists within the cab so as to be able to show the journey involved and how this falls within the legal defi nition of being used “in connection with road maintenance and control”.

Upon detection by the Road Safety Authority or the Garda Authorities the onus rests exclusively on the driver and/ or the driver’s employer to prove that the vehicle was going to or coming from roadworks. There is a further responsibility before an exemption shall apply to ensure that the vehicle has been used exclusively for that purpose. In practical terms, this means that some form of delivery notice

Regrett ably, this is the only industry exemption that arises and there is no blanket exemption to other perhaps equally deserving areas of road transport.

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

Th is will be particularly relevant for those drivers servicing the domestic Irish Ports and the queues that will inevitably arise with the on-set of Brexit.

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8 | COLLABORATION I

Schmitz Cargobull strengthens its presence • AOC Commercials (Cork) to cover greater Munster region as Service Partner

F

ollowing the establishment of Schmitz Cargobull Ireland, the next phase of the investment by Europe’s best selling trailer manufacturer is concentrated on its Aftermarket programme. Over the past few months, a number of partnerships have been formed with leading truck dealerships around the country to offer assured product back-up on a regional basis.

One such recent appointment is with AOC Commercials, the renowned Scania dealership based in Carrigtwohill, County Cork. Having vast experience in the trade with great expertise and technical knowledge built up over the decades since the family business was established in 1980, AOC Commercials is a most suitable associate for Schmitz Cargobull to

align with. Covering the greater Munster area, AOC Commercials is an approved maintenance provider for the German brand’s products, with its technicians specially trained in repair and maintenance, together with providing roadside assistance and full spare parts availability. Dedicated service bays and spare parts stocking areas within the workshop and warehouse ensure that the customer requirements are met with speed and efficiency.

Schmitz Cargobull Ireland’s Sales Manager, Paul O’Ceallaigh is pleased with the new alliance formed with AOC Commercials and is confident that the brand will continue to make further progress in terms of customer assurance as well as additional sales in a region that has a strong presence in both refrigerated transport

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

and in the construction sector with its tipper trailers. “With the formation of a dedicated Irish division, Schmitz Cargobull is providing a direct contact point for sourcing advanced smart trailers equipped with the company’s own refrigeration unit and telematics system. Now with the appointment of Aftersales partners such as AOC Commercials, our relationship with our customers will strengthen and lead to lower lifetime operating costs, and also help their business to grow,” explained Paul. He also mentioned that the Aftersales partner appointments have been strategically located to be near Ireland’s ports.

Steve Vincent, Head of Aftermarket, Schmitz Cargobull UK & Ireland who also attended the official announcement event at AOC Commercials added that while

COLLABORATION I | 9

in Ireland with Aftermarket appointments

Schmitz Cargobull Ireland’s Sales Manager, Paul O’Ceallaigh along with Steve Vincent, Head of Aft ermarket, Schmitz Cargobull UK & Ireland and Padraig O’Connor, Director at AOC Commercials.

Schmitz Cargobull has worked closely with Irish road transport operators for many years, and with the direct representation in their own market, it is not all about new sales, as aftersales back-up is just as important as the original deal done.

“Bolstering Schmitz Cargobull’s presence in Ireland are a number of service partners located in Dublin, Wexford, Ashbourne, Belfast, Dungannon, Cork and soon Mayo, providing expert service and spare parts distribution, while out on the roads across Europe, operators will also be able to call on the support of Schmitz Cargobull’s wider pan-EU network of more than 1,700 service partners across 40 countries.”

Outside of Dublin, the southern region has the largest number of road transport operators, many of which are well known to Padraig O’Connor, Director at AOC Commercials. Together with management and staff, the firm is pleased to add the Schmitz Cargobull Aftermarket portfolio to its dealership business.

“Since we were established 39 years ago, AOC Commercials has succeeded in delivering a first class service to all our loyal and passionate customers, while building positive personal relationships with them which has been the cornerstone of our success. With that many years’ experience in heavy goods vehicles, the addition of a premium trailer brand will give us the extra knowledge and tools to deliver a more comprehensive service to complement our already outstanding Scania product offering,” commented Padraig.

“We are excited to be adding another premium brand to our business as we believe that it will certainly enhance the Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

services we are already offering in the sale of the initial product through to the aftersales service and support. We can now provide a fully comprehensive service featuring main dealer experience, knowledge and products to our customers. This addition now allows us to become an all-encompassing partner for the full HGV solution,” he added.

“Like in 1994, when we were very proudly appointed a Scania authorised dealer it allowed the company to grow, expand and keep satisfying its customers, a great achievement and a true testament to our wonderful and loyal yet ever expanding team of professionals who care as much about the customers’ vehicles as they do.

Now having Schmitz Cargobull on board we hope that this will be the catalyst for further expansion and even more satisfied customers. Investments in facilities and equipment have equally ensured that we manage to keep one step ahead of the competition, offering the best technologies when it comes to the maintenance and repair of commercial vehicles.”

“With the ground work firmly complete and the products on the shelf, we look forward to welcoming our existing customers to explore the Schmitz Cargobull product range, but are also relishing the opportunity to meet the existing Schmitz Cargobull customer base and working with them to provide the service we have built our reputation on over the last 39 years.”

Padraig and his team will have full access to product information on Schmitz Cargobull’s trailer and rigid body offerings together with full specification data on Schmitz’ own refrigerated system and telematics packages. New sales enquiries Photos: David Clynch & Paul Sherwood

will be channelled through to Paul O’ Ceallaigh for processing and delivering to the customer.

Steve Vincent mentioned that the uptake on the reefer unit is continuing to increase, with over 10,000 units on the roads across Europe and around 200 to date in operation in Ireland. Paul said he has a number of demonstration trailers fitted with the system currently being run by Irish hauliers and the feedback has been very positive.

“Both drivers and fleet managers like them, they are much quieter than others and it makes good business sense for an operation to have the full package, with the trailer, reefer, axles/brakes, tyres and telematics all in one.”

Other aspects of the aftermarket offering that Steve was keen to include is the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Proactive maintenance and Telematics which he said provides clear everyday working transparency, helps to reduce Total Cost of Operation, ensures added security and of course tracking and load temperature monitoring.

Relating to product, apart from the standard refrigerated semi-trailer offerings, a growing number of enquiries have centred around Schmitz’ container chassis and rigid bodies to include ‘drag’ trailer bodies. “Whatever the client wants, Schmitz Cargobull can design, make, supply and deliver. Together with our nationwide Aftermarket programme, we are in a uniquely strong position to meet customer needs in everyway,” concluded Paul and wished every success to AOC Commercials with the new partnership agreement. www.fleet.ie

10 | REPORT

Thermo King driving on with new services and green products

F

ollowing its unveil at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2019 in Birmingham, Thermo King has launched Trailer Assist - offering fleet managers additional peace of mind through the ability to monitor a number of data points in real time. An extension of the basic TracKing subscription offering, Trailer Assist collates data from a trailer’s electronic sensors and informs the fleet manager in real time via smartphone or online.

Advantages, the company stated, include being able to plan optimal routes through analyses of axle loads, the ability to avoid wrong trailer pickup by tracking individual VINs, optimising fuel consumption through tyre pressure monitoring and the ability to plan proactive maintenance.

The data can also be shared with preferred third party interfaces.

The transport temperature control systems specialist, together with sister Ingersoll Rand company Frigoblock, is committed to ongoing investment in new technology with a clear focus on electrification - as highlighted at the CV Show with a number of solutions to address the varying needs of customers looking for green solutions.

“More than 80 percent of our year-overyear investments are focused on new product development and new technology innovation in the electrification space,” said Pauli Johannesen, Vice-President & General Manager for Truck, Trailer & Bus at Thermo King in Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). “We were the first to offer our European customers a true hybrid and non-diesel truck and trailer refrigeration solutions and currently have more than 25 electric products in our portfolio providing superior performance for our customers. Moreover 20,000 trucks and trailers are on the road with our electrified transport refrigeration units and the number is growing daily.”

New products include the E-200 fullelectric refrigeration unit. Suitable for both electric and engine-powered vans and trucks below 3.5 tonnes, the fully

Connectivity with TracKing

integrated plug-and-play solution uses components never seen before in the refrigerated transport industry including a new controller that allows the refrigeration unit to adapt the capacity based on the actual need and available power.

Also new is the Spectrum S4.2 Remote Evaporator for Thermo King SLXi multitemperature trailer refrigeration units.

Its pièce de résistance is replacing two evaporators with one mono bloc in one zone without compromising on refrigeration performance, giving customers more flexibility for the installation inside the rear compartment of the trailer and optimal temperature control of the transported goods.

“The new evaporator is another example of our solutions that provide incremental improvement in the trailer refrigeration,” explained Thermo King Product Manager David O’Gorman. “This new product adds up to greater efficiency for operators by maximising the volume available for the payload and facilitating access during loading and unloading operations.”

- an Iveco Eurocargo 18-tonne fully electric refrigerated truck. Built by Electra Commercial Vehicles, a UK company that specialises in converting commercial vehicles’ chassis to 100 percent electric, it featured Frigoblock’s high performance refrigeration along with an inverter unit as standard, which didn’t require any modifications to the vehicle. In the real world it can be expected to contribute to an average fuel savings of 10 miles per gallon for the truck and up to 2.5 litres per hour for the refrigeration unit, depending on the operation and when compared to standard diesel engine solutions.

Another collaboration was with Castell Howell Foods. The UT–Series Hybrid prototype offers hybrid refrigeration unit for undermount applications on trucks, drawbar trailers and highloaders using the Thermo King SLXi Hybrid trailer systems and Frigoblock alternator and inverter-drive technology. By being able to switch the power between diesel and electric mode as required or necessary, this allows the truck to operate in inner cities, residential areas and low emission zones.

Frigoblock technology was behind an interesting showcase at the CV Show

Thermo King E-200 All Electric Unit

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

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12 | COLLABORATION II

Roadmaster & Volvo Trucks on Pot-Hole Patrol

J

amestown, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim based, Archway Products has put Volvo Trucks’ technical capabilities to the test with its unique Roadmaster bodywork. Laura Reeve hits the road (literally) with the company.

Liam McNamee, co-founder of Archway Products, believes that Volvo Trucks has always been the most ‘interested,’ vehicle manufacturer. “Volvo don’t just look to sell, they look to engage with us and are prepared to move mountains to design the truck to meet our high specification and to suit the bodybuilding requirements,” he commented.

Enjoying support with the technical specifications, Liam is also highly complimentary of the Volvo Trucks product and the Volvo network. “The machine has to fit drivers like a glove. The controls have to be intuitive and the cab needs to be comfortable and safe to work in because the driver can spend all day in there.

We are happy that Volvo meets these requirements.”

Because of the unique application of the machine it is in a ‘semiparked’ position for most of the time during operation. For this reason, the company has adopted a number of specific features.

The trucks have vertical exhaust stacks to reduce the amount of emissions that reach the driver, and the specification can include a low ratio back axle for increased torque for use in areas that have steep terrain. Volvo’s automatic transmission option is also a must for the operation because of the stop-start nature of the work. “Having the Allison gearbox with torque converter is particularly important for our work, because operators could be on the side of a hill for two hours. With the Allison transmission they are not putting strain on their legs by continuously operating a manual clutch, nor is there the opportunity to burn the clutch out. We have found this gearbox combination has stood the test of time,” he added.

Whilse Archway has built the Roadmaster with Volvo FM, FL

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

and FE chassis, there is more of a demand from customers for smaller vehicles to suit all road types. An FL with the shortest wheelbase that the body will allow is typically specified for rural areas that have to contend with overhanging branches or low bushes and narrow roads. The demonstrator pictured, for example, is a Volvo FL 816 4x2 platform rear air suspension rigid with 3.8m wheelbase and medium roof cab and gearbox operated PTO. Aside from the truck, there is a lot of equipment that needs to integrate. The Roadmaster is fitted with an elongated hopper to store chips and a container to store binder, as well as having a hydraulically controlled articulated boom fitted which, when

COLLABORATION II | 13 not in use, folds across the front of the truck for safer transportation. Liam explained: “All of the external equipment is made easy to fit because of Volvo’s endeavours to understand the application from the outset. The trucks come prepped with the necessary fitt ings and attachments in the correct places and all access points for electrics and pneumatics come ready to fit.”

As well as convenience at the bodybuilding stage, this means that the truck is not being retrospectively altered and therefore is still compliant with all of the manufacturer’s recommendations. Likewise, chassis layout has proven problematic in the past because of diesel tanks and other ancillary equipment being fitted to the sides of the chassis where Archway needs optimal space to fit road resurfacing and cleaning equipment. Volvo allows Archway to specify the location of the chassis fitt ings from the outset to accommodate the equipment added during bodybuilding.

Safety is paramount for Archway when specifying its equipment, because the Roadmaster does more reversing than the average truck. The design includes manoeuvring sensors, reversing alarms, rear cameras and a driver assist function can also be fitted. An LED arrow board can also be mounted on the rear of the Roadmaster enabling the operation to carry out any independent mobile works safely. A recent addition is back bumper sensors which automatically trigger the handbrake should anyone walk behind the reversing vehicle.

Liam only has positive things to say about Volvo Trucks’ dealer network. His primary dealer is McDonnell Commercials in Monaghan which he highly regards in terms of technical ability and willingness to develop bespoke solutions. The widespread nature of this hire business sees Archway’s Volvo trucks specified with five-year Gold Service Contracts and vehicles are generally maintained by the closest dealerpoint. “Volvo has a great network of dealers. We fi nd that there are good, consistent standards across the network”. Liam also commented positively on the reaction times and reliability of Volvo Action Service.

Text: Laura Reeve

|

From fields to roads Liam and Maureen McNamee founded Archway Products in 1990, initially as a manufacturer of bale wrapping machinery for the agriculture industry. The company later turned its attentions to the niche market of road repair. Whilst on the surface this appears to be an unusual change of focus, the rationale was based on the adaptability of the existing expertise to develop a technology-based road repair solution.

Liam described the transition: “When I fi rst started to research road repair, it became obvious that if you are fi lling a pothole you have arrived too late. There shouldn’t be a pothole in the fi rst place!” Fuelled by this knowledge, and using the company’s engineering expertise in design and control systems, the Archway team set about developing a concept that would focus on preventative maintenance, rather than the more typical reactive approach to fi lling existing potholes. The basic premise was to seal damaged sections of road to prevent potholes from ever appearing. Archway’s approach was not only unique and highly innovative, but it was far more sophisticated than the primitive methods of road repair being employed at the time.

By the year 2000, the company had developed a robust, patented and CE approved product and began selling within the Irish market, later moving into the UK as well.

The product, named Roadmaster, was well received in both markets and the company has since built an impressive list of customers, including many of the UK and Irish Local Authorities. In addition to manufacturing machines to sell, the company added a hire option to enhance the appeal for councils, because often road repair by local authorities is only focused on at certain times of the year.

Roadmaster makes a variety of repair types possible, including pothole and other road damage repairs, as well as preventative applications, which raise and strengthen cracked areas to prevent water ingress that ultimately causes greater damage.

The main benefits of the Roadmaster over other methods are safety, speed and cost.

The ‘machine’ incorporates multiple pieces of equipment primarily powered by the truck that it is fitted to. “We never know if we should call it a ‘truck’ or a ‘machine’!

The truck provides the power to drive the machine,” he said. Archway uses the Volvo engine with a combination of PTO systems to do everything.

The equipment is designed to require only one operator who works from the safety of the cab, so there is no exposure to the live road environment and no manual handling.

According to Archway Products, the Roadmaster’s capacity allows for a full day of operation, while it delivers a significantly lower cost per tonne when compared to both traditional and other velocity patching methods. The company claims that these cost savings can be in the region of 80 percent.

Suggestions from customers and operatives, continuous in-house development and advances in technology over the years have meant that the product is always evolving, but one constant is Archway’s preference for Volvo trucks. The 28-strong Archway hire fleet in use across the UK and Ireland is almost exclusively Volvo Trucks. In addition to the hire business, the company expects to manufacture 16-20 units throughout 2019.

With a growing team exceeding 50 staff and a 7,200 square feet production facility on a site of 15,000 square feet, Archway Products now design, manufacture, sell, hire and support this specialised and highly innovative machinery. With Liam’s role recently shift ing to Chairman, to permit his son Donal to take over as Managing Director, the business remains family owned and has grown to become the market leader in single operator road repair and maintenance equipment. The company is actively in pursuit of markets further afield and aspires to be the international market leader in spray injection patching.

Photos: Tom Cunningham

www.fleet.ie

14 | ADVERTORIAL

SDC Aftermarket Department going strong 40 years on!

T

he SDC Group’s Aftermarket Department is comprised of SDC Truck & Trailer Parts and SDC Trailer Repair Centre. Both teams work closely together and share the same values and commitment to excellence in customer service.

One of the most recent success stories in the industry over the past 15 years has been the rise of SDC Truck & Trailer Parts.

Once a small shed containing a minority of Parts, it has now grown to a portfolio of over 16,000 different Truck and Trailer Parts, with eight branches centrally located throughout Ireland. The ninth branch opened on 19 March last in Warrington, England, marking the start of an exciting era for the company.

Gavin Diamond, Director of SDC Parts, who joined the company as a Purchasing Graduate in 1999 and became Manager of SDC Truck & Trailer Parts in 2001, attributes its success to the team. A low turnover of staff is testament to the leadership style and structure on which the entire group is built. According to Gavin: “Everyone has accountability for themselves and are encouraged to use their initiative, it is very much a pro-active company rather than re-active.”

The expert knowledge of the team and shared ‘can do’ characteristics of everyone has earned customers trust. Any customer of SDC Truck & Trailer Parts knows that they have received the correct part they require for their truck or trailer and they appreciate the knowledge and honesty of the team. Going over and beyond for their customers is another trait associated with the SDC Truck & Trailer Parts team and delivering outside working hours is not unusual.

Gavin makes particular reference to the growth of the depots in Dublin, Cork and New Ross and credits this to the team within these branches. Regular refresher training days are compulsory for everyone working within the Parts network and guarantees their knowledge is in line with regulations. The training days also

accommodate customers who are required by law to undertake refresher courses.

The export of Truck & Trailer Parts to other countries is also growing each year: “We now export to 18 different countries, this business initially started growing through SDC Trailers and their export customers. We have built on this and developed relationships so that we are now in the position where we supply customers within Europe and further afield with large shipments of parts on a regular basis,” added Gavin.

SDC Truck & Trailer Parts' mission statement from the early days has always been to “offer our customers the greatest variety of Parts while remaining excellent value and providing exceptional customer service.” A mission that has served the company well and will continue to do so as SDC plans to expand with additional branches over the next five years.

The other important team within the SDC Aftermarket Department is the SDC Trailer Repair Centre team which has been in operation since 1978, the year the SDC Group was first established.

The modern 20,000 sq.ft Trailer Repair Centre based at its headquarters in Toomebridge, is home to 16 workshop bays and ensures that operational downtime is kept to a minimum, an important requisite of their customers. Services include Trailer Repair, Trailer Refurbishment, Trailer Modification, Brake Testing, MOT Inspection and Service Inspection. The vast

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

range of services provided ensures that all operator requirements are accommodated, from accident damage and new bodywork, to chassis modifications and new livery.

Spearheaded by John Quinn, Kieran McTaggart and Paul McGlade, the Repairs team are made up of the fi nest skilled technicians, which guarantee the future and the great reputation of SDC’s Trailer Repair Centre. Testament to the skill of the Repairs team is that a large percentage of their work is repeat business from loyal customers. John Quinn, Trailer Repair Centre Manager, explained that: ‘Many of our customers started with one requirement from our Repair Centre and now we carry out all their trailer fleet repair work including PSV checks.”

To ensure the trailer repair process runs smoothly, John mentioned that there is an in-depth initial discussion with the customer, to determine the best options available for their requirement.

“The Repairs team are easily accessible and pride themselves on their excellent communication with customers. We frequently liaise with customers on the progress of their trailer through telephone calls, videos and photos of different stages of the trailer repair process. Customers are also encouraged to visit our Repair Centre during the working process of their trailer.”

For any aftersales requirements contact 0044 28 7965 0765 or visit www. sdctrailers.com

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TRANSPORT www.fleet.ie

Engaging Connectivity

AWARDS 2020

Networking is an investment in your business!

DIARY DATE:

THURSDAY

10

OCTOBER

Attend the Fleet Transport Awards & Networking Event and Yield great results for years to come... your road to success Thursday 10 October 2019, Citywest Hotel, Dublin

www.ï¬&#x201A;eet.ie

16 | GLOBAL

Vestas orders 9 wind blade transport systems developed jointly with TII Group

V

estas, a global leader in sustainable energy solutions, has signed a contract for nine wind blade transport systems from the German heavy-duty specialist TII Group. The vehicle system, tailor-made for the transport of the latest generation of wind blades was jointly developed by Vestas and the TII Group and launched recently at Bauma 2019.

“Together with our partners from TII, we have developed this new transport solution to improve our ability to transport our longest blades over large distances in a flexible and cost-efficient way. Th is solution is the result of our constant effort to challenge and rethink our current logistic setup to develop new technologies that help drive the industry forward,” explained Kim Bredo

Rahbek, Head Specialist WTCC Product Critical Functions Engineering at Vestas.

The system consists of a 2-axle jeep dolly with a free-turning device and a 4-axle trailer. The mounting of the wind blade works according to the “Plug & Play” principle. Unlike conventional systems, the TII solution only requires a few tools. With a special lift ing device, the wing root is picked up comfortably from the ground. The quick coupling solution consists of a root adapter and a root frame. The free-turning device is pre-assembled on the latter, and then the frame with root is coupled to the adapter in the twinkling of an eye. Compared to conventional vehicle types, the new combination has maximum manoeuvrability and

Talbert expands North Carolina Facility

T

albert Manufacturing, the North American heavyhaul solutions specialist has officially opened its 58,000-square-foot expansion at its Liberty, North Carolina facility. The 120,000-square-foot Liberty Trailers LLC will manufacture Talbert’s Tag-A-Long Series, Traveling Axle Series and Hydraulic Tail Series trailers. With the expansion, the manufacturer looks to increase dealer and customer support throughout North America with increased production capabilities and a support staff of 60 associates.

“In 1938, Austin Talbert set out to change the heavy-haul industry,” said Andrew Tanner, President of Talbert Manufacturing. “With the expansion of Liberty Trailers LLC, Talbert Manufacturing is closer than ever to realizing his vision of customer-driven design that meets the ever-changing needs of the hauling industry.

We’re able to double our current output, allowing us meet the needs of our Tag-A-Long customers and dealers across the U.S. and Canada so we can continue growing together.”

The Liberty facility was originally home to Ferree Trailers, which

Talbert purchased in 2014. The 60,000-square-foot building was completed in 1999. From there, Ferree served a loyal following of customers in industries including transportation, construction, military, government and special OEM companies, producing a wide array of trailers. With the acquisition, Talbert continued producing select Ferree products and moved production of its Tag-A-Long, Traveling Axle and Hydraulic Tail series trailers from its Indiana facility to Liberty. As the OEM grew, so did

Goldhofer “energy carrier” excels in Mexico

S

ince the Mexican Government abolished the State energy monopoly in 2013, an increasing number of International investors have become active on the country’s energy market. The Aquiles project handled by the Finnish Wärtsilä Corporation in the Mexican state of Chihuahua comprises the construction of a modern gas-fi red power plant with an installed capacity of 110 megawatts and is due to be fully commissioned in 2019. The contract for shipping a total of twelve gensets, i.e. combined gas engines and generators, was awarded to the well-known Martin Bencher Group of Aarhus, Denmark.

The shipping and freight forwarding

company, which has English roots dating back to 1881, has developed into a global player in the field of heavy and oversized cargo logistics since it was founded in 1997 and now has offices in Asia and North and South America in addition to Europe.

The SG 20V34 gensets were shipped by freighter to the port of Altamira, Mexico, and from there taken by road to the site of the new power plant. Work began on unloading the cargo, which was assigned to two convoys assembled by the Mexican subcontractor Tradelossa Transportes. The vehicle configuration chosen by the road haulage team comprised six Goldhofer

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

THP/SL12 heavy-duty combinations with a flat bed or vessel deck so as to comply with the load height limits. For more than 20 years now, Tradelossa has placed its trust in transport equipment supplied by the Memmingen-based world market leader for heavy-duty and special haulage solutions and now has more than 150 Goldhofer axle lines and a comprehensive range of accessories in its fleet. In a short space of time, the huge gensets, measuring 12.9 x 3.34 x 4.49 m and weighing 140 tonnes each, were loaded onto the vehicles and transported to their destination some 1600 kilometres away without any serious implications. On average, it took just six days to transport

GLOBAL | 17 guarantees a high level of safety for the load. The intelligent arrangement of joints in the bearings ensures gentle transport of the sensitive rotor blade. With the help of a simple plug-in connection, a manufacturer-independent friction clamp can be fitted to accommodate the wind blade at the rear end.

The new vehicle combination offers maximum flexibility on bumpy roads or obstacles on the road. The lift ing height can be varied up to two metres at the front and up to one metre at the rear end of the vehicle.

An economic plus: for return transports, all parts can be shortened to a compact semi-trailer combination with a total length of only 16,500 mm and a weight of less than 60 tonnes. Th is eliminates the need for special permits for return transport. demand for the trailer series being produced at Liberty. In 2018, Talbert began expansion of the building and staff as part of its overall growth plan.

The opening of the expansion marks the completion of the Liberty Trailer LLC upgrade. In addition to the 58,000-squarefoot increase in space, the expansion also houses two state-ofthe-art painting booths, overhead cranes and a large fi nishing area. Equipment and staging areas were designed for optimum flow throughout the manufacturing process, allowing Talbert’s production at Liberty to grow, even past their current goals, while maintaining the high degree of safety, durability and resale value that are the pillars of the Talbert brand.

“When we purchased the facility in 2014, we had 18 employees and a modern facility to allow for the type of growth we needed,” Andrew said. “Today we have 60 employees at Liberty and are looking to staff well over 100 long-term. Talbert has been able to remain on the cutt ing edge of heavy-haul innovations for more than 80 years because we understand the value of investing in our people as much as our products. The Liberty expansion is an investment not just in Talbert, but in our dealers the gensets to the power plant site and to do so without any incidents. Among other things, the route included several tight roundabouts, which were mastered in no time at all with the help of an additional tractor. A last challenge was waiting on the grounds of the gas works: The convoy had to be manoeuvred precisely through two tight curves in order to deliver the gensets safely to the new generating hall.

In a fi nal leg, they were unloaded and carefully positioned on their foundations with the help of a rail system. Thanks to the efficient project management provided

by Martin Bencher, the experienced team of transport professionals from Tradelossa and the use of proven Goldhofer transport technology, the entire project was Text: Rob Van Dieten - rob@fleet.ie

and customers.”

“Part of what makes Talbert special is how the company has been able to keep Austin Talbert’s vision alive and growing in such a fast-paced industry. “Today’s Talbert might look quite different on the surface than what Talbert or my father, who purchased the company in the 1970s, knew but I know they would be proud of the high-quality trailers coming off the lines in Rensselaer and Liberty, of the dedicated dealers that make up our extensive dealer network, and the loyal customer base we have been able to grow over the past 80 years,” added Russ Stern, Co-Owner.

Talbert Manufacturing hosted a ribbon cutt ing, officially opening the 58,000-square-foot expansion of their Liberty, North Carolina facility. Several Talbert representatives were on hand for the occasion, including President Andrew Tanner, Co-Owner Russ Stern, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Troy Geisler, Vice President of Operations Jim Hall and Vice President of Purchasing Jamie Myers.

completed to schedule in exactly one month. www.fleet.ie

18 | PRODUCT

Rushlift GSE kits-out Virgin Atlantic with dropbox handling solutions

R

ushlift GSE, the specialist airport ground support equipment company has supplied Virgin Atlantic with an innovative Alfa Drop Box solution for facilitating the changing of aircraft tyres at London’s two busiest airports.

The ground-level loading, fully demountable drop-box system allows the easy loading and unloading of aircraft tyres, such as those used on the Airbus A340, Boeing 747 and 787 Dreamliner, and provides the option to exchange or totally remove a box from its chassis for fast turnaround – making the boxes useful for storage as well as transport.

In a leasing agreement arranged through Rushlift GSE, three specially adapted front-wheel drive Fiat Ducato LCVs, along with three T-boxes and three flat-decks, were supplied to Virgin Atlantic for airside deployment at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

The versatile system, with its unique ‘U’ shaped chassis, allows a box to be gently lowered and left at a location while work is being carried out, freeing up the vehicle for other duties and helping to reduce the size of the fleet required.

Commenting on the invextment Shaun Judson, Senior Material Operations Planner at Virgin Atlantic Airways, said: “We were looking at ways of reducing the physical burden on our engineers when manually handling aircraft tyres. After looking at the Alfa Drop Box system in action we could see just how much more

efficient it was compared to our existing tail-lift operation – both in terms of ease of loading and unloading for the engineer and operationally, with its inherent versatility and cost effectiveness.

Working with Rushlift GSE and Alfa Drop Box we were successful in implementing a highly effective and flexible solution with plenty of options for the future.”

Tim Willett, Operations Director at Doosan Rushlift GSE, added: “We were delighted to help support our long-standing customer, Virgin Atlantic, in securing a highly innovative solution to an important airside maintenance task.”

The Kögel Cargo Rail: Multimodal trailer

T

he Kögel Cargo Rail with RoRo equipment has now undergone the award-winning NOVUM-generation upgrade. The optimised external frame profile and the improved body not only make the Kögel Cargo Rail even more robust, but also simplify handling in daily use. In addition, the NOVUM-generation Cargo Rail scores with a very high degree of customisation and can be adapted to the specific requirements of the freight forwarding companies. The trailer also makes a significant contribution to protecting the environment and to reducing CO2 emissions. Thanks to its versatility - it can be used on roads, railways and ships - taking advantage of ferry and rail transport on main routes, and benefit from the truck’s flexibility for both pre-load and onward transport.

The Kögel Cargo Rail trailer comes with a highly stable, lightweight steel frame and a 120-millimetre-high frame neck. As a multimodal trailer, it also features the optimised external frame profi le and improved body characteristic of the NOVUM-generation trailers. In its basic form, the trailer has a tare weight starting at approx. 6,350 kilogrammes. The floor load-bearing capacity is designed to withstand high fork-lift axle loads of up to 7,200 kilogrammes. The 13 pairs of lashing shackles, included as standard, are now available with grip hooks at the sides for easier FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

handling, and have a tensile force of 2,500 kg. Of course, the semi-trailer is also certified according to DIN EN 12642 Code XL and therefore also designed for transport on express freight trains with a speed of up to 140 km/h. The Kögel Cargo Rail can be fitted with heavy-duty RoRo equipment for unaccompanied ship and ferry transport. Th is includes a diagonal reinforcement between the side members and external frame, a 10 mm closed sliding plate, a 10 mm fi ft h-wheel plate, two suction valves and four pairs of heavy-duty lashing rings with 12,000 kg of test force.

Mechanically reinforced semi-trailer supports in a ferry design with rollers completes the RoRo equipment.

Text: Rob Van Dieten - rob@fleet.ie

Delivering EfďŹ ciencies for Decades

20 | FEATURE

Moffett’s truck mounted forklift number 75,000 crosses assembly line in Dundalk

L

ast May, a specially painted and decorated emission-free electric Moffett E-series truckmounted forklift was dispatched from Hiab’s Dundalk production facility, destined for Germany. Th is uniquely liveried forklift acknowledged an historic milestone in the history of the innovative materials handler, originally known for the legendary ‘Moffett Mounty’.

It was the 75,000th unit produced, a significant achievement according to Michael O’Reilly, Product Manager Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab which is part of the Cargotec Corporation: “Moffett is the original truck mounted forklift and globally undoubtedly the most popular brand. We’re immensely proud to sell 75,000 units before Hiab’s Moffett brand celebrates its 75th anniversary next year.”

He continued: “Moffett is an Irish success story. We manufacture all Moffett truck mounted forklifts at our-state-of-the-art manufacturing facility here in Dundalk, supported by close to 400 dedicated and passionate employees.” Business is good,

with export markets for the premium truck mounted multi-materials handler increasing globally meaning that the two shift production system is at full capacity.

Recent investment with the installation of a new robotic paint process, together with additional mechanised handling equipment on the production line has helped to increase efficiencies. Additional warehouse units have been acquired near the company headquarters for storing spare parts and components used in the manufacturing process. At another section of the facility, dedicated rooms accommodate staff training.

Currently on sale in over 50 countries worldwide, Moffett is the market leader in truck mounted forklifts, with new sales conquests targeted towards emerging markets in South America, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. Alongside the broad range of diesel forklift trucks in its range, Moffett has perfected the zero-emission E-series offering, now on sale with interest streaming in from customers worldwide.

In 2013, the company initially launched the

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

electric Moffett E-series as a single-wheel drive vehicle with a lead-acid battery. Today, it features three-wheel-drive and is powered by lithium-ion battery packs. “It is almost silent, making it perfect for urban night time deliveries, which has increased the business hours of operations for customers.

This approach to reduce the noise associated with out-of-hour deliveries has resulted in two awards,” explained Michael.

Parent company Hiab won the coveted ‘Archie’ trophy at the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Annual Awards for Excellence in 2018, just after the E-series received the Quiet Logistics accolade at the Noise Abatement Society’s John Connell Awards. The FLTA award recognised the benefits achieved when Hiab’s customer Pets at Home switched to a fleet of Hiab’s Moffett E-series forklifts.

On receiving delivery of the landmark 75,000 unit zero-emission Moffett ‘E’ Joachim Behrens, owner, Die BehrensGruppe commented: “We specialise in delivering wood products and like the Moffett E-series, which is silent, emission

FEATURE | 21

Moffett original unit

free and environmentally friendly, we produce products from trees that are grown in an environmentally sustainable way, so it’s a perfect delivery solution and product for us.”

Die Behrens-Gruppe runs a fleet of over 120 Moffett truck mounted forklifts, of which over 20 are now the new E-series generation and has additional units on order.

“It is with a great sense of pride that the Truck Mounted Forklift team in Dundalk marked the occasion of 75,000th unit produced. We are delighted to hand over another E4 20.1 Electric Moffett to one of our long standing loyal customers, Die Behrens-Gruppe in Germany. With its strong Moffett fleet, Die Behrens-Gruppe is a fantastic ambassador for our sustainable truck mounted forklift logistic solutions,” added Conor Magee, Senior Vice President, Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab at the ceremonial handover.

In reality, Moffett revolutionised the transportation industry with the launch of the ‘Mounty’, a compact 3-wheeled forklift truck that could be transported on the back of almost any delivery truck or trailer, and took up virtually no loading space. It was still powerful enough to perform the same functions of lifting, carrying, loading and unloading like a regular forklift but with the ability to negotiate any area from paved surfaces to the most difficult off road conditions. Today, Moffett forklifts are mounted on rigids and semi-trailers all over the world and offer an extensive selection of machines for a diverse range of industries and segments, including building material logistics, gas bottle distribution, agriculture, farming and landscaping, urban deliveries, fire & rescue services, sport and utilities.

Part of Moffett‘s success is that the team constantly work with customers to provide Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

new solutions for their load handling and logistics challenges.

“Our products are designed to withstand the environments they work in on a daily basis.

They are built to ensure safe and efficient operation for the users while providing the best customer service by delivering the goods exactly where the customers require them,” stated Michael.

All Moffett truck mounted forklifts are compliant with applicable emission control regulations that range from European Stage V regulations for stricter emission controls and low emission zones such as London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) that came into effect this year, to Tier 4 emission standards in North America and Canada.

“Demands from our customers and technology advancements are driving Hiab to provide environmentally-friendly emission-free products. By working closely with our customers, we know they are facing a tougher and more demanding load-handling environment with tougher emission regulations. Legislation is demanding it, and our customers’ customers want it. Our Moffett E-series range of truckmounted forklifts go a long way to solving this problem.”

Moffett’s foundations date back to 1945 with Cecil Moffett establishing a small engineering workshop producing agricultural machinery for the family farm and other local businesses in Clontibret, County Monaghan. In 1996, production of the truck mounted forklifts moved to a former engineering plant in Dundalk, on a site which was established by the Great Northern Railway. In 2000, Moffett Engineering Limited after an earlier takeover by Powerscreen Terex became part

of Hiab and Cargotec Corporation, rapidly expanding global sales and distribution network. In mid-July, Hiab secured its biggest ever Moffett commercial order, signing a record-breaking agreement to supply Moffett M8 55.4 NX truck mounted forklifts that come with five year ProCare Essential service contracts and are equipped with HiConnect for each unit to one of the largest home improvement chains in the USA. Deliveries are expected to start in the third quarter 2019 and continue until May 2020.

There is a Moffett to meet all transport needs that are continuously evolving, according to Michael: “Lightweight designs for maximised truck capacity, short overhang for strict length regulations, all-wheel drive for rough terrain and powerful engines for heavy cargo. Whatever your load handling needs, you can be sure there’s a Moffett truck mounted forklift and a range of options to meet them.” The future looks bright as the company reacts to meet ongoing legislation and current trends. “Next Generation Moffett units are Stage V compliant while the electric E-series certainly will make a statement in zero emission and silent pallet movements. With HiConnect, connectivity is the key innovation that benefits us as a manufacturer and also the customer. It could be described as a telematics package that can provide tracking, operational usage and remote diagnostics.”

Relating to how the ‘Mounty’ continues to shape the future of load handling, Michael, who has put in over 26 years with the firm, is pleased to be part of this historical time: “This is a true milestone. It has been achieved by great teamwork between the Dundalk team and Hiab’s team of sales and services colleagues around the globe.

Great collaboration and it all began here in Ireland.” And long may it continue. www.fleet.ie

22 | PIN PICS

5 articulated Komatsu dump trucks for r Wills Bros

E

vidence of the demand for the services that civil works contractors are currently experiencing is with the decision by Foxford, County Mayo-based Wills Bros to invest in the addition of five Komatsu HM400 - 5 articulated dump trucks.

With a number of major contracts in the course of completion, such as the Bandon flood relief scheme and a number of high-profi le others shortly to come on stream, Wills Bros occupies an impressive position amongst the leading names in the Irish civil engineering works and construction sectors.

The new HM400 dump trucks, supplied by Komatsu distributor McHale Plant Sales, which will go into service on contract at an open cast mine near Carrickmacross, have a maximum payload of 40-tonnes, an operating weight of 35-75.1-tonnes, and are driven by a powerful 353/473kW/ HP EU Stage V engine with an over-the-

ground speed 56 k /h Standard S d d is i Komatsu’s K ’ unique i off 56-km/h.

Traction Control System which works fully automatically to give traction and superior steering performance in all ground conditions.

Said to be a ‘perfect choice for any jobsite, in any conditions’, this powerful and environmentally friendly dumper is praised for its first-class comfort, efficiency, safety and ease of maintenance.

Com ment i ng , Joh n O’Brien, McHales Sales Director said: “Knowing the focus Wills Bros places on machine care and maintenance, these new units constitute a shrewd and valuable long-term investment that will underpin the company’s growth and serve its needs extremely well for many years to come”.

Volvo dump trucks equipped with Allison transmission

I

n a specification change from the norm, French civil engineering construction company, The Eiffage Group, has selected Volvo A60H dump trucks with Allison full automatic transmissions to work on infrastructure projects around the world.

Earthworks and large construction activities require machines capable of transporting very large loads, on very difficult driving zones and with significant working time. Volvo A60H dump trucks, equipped with Allison automatic transmissions, are ideally suited for these types of operations. Thanks to their payload and drivetrain – a combination of the Volvo D16J engine (16 litres, 669 hp/492 kW) and the Allison 6630ORS transmission – these vehicles enable exceptional productivity. The Volvo A60H is the only dump truck in the market capable of a 55-tonne payload.

Features such as Volvo’s On Board Weighing System mean the load can be safely measured and maximised in real-time.

“For our earthworks and large construction activities, the A60H dump trucks, equipped with Allison automatic transmissions, allow us to transport 55 tonnes of load. Thanks to the 34 m3 bucket, we can load 4 buckets of 9 m3 instead of 3 with the other vehicles. Th is allows us to be more efficient”, says Alain Bertoni, Director of Equipment Department at Eiffage Génie Civil - Infrastructure Branch.

FLEET TRAILER & BODY BUILDER | Autumn 2019

IIn addition ddi i hi to this productivity, these vehicles benefit from excellent energy efficiency, which is also monitored via onboard telematics. Despite such loads and on difficult terrain, the Allison transmission contributes by providing the wheels with progressive and continuous power, without any loss of power during gear shifts.

With Allison automatic transmissions, the Volvo A60Hs are easy to handle and can access even the most difficult areas. The Eiffage Group fi nances, designs, builds, operates and maintains buildings, sites and infrastructures in France and around the world. It is present in 50 countries and manages 100,000 projects per year with 65,000 employees.

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

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FRED EVERISS +44 (0)7825 046921 FRED@VANHOOL.CO.UK

Welcome to the world of Van Hool.

Efficiency in transport.

Van Hool NV • Bernard Van Hoolstraat 58, 2500 Lier (Koningshooikt), Belgium • +32 3 420 20 20 • sales.iv@vanhool.com • www.vanhool.com Fred Everiss • Sales UK & Ireland • +44 (0)7825 046921 • fred@vanhool.co.uk • www.vanhool.co.uk

From only £136.15 per week

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