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Talking rubbish at the Melbourne Truck Show

Garbage trucking with the launch of a new Euro 6 model boasting emergency braking was the main new attraction at the International Truck Trailer and Equipment Show

 

New garbage trucks and trailers were the highlight of the recent International Truck Trailer and Equipment Show in Melbourne.

Numerous models of refuse and recycling trucks were on static display at the outdoor “Waste in Action” section of the show, adjacent to a test track complete with wheelie bins and witches hats.

The main news was the official launch of a new garbage truck designed for Australia.

It’s the dual control Volvo Euro 6 FE with rear air bag suspension.

It’s not widely known that a key part of Euro 6 emissions requirements relates to noise, and the new FE is definitely quieter than your average diesel truck. Helping in the noise stakes is improved insulation around the 8 litre engine, and all-round disc brakes.

Along with electronic stability control, there is a new radar and camera-controlled collision warning and emergency braking system which comes standard with the new FE.

Another key feature of the truck is electronically controlled rear air bag suspension for the first time, which enables the body to be raised and lowered and weight scales to be fitted. Volvo says the bags will also improve driver comfort and truck stability.

The FE Dual Control has a wider windscreen and extra side mirrors for increased visibility, and driver ergonomics have been improved.

Meanwhile the recently released Iveco Stralis 8×4 twin steer “clear back of cab” (CBOC) model was also on display at “Waste in Action”.

No, that doesn’t mean the driver can look out the back window. It means the air intake, exhaust and other components have been shifted under the chassis to allow an extra 25cm forward for a day cab and 35cm for a sleeper.

“Bodies can now be mounted closer to the cabin improving weight distribution over the steer axles with a provision for up to 11 tonnes,” says Iveco Key Account Manager, Commercial and Specialised Vehicles, Joel Read.

Read says the CBOC provides Iveco with a “much stronger position” for refuse collection applications, and complements the sister model ACCO. The standard 8×4 Stralis is already being used for hooklift bin work.

“The Stralis 8×4 can now also become a serious contender in front lift waste collection, and allows waste fleets to run a dedicated Iveco fleet, with the ACCO filling the 280hp (206kW) to 340hp (250kW) bracket and the Stralis occupying the 450hp (333kw) to 500hp (373kw) space.”

Iveco says the Stralis 8×4 is manufactured at its Dandenong plant in Melbourne using 55 per cent locally-sourced content.

Meanwhile Scania displayed a ready-built P310 rear loader as part of a new P-series package offering.

The package saves time in waiting for an imported cab-chassis to have the body fitted.

The 6×4 show truck had a 20m3 low-profile Superior Pak compactor body with a 7.4-tonne payload.

“With the new ready-built Scania P310 rear loader we are looking to capitalise on the success we have had with our front loader in the waste contractor market,” says Scania Australia national sales manager Dean Dal Santo.

“Thanks to our decades of experience in this sector, Scania has perfected chassis integration for compactor bodies and hydraulic controls.”

A short walk away in one of the pavilions was a completely different vehicle designed for trucking garbage, seen in Melbourne for the first time.

The low-weight, welded double-walled aluminium “Thinwall” walking floor is a long-established product of Canadian trailer builder Titan.

Walking floors use hydraulics and slats to push garbage off the back horizontally, in contrast to a conventional vertical tipper.

Check out our full show wrap in the June issue of Owner//Driver.

 

#The writer travelled to Melbourne courtesy of Volvo Group Australia.

 

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