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Truck and Track June/July 2017 8
BUSINESS NEWS
Ford & Slater, one of DAF Trucks’ largest UK dealer groups, has
reported annual savings of £19,000 since installing Axtec’s
drive-over dynamic weighbridge at its headquarters in
Leicester. Axtec’s dynamic weighbridge can check all six axles
of a tractor / trailer combination, plus gross vehicle weights, in
just 40 seconds and is themost accurate of its type in the world
(to within +/- 0.25%).
Ford & Slater, which previously incurred the costs and time
penalties of weighing off-site, was prompted to invest in Axtec’s
dynamic weighbridge after learning of the same equipment being
installed at Leyland Trucks in Lancashire – the UK assembly plant
for right-hand-drive DAF vehicles.
Mark Chater, Account Manager at Ford & Slater, was full of praise:
“We’ve used Axtec equipment for five years now, and I can certainly
vouch for the excellent quality and reliability with our existing
Axtec onboard load indicators.
“We knew Leyland Trucks had installed their own Axtec dynamic
weighbridge, so we were comfortable that the equipment had
the right credentials. It appeared on paper to be a safe investment
for us. And so it has proved, with £19,000 annual savings and,
just as importantly for our customers, a significant reduction in
downtime.”
Derek Hack, Sales Manager at Runcorn-based Axtec, commented:
“Traditional plate-type weighbridges do provide accurate gross
vehicle weights, but, increasingly, hauliers need to check individual
axle weights as well. Our dynamic weighbridge solution does
exactly that, and it does it very quickly and very accurately. The
cost benefits over public weighbridges, as Ford & Slater has clearly
demonstrated, can be significant.”
Axtec is stated to be the UK’s only dedicated weighbridge
manufacturer, specialising in the design, build, supply and
installation of axle and vehicle weighing equipment. From its
Runcorn HQ, Axtec designs, builds and installs its dynamic and
static weighbridges, alongside its new onboard axle load indicator
(for van, rigid and articulated vehicle applications) and portable
weigh-pads.
Axtec produces a range of dynamic, static, onboard and
portable axle weighing solutions. If you’re interested to catch
up on the latest axle-weighing issues, follow Axtec’s Derek
Hack on Twitter (@Derek_Axtec) and read his latest blogs at
Axtec dynamic weighbridge checks
individual axle weights
Truck-mounted access platform leader Versalift and the team
responsible for the Mercedes-Benz Unimog in the UK have
joined forces to launch a new model. Based on a Unimog U218
implement carrierwithnominal 7.5t grossweight, it isdesigned
to provide utility companies with a compact, fast and reliable
off-road vehicle for work on low-voltage power distribution
lines in difficult-to-reach areas, typically the repair of storm-
damaged lines or clearance of obstructing foliage.
An official bodybuilding partner of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Versalift
is the world’s largest vehicle-mounted platform manufacturer: its
UK operation, based at Kettering, Northants, claims a domestic
market share of almost 90%.
The Mercedes-Benz Unimog is renowned for its combination of on-
road speed and all-terrain capability. The new vehicle is fitted with
an all-steel boom and platform that offers a maximum working
height of 15m. The equipment is insulated to safeguard operatives
working on lines carrying up to 1000 volts – crucially, should the
boommake contact, the chassis is also protected.
Given the demanding conditions inwhich the Unimog is likely to be
deployed, Versalift has opted for the sturdy reliability of traditional,
fully hydraulic boom operation. However, in the unlikely event that
the team using the truck run out of diesel, an electronic override
ensures that the platform can be brought down safely.
Other features of the design include an exceptionally lowcentre-of-
gravity, enhancing offroad stability, and very little overhang behind
the back axle, which makes for excellent departure angles. The
Unimog’s panoramic windscreen is also an aid to drivers having to
negotiate rough terrain.
The U218 variant is powered by an advanced and economical
130 kW (177 HP) four-cylinder engine, whilst 4WD provides the
ultimate in traction when the going gets tough.
Unimog nowwith Versalift platform for
powerline access