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For operators who see an all-plastic body as too radical,
Page 53
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tipper builder Thompsons offers the Taskmaster—made af a mixture of steel, plastic and alloy for use on 7.5 to 12-tonners.
Surrounded by a steel frame, the floor is plastic, and said to be better able to resist abrasion than its steel equivalents. So are the four drop-down sides and tailgate, with the plastic surrounded in each case by an extruded alloy frame. while the headboard employs steel and aluminium.
The whole exercise saves more than 150kg, says Thompsons, and the use of plastic where metal would usually be found means the body can carry asphalt without extra insulation. The plastic will not melt, the Croydon-based firm insists.
A plastic Taskmaster also generates less noise than an all-metal one. Throwing a shovel onto a plastic floor creates rather less racket than throwing one onto a steel floor.
"A plastic Taskmaster body for a 7.5-tonner costs 25,700 with the steelwork painted," says group sales director Scott Burton. "That compares with 24,700 for a standard tipper body with alloy sides, but to that you've got to add the price of painting it, and insulating it too if you're using asphalt."
As a consequence the standard body will cost about the same as the plastic one.
To date the reaction from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, says Burton.
"We've got two in build for a hire company and orders for another 20.he reports.
"It hasn't been a cheap body to develop though," he continues. -For example, we
had to design a special alloy die to make the extrusions for the sides."
Thompsons is contemplating franchising the right to make the body to other bodybuilders as well as producing it itself. "We would probably supply it as a kit." Burton says.