Underneath the arches TipCon '98 took place in a converted
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railway station in Manchester called the G-Mex Centre. Thankfully this didn't spark off any road versus rail transport debates—the main question was: is it better than Harrogate? It seemed to hit the spot for most exhibitors, who were thankful for the improved vehicle access and a more central location for the punters. There were still yearnings for Harrogate, though, with the Drum and Monkey getting a few mentions.
Unlike many previous shows the split between underfloor body hoists and front-end tipgear was about even but Harsh, which up till now has eulogised the perceived superiority of its underbody hydraulics, is now selling front-end rams made by the German manufacturer MeiIler. And while operators may still be wary of fitting disc brakes on trailers, according to one manufacturer: "By this time next year they'll all have them."
The tipper market has seen a strong start to 1998 and there was plenty of new hardware for our reporters to check out—not least the debut of Foden's Alpha range of tractors. So how was G-Mex for you? As always reader's views are more than welcome...
bodied with a JCW Meiller three-way of these this year. • MAN's stand was dominated by an example of its UK-only 6x4 tipper. About 20 of these have been sold since they hit the road in February. With an unladen weight of 6,700kg, the M2000 is one of the lightest 6x4 tippers around and by the end of the year MAN hopes to have sold at least 50. Power comes from MAN's 6.9-litre charge-cooled diesel via an Eaton nine-speed box and MAN single-reduction tandem drive axles. Watch out for a CM roadtest soon. • Hino dealer Trucks Morley brought along one of Britain's first FS 6x4 chassis, belonging to plant hire operator Blagg. The FS2P shares its sleeper cab and running gear with the 8x4 FY: a 325hp, 10.5-litre engine and 16-speed ZF gearbox are strong stuff for a 26-tonner...
• Tail-lift and tipgear manufacturer Del once distributed Edbro products but now makes a full range in its own right including wheelie-bin lifts, air valves and shift cylinders. Witney-based Del also produces a range of underbody hoists and what it calls its rust-resistant green rams. These collect any oil seeping past the bore seals and return it via a bypass tube to the reservoir.
• Rothdean's shapely new Millennium Plus bulker was one of seven exhibited by the Cinderford, Glos trailer builder. A 36ft-long 70 cubic yarder, it has sideguards, valance and wheelspace infills, plus a nose section cabinet containing an access ladder and steps. It's the first of six for Cheltenham haulier McGuires and uses Mentor disc-braked running gear. • The biggest launch at the show was the first appearance of Foden's Alpha, and not just as a tipper: this 6x4 mixer chassis was one of many variants of the new range, with both Caterpillar and Cummins power. In this case a 275hp Caterpillar 3126 engine drives the Hymix body through a Knowles flywheel PTO.
• This Daf 85CF tractive unit, with wide-single 385/65 steer tyres, is owned by Reid's Transport of Minishant; it has the 12.6-litre XF engine rated at 380hp. Mated to it was a Dennison feed and grain trailer, the first with Mentor disc brakes; the axles and air suspension are by Mentor too, while the 46yd3 (60yd3) aluminium body is by Kelly. * Scania showed its new 11-litre engine for the first time in the UK and announced its aim to take 20% of • AW Jenkinson can carry the sawmill residues for which it is better known or handle outdated but highly valuable magazines and periodicals with its latest bulk carrier. Built by Wisbech Bulk Systems and coupled to a new Mercedes Actros 1840 4x2, the outfit has a number of advanced additions. Not least a swivelling suzie connector arm from Fluid Power Design, PM On Board loadcells under the trailer running gear and a EuroHitch fifth wheel with its PVC slipmat. A specially equipped rearmount crane is used to load the old mags and a bar-code reader charges the newsagent's account accordingly. The trailer's Cargo Floor decking lets it self-load or discharge safely. * Renault expects to sell around 200 Kerax 8x4 tippers in the UK this year; around 10% of the market. Both steel and rubber-suspended bogie types were shown: this rubber-sprung model is a 340, with Wilcox alloy body and Harsh twinram underfloor gear.
• All but a couple of Renault truck dealers are now also offering the Master van and chassis-cab: this 3.5-tonner is the first tipper version in the UK, fitted with a steel Tipmaster Freestyle body.
• Websters' new hydraulic oil tank is made from moulded polyethylene instead of steel because it only weighs 30kg, is corrosion free and has a high impact resistance. But the wet kit is also more expensive at £1,100, compared with £975 for a typical steel kit. Sizes from 30 to 45 gallons are available; tanks come complete with a thermometer and aluminium mountings. • Now the intermodal division of Overlander, Maxilode has just gained an order worth £1.6 million from Freightliner for 90 trailers. This includes 39 standard rolling bogie skeletals, 26 sloping-framed tanker chassis and 25 of these tipping skeletals for 20ft and 30ft "tanktainers". The bogie closes up to tip a 20ft tank unit but a 30ft tank travels forward on short Hydraroll sections in the neck. With a light tractive unit the trailer should be able to haul 30-tonne payloads at 44 tonnes gross.
* This fully galvanised tipper body on a Mitsubishi Canter from MCTE of Hythe, Kent is the first of a new range for 3.5-7.5-tanners and will begin a demonstration tour straight after TipCon. It's also one of the first to use Hyva's new FC80 front-end tipgear. The galvanising process makes it expensive at £3,500 but the body is salt resistant and will never need painting. tit Since entering the UK market last year Stas of Waregem, Belgium, has sold more than 30 light aluminium bulkers and has established dealers in England and Scotland. This exhibit for BAC Bulk Haulage brings the number of Stas trailers fitted with disc-braked Mentor axles to 10. The option costs about £1,500 extra but this includes Grau's Colas electronic raise/lower valve and Info Centre travel meter. BAC's 57yarder has Edbro tipgear, PM On Board weigher and Alcoa wheels; it weighs 5.7 tonnes.
• ERF isn't the only truck manufacturer to have decided to offer the Caterpillar C12 in-line six in the UK. Tucked away outside the main hall was this 395hp-rated Cl2-powered 4000-Series Foden. The Sandbach-based truck maker is running cooling and noise trials and says it will be available from August. The big question is will Foden also fit it in the Alpha—not least as it is the same size as the CIO?
• Mid Shires Farmers' tandem-axled bulker trailer is a classic example of Bridge Bodies' expertise and has Tridec hydraulically steered rear and mid-axle plus a front lifter for maximum manoeuvrability. Its Gardner Denver blower and Drum oil-cooler systems meet the farmers' requirements on low oper ating noise levels while the Body Guard warns the driver against moving off when the body's not fully lowered. To stop road dirt or bird droppings spoiling a load, MSF has fitted Dawbarn's two-piece sheet system. This keeps both clean sides together as the cover is rolled back. • Ejectors UK had its latest Ejectalite waste disgorger trailer on show, made from a mix of lightweight steels. Using Domex for the sides and a Hardox floor makes the new ejector trailer much stronger than its previous designs and with Hendrickson running gear it weighs in at 9.34 tonnes. A new RK197 five-stage ram enables the Ejectalite to open up, discharge and close up in just over three minutes. The blade returns in 32 seconds.
• Two light plank-sided bulkers formed the main attraction of SDC's stand, this example running on Mentor axles and suspension and fitted with disc brakes—the first time SDC has offered them as an option. The premium for discs on a triaxle unit is about £1,300, says general manager Brendan McIlvenna. The top-mount five-stage displacement ram tips to 43°. Capacity is 47m3 (61yd3), and the trailer tares in at 6,450kg. Cost is in the order of £27,000. • This 13.4m aluminium plank-sided trailer, made by Crane Fruehauf's French sister company Benalu, was enjoying its first UK showing. Its sub-eight-tonne tare weight includes the Dutch-made Cargo Floor hydraulic walking-floor system; an alternative to tipping for lighter bulk products such as woodchips. With up to 100m3 capacity and a 2.8m internal height, discharge takes about nine minutes. A safety interlock is incorporated on the rear doors to protect operators. Pallets can also be accommodated. Cost is around £38,000.
• Three internal bulkheads can be fitted in four positions to segregate different products within this new 46m3 (60yd3) bathtubdesign blowing tipper launched at the show by Crane Fruehauf. Running on Mentor axles rated at 10 tonnes, and with the Dutchmade Tr-Deck hydraulic steer system, it has Pridex Engineering blowing gear and is designed for a 24-tonne payload. The CS18 Edbro tipping gear uses 44 fir-stage ram to tilt to 440. Cost is £40,000-55,000, depending on spec. • Cat's 7.2-litre 3126 engine has already been adopted by Foden in its new Alpha 6x4 rigid. ERF will also be taking the small six-pot, which has Cat's hydraulically actuated electronically