Elite targets the Scarab keeps
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urban beer drops
by Steve Banner • Dennis Eagle is targeting big breweries running urban artics with a lightweight tractor unit version of its Elite. It already supplies Elite tractors at 22 tonnes to the Hong Kong Government for refuse collection work and upwards of 35 are in service. They are powered by the 186kW (249hp) 8-250Ti 7.6-litre Perkins Peregrine married to an Allison World series automatic transmission.
The bulk refuse semitrailers they tow are dropped off at strategic points around the colony. Once the trailers have been filled with domestic rubbish, the Elites pick them up again.
Dennis Eagle sales director, Norman Thoday is encouraged by the initial response of brewery fleet engineers. He is also hoping to interest companies engaged in distribution in congested city centres in a narrow track, 2.2 metre wide version of the Elite at 17-tonnes.
British fuels has two of these vehicles in service and Forte has bought a number for use in airports. However, Thoday admits that other, non-municipal customers have not shown great interest to date. "We're a niche market, low volume producer — we sell 400 chassis a year and our main problem is one of price", he says.
"They recognise the truck's virtues, but they are not willing to pay for them."