Heil Reorganises In Ireland

Following less than ideal arrangements in the past, Heil has taken steps to improve it's marketing profile in the Irish Republic. Sales and marketing director, Russell Perrett, confirms that Dublin-based Wastec has been appointed as regional distributor and service provider.

Noel Harrison, managing director at Wastec, is clearly very pleased with the deal: "We are very proud to be working with Heil. Our team has an unparalleled experience of the Irish market through trust and personal relationships built up over the years."

"Leading RCV operators rely on us to provide not only the best in equipment, but also the best in service - wherever they are located," Russell added.

Lisburn-based McCreath Taylor continues to represent Heil in the North.

www.heil.com
www.wastec.co.uk
www.mccreathtaylorni.co.uk

Read All About It

Once upon a time, it took half a lifetime to discover everything you needed to know about the waste and recycling sector, one of the key problems being that it wasn't possible to turn to one single reference book for the answer.

This is a task that has got much easier of late, thanks in part to the Internet, but also thanks to the publication of tomes like "Waste. A Handbook for Management," published by Research & Markets Limited, based in Dublin.

Priced at €68 the handbook looks at identifying and handling different waste factions and… "ways of managing problems and offers non-biased overviews to ensure credibility in environmental science and engineering," we're told. Sounds impressive.

Contents also include a history of the industry, waste regulations, hazardous wastes and information on risk assessment and accountability.

Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain a copy before we went to press, so we can't report on how effective it will be in helping to develop your career, but as soon as a copy arrives, our Malcolm promises to have his snout in it.

Order online at  www.researchandmarkets.com/product/f87a7f/waste_a_handbook_for_management

Hybrid Wars?

The number of manufacturers keen to offer either an alternative fuel or hybrid chassis for RCV operations is on a steep upward curve. Now Dennis Eagle can be added to that list with the new "Hybridrive" produced in association with BA Systems.

One key advantage of the Hybridrive is that it's inserted into the existing driveline of the truck and all the control systems are easily located on the side of the chassis - so no loss of body capacity, or need for special wheelbase options.

But what's it like to drive? As you might expect, our Malcolm was keen to be the first journalist to drive it and… well, mission accomplished. With little more than 80 miles on the clock, a few weeks ago, Malcolm took the 6x2 rear-steer chassis - now with body and hopper in place - around a simulated collection route in Warwickshire.

Just like a big Toyota Prius Hybrid, the "launch control" of the electric motor from standstill provides a seamless "shove" which equates to 400N/metres of torque. And when slowing down, the regen braking is equally smooth. And it's all automatic. According to the resident technical from BA Systems (it's OK, production units won't come with a built-in boffin), the level of boost and/or regen braking can be "dialled in" to meet operating conditions - initially by factory settings, but shortly by "remapping" on a PC.

The Dennis Elite Hybridrive prototype features to 70kW HDP700 hybrid unit, but production chassis will feature the uprated 110kW HPD750. By the time you read this, the demo unit will be "out there" on real life working trials designed to fine tune the settings. And yes, it can both drive and pack in "electric mode" with the diesel on tickover.

Dennis' New MD

Upon the retirement of Norman Thoday (turn the page for more on that story), Mike Molesworth will take on the added responsibilities of managing director.Richard Taylor will continue in his role of sales director.

Snow Joke!

What are we like in Britain? We have some of the most unpredictable weather in the world, yet we do the least to prepare for it each winter. Of course it could be worryingly warm this winter, which in operational terms will not be a major issue. On the other hand we could get two inches of snow and a bit of a breeze and the country will grind to a halt.

The solution? Simple… buy or hire in some basic kit now, rather than panic the day after it's happened - assuming of course it didn't snow the day before this issue of MVO arrived, in which case, the story will have to be: "Plan ahead now for the winter of 2012/13…"

What sort of kit? Well, as our Malcolm was able to prove the last time it snowed, you don't need big, heavy 6x6 trucks with all the bells and whistles; sometimes even the smallest specialised units can keep things moving. So how about the Snow Thrower range from Lift Safe? They will be ideal for clearing depot yards and access roads of snow. Prices for these compact crawler snow blowers start at just £995, which includes electric start, a safety dead man control and two-Stage cutting system. The units can blow freshly fallen snow up to 15m, we're told. The largest of four models - the Yamatsu/Fuji SH913 (£13 000) has an operational capability of up to 80 tonnes per hour, according to Lift Safe managing director, Jerry Hanss.

Lift Safe also imports a range of compact utility vehicles, some of which are suitable for snowploughing and gritting operations. Once again size isn't everything! Sometimes a compact utility vehicle can get through traffic-chocked roads to the heart of the problem, while bigger vehicles can't.

www.uksnowthrowers.co.uk

No, It Really Is Snow Joke!

Here's another winter-related story; another area where the UK performs badly when compared to other Northern European countries. The fact is that we just don't bother to change over to winter wheels and tyres come the bad weather; we just soldier on with low profile road tyres inflated to 30psi and wonder why vehicles fall off the road, come a bit of frost and ice.

Why? Well one obvious reason is that we can't afford to, but according to tyre distribution chain High Q, we really should change our ways, because it's costing us even more in insurance premiums and possibly even injuries.

To make the point, last month High Q was offering motorists a free set of winter tyres in order to "evaluate the differences between normal road tyres and special Goodyear Winter Tyres". These have been designed to perform best below seven degrees.

Although it's unlikely public sector and utility vehicle users will be able to blag a set - or even public sector magazine editors for that matter (more's the pity) - due to the event only being open until the end of October, the benefits could be long-lasting. As marketing manager Geraldine McGovern explained: "Today's cold weather tyres are just as quiet and comfortable as normal tyres, but offer significant safety benefits in bad weather."

www.hiqonline.co.uk

Big In Little Vans

Vauxhall-branded vans topped the sales charts for the month of September with over 2000 units registered. Sales of imported vans often do better among small businesses and owner drivers as a result of perceived better levels of standard equipment but, interestingly, Vauxhall seems to be doing well in that sector as well as among larger fleets.

www.vauxhall.co.uk/vans

Automatically Hungary

Allison Transmission officially opened its new European manufacturing facility at Szentgotthard, Hungary last month The new facility will build transmissions for both truck and bus applications both in established European markets and also, it is hoped, in the emerging eastern states. While perhaps best known for automatic gearboxes, Allison is also building a reputation for hybrid drive systems. The new dedicated plant follows a decade-long facility sharing arrangement with General Motors Opel. It will assemble 3000, 4000 and Torqmatic series automatic transmissions.

www.allisontransmission.com

Spark Of Inspiration

Italian-built City Fort electric vehicles are now available in the UK from Electric Powered Solutions of Dagnall, Herts. Chassis cab price for this 530kg load capacity utility vehicle range starts at £19 150. Various different body designs are available to suit a wide range of public sector and utility applications. The Fort electric vehicles brand is a division of well-respected Pasquali Tractors.

For more information call Gillian Whitworth on
05600 759558 or visit
www.electricpoweredsolutions.co.uk

It's Goodbye From Him…

Yes, it's the end of an era. After the best part of a lifetime up to his neck in waste - so to speak - Norman Thoday is finally handing over the reins at Dennis Eagle. Without wishing to make this sound like the build-up to a "lifetime achievement award", it has to be said that Norman has been central in keeping manufacturing jobs in the UK during some very difficult times. He has also been vocal in his support (and sometimes criticism) for the CIWM, MVO magazine and the Business Club project.

Where the company that he has been linked with for so long will go next, with the spectre of Euro-6 to contend with, is perhaps another matter and certainly a challenge for others to contend with. But the fact remains that the Dennis "Elite" low-entry cab is now in demand in a number of other markets, as well as the UK.

So good luck in whatever you decide to do with yourself, Norman. We'll miss you. No, really… we will.

NTM's Bombshell

You'll be able to read the background on recent developments at NTM elsewhere in this issue, but while we were putting that story together came news that it was about to take control of an existing third party facility and expand its own UK body mounting operation, thus giving NTM greater flexibility in making customer modifications, as well as dramatically reducing delivery times.

But that story couldn't be told until all the contractual stuff had been sorted. Well now it has, giving NTM its own production facilities in the UK.

But while we were looking at the positive implications to that story, came news of another significant development - NTM UK has purchased the specialist recycling vehicle manufacturer LinkTip.

LinkTip has been part of the UK market for over 30 years, specialising in demounts, kerbside and rear-end loading compact RCVs and, more recently, food waste units that can include models in the weight-saving "Polybody" plastic construction range.

As well as providing a significantly enlarged product range, the acquisition of Linktip will also provide a further increase in NTM's production capacity. NTM managing director, Paul Westley, confirmed that the UK-built product range will continue to use the LinkTip branding. "This means we are now able to offer our customers a complete range of products from a compact 3.5 tonne vehicle right up to the four-compartment 26 tonne Quatro," he explained.

You heard it here first.

www.ntm.fi

CHARGE FOR FREE!

If you're one of those people who think the power utility companies are having us over a barrel when it comes to increasing their charges well over the level of inflation, then here is a new product that is just made for you: a solar powered vehicle battery charger… we kid you not!

Using the Gunson 30A/h rated 12-volt car battery charger you'll be able to charge as many flat batteries as you like… and those greedy power companies won't make a bean! In fact, if you specified 3 000 you might be able to light your whole depot and office complex for nothing. Actually, but sadly, that might not work!

But, nonetheless, the Gunson 77108

12-volt solar-powered "trickle charge" battery charger could have a whole load of useful applications in the waste and recycling sectors: vehicles left on sites where mains electricity is not available; an emergency workshop stand-by for power cuts… in fact the unit is so compact, every vehicle or item of compact plant on your fleet could be issued with one to overcome battery drain. It will charge in all daylight conditions and is fully weather resistant. Charge rate is up to 4W, either via crocodile clips to the battery or via a 12v socket adapter, and the price is just £33.40 retail.

www.gunson.co.uk

WONKY STUDS?

You really need to be careful of that… it sounds nasty! Luckily, the new Laser 5216 Wheel Stud Thread Restorer Set is designed to correctly align and restore damaged wheel stud threads and help reduce downtime or injury through staff attempting to force wheelnuts on.

The split design enables two halves of the thread restorer to be fitted over the two halves of the repair die and wound back over the damaged portion of thread.

The set includes three split dies to suit most common wheel stud sizes and will also work with wheel bolts. Price is £27.82.

www.lasertools.co.uk