Construction

Whether with the Next Generation eCanter or the new Canter, Daimler Truck subsidiary FUSO will be demonstrating at bauma 2022 that it has convincing products for the construction industry in its portfolio in both the battery-electric and conventional commercial vehicle segments. Both vehicles offer intelligent solutions for a wide range of customer requirements in the light truck segment thanks to their robustness coupled with high payload, manoeuvrability and reliability. The FUSO brand stands for user-friendliness and agile driving comfort based on sustainable and efficient drive technologies. Both the Next Generation eCanter and its conventional brother Canter can get to work and transport bulk materials or machines such as the excavator needed on the construction site as well as skips or containers with a wide variety of bodies.

Customers, trade visitors and media representatives will be able to see what else sets both light trucks apart and makes them so attractive for the construction sector at this year’s bauma in Munich from 24-30 October, 2022. At the world’s leading trade fair for the construction industry, FUSO will be exhibiting both the battery-electric Next Generation eCanter and the new Canter.

The Next Generation eCanter exhibited at the FUSO booth B439 (Hall B4) is an 8.55-tonne truck equipped for the first time with a roll-off tipper from UNSINN as well as a mechanical power take-off and has a chassis load capacity of 5,135 kg. The payload is 3,635 kg. The vehicle with comfort single cab (three seats) has a wheelbase of 3,400 millimetres and is equipped with the M battery package, which enables a range of up to 140 kilometres.

The new FUSO Canter shown on the outdoor area is built as a 7.49-tonne truck with a three-way tipper from Meiller and a crane from Atlas and also has a comfort single cab. The vehicle has a wheelbase of 3,400 millimetres, a chassis load bearing capacity of 4.94 tonnes, a payload of 2.580 kg and an engine output of 129 kW.

Philipp Panter, Head of Sales, Marketing & Customer Service at FUSO Europe: “With our Next Generation eCanter, shown for the first time with a roll-off tipper, we are underlining that the advantages of the FUSO Canter for the construction industry are also fully reflected in the electrified variant. Thanks to their robustness and variability, the Next Generation eCanter and the new FUSO Canter are ideally suited for the construction industry. Together with our body partners, we can realise a wide variety of applications in both vehicles.”

Daniel Rauch, business unit manager for roll-off systems at UNSINN Fahrzeugtechnik: “As the exclusive partner of FUSO Europe, we are proud to have been able to play a part in the premiere of the Next Generation eCanter at bauma 2022 with our roll-off tipper system. It is the first vehicle in its weight class in Europe with a roll-off system superstructure. For us, the premiere represents an important milestone in the company’s history, because it is the first time we have supported a project in electric mobility. It represents a major technological development step towards the future.”

Next Generation eCanter: ready to go for even more sustainable and economical operation

To better meet customer requirements, FUSO has made several changes to the Next Generation eCanter. While the electric truck was previously only available as a 7.49-tonner with a wheelbase of 3,400 millimetres, customers now have a choice of six wheelbases between 2,500 and 4,750 millimetres and a permissible gross weight of 4.25 to 8.55 tonnes. The body and payload capacity of the chassis is over 5.0 tonnes. The Next Generation eCanter is powered by either a 110 kW (variants with a gross weight of 4.25 and 6.0 tonnes) or 129 kW (variants with a gross weight of 7.49 and 8.55 tonnes) electric motor with an optimised driveline and 430 Nm of torque; the maximum speed is 89 km/h.

Depending on the wheelbase, three different battery packs are available: S, M and L. The batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell technology. These are characterised above all by a long service life and more usable energy. The battery pack in the S variant has a nominal capacity of 41 kWh and enables a range of up to 70 kilometres. In the M variant, the nominal capacity is 83 kWh and the range is up to 140 kilometres. The L variant, the most powerful package, offers a nominal capacity of 124 kWh and a range of up to 200 kilometres. Recuperation can further increase the range, which at the same time minimises charging breaks. By comparison, the eCanter previously only had a battery option with a nominal capacity of 81kWh and a range of up to 100 kilometres.

As far as battery charging is concerned, the Next Generation eCanter is compatible with all mains voltages in the major markets. The charging unit supports charging with both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). The charging standard is the Combined Charging System CCS, and charging is possible at up to 104 kW. DC fast charging from 20 to 80% of capacity is possible in around 24 (S), 26 (M) and 39 minutes (L), depending on the battery pack. AC charging (11 and 22 kW) takes between around four and six hours, depending on the battery pack.

Competent consulting for tailored e-mobility

Because e-mobility is more than just a new powertrain, FUSO integrates the Next Generation eCanter into a holistic ecosystem that also includes tools and consulting services for high vehicle utilisation and optimisation of the total cost of ownership. Through a special analysis approach to total cost of ownership, FUSO dealers will offer each customer a completely individual calculation for operating the eCanter. It is also possible to use the Daimler Truck Incentive Tool to get an overview of incentives and benefits such as specific government subsidies for vehicles or charging infrastructure as well as tax reductions or toll waivers. Thanks to a strategic partnership with Siemens Smart Infrastructure and ENGIE, customers can also obtain comprehensive advice on the subject of DC charging infrastructure and receive a complete service package – from charging technology and installation to coordination with the network operator.

Versatile, comfortable and secure

Available in two cab variants (Standard at 1.7 metres wide and Comfort at 2.0 metres wide), the Next Generation eCanter is characterised not only by its overall ecological and economical concept but also by its versatility. The electric truck from FUSO is compatible with many superstructures typical of the construction sector, such as flatbeds or dump trucks, making it the ideal companion for a wide range of applications. What also makes the Next Generation eCanter particularly body-friendly and compatible is the optional equipment with a mechanical power take-off available ex works to supply hydraulic power units.

Numerous features and devices ensure a high level of comfort for the driver and road safety for all involved. The standard highlights include the multifunction steering wheel with buttons for controlling the fully digital LCD instrument cluster, LED headlights that are 30% brighter than halogen models for greater visibility, the Autolight function for controlling the headlights depending on the lighting conditions, and intelligent Highbeam Assist.

In terms of safety, the batteries are mounted under the vehicle’s chassis frame with a highly rigid steel bracket that also serves as impact protection for the battery in the event of a frontal or side crash. In the event of an accident, a crash sensor automatically deactivates the high-voltage system. For improved acoustic perception, for example by pedestrians or cyclists, the Next Generation eCanter is equipped with an external Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) as standard. For greater safety when turning right, Active Side Guard Assist is also fitted as standard. In addition, the next-generation Active Brake Assist emergency braking system with pedestrian detection, which is also standard, can reduce the risk of a collision in longitudinal traffic.

The new FUSO Canter: Ready for any requirement

Another highlight at this year’s bauma is the latest generation of the FUSO Canter, which has been in production since the beginning of 2022. For customers, this means another significant upgrade in terms of safety, comfort and cab design. Like its predecessor, the workhorse is available in five weight classes (3.5 to 8.55 tonnes), with six wheelbases (2,500 to 4,750 millimetres), three powerful engines (130 to 175 hp) and three cab variants (standard at 1.7 metres wide, comfort at 2.0 metres wide and double cab, also at 2.0 metres wide).

As a 4×4 variant, the Canter is a real all-rounder in the construction industry thanks to its selectable all-wheel drive and selectable reduction gearbox and self-locking differential.

What’s new is that FUSO now also offers the Canter as a 3.5-tonne truck with a standard-cab in all right-hand drive markets and has improved body-friendliness with a new wheelbase of 3,400 millimetres for these models.

Thanks to its variability with five gross weights and six different wheelbases, the Canter is suitable for almost any superstructure and can meet the requirements of almost any application and transport task – from the simple flatbed to the complex special vehicle. Combinations with a loading crane, a cherry picker or a concrete pump can also be realised without any problems. The robust steel ladder frame of the chassis is designed as a C-section, as on heavy trucks, and thus offers a particularly high load-bearing capacity. The chassis payload in the heaviest vehicle variant is around 6.0 tonnes – a real added value, especially for the construction industry. Factory-fitted power take-offs for hydraulic pumps or compressors and the optional 24-volt interface round off the Canter’s body-friendliness. With a newly developed compact exhaust system, the new FUSO Canter meets the EURO VI Step E emissions standard.

Advanced design and more safety

The redesigned front of the latest generation FUSO Canter combines traditional design elements with a modern design language, bringing together the form and functionality of a robust light truck. The upgrade of the cab exterior also reflects FUSO’s so-called ‘Black Belt’ design identity, which runs like a leitmotif through the designs of the Japanese brand’s other vehicles.

The new FUSO Canter also sets standards in the light truck segment in terms of safety for all road users. For example, the vehicle can now also be ordered with Sideguard Assist. Sideguard Assist uses a radar sensor to warn of moving objects and stationary obstacles on the passenger side of the truck. The system can assist and warn the driver as soon as it detects a risk of collision when the driver steers toward the passenger side or sets the turn signal on the passenger side. As in the previous model, other assistance systems such as the AEBS emergency braking system, Electronic Stability Program and LDWS lane departure warning system are also included. Safety is also enhanced by features such as LED headlights that are 30% brighter than halogen models for greater visibility, the new Autolight function for controlling the driving lights depending on the lighting conditions, and the reinforced rear underride guard, which is designed to minimise the impact of an accident.

Improved comfort

Over the past decades, FUSO has continuously improved its light truck to meet customer needs. Thanks to improved noise insulation, the new Canter impresses with an even lower interior noise level than the previous model. The spacious cab with good all-round visibility also enables the driver to manoeuvre easily. The Canter’s low entry height and comfortable step-through can help drivers navigate the roads even better. And at 10.2 metres, the FUSO Canter has the smallest turning circle in its class as a 3.5-tonne truck.

A temporary bridge used to minimise the impact of construction on motorists and residents is set to be removed next month, marking a major milestone on the A303 upgrade scheme.

National Highways first installed the temporary bridge in May to allow construction traffic to transport earth from one side of the site to the other with minimal impact to motorists using the A303.

Having been in place for 30 weeks by the time of its removal, 900,000 tonnes of earth have been moved across the bridge – the equivalent of 16 Prince of Wales bridges – marking the end of the first major stage of construction on A303 Sparkford to Ilchester scheme.

To allow for the bridge to be removed safely, the A303 will be closed between the Hazlegrove and Podimore roundabouts for the weekend, from 10pm on Friday, 11 November, to 5am on Monday, 14 November.

Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the A359 and the A37.

National Highways is working with delivery partners Galliford Try to construct the scheme.

Elliot Hayes, National Highways’ Senior Project Manager, said: “The removal of the temporary bridge marks a significant milestone for this major scheme, which is incredibly important for Somerset’s future and vital to the A303/A358 corridor.

“It’s exciting to see how work has progressed, with the major earthworks now completed with minimal disruption.

“You can now really start to see the scheme take shape and we are excited to continue pressing ahead to finalise this vital route.

“We will ensure motorists are fully informed of diversions and suggested routes via signing and the media. We advise drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys over the weekend.”

Over the next few months, the team will be working on the two key structures of the scheme – the Steart Hill bridge and the Hazlegrove underbridge.

Steart Hill bridge is set to open to the public in the spring next year, connecting the north and south sections of the scheme.

On an average day, the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester carries 23,500 vehicles, but numbers increase significantly in the summer, particularly at weekends, making journeys unreliable and unpredictable.

With construction now under way, the upgrade is scheduled to be open to traffic in spring 2024 and you can find out more about the scheme and the construction process on National Highways’ virtual exhibition at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-west/a303-sparkford-to-ilchester/

Nuneaton-based Crown Waste Management has welcomed four Volvo FMX 420 8×4 tippers to its fleet with a total of 16 Volvo trucks due to join its operation across the next 18 months.

Supplied by Rory Kelly, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, Crown Waste Management’s fleet was previously stocked almost exclusively by a rival manufacturer, but the operator was so impressed by a Volvo demonstration truck it trialled that it plans to welcome more of the Swedish marque’s models going forward.

Kash Chaudry, Managing Director at Crown Waste Management, says: “When we tried our first Volvo it was clear from the outset that it was capable of everything promised and more. Our drivers were particularly impressed by the technology onboard and when combined with the truck’s fuel performance, it made for a very competitive package. As a result, they’ve been on our radar ever since.”

Crown Waste Management’s new FMXs all feature a D13K 420 hp Euro-6 Step E engine, capable of producing 2,100 Nm of torque. They are paired with Thompsons tipper bodywork and driven through Volvo’s 12-speed automatic I-Shift transmission which makes driving easier, safer and more comfortable.

Chaudry has also equipped his new purchases – bought outright – with Volvo’s Active Safety+ package. This includes some of the company’s latest active safety technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, an advanced emergency brake system and a lane departure warning system.

Further safety gains are unlocked via the superior combination of agility, visibility and durability offered by the FMX’s day cab and Volvo’s Dynamic Steering system.

“The cab’s visibility and the vehicle’s overall manoeuvrability make the FMX an ideal match for our needs,” adds Chaudry. “We’re an extremely busy operator that regularly works in demanding locations, but the FMX never misses a beat. We’re constantly impressed by what Volvo’s technology can handle.”

Built for the toughest conditions and most demanding assignments, Crown Waste

Management’s new FMXs are expected to clock up to 70,000 km annually, working Monday through Friday for the company’s construction customers. The workload will also include the government’s HS2 project.

The vehicles are backed by comprehensive three-year Volvo Gold contracts, guaranteeing Crown Waste Management worry-free ownership and maximum uptime courtesy of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East’s Coventry depot.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Crown Waste Management is a sustainable waste management solutions provider, offering waste and resource management, recycling, aggregate and plant hire services from its Nuneaton headquarters. Its new FMXs join an already diverse FORS-accredited fleet consisting of 90 vehicles across all sizes.

Construction output fell for the second month in a row dropping 0.8% in July after June’s 1.4% fall.

The slide in monthly construction output in July came solely from a decrease in repair and maintenance (-2.6%) as new work saw a slight increase (0.3%) on the month.

At the sector level, the main contributors to the decrease were public housing new work, and public and private housing repair and maintenance, which decreased 13.1%, 8.0% and 2.6%, respectively.

As well as a slowdown in these sectors, number crunchers at the Office for National Statistics also blamed extreme heat for stopping work on some sites, particularly around 18 and 19 July.

The latest official Government figures for construction also put annualised inflation in June at 9.6%, driven by higher fuel and energy costs, and VAT tax increases for red diesel.

Along with high prices for construction products, the ONS said that there was evidence from firms that new orders were starting to slow, with many mentioning the cost of living crisis for households and businesses as a possible reason to explain this contraction in demand.

This was backed up by the recent new orders in the construction industry data, which saw a fall of 10.4% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June).

Clive Docwra, managing director of property and construction consultancy McBains, said: “July’s decrease in output in part reflects falling demand because of increasing cost of living pressures, and uncertainty over the UK economic policy given the contest over who would become the next Prime Minister.

“It has meant many clients – from households considering low-scale home improvements to investors and developers contemplating major new projects – held off committing investment.

“Supply bottlenecks are also continuing to impact, especially with materials coming from China being affected by the partial or full lockdowns in dozens of Chinese cities.”

Docwra warned the effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was also starting to bite harder.

“Many construction firms were protected from the increases in energy and material prices because they used forward contracts for energy and to pre-purchase materials and products where possible, but that has merely delayed pressures that are now being felt more intensely.

“To ease the energy crisis, the construction sector would have liked to see the Truss administration support a major home insulation programme, which would not only help fix Britain’s leaky and energy-inefficient homes and help cut bills, but also provide work for smaller construction firms who are in particular feeling the pinch at present,” he added.

Source: Construction Enquirer

Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion solutions for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, will introduce its new electric axles, Allison eGen Power® for construction applications, such as tipper trucks, concrete mixers, and heavy-duty tractors, at Bauma 2022 (October 24 – 30, Munich, Germany, Hall A3, Stand 414).

The Allison eGen Power is a drop-in solution compatible with many existing truck chassis, helping OEMs to accelerate their vehicle development programs. It features fully integrated electric motors, a two-speed gearbox, an integrated oil cooler and pump for optimal efficiency and performance and is compatible with battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) as well as hybrid applications.

The twin-motor eGen Power 130D, a 13-tonne variant, specifically designed for the European and Asia Pacific markets, has a continuous output of 454 kilowatts and a peak output power of 652 kilowatts, making it one of the most powerful electric axle solutions on the market. It is designed for great starting and climbing capabilities, high speed and impressive efficiency. This allows heavy duty trucks to offer substantial performance and reliability, rapid acceleration, and excellent manoeuvrability

Allison also offers the eGen Power 100D, a 10-tonne variant of the 130D, and the single motor, 10.4 tonnes rated eGen Power 100S, with a continuous output of 227 kilowatts and a peak output of 326 kilowatts, which is ideal for multiple medium and heavy-duty applications.

TerraTran™ fully automatic transmission for toughest off-road applications

The TerraTran™ transmission is a version of the proven Allison 4000 Series™ on-highway transmission for the extreme demands of the global construction and mining markets. TerraTran offers a maximum power capability of up to eight hundred horsepower, and torque capability up to 3200 newton meters. The transmission also features seven forward and two reverse gears.

TerraTran offers the proven reliability and durability of Allison 4000 Series transmissions, but with increased horsepower, torque, and gross vehicle weight (GVW) capability, while also adding fast reverse capability. For example, Bell Equipment is testing to use Allison TerraTran transmissions in its next-generation articulated dump trucks.

Allison offers unrivalled reliability for the toughest applications by dump trucks, tippers, and concrete mixers, with products specified by OEMs such as Rokbak, Bell Equipment and Volvo Construction Equipment. Bauma 2022 attendees will have the opportunity to see a number of Allison-equipped vehicles on display. Among these trucks are a Bell B30E “Narrow” with Allison 3400 xFE™ Off Road Series™ (ORS) and a Bell B45E with Allison 4700 ORS.

Visitors to the Allison booth at Bauma 2022 are invited to explore the eGen Power e-Axles and Allison’s fully automatic transmissions via an interactive augmented reality experience where they will be able to get a 360° view of each products’ external and some internal components. Allison technical experts will be available to provide information on the full range of products and technologies offered by the company and to discuss the transition to electrification.

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24/03/22