SED 2008 preview: Truck Zone

Be it trucks, vans, tippers, 4x4s, trailers or storage systems, there is plenty to see in the Truck Zone. As its name suggests, trucks and haulage for the construction industry remain a key aspect of this part of the showground. And anyone with an interest in road-based vehicles can't afford to overlook this important part of SED.

Trucks, vans and 4x4s

Renault Trucks UK will bring its new 8x4 Premium Lander to the show - suitable for tipper bodies and mixers. This will be accompanied by a single-cab Mascott hook loader and a Maxity tipper. Look out for a Premium Lander 6x2 Beavertail as well.

Harris UK will be exhibiting the Euro 4 version of its Hino 700 series of heavy-duty trucks, which use exhaust gas recirculation to meet Euro 4 emissions requirements. Also on the Harris stand are 8x4 tippers with various bodies and an 8x4 mixer body using the German-built Stetter mixer equipment. The 6x4 tippers, a 4x2 tractor unit and the Hino 300 series of light duty trucks will also be on show.

Mercedes-Benz's truck division will be exhibiting an Actros tractive unit, while the van side will display a Vito van. Unimog will have a U5000 on show and the line-up will be completed by a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter.

Iveco is exhibiting a selection of vehicles, including an on/off-road 32t Trakker lightweight aggregate tipper chassis and a Daily 35C15 AGile chassis-cab fitted with an Ingimex Titan tipper body. The Trakker range benefits from a revised specification, including single reduction Meritor axles and ventilated disc brakes for simpler and faster maintenance. Power comes from a 7.8-litre Cursor 8 engine, which delivers up to 268kW and 1,500Nm of torque, and this version can potentially achieve a payload in excess of 20t when fitted with a standard aluminium aggregate tipper body.

SED will see Land Rover's first visit to Rockingham and the Indian-owned manufacturer will bring its mini terrapod, a man-made off-road structure, designed to showcase the capability of its off-roaders - particularly the new Defender. Visitors to Land Rover's stand will also be able to try the firm's vehicles, with the security of professionally trained off-road driving instructors.

Nissan Motor will show a range of light commercial vehicles from its extensive range, including the compact Kubistar van, its mid-sized 1t Primastar panel van and heavy-duty Interstar van. There will also be a chance to scrutinise the new Cabstar, available as a chassis cab, dropside and tipper model, and the firm's Navara and workmanlike pick-up models will be there.

Trailers and bodies

Trailer manufacturer Montracon is making its first SED visit and expects to show an extendable flat bed, a brick-and-block carrier and the firm's next generation of machinery carrier. The machinery carrier - essentially a step-frame trailer - has a full-width pneumatic ramp at the step that can be raised and lowered using air from the trailer's braking and suspension systems. The full-width ramp can accommodate any wheeltrack without repositioning and when unused, the ramp lays flat and forms part of the main trailer deck.

Shawtrack has put safety first in the development of its Shaw-Wedge beavertail hydraulic ramp system. The Shaw-Wedge, being launched at SED, acts as a loading ramp for the beaver tail, but can fold fully forward to convert the sloping body into a flatbed. It has electro-pneumatic rams to fold and unfold the ramps, with controls located to keep the driver at the side of the lorry and out of harm's way. There are no pins or brackets to insert or remove, so the driver should never need to be in the ramp folding zone, during folding and unfolding. Full control of the process is by a push button cluster at the near side of the body.

Stokota Trailers will use SED to showcase two trailers from its range: a six-axle fully power steered ballast trailer and a four-axle power steered double extending step frame. And Trailer firm Broshuis is back at SED this year and will show a three-axle extending platform trailer from its range of plant trailers.

Truck cranes

A new exhibitor to SED is Hyva UK. The hookloader, skiploader and tipping gear manufacturer is introducing a range of lorry-mounted cranes. The range has three lines - HA, HB and HC Series - starting at 1t/m and extending to 80t/m, with reaches up to 36m using 10 hydraulic extensions. Technological features include extra extension speed and lift control system.

The HA series includes the firm's most compact and versatile models and are suitable for use with small vehicles such as car trailers, pick-ups and small trucks. It also offers optional radio remote controls - based on a proportional, one-handed controller - which allows the operator to view and position the load with great precision. The controls also operate other ancillary equipment such as the stabiliser.

Approved Hydraulics will bring examples of the Pesci truck crane range and rotating attachments from Baltrotors to the show. The Italian-built Pesci crane range consists of long boom and short boom cranes - and both will be exhibited on the stand. Complementing the cranes will be a range of grapple rotators from 1t to 16t, plus new models of industrial rotators with 12t and 25t capacities.

Accessories and storage

Mr Box supplies secure steel storage and shipping containers, site offices, canteen units and chemical stores on a rental or sale basis. The firm offers a conversion service, where containers can be adapted to customers' needs. Its latest development is the Dangerous Goods Store.

A new exhibitor to SED is Jennings CVS, which specialises in seating and seat belts. While it focuses on the truck market, the firm also supplies seats for most work vehicle application. It says customers are recognising the importance of the correct seat for application, citing increased productivity and reduced absenteeism from having comfortable operators.

Hope Technical Developments will show its Davit system, which it describes as an affordable solution to lifting heavy tools on board a van. This has been designed to overcome health and safety lifting limitations of 30kg per person. It fits onto any of Hope's rear safety bumper products, weighs 7.5kg and can raise loads up to 90kg.