The first Actros trucks to be fitted with a new offroad version of the acclaimed Mercedes PowerShift 2 automated transmission have been drafted onto a major waste management and recycling initiative on Merseyside.
Veolia Environmental Services ordered the fleet of Actros after winning a prestigious, £640-million contract from Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority which, working as part of the Merseyside and Halton Waste Partnership, is responsible for the disposal and recycling of the region’s municipal waste.
Under the 20-year contract, Veolia is operating a network of 16 Household Recycling Centres as well as a pioneering Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Bidston, Wirral – Veolia will also deliver a new £16-million flagship MRF and Visitor Centre at Gillmoss, Liverpool.
Supplied by Warrington dealer Enza, the new Mercedes line- up comprises 22 double-drive Actros 2644S tractor units and 13 8×4 Actros 3236K rigids. They are being used to transport waste and recyclables within the region’s infrastructure network.
The tractors, 12 of which have yet to enter service, have hub reduction axles and are on full steel suspension. The rigids, meanwhile, are fitted with Hyva hook loading gear and work with high capacity containers.
Power from the trucks’ low emission BlueTec® Euro 5 engines is transferred via the new, offroad version of the smooth and fuel-efficient 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift gearbox.
Actros last year became the first truck range to be equipped with an automated transmission as standard but this applies only to distribution models; on 6×4 tractors, and 6×4 and 8×4 rigids, the ruggedly reliable Mercedes PowerShift offroad is offered as an optional alternative to the standard 16-speed manual range change gearbox with splitter.
The first automated transmission to be purpose-designed by Mercedes-Benz for construction and associated applications, the new system makes very fast gearchanges to minimise tractive force interruptions. Not only does this prevent the vehicle from becoming bogged down or losing speed on inclines, it also protects the clutch and drivetrain.
