All aboard07 September 2011

The bus and coach community gathers in Birmingham early in October. John Challen previews product launches and news of PSV technology updates due at Coach & Bus Live

The biennial Coach & Bus Live exhibition will open its doors on 5 October 2011 at the NEC, with more than 200 exhibitors keen to showcase latest products, services and engineering solutions to transport visitors. Those attending are likely to include owner-operators, fleet managers and maintenance technicians in the passenger service vehicle industry, and there is likely to be something for everyone at the two-day event.

Halls 17 and 18 will also feature dedicated zones for technology, and training and development, as well as technology-focused presentations throughout the show.

OSS Group will arrive in Birmingham having recently been awarded a contract to deal with hazardous workshop wastes, including all waste oil, at Stagecoach and Northgate. For Stagecoach, OSS will look after its 122 servicing sites across the UK. Working under its HazTech Schedule service, OSS will collect from the centres on a programmed basis designed to suit waste quantities at each site.

Meanwhile, Northgate plc – by fleet size, the largest light commercial vehicle hire organisation in the UK – has contracted OSS Group, again under its HazTech service, to collect for recycling all hazardous workshop waste, including waste engine oil. That is for more than 60,000 vehicles operating out of 60 branches, most of which have workshop servicing facilities.

All the waste lubricating oil collected by OSS Group's transport fleet is taken to its refinery at Stourport in Worcestershire, and used to produce Gen 3, a processed fuel oil that complies with the strict requirements of the recently introduced waste oil protocol. OSS says that it an environmentally friendly alternative to virgin fuels.

Engine news
Ahead of the proposed introduction of Euro 6 engine emissions legislation in 2014, Cummins has announced a website dedicated to the new regulations. The company says it understands the engineering challenges faced by Europe's diesel engine manufacturers, truck and bus builders, and vehicle operators in the battle to provide ever-cleaner air.

In response to these concerns, the microsite (www.cumminseuro6.com) provides a good source of information on all the major issues relating to Euro 6 for truck and bus makers, and vehicle operators alike. The site, which is now live, also features a number of 'hot buttons' that take the user to key sections, which explain exactly what Euro 6 is, including the legislative timetable and relevant news on Cummins development programme.

"As the world's largest independent supplier of diesel engines, and having mastery of all the technologies needed to achieve Euro 6, Cummins is in the best possible position to advise vehicle operators and OEMs about what the new legislation means," says Neil Pattison, Cummins' director for automotive engine business for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Month-by-month, new content will be added to the site to expand the repository of Euro 6 information, with blogs plus updates on the legislation, engine technologies and Cummins' launch plans. Visitors to the website can sign up to receive regular bulletins.

Travel safely
Cobra, a leader in the provision of security, safety and telematics solutions for the automotive, commercial vehicle and passenger transport industries, will premier its Global Live CCTV monitoring security system at the NEC show.

The system allows coach and bus operators to protect their vehicles, passengers and drivers while on the move, so enabling them to meet Duty of Care obligations. For those interested in the system, a live demonstration will be available on stand K67.

Interior cameras monitor the driver and passenger areas 24/7, to protect employees, passengers and assets from a range of high risk or problem situations. Forward facing cameras can also be set up to monitor driving standards or to be used as evidence in the event of an accident, caused by a driver or third party.

As the CCTV footage is admissible as evidence in court, the system will also help protect operators and their assets from fraudulent claims against the business – such as staged accidents or hijackings. "Should a vehicle equipped with Global Live technology be subject to attack, CCTV streaming shows SOC Staff what is happening in real time, and they can react accordingly," states Andrew Smith, managing director, Cobra UK.

Electrical makeover
Supplier to the UK bus and coach industry Actia will be showing its next-generation multiplexed vehicle architecture at this year's Coach & Bus Live. The company, one of the many located in the expo's technology zone, hopes that its latest release can form the vehicle's electrical backbone of the future – so saving on hardware components while increasing functionality.

Company representatives will also be on-hand to talk about telematics and CCTV opportunities for bus and coach operators. Actia's Eco-Fleet telematics promises to deliver cost savings through a range of solutions for across-the-fleet efficiency. GPS tracking, driver feedback, fuel and emissions monitoring, vehicle condition monitoring, vehicle and passenger safety systems and in-depth access to live vehicle data are all on offer.

Show shorts
On the Stoneridge stand will be the SE5000 Exakt digital tachograph, which meets the new tachograph legislation being introduced in October. The regulations are changing so that tachographs will record drivers' hours more appropriately, allocating the minute to the majority activity undertaken, rather than the current legislation, which accords any minute with over five seconds of drive time as 'drive'. This could mean huge savings for the Bus & Coach industry, particularly with drivers stopping and starting to drop off passengers.

Arriva will be making a presentation to its apprentices, who have successfully completed their apprenticeship in 2011. The presentation will be made on the Arriva Bus and Coach display stand on 5th October.

As an original equipment supplier to all major manufacturers of bus and coach vehicles, Knorr-Bremse will be promoting its EBS5 System. The show gives the company the opportunity to demonstrate how the EBS system works – and to reveal how simple it is to diagnose and rectify faults, using NEO diagnostics.

Nord-Lock arrives at Coach & Bus Live having recently completed the acquisition of two companies: Superbolt and P&S Vorspannssysteme AG, from the US and Switzerland respectively. Both offer products for critical bolting applications and, like Nord-Lock, both have developed solutions that provide maximum security. "The acquisition of Superbolt and P&S is another giant step forward in our vision to be the undisputed global leader in bolt securing," says Mikael Helmerson, managing director of the Nord-Lock Group. "We have very high expectations for our new common future."

Drive time
Those wishing to be judged on their driving skills at Coach & Bus Live can take part in the expo's skills test. Under the watchful eyes of experts and instructors, your ability will be assessed against a specially designed course at this NEC event.

The judging panel will consider your perception of risk, and score marks for your aptitude and skill on the road. This will be done by monitoring your awareness of external factors and distractions. In addition, you will be tested on your knowledge of road safety and the environment in which you would normally be driving.

The test is open to everyone with a PCV licence.

Author
John Challen

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