Nusteel Structures is a supplier of steel bridges, gantries and complex structures to the UK construction industry. Its design, build and installation service extends to other products, such as balconies, steel moulds, props and walers.
The Arocs works from the company’s head office and fabrication facilities in Lympne, Hythe, and undertakes nationwide deliveries to sites of sections that can be up to 57 metres in length.
Nusteel Structures also runs a pair of 80-tonne tractor units by another manufacturer. However, transport manager/driver Iain Bates said: “The bridges and gantries we manufacture have gradually become bigger and structurally more robust over the years, and therefore significantly heavier. We’d reached the point at which we needed the increased capability of an uprated vehicle.”
Purpose-designed for construction-related applications, the Arocs is suited to the demands of the role. Nusteel’s truck was specified with the Turbo Retarder Clutch, which works in conjunction with the 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission and replaces the traditional manual gearbox and torque converter clutch set-up.
The Turbo Clutch is said to be capable of handling and delivering some 3,000Nm of torque. It also incorporates its own integrated retarder.
Transport manager/driver Doug Newsholme said: “I’ve always had manual gearboxes previously but the way the auto shift works in tandem with the Turbo Clutch is superb. Pulling away with a load on is easy – whatever the ground, there’s never an issue with traction.
“Heavy mode completely changes the feel of the vehicle, which drives like a train. A little while back it pulled 100 tonnes up Wrotham Hill, near Tonbridge, at 20 mph in 8th gear, without breaking sweat, which was some going.
“The integral retarder also holds you back when going down hills, which is very reassuring and exactly what you need. In fact, the system does everything we were promised, and it does it supremely well.”
It has a flat-floored BigSpace cab, which is finished with colour-coded bumpers and a roof-mounted Kelsa light bar, and employs a range-topping 460 kW (625 hp), 15.6-litre in-line six-cylinder engine. SB Components, of Wisbech, fitted a chassis catwalk infill.
Local dealer Sparshatt Truck & Van supplied the Arcos and will maintain it at its Ashford workshop as part of a five-year Mercedes-Benz contract.