Recycling firm wastes no time selecting Euro 6 Mercedes-Benz Arocs03 January 2014

Waste management and recycling business GBN Services has become one of Britain's first operators of the new Mercedes-Benz Arocs truck range, with its acquisition of a double-drive tractor unit and a pair of 18-tonners.

The Leyton-based company's 6x4 Arocs tractor unit is a 2648S model, with the flat-floored StreamSpace cab and the new 12.8-litre straight-six Euro 6 engine delivering 480bhp.

It works with an ejector trailer and carries wood waste for processing between depots, as well as transporting to landfill any construction waste that GBN cannot recycle.

The two 18-tonners, one of which pulls a drawbar trailer, are based at GBN's Uxbridge depot and are fitted with Hyva skip-loading gear.

Both are powered by Mercedes-Benz's 7.7-litre straight-six Euro 6 engines. One is a 1824K model, with the 240bhp engine variant; the other is an 1832K with 320bhp powerplant.

GBN specified the higher output for this vehicle because it travels longer distances in 'wagon and drag' configuration at up to 32 tonnes gtw, so its ability to carry a second bin on the Reload Systems drawbar trailer makes longer trips more economical.

All three Arocs are equipped with four-way cameras, blind spot proximity sensors, side under-run guards and audible warning alerts to protect cyclists, and were supplied by Sittingbourne dealer Sparshatts of Kent.

"First impressions of the new model are very positive. It looks fantastic and is clearly well thought out and built to withstand the punishment that's inevitable in an operation such as our own," says Garry Hobson, GBN's managing director.

"The varied nature of our work makes it difficult to measure and compare fuel consumption accurately, but our new trucks are certainly using less diesel, while they're hardly consuming any AdBlue. The levels in the tanks have barely gone down at all."

Acquired through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, GBN's first three Arocs were supplied under a seven-year R&M contract. GBN Services has also now ordered a pair of 8x4 Arocs with Heil refuse collection bodies.

Author
Laura Cork

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