CV Show 2014 preview 03 April 2014

As the transport industry continues to recover post-recession, John Challen finds plenty of innovations promised for Commercial Vehicle Show, 29 April to 1 May at the NEC

Renault Trucks returns with Euro 6
Having been absent for five years, Renault Trucks will be returning to the CV Show, presenting its new, Euro-6 compliant range of trucks. Visitors to the stand can expect to see vehicles from its long-haul, construction and distribution ranges, all in new colours.

According to the manufacturer, examples heading to Birmingham will include: two Range T tractor units – a 6x2 owner operator specification and a 4x2 fleet specification; two Range D distribution chassis at 12 and 26 tonnes; an 8x4 Range C construction chassis; and a Renault Master.

Renault Trucks' sister company, the contract hire and rental specialist BRS, will also be represented on the stand, as will the firm's range of finance, insurance and aftersales products and services.

Additionally, a selection of the latest Truckplus, high-quality used vehicles will be included on the stand via a 'shop window' display.

MAN's Euro 6 truck stars
Another truck manufacturer keen to show off its Euro 6 credentials will be MAN Truck & Bus. Expect to see a comprehensive line up of the company's trucks in Birmingham, this time with the emphasis on 'total cost of operation' (TCO).

While MAN's Euro 6 offering debuted at the NEC for last year's CV Show, the 2014 event is due to witness an interesting selection from the range, including a 7.5-tonne TGL, an 18-tonne TGM, a TGS 8x4 tipper chassis and two flagship TGX 6x2 tractor units. A TopUsed Euro 5 MAN TGX 6x2 tractor unit will then complete the vehicle line-up.

MAN says it knows full well that increasing profit and reducing cost are critical for all operators, so visitors to the stand will be invited to calculate their own TCO with on-stand analysis from MAN's specialists. That includes taking into account MAN Service, MAN Support and MAN Finance.

Iveco Dakar: from Bolivia for Birmingham
One of the toughest trucks ever built – Iveco's Dakar 2014 Trakker Evolution 3 – is expected to join the line-up of on- and off-road Iveco vehicles at the Commercial Vehicle Show. It is scheduled to appear alongside an on/off-road Euro 6 Trakker Hi-Land 8x4 tipper chassis (AT340T41).

The 410bhp production model benefits from robustness and performance testing conducted by Iveco over the last three years of the Dakar rally. The 8x4 will be displayed in the matching Dakar Green paintwork made famous by its 900bhp rally-spec equivalent.

Also on display will be an all-Euro 6 line-up of road-going trucks, highlighting FPT Industrial's high-efficiency selective catalytic reduction system (HI-eSCR), which means no EGR (exhaust gas recirculation).

Look out for Iveco's flagship Stralis Hi-Way 4x2 tractor unit (AS440S48T/P), with the 480bhp Cursor 11 engine and twin-bunk cab, and its medium-height Stralis Hi-Road 6x2 twin-steer (AT440S46TX/P) riding on 17.5in tyres, featuring the narrower Hi-Road cab and a 460bhp Cursor 11 engine.

Also featuring will be two examples of Iveco's new Euro 6 Eurocargo – an 18 tonner (180E25) and a 7.5 tonner (75E21P) from both ends of the line-up, equipped with the new FPT Industrial 4.5 litre Tector 5 and 6.7 litre Tector 7 engines.

Performance trailer technologies
Loading systems supplier Transdek UK will be launching its DUET (Double Deck Urban Eco Trailer) at the CV Show. This trailer has been developed to meet the growing demand from retailers for greater transport efficiencies on last-mile deliveries to urban centres – driven in part by the re-emergence of smaller format local convenience stores.

Designed to carry high load volumes in urban environments, the DUET offers a load footprint that's a staggering 200% that of a typical 18-tonne rigid – with cost and emissions savings of up to 50% for city-centre retail deliveries.

The trailer incorporates a rear door closure that permits the lowest possible height profile while providing safe kerbside offloading. And with a turning circle said to be significantly tighter than that of a rigid, the DUET also offers serious accessibility.

The new trailer is 10.6m-long and will be available between 4m and 4.3m-high. It has a payload of 22-tonnes, compared to just 9-tonnes for a typical 18-tonner.

New van faces at Citroën
A new Citroën Relay range, due to go on sale in the UK during the third quarter of this year, is to be revealed at the CV Show. Jeremy Smith, Citroën's head of commercial vehicles and business centre operations, says it's a key model.

"By the application of innovative technology, the new model will improve and build upon the operational advantages of its predecessor. These include class-leading payloads, as well as one of the largest, most practical load compartments in its class," states Smith.

Details of the New Relay are being held back until nearer the CV Show, but the French manufacturer says we can expect major model configurations in the current Relay series to be carried over. This means a choice of panel vans, chassis cabs, chassis crew cabs and back-to-back cabs.

All are set to be offered in a variety of gross vehicle weights, powered by a range of low emission, fuel-efficient diesel engines. In addition, the New Relay will include ready-bodied specialist models, such as dropside trucks, tippers and Luton vans – and a number of Ready-to-Run conversions.

Fuel-efficient Continental Tyres
Head to Continental Tyres' stand, if you want to find out more about fuel-efficient tyres. That's the word from this company, which will be launching its ContiEcoPlus HT3 trailer tyre, claimed to improve rolling resistance by up to 26% over its predecessor.

The introduction of the ContiEcoPlus follows last year's rollout of Continental Tyres' Generation 3 range for buses and coaches. Conti Hybrid is also due to make its show debut.

ContiEcoPlus includes a range of long-distance tyres, claimed to offer best-in-class fuel saving performance, along with decent mileage and excellent retreadability. Due to the improved rolling resistance, the tyre has achieved the 'A' label for fuel efficiency.

A number of sizes for steer and drive axles (ContiEcoPlus HS3 and HD3 respectively) are due to follow, and are expected to be available from April.

Growth at GT Radial
Giti Tire has announced an expansion to its GT Radial retreading range, and ie expected to launch the new tyre at CV Show 2014. The GDR690 GT REE Tread is a drive position regional tyre, available in 295/80 and 315/80 sizes, solely manufactured using GT Radial casings.

The REE Tread (reliable, economical and environmental) is being billed as a high-quality, hot-cure, bead-to-bead retread, designed to both lower costs for operators and reduce the environmental impact of tyres.

The tyre manufacturer says it will also be using the CV Show to promote its GT Radial bus and coach credentials. Expect to see: the GAU861, all-position urban city-bus GSR225 Combi Road steer axle; the GAR820 regional all-position pattern; and the GT629 drive axle tyres.

New weighbridge from Axtec
The CV Show will debut the latest version of Axtec's dynamic axle weighbridge, the Series 5000.
The new model features several improvements, in terms of performance and ease of use, including: wireless communication; higher accuracy; greater data storage capacity; and electronic data transfer.

The firm explains that it uses high-speed processors to improve accuracy, with touch screen technology making it easier for technicians to use.

Given its wireless connection, installation time should be significantly reduced, while ducting and wiring costs etc are eliminated.

Axtec's existing software can be used with the new system, but with greater data-gathering capabilities – meaning that accessing historical information will be faster and easier. Existing systems can also be upgraded.

New name for DriveCam
Lytx, formally known as DriveCam will be presenting its new equipment range, which now goes way beyond cameras. Lytx says its DriveCam vision system is proven to reduce collision-related costs by up to 80%, as well as improving fuel consumption by up to 12%, thanks to improved driver behaviour, leading to less idling and speeding.

The system also aims to reduce the number of fraudulent insurance claims, using recorded footage as evidence in courts. The technology will be on display at the CV Show for visitors to experience for themselves, and, during the event, Lytx is also hoping to reveal names of some major industry operators that have been trialling the system.

eDrive forward
eDrive claims to be one of the few companies in the transport industry that can offer a one-stop shop for fleet management – covering from telematics to fleet branding, with installation services nationwide.

Products to watch for will include: its latest forward-facing camera technology from SmartWitness; telematics and fleet management systems from TomTom; and collision avoidance systems from Mobileye. The company says it will also be demonstrating its graphics capabilities, with a live wrapping of a van on the stand.

eDrive will be on hand to advise on how tailored telematics and tracking systems can improve maintenance, driver safety, fuel management, navigation (a claimed 18% cut in journey times), emissions and compliance.

Training talk at Texa
Texa returns to Birmingham this year, urging fleet managers and engineers responsible for vehicle repair workshops to come along and see demonstrations of its service and diagnostic products for HGV, LCV, bus, coach and trailer applications.

A key focus this year will be on new developments with Texa's IDC4 operating software, which now extends its extensive coverage across a wide range of vehicle applications.

Also, Texa will be majoring on its technical training programme (TEXAEdu), with the company ready to talk to visitors about its latest courses, which include SCR (selective catalytic reduction), common rail systems and also Trailer EBS.

Fleet maintenance efficiency
Hoping to offer practical help for van operators, in terms of tyre performance and vehicle maintenance, ATS Euromaster will be distributing a free booklet from its stand, detailing 25 top tips.

The guide will cover everything from vehicle specifications to scheduled servicing, and is based on ATS Euromaster's nearly 50 years' experience of servicing van customers, coupled with its own skills in running a 900-strong mobile tyre fitting fleet.

Truck fleet technicians will also be able to find out more about ATS Euromaster's new electronic FleetSure inspection tool and service value calculator – which can be used to audit a fleet's tyres and predict achievable savings.

Valeo's parts
Valeo intends to use the CV Show to highlight its recently expanded parts programme. The stand will be arranged so that parts distributors, fleet operators and users can not only see its extended CV parts, but also gauge the quality of its manufacturing and support offerings.

Its display is expected to include new Valeo DAF XF clutch and the OptiPack braking range for an increasing number of LCV and trailer applications.

Also on the stand will be SWF wiper blades for Mercedes-Benz, thermal control products for Volvo trucks and the FS range of starter motors for DAF, Mercedes, Renault and Volvo.

Deals from Dickies
Dickies will showcase a selection of its workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE) with one-off deals available to customers at the CV Show.

The Redhawk range is Dickies most affordable workwear – the overall having a concealed stud fronted pocket design, which prevents scratches to paintwork, making it a popular choice with body repair professionals.

For 2014, Dickies has also introduced a Redhawk chino with no exposed metal.

Others promised at the show include PPE products for maximum protection, but combining comfort and range of vision.

Expect to see: showa gloves, gel knee pads, goggles, safety helmets, bump caps, safety spectacles, ear defenders and plugs, safety helmet and visor kits, and respirators.

Total Transit
Ford will be celebrating all things Transit at the CV Show, as it plans to showcase the most recent quartet of models in the legendary LCVs' range. Forming part of a product offensive that will see the manufacturer launch six models in just 24 months, its stand is being billed as a chance for visitors to look in detail at everything from the standard Transit to the Courier, Connect and Custom variants.

Trailer tyre debut
The CV Show will see the international launch of Michelin's latest trailer tyre, according to the French manufacturer.

Its 385/65 R 22.5 X Multi T trailer tyre has been designed with national and regional operations in mind, and will "enable fleets to drive even greater value from their tyres". Expect to hear about mprovements in longevity, grip and rolling resistance over the current XTE3 trailer tyres.

Also on display will be an example from the Michelin XML line-up – an all-round fitment for trucks operating on and off-road, where good grip on all terrain from mud and sand to grass, snow or tarmac, is required.

Show shorts

Type approval trouble
VBG is urging visitors to get to its stand and see its system for EC type approval for body builders. The firm is offering vehicle-specific mounting kits, couplings and under run protection all in one package, complete with the ECE 55 approval certificates.

Haulage hints
The RHA will be advising show visitors on how to become profitable and compliant. Attractions will include a new RHA Shop catalogue and a new system to aid analogue and digital tachograph analysis.

Braking news
LUMAG will be displaying its range of CV brake linings and pads, certified to ECE R-90, and offering long life. The brake pads come with assembly kits and accessories, and are available through distributors.

Worthwhile warranty
A 10-year warranty is the big news from Labcraft, the LED lighting company. The warranty, the first of its kind in the market, will cover the entire Labcraft product range.

HGV help
RAC will be introducing its Truck Rescue and Repair service at the CV Show. Each vehicle requires its own policy, under which operators will be entitled to a maximum of four callouts per year.

Author
John Challen

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