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Debenhams takes 3,000th Teardrop from Don-Bur

Debenhams has been furnished with 37 Teardrop trailers from Don-Bur – one the 3,000th manufactured – which are expected to cut the firm's fuel consumption by up to 7%.
In fact, the retailer believes its new fleet additions will provide a payback in under two years, and anticipates savings of CO2 emissions of approximately 10%. The new 13.6m long aerodynamic trailers have an overall height of just 4.2m but still retain a similar internal cubic capacity to that of the standard, flat-roofed bodies. "Although we were keen to improve our aerodynamic efficiency, it was critical that we didn't have to re-route our operation to cater for high trailers or sacrifice internal capacity," explains Mike Hyde, logistics general manager for Debenhams. Rear aperture height was also a challenge. "The Teardrop is ideal, given its low roof height at the back," says Richard Owens, marketing manager for Don-Bur. "Limiting overall height to 4.2m would normally have reduced the rear aperture, but by tapering the chassis, we've managed to create a 2.2m-high opening." The streamlined tandem axle box van trailers are plated at 36 tonnes gvw and will operate from DC-to-DC and DC-to-store, carrying department goods. To unload at store, they have been specified with a 1500kg tuckaway tail-lift that incorporates side safety gates. "The new vehicles have bedded in very quickly and all the new trailers are in place and operational," says Hyde. "We measure fuel consumption weekly and review quarterly. It's very early days but the figures do suggest an initial improvement in fuel economy and I expect the Teardrop design to feature in future trailer replacement programmes." Number 31 of the batch of 37 was the 3,000th Teardrop designed and manufactured by Don-Bur since the iconic shape was launched in 2007. Don-Bur reckons that the 158 companies that now operate Teardrops cumulatively account for more than half a billion miles travelled. At an average fuel saving of 11.3%, this equates to a combined diesel saving of £28.5 million and a CO2 reduction of 68,000 tonnes.

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