Abbey Logistics take 10 DAF XFs for lime contract 21 August 2013

Merseyside operator Abbey Logistics has put 10 new DAF XF105 tractor units and 15 Feldbinder dry powder tankers on the road for a contract with lime products producer Lhoist UK.

Abbey Logistics spent more than £1.5 million on the new trucks and tanker trailers, and will operate them out of Lhoist lime works at Hindlow, near Buxton, and at Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria.

Power for all the DAF XF105s is delivered by the 12.9-litre MX340 engine, producing 460bhp and givng a power to weight ratio of 10.45bhp per tonne. Along with 2,300Nm of torque, this should enable the trucks to comfortably cope with the hilly terrain of Derbyshire and Cumbria, according to Dave Coulson, commercial director at Abbey Logistics.

An exhaust brake has also been fitted to assist during the long descents, bringing added safety and saving on brake wear. Specification of a 12-speed ZF AS-tronic transmission should also reduce driver fatigue and improve fuel economy.

To minimise weight, these DAF 6x2 FTPs have all been fitted with the mid-lift axle using smaller 17.5in wheels. This saves almost 400kg in unladen weight, compared to a standard mid-lift axle tractor with 22.5in wheels, enabling a payload of up to 30 tonnes to be carried in the low weight aluminium Feldbinder tanks.

The tanks are discharged by means of a Gardner Denver XK18 high pressure screw type blower, powered by a gearbox-mounted PTO, factory fitted by DAF.

"This is a major contract win for Abbey and it requires trucks that are reliable, durable and fuel efficient," comments Coulson.

"Our considerable experience of the DAF product shows that these XF105s will deliver for us on all of these aspects, as well as presenting a very professional image of our company both when on the road and at our customer's sites," he adds.

Author
John Challen

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