Highways Agency ready for more efficient winter27 October 2010

Following trials with Volvo Trucks and AEBI Schmidt, the Highways Agency has put innovative Volvo FE spreaders into service in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset – and expects a 50% reduction in salt usage.

The new vehicles, which use a pre-wet spreading system, meet the technical specifications required by the Highways Agency, in terms of performance and reliability and were designed for a minimum seven years life expectancy.

Accuracy of spreading accounts for a 25% cut in salt use, while the pre-wet system (where salt is mixed with brine in the spreader's spinner) saves a further 25% compared to the dry system it replaces.

The Highways Agency is buying around 90 Volvo FEs, of which 47 are equipped with the new high-tech AEBI Schmidt Stratos spreaders. All have also been equipped with AEBI Schmidt's SNK single blade polymer snow plough.

All the trucks are Euro-5 Volvo FE-340 6x4 rigids, with Allison World Series six-speed automatic transmission, a rear-of-engine mounted Volvo PTO and the Medium cab with independent cab-heater.

An FMS gateway has also been fitted as preparation for telematics. The winter-prepared chassis have a wheelbase of 3.85 metres.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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