Top of its sustainability list is its Zero Waste to Landfill status, particularly at its Leyland, Lancashire, manufacturing facility, which has been working up the ‘reduce, re-use and recycle’ principle since 1996, finally reaching ‘zero’ in 2007.
Leyland Trucks is also strong on energy management, with a dedicated team set up in 2010 to monitor all utilities and drive down energy consumption.
Other DAF and Leylandinitiatives include: paint overspray collection (material is remanufactured to produce a soft and durable rubberised surface for children’s playgrounds); and water recycling, again from the paint process.
Meanwhile, DAF is also pointing up its EcoDesign credentials – a cradle-to-grave focus that majors on minimising environmental impacts of DAF’s trucks and components.
DAF explains that representatives from product planning, testing, purchasing and production departments are all involved, while a web-based EcoDesign tool supports product lifecycle analysis.
As for the trucks themselves, DAF’s message for visitors is ‘Strength in depth’ – with the trucks giant showing specialist chassis from its lightweight LF and middleweight CF truck ranges.
“Our range of truck chassis options offer an exacting specification for customers and, crucially, for our bodybuilder partners,” comments Jim Brand, municipal sales manager at DAF Trucks.
“We work with all the leading UK and European bodybuilders, including the prominent, large-volume producers and also the highly specialised equipment manufacturers to cater for niche market requirements.”
Star of DAF’s own stand is a Euro 6 CF 290 FAG; a 26-tonne 6x2 twin-steer rigid chassis fitted with Faun Zoeller’s 21m3 Variopress refuse collection bodywork – on loan from Luton Borough Council.
The vehicle is part of a programmed delivery of 19 new DAF 26-tonners (including two FAN rear-steer models) for the council’s waste collection and recycling service.
The truck is powered by a 10.8-litre, 290bhp Paccar MX-11 engine mated to the fully automatic Allison 3200 Series six-speed gearbox.
A 5.35m wheelbase, a twin-steer axle configuration and an 11.5 tonne rear axle (plus a 7.5 tonne steering axle) was specified for manoeuvrability and weight distribution.
DAF’s Space Cab was converted by Estepe, in the Netherlands, and provides room for up to five crew (four plus driver).
DAF Trucks is also displaying an LF 220 FA, a 16-tonne 4x2 rigid fitted with a K-Maxi rear-end loader refuse collection body from Finnish manufacturer NTM.
This vehicle is on loan from waste management specialist Grundon and is at the entrance to the RWM exhibition.