Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 367 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

“It is a celebration of innovation, manufacturing, productivity and safety” “To all our visitors from around Australia and across the globe, we take great pleasure in welcoming you to the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show and hope you have an exciting, successful and enjoyable stay.” The biennial Brisbane Truck Show is organised by Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the national association representing and advancing the interests of manufacturers and suppliers of heavy vehicles and their components, equipment and technology. HVIA chief executive Brett Wright was speaking in advance of the 50-year anniversary Brisbane Truck Show, set to be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) from Thursday, May 25 to Sunday, May 28, 2017. Wright says the major milestone is a great reflection on the innovation and resilience of…

“HVIA promotes the heavy-vehicle industry as a rewarding career choice by organising the HVIA Schools to Industry Tours for secondary school students” The Industry Careers Hub provides a one-stop shop with a comprehensive range of industry careers stakeholders on hand and ready to answer questions from students and job seekers about the apprentice system, government funding programs and training. Hosted students attend presentations conducted by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech and the Department of Education and Training Queensland. The Industry Careers Hub is one of a series of initiatives driven by HVIA’s commitment to securing a highly skilled workforce. The end goal is to ensure the industry’s viability and capacity to deliver innovation. The Automotive Industry Ambassador Program is a communications and leadership program delivered annually for final-stage apprentices and early tradespeople…

“Because PBS applications are by their very nature bespoke, it makes it possible for hundreds of trailer and body builders to succeed creating niche products” Despite the last of the automakers packing up shop, Australia’s truck and trailer manufacturing industries are burgeoning as our need for higher-productivity vehicles evolves. And this year’s Brisbane Truck Show highlights a distinct uplift in trailer manufacturing in Australia, resulting in a record number of exhibitors. The show will host 38 innovative trailer manufacturers, all of whom are finding great success locally despite the presence of low-cost imported trailer options. Show organiser Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) attributes a lot of this success to the maturation of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) performance-based standards (PBS) scheme. HVIA chief executive Brett Wright says PBS offers…

“The show is an ideal forum for BP to share with delegates the role we are playing as a leading fuel/ energy provider in helping customers meet their transport challenges” BP is delighted to support the staging of the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show as the premier Platinum Partner. The show is an ideal forum for BP to share with delegates the role we are playing as a leading fuel/energy provider in helping customers meet their transport challenges. These include product advances in new fuels such as Ultimate Diesel, improvements to our network both in new sites being added and upgrades to existing ones, improvements to our BP Plus fuel card offer, and actions we are taking to simply service our customers better. The Brisbane Truck Show is an important industry…

Set for launch at the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show, ZF claims its new “highly intelligent” TraXon transmission will enable operators to achieve larger vehicle loads than with other transmissions in the same performance class. Suitable for torque requirements of up to 3400Nm, high efficiency in the mechanical transmission part transfers the generated engine output directly to the driven axle with virtually no power loss. Featuring 12 or 16 forward gears, and up to four reverse gears, TraXon’s exceptional transmission spread lets it operate with power and efficiency in equal measure. The ConAct clutch actuation mounted on the input shaft switches gears with exceptional speed, precision and smoothness. And, with its modern housing and specific internal design improvements, TraXon is in total 6dB – about one third – quieter than its…

Queensland-based Felco Manufacturing specialises in fibreglass construction transport tanks for numerous applications including truck body-mounted tanks, slide-in tipper tanks, plus dog-trailer and semi-trailer tankers. The family-owned and operated company, based in the regional centre of Toowoomba, says its fibreglass products will outlast other types of tanks. Felco’s tanks are fully baffled with solid walls, and they are rust free, contaminate free, easy to clean, and are low profile in centre of gravity, which ensures stable and safe transport of liquids. The manufacturer is well known for its innovation with road-watering trucks and tankers for councils and contracting companies, and industrial applications such as molasses and liquid fertiliser industries. Felco also makes innovative diesel tankers, all types of agricultural spray tanks (nose tanks, saddle tanks and truck-mounted batching tanks) as well…

The Maha MTL 5250 portable roller brake tester meets the current challenge of taking safety to any location. The MTL 5250 was designed especially for the mobile application of brake tests on cars, vans and commercial vehicles, anywhere and anytime. The low drive-over height of only 150mm allows for almost any vehicle with an axle load of up to 18 tonne to be tested. Another advantage of the low drive-over height is that only short and light-weight ramps are needed. The 3.5-tonne trailer brake tester is also equipped with shaker plates for forward and lateral movement operated by cordless controller with built-in LED light. It can be operated off a generator or simply plug-in local power. The MTL series utilises digital data storage for recording and storage, or measurement values.…

JW Speaker has made it extremely easy for the transport industry to upgrade its old halogen headlight bulbs and sealed beams to the high-powered, pure clean white light of LED and enjoy a whole new driving experience. The range is the most comprehensive in the world and covers every truck headlight on Australian roads, along with mining, agricultural and industrial applications. The LED headlight bulbs come in a conversion kit that is a complete plug-and-play system ideal for cars and 4WDs, and transport, mining and agricultural markets. Simply take out the old bulb and plug in the new LED, it’s that easy. The JW Speaker LED bulb kits have been engineered to offer a precision beam pattern, meaning there is no glare for oncoming traffic and gives the driver a…

Protecting your interests in this market has never been so important and companies choose AUSblue because of the peace of mind they get from working with the number-one quality producer of AdBlue in Australia. The company attributes its success to offering great service, quality, and value for money. On service, AUSblue has a vast network of AdBlueblending facilities located throughout Australia and the raw ingredients are sourced from world-class suppliers who undergo rigorous sample analysis within the Asia Pacific region. The sole reason it employs this strategy is to guarantee supply to customers. AUSblue manufactures a range of custom bulk AdBlue tanks and can provide an accurate monitoring and progressive bulk delivery service. Its modern fleet of AdBlue delivery vehicles are equipped with certified NMI metering systems, providing accurate delivery…

“The exciting thing is that every one of them will be on display at the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show” The 2017 Brisbane Truck Show Awards will showcase the past two years’ best design, engineering and manufacturing achievements, influenced by a culture of innovation and safety. Presented by organiser Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) with the support of Platinum Partner BP, this year’s awards will be judged by a cohort of the country’s leading transport and equipment journalists. Australia’s heavy-vehicle industry directly employs more than 36,000 people and manufactures, services and repairs some of the world’s most efficient, safe, innovative and technologically advanced vehicles. With nominations closing at the end of March, the judges will have a busy time assessing several hundred products and services, prior to the finalists being announced…

“The National Apprentice Challenge demonstrates the nous and initiative quickly developed by these new entrants to the industry” The 2017 Brisbane Truck Show will again put the spotlight on industry education, training and career opportunities, with the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) National Apprentice Challenge staged live during the event. This hands-on competition will see teams of two apprentices selected to represent each of HVIA’s national regions: eastern covering New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland; southern including Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia; and north-west, taking in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The three regional teams will work simultaneously, on identical trucks, supplied by Fuso Australia, to identify and rectify a series of programmed faults as the clock ticks. The winning team is the first to identify and…

Sydney-based Bedrock Quarry Products & Bulk Transport has made the move to PBS-approved truck and trailer combinations with the aim of rolling over its entire fleet to PBS rigs. Director Mick Colley put his 25 years of transport industry experience to use when finding a way to tackle an increasingly competitive industry and growing compliance and operational costs. The solution? Pull more with fewer trucks. “The solution is less truck movements. When, for instance, you’re looking at a PBS quad-dog compared with a 3-axle dog, you can move the same amount with five loads in a quad-dog or six trips in a 3-axle dog. “An extra tonne is worth around $12,000 per year to the company, so if you carry an extra six to seven tonnes in a load then…

“The integration of Cummins engine and Eaton transmission is now at a level that is delivering customers significant life-cycle cost improvements” The release of the Cummins X15 engine in Australia and New Zealand in 2017 highlights the close collaboration between Cummins and Eaton in developing a more fuel-efficient powertrain package. The two companies claim to have best-in-class engine-transmission integration in the heavy-duty truck market – a claim that emphasises just how important integration has become to providing a more fuel-efficient, reliable and robust powertrain package. Importantly, the Cummins and Eaton teams in Australia have collaborated extensively to ensure powertrain optimisation to suit the unique operating environments in Australia and New Zealand. The X15 features ADEPT, a suite of electronic engine features capable of improving fuel economy by up to 6…

“Davey Group’s family culture assists us to quickly develop and maintain working relationships which is allowing significant growth in tight markets” Family-owned and operated Rhino Trailers is marking its 45th year in business with a record order book. A part of the Davey Group of companies, CEO Tony Davey attributes the company’s robust sales to a focus on producing aluminium/high-tensile steel tippers, low loaders, livestock crates and associated equipment “exceptionally well rather than trying to deliver more units to market”. Rhino Trailers has rationalised its product range to support three sectors of transport: livestock, bulk transport and heavy haulage. Improvements in quality during the build, and the quality of the finish, have also played a key role in Rhino Trailers’ success, he adds. Housed on an 11-acre site, the company’s…

“That’s real expertise and peace of mind from the world’s leading manufacturer of braking and control systems” If you know trailers, you know there is nothing more important than keeping them in service and on the road. That’s precisely what they are made for: high-mileage performance under the most demanding of Australian conditions. It makes no difference how many miles a trailer has traveled, what’s required is real peace of mind from optimum performance, short downtimes and the safest operating conditions. This is the most secure way to keep business thriving and competitive. Introducing Knorr-Bremse TruckServices, whose purpose is to support all customers with Knorr-Bremse and Bendix components fitted to their truck and trailers. Knorr-Bremse TruckServices provide support in many ways; anything from a trailer breakdown, replacing a relay valve,…

Australian-owned trailer manufacturer Bruce Rock Engineering (BRE) continues to gain momentum at a national level. Highly regarded in its home state of WA, BRE delivers on the promise of excellence in design, innovation, quality and reliability essential for success in a competitive transport environment. Utilising premium components and materials ensures value-added performance, giving BRE clients an edge with lower tare weight, industry-best practice, and optimum safety standards built into every product. “We have built a national position as a one-stop shop for unique road transport designs and manufacturing,” BRE managing director Damion Verhoogt says. Complementing BRE’s existing range of end tippers, side tippers and general transport equipment, the company is proud to introduce Wabash National to Brisbane Truck Show visitors. Headlined by the ARCTICLITE range of refrigerated van trailers, Wabash…

If you’re serious about cleaning your rig, for a limited time Spitwater is giving away up to $1 million worth of free accessory packs with commercial and industrial pressure cleaners. Accessory packs include extra-long hoses, hose reels, concrete pavement cleaners, detergent foamers and turbo lances. Spitwater has machines powered by both electric and petrol engines in hot or cold water, designed and built in the Albury plant. All models are supplied standard with a wire-braided high-pressure hose, high-quality gun and lance. Spitwater machines are ideal for workshop use as well as for large and small fleet owners and similar applications. They are built tough for tough Australian working conditions and will remove heavy dirt and grease with ease. If you buy before June 30 you can claim the ATO’s Small…

From humble beginnings, Holmwood Highgate now lays claim to the title of Australia’s number-one road tanker manufacturer. Founded by the current owner’s father in the 1950s, the company initially focused on repairing US aluminium fuel tankers used in the Korean War before being sold off for use in Australia. Today, Holmwood Highgate specialise in the manufacture of aluminium petroleum and chemical tankers; mild steel bitumen tankers; stainless steel chemical and food-grade tankers; and aviation refuellers and hydrant carts. Tankers are built to a client’s requirements, ranging from on-site refuellers to latest PBS-approved multi-combinations. Its production and workshop facilities at Loganholme, south of Brisbane, are now manned by qualified aluminium welders, boiler makers, fitter welders, spray painters mechanics and auto electricians. Holmwood Highgate also has a separate facility in Derrimut, Melbourne,…

“The halls of the Brisbane Truck Show are filled with innovators” There’s a story about a bunch of monkeys in a cage in a laboratory. The moral is a lesson about organisational culture. A group of scientists placed five monkeys in a cage, and in the middle, a ladder with bananas on top. Every time a monkey went up the ladder, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water. After a while, every time a monkey started up the ladder, the others would pull it down. After a time, no monkey would dare try climbing the ladder. That was true when certain individual monkeys were replaced, the new ones keeping others in line even if they had never been soaked. Why? Because ‘that’s how things are done…

“Sure to be inundated by showgoers will be heavy-duty market leader Kenworth with its all-new T610 and T610 SAR models” There’s no doubt 2016 was a bumper year for new truck releases, particularly in the second half when several of the biggest names in the business launched some of the most exciting new models seen in the Australian trucking industry for decades. All the big players will all be on show in Brisbane, and sure to be inundated by showgoers will be heavy-duty market leader Kenworth with its all-new T610 and T610 SAR models. KENWORTH The new Kenworths are the most dramatic developments to come out of Paccar’s Bayswater facility in 30 years. In fact, there has been nothing as radically different as these new trucks since the release of…

“Vision: An innovative and prosperous heavy-vehicle industry supporting the safest and most productive fleet” Australia’s heavy-vehicle industry directly employs more than 36,000 people, and manufactures, services and repairs some of the world’s most efficient, safe, innovative and technologically advanced vehicles. Australia is a world leader in many aspects of heavy-vehicle transport. We have a thriving and robust local industry that comprises hundreds of innovative trailer, specialised vehicle, component, equipment and technology manufacturers and suppliers, in addition to the product assembly of global heavy-vehicle brands such as Volvo, Mack, Kenworth and Iveco. The increasing pace of technological change presents substantial challenges to industry and to regulators. There is also a significant focus on innovation and regulatory reforms to support the performance of the Australian economy into the future. DELIVERING FOR INDUSTRY…

“The fuel economy figures are incredible. We are running a 38 to 40-tonne 45-foot single trailer from Geelong to Adelaide and it is getting 3.28km per litre” Mercedes-Benz is launching an all-new on-highway rigid range at the Brisbane Truck Show as well as presenting its newly-introduced prime mover models. The company launched its new-generation Actros family of trucks in October last year and is now ready to launch the rigid versions, which bring with them the same suite of benefits customers of the new prime mover have been enjoying. The new rigid model was part of a comprehensive local testing program that has now included more than 35 customers, 20 trucks and more than 1.8 million kilometres. All details will be revealed at the show, but Mercedes has confirmed the…

LogChecker presents as a replica work diary page, with an easy-to-use ‘click and drag’ entry of driver hours for standard, BFM or WA rules. There’s no software to install or update, no contracts, and local support is just a click away if you need it. No need to be an expert in driving hours, LogChecker does all the calculations for you. In preparation for the 2017 release of electronic work diaries (EWDs), LogChecker has partnered with several telematics suppliers and EasytoUse Software to create ‘LogChecker Live’. LogChecker Live is available on any device with an HTML browser, phone, tablet or telematics. If required, support from a diverse group of accreditation, transport and IT professionals is available by phone or online. LogChecker is not just about checking driving hours; the group…

“Along with our class-leading warranty backing, these changes make the Canter range an even more effective tool for any job” Fuso has released an improved Canter range in response to customer feedback. It has introduced a range of new features to improve driver experience as well as upgraded seats and interior trim. The mechanical specification of the Canter range has been left alone, although the Duonic automated manual transmission version now features a hill holder function to assist drivers, along with standard cruise control. Fuso’s design team has already delivered an attractive look for the Canter, so the exterior styling remains unchanged except for a silver painted top grille louvre that gives the upgraded model a subtle lift. The changes found in the cabin are more obvious, with the blue…

The team at Icepack are no strangers to adversity. The company, which was founded in 1995, has been though a couple of major disasters that would have ended many small businesses. The 2011 floods filled the Bundamba workshop with 4 metres of water; and more recently a factory fire in late 2015 destroyed the workshop at Tivoli. Forever the optimists, Charles and Sam have led the way through the ashes to create temporary workspaces – and ensure the company could keep its head above water (pardon the pun!). Icepack is now located at 19 Quindus Street, Wacol, the heart of the transport hub of Brisbane. The new facility has been purpose designed, comprising of a state-of-the-art machine shop, assembly, installation and fabrication shop. The Icepack range is designed and manufactured…

Moore Trailers is a proud Australian company that is family owned and operated, and has been forging a better way for the transport industry since 1988. Today, more and more transport companies are contacting Moore Trailers to work for them. More and more farmers are delivering Australia’s vital rural produce on Moore Trailers. More and more contractors are basing their contracts on Moore Trailers. It’s a fact that at least one in every five trailers on Australian roads proudly bears the Moore name. So what is it that makes Moore Trailers so sought after? What is it that makes them so popular? And why should you add Moore Trailers to your team? It comes down to a handful of simple things. First is experience – decades of experience in the…

With European trucks it’s quite often the next rung down the ladder from the flagship where you’ll find the sweetest spot in the model line-up. Less sheet metal and big horsepower makes for a nimble around town and regional hauler that makes ergonomic sense in multi-drop roles. The DAF CF85 is one of these vehicles; away from the top of the range XF105 the CF represents performance and versatility in a number of roles. It stood out like a cowboy in clogs but Paccar had good reason to take a CF85 model to Mt Cotton for test-drives alongside its new Kenworth T610. The CF85 is justifiably regarded by some Paccar people as the most appealing model in the DAF range and the model with the greatest potential to deliver the…