Capital Equipment News March 2016

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

functions, such as the body work communi- cation interface (BCI control unit), are built in. This control collects information from the vehicle’s other systems which enables it to evaluate whether or not activation of different functions is permitted. The BCI control unit is connected to and communicates with the other systems in the vehicle via the vehicle’s internal Control Area Network. Regardless of the application, Scania South Africa is highly focused on delivering uptime through best in class parts availability, net- work coverage, flexible services set-up, in- house breakdown assistance 24-7 (Scania Assist), and driver training and coaching. b

The company’s P-series provides high-stan- dard working accommodations within com- pact dimensions. For high-volume payloads and frequent stops and starts, this series gives drivers ample working space and easy cab access. Aside from reduced weight and extra payload space, the shorter cab of this series is idea for congested urban streets and busy construction sites. According to Theuns Naude, Scania South Africa’s key account manager: construction, the Scania mixer chassis can achieve the maximum allowed payloads without fear of overloading and with the competitive fuel con- sumption edge Scania is known for. Feedback from customers is that the power to mass ra- tio is excellent. “One m3 of wet concrete weighs approx- imately 2.4 tons, so 6 m3 will weigh 14.4 tons and 8 m3 19.2 tons,” explains Naude. Although customers want the mixer to carry the maximum weight, body weight, chassis weight and the positioning of the drum are

determining factors of this. For example: the 6x4 mixer with its 6 m 3 drum, can carry a practical payload of 5.5 to 5.8 tons.” The horse power required for mixers is nor- mally in the range 280 to 400 hp and Scania’s two models offer 310 and 410 hp respec- tively. The P310 generates 228 kW and the P410 302 kW. The chassis for the mixer models is the same as its other construction vehicles with the only difference being the positioning of the power take-off (PTO) – it drives from a 12 o’clock position between the gearbox and the en- gine. The vehicles arrive in the country with a factory fitted PTO for the hydraulics. “The chassis rail is prepared for body brackets – both flexible and rigid joints – in the correct position which makes the bodybuilder’s task easier as it eliminates the ‘guessing factor’,” says Naude.

Electronic communication between the chas- sis and the bodywork is fitted. The electronic

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS MARCH 2016