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New Innovation in Distribution

MAN Truck & Bus and Transport Fleet Maintenance (TFM)) have, in partnership with Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI), distributors of Coca-Cola in South Africa, developed an innovative new distribution concept.

The first innovation lies in the development by MAN Truck & Bus of a new M2000 25.264LN model - a derivative of the 26.264 (6x4) model introduced in 1999. While the front-end of the new model is identical to the base model, the rear end is the first 6x2 configuration in South Africa for MAN.

And who said everything was done? South Africa is still a land of trucking innovation. ABI and MAN are flying a new concept with these wings.

An electronic control air-suspension system (ECAS) has been specified, enabling rapid lowering and raising of the chassis as well as improvement of ride comfort and road holding. The rear suspension and single wheel-tag axle are also the same as specified for the MAN 25.352 FOCLN bus chassis.

The trucks are powered by a D0826 turbo-intercooled engines which develop 191 kW and 1 000 Nm torque. Eaton 8209 nine-speed synchromesh gearboxes and MAN HY 1175 single-reduction hypoid rear-axle complete the drive train.

The MAN chassis cabs produced at the MAN Truck & Bus assembly facility in Pinetown were delivered to TFM's plant in Johannesburg where the second innovation, the Wingliner body and tail-lift were fitted. These have been imported from Austria and Sweden respectively.

Vehicles with hydraulic-folding wings have been successfully used in Europe for many years but represent a completely new transport innovation in South Africa.

The Wingliner can be most aptly described as an extremely user-friendly system for loading and unloading of rapid turn-around distribution vehicles. A closed-circuit hydraulic system smoothly opens the folding body side, swinging them out until they are positioned flat on the roof, all in approximately 17 seconds.

Swing arms of the Hydraulic motor are guided by sliding jaws which are connected to the body sides. The sliding jaws enable the body sides to be moved into the required position and the lower part of the side is stabilised by springs, ensuring that pendulum movement does not occur. These position the Wingliner at each point of its opening curve, while two gas-tension springs on each side ensure the necessary stability of the body side in all positions.

The Wingliner system is designed to avoid dramatic movement and sudden falling. The body side, which is divided in the centre to form halves, is guided into the lower retainer angles by computer-calculated kinematics when closing. When closed, the body sides are hermetically sealed, protecting the cargo from dirt and moisture.

An important safety feature is the electro-magnetic secondary safety lock, which provides enhanced security and eliminates manual fastening of the body sides.

Ted Stanton, ABI's group transport manager, says that these could be the first of many should this concept prove successful in local operations.

Pat Brophy, MAN national sales manager, is obviously chuffed. "The fact that an operator such as ABI, with an immeasurable amount of knowledge in transport and distribution systems, has selected MAN trucks for this pioneering concept is an endorsement of the highest order".

Each year approximately 95-million cases of Coke are delivered to thousands of outlets by ABI, which has a transport fleet of approximately 1 500 dedicated vehicles, making it one of the largest users of transport in the country.

The MAN trucks will be introduced into ABI's transport operation for their northern region, where they will distribute products in the Pretoria area from early September.

It was Lincoln Steffens who said: "Nothing is done. Everything in the world remains to be done or done over". This innovation proves him to be correct.