News/Exhibitions
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PILKINGTON SPECIFIES A SUPERTRUCKS MAGNIFICENT SEVEN - 20/05/2010
Custom-built to Pilkington specification, these new Supertrucks bodies have concertina roofs to enable overhead loading by crane and 2.2 tonne capacity external glass-carrying rack mounted on the nearside - which come complete with an external safety curtain.
The Pilkington vehicles benefit from Supertrucks’ new internal racking system. This, thanks to a body floor/underframe with built-in channels, provides the necessary space for the crane grabs to withdraw, while allowing the glass to rest directly on the body floor. As a result the risk of breakage is minimised and the centre of gravity of the load is reduced.
Simon Philpott, branch manager at Pilkington Group’s Birmingham depot, comments, “We are very pleased with our four new Supertrucks-bodied 18-tonners. The drivers find them easy to operate and the new bodies are providing even greater operational efficiency on our intensive delivery operation – typically of 10 – 12 drops per day. Overall our experience of Supertrucks is very good, they take note of our requirements and build a body that suits.”
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SUPERTRUCKS PRESS RELEASE - 01/02/2010
SUPERTRUCKS – EVEN SAFER & MORE EFFICIENT GLASS TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
For 2010 Supertrucks has introduced extensive safety and efficiency improvements across its range of glass carrying equipment.
“Supertrucks has always set the pace in the provision of safe and efficient glass transport solutions. Our new 2010 product range is designed to enable glass and building maintenance companies to better meet their duty of care commitments while significantly raising productivity and efficiency standards,” explains Peter Wright, Supertrucks’ chairman.
For 2010 all Supertrucks external glass carrying racks for panel vans have additional reflectors front and rear. In addition the company has introduced a number of other significant safety and efficiency improvements, including:-
. Addition of new 170mm and 200mm wide folding ledges
. Improved GLASS STOP!
. New range of folding glass cutting tables
. A new ladder system for access to loads carried on the roof rack
New Supertrucks oversize folding ledges To better suit the transport requirements of the window, door and conservatory trades Supertrucks has now developed a new, wider folding ledge for its external glass racks. Available in 170mm and 200mm widths these new folding ledges are made using the company’s new and patented suite of alloy extrusions, developed to allow optimum structural strength to be combined with low weight. The standard 150mm fixed or folding ledge is still available to meet the majority of glazing customer requirements.
New Supertrucks GLASS STOP! system The recently launched and patented Supertrucks load restraint system, GLASS STOP! has been further improved for 2010. Thanks to changes to the device’s quick release locking system it is now even easier and faster to use. GLASS STOP! prevents glass, window frames, garage doors and the like carried on external racks moving forward in an emergency stop.
New Supertrucks folding glass cutting tables To enable glazing crews to safely cut large pieces of glass on site Supertrucks has launched a new range of fold-down, external glazing tables. Mounted on the nearside of the vehicle the glazing table option incorporates telescopic gas struts to make lowering/raising easier and safer. The fold down glazing tables are available in a wide range of standard sizes and can be powder coated to match the colour of the van.
New Supertrucks ladder system Supertrucks has now developed a versatile side ladder system to provide access to the roof rack. The benefits the new side ladder system, which is incorporated into the glass rack, include safer and faster access to the roof load. Also, the side ladder can be detached from the vehicle to free up the full usable length of the rack.
Peter Wright, remarks, “Supertrucks is gearing up for an exciting 2010. We are further tailoring our products to enable our customers to carry glass in the safest and most efficient manner. We are also working to expand our product portfolio outside of the glass industry as we believe that the Supertrucks approach of combining safety of operation with efficiency gains is a sure-fire winner in other transport sectors.”
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Dry Freight Box to Glass Carrying Conversion - 02/04/2009
Supertrucks are offering special conversions for existing dry freight box vans.
By building on external and adding internal Supertrucks racks you can be fully equipped for glass and window transportation within weeks.
This example, a 7.5 tonne alloy box van on a Iveco Cargo was recently converted by Supertrucks for Birchdale Glass Ltd of Uxbridge Middlesex.
Rack dimensions on this example are length 5000mm height 2900mm, and it is equipped with system 1 securing poles, folding carrying ledge and is finished in powder coat white to match existing livery.
To maintain the maximum legal overall width, and produce the recommended 4° angle of lean, a body width of 2300mm is required.
Supertrucks can check the donor body for structure and dimensions prior to rack production and offer advise to customers requiring this conversion.
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Lightweight Belgian Brace - 02/04/2009
Following an order taken at the Glasstech exhibition in Germany last year, Supertrucks’ Belgian distributor Carresseriebouw Desmet has just delivered a pair of lightweight, coachbuilt glass carrying bodies for Dochy Glass, Brussels.
These are the first Supertrucks bodies to be built on the latest Nissan Cabstar 3.5 tonne gvw chassis cab - and are designed to meet new Belgian legislation for carrying glass.
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NEW Supertrucks Technitip Active Suspension - 04/12/2008
For safer and more efficient glass transport and loading/unloading, Supertrucks is developing a unique active suspension package which can be fitted to virtually any popular light commercial vehicle.
Good practice requires that sheets of glass carried on outside vehicle racks are loaded/unloaded at between 4-5 degrees off-vertical (ie with a 4-5 degree lean inwards towards the vehicle). This ensures that when the sheet glass is released from the rack, wind or camber do not cause it to topple over, risking injury to the crew or damage to the glass or vehicle.
Often, the effects of camber or where the vehicle has to park with two wheels on the kerb at the unloading point make the 4-5 degree lean angle difficult to maintain. Supertrucks, unlike most other UK/European van manufacturers, has long fitted an inclinometer to its racks to allow the crew to check whether it is safe to unload or not.
Now, Supertrucks is set to introduce its new Technitip active suspension package which enables the driver to actually adjust the angle or lean to a safe level before releasing the sheet glass load from the exterior rack.
The Supertrucks Technitip active suspension package consists of struts on each side of the rear axle, which are activated by a compact electro-hydraulic power pack.. These struts allow the vehicle to be raised or lowered on either side as required to achieve the safe, 5 degree unloading angle.
The driver adjusts the angle of lean using a remote wander lead, allowing the externally-mounted inclinometer to be read on either side to check that the vehicle has been satisfactorily adjusted to achieve the optimum safe unloading angle..
Peter Wright explains, “There is considerable customer demand for this new product, as responsible glazing companies look to improve their safety and efficiency. Many of our customers are delivering in busy urban environments where it is virtually impossible to park on level ground. The bigger the glass sheet carried, the more essential it is that unloading/unloading procedures are properly carried out. The Technitip active suspension enables the crew to ensure that vehicle and load are in the optimum safety position before releasing the sheet. ”
As well as allowing the height of either side of the vehicle to be adjusted independently, the Technitip active suspension package will allow the rear deck height of the vehicle to be lowered by up to 100mm to ease the loading of heavy or bulky objects into the rear of the van.
The Technitip active suspension package, which was previewed at the recent the recent Glasstec show in Germany, will be available early in 2009, priced from £2,300 + VAT (including installation) and can be fitted at Supertrucks’ St Helens works.
