UK
Plant theft crackdown overdue?
The ease with which organized gangs of criminals can target, steal and dispose of construction machinery looks set to impact heavily on users, as yet another by-product of the ‘credit crunch’, caused by over-lending in the US mortgage market.
At present, manufacturers of plant are not required by law to fit immobilizers, or to conform to any international standards. Neither is there any obligation to enter machine identity on to an independent database, or to implement any other form of anti-theft system. And the criminals know that.
 Buying or selling at auction can be a cost-effective solution, but a check on the TER database will ensure the machine is legitimate |
At the same time, some insurance companies have been less than vigilant in checking the details of claims in order to identify fraud – and often pay up the full, or even an inflated value of a stolen machine, without investigation.
According to Tim Purbrick, managing director of The National Plant and Equipment Register (TER), an independent organization based in the UK, but working internationally, finance groups are now starting to ask questions – especially those with an insurance interest. He also says that the level of theft is at an all-time high. The value of stolen plant machinery and other equipment is now grossing over £1 million ($1.9 million) a week in the UK alone. But this is not just a national issue. As Tim Purbrick explains, TER inspectors are now working with police and other agencies throughout the world.
Several recent case studies from TER files underline the growing trend of ‘stealing to order’ in one country for export to another. ‘We’ve recently tracked John Deere machines from the UK and Europe to Australia, while our undercover inspectors are now regularly spotting machines stolen from one country, entered for auction in another,’ he confirms. To help overcome this, the TER database can be accessed by subscribers to ensure that machines offered for sale are not stolen. ‘Making it harder for thieves to sell on stolen equipment is currently one of the best ways to drive down theft,’ Tim Purbrick confirms.
Europe
Sims united
Sims Recycling Solutions, part of the Sims Group, has brought its various European divisions under one brand identity. At the same time, the company has announced the acquisition of United Recycling Industries (URI) and electronics recycling specialist, Noranda Recycling Inc in the US.
Sims Group chief executive Jeremy Sutcliffe commented, ‘These two well established businesses operate to the highest of standards and fit perfectly with Sims’ global Recycling Solutions business.’
Sims has grown rapidly in Europe over the past six years and entered the US e-scrap market in 2003. Talking of URI and Noranda, Jeremy Sutcliffe says, ‘These businesses offer a premier solution for the B2B sector in North America and the combination of client service standards and technological capability will provide further growth opportunities.’
It is claimed that Sims is now the world’s largest integrated electronics recycling business.
Italy
Dulevo launches truck-mounted sweeper
Italian sweeper manufacturer Dulevo has added a truck-mounted vacuum sweeper to its existing range of 200 Quattro and 5000-based mechanical sweepers and more recently introduced compact vacuum machines.
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Marketed as the Dulevo 7000, the new machine was formally launched at the recent Samoter construction plant and vehicle show at Verona. It is best suited to 15 to 18 tonnes gross weight chassis.
US
Elgin’s new chassis option
US manufacturer Elgin Sweeper has announced it is mounting truck-mounted vacuum sweeper equipment on the Nissan Diesel UD3300 in a move to cut nitrogen oxides (NOx) and CO2 emissions.
New regulations in the US require a reduction in NOx by 90% and CO2 by 50% – standards that are met by the Nissan chassis. ‘After a thorough review, we have determined that we can build on the UD3300 chassis,’ explains Brian Giles, sweeper products manager at Elgin.
The UD3300 – already popular for truck-mounted sweepers in Australia – features a 230 hp diesel engine, driving through an Allison RDS transmission and Meritor two-speed rear axle. Elgin will market the completed vehicle with a three-year warranty.
As part of its agreement with Elgin, Nissan UD truck dealers will be able to undertake warranty work.
Europe
New chassis range
Isuzu Truck has launched an extensive new range of trucks into the European market, starting at 3.5 tonnes gross, going up to 18 tonnes gross on two axles.
As part of an even wider ‘world truck strategy’ (the European models are assembled in Portugal), the new trucks feature a new cab system designed to provide the optimum comfort and ride height to match each chassis class application, while utilizing the minimum number of unique parts. To test the new range prior to its introduction, Isuzu test engineers are claimed to have driven prototype trucks on tests that equate to driving three times around the world.
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The launch marks a return of confidence to Isuzu following some hard financial times in Japan. It also underlines how important it is for manufacturers and their dealers to offer a ‘full line’ of products to the end-user – and this is seen as even more important in waste and recycling operations than it is in the transport and distribution of retail goods. For example, when a city is considering specifying a new fleet covering all types of waste collection and street cleansing, chassis from 3.5 tonnes right up to maximum legal weights are likely to be required and having the whole fleet covered by a single warranty, or finance lease is beneficial. Isuzu is now in line for some of that business, whereas in the past, outside its own domestic Japanese market, the company was best know for lighter-duty chassis.
Marketed under the Forward model designation (known as F-series in Japan) the new range consists of 11, 12 and 15 tonnes gross weight chassis, in addition to fully revised chassis from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes.
All new models are to Euro-4 emissions standard and models up to 11 tonnes feature Isuzu’s EasyShift automated gearshift/manual gearbox – although it’s likely this option will be extended to heavy-duty models shortly.
Isuzu chassis have always been able to combine strength and reliability in service with the low chassis weights desirable when heavy bodywork and auxiliary equipment is required, and this continues to be a feature of the heavier-duty models. The new cab system also ensures that lighter duty models are not ‘over cabbed’ – often a problem to operators when seeking a suitable chassis to work in tight urban, or rural situations.
UK
Scarab launches new ‘Minor’
UK-based Scarab Sweepers has announced a new updated version of its popular Minor compact sweeper. The new Minor uses the same configuration as existing models, but features an all-new driver’s cab, giving better visibility and improved accommodation for the driver and a crew member.
The new Minor is joined by a new ‘ready to run’ range of 6 m3 truck-mounted sweepers, marketed as the M6. In addition to being sold by Scarab distributors in Europe and the Pacific Rim this model is also marketed by Bomag in world markets, where it will be badged as the Bomag FS6000. A key feature of this new design is its ability to be mounted quickly and easily on any internationally available truck chassis, in order to cut down on production lead times.
