|
|
|
Mercedes-Benz Fire & Rescue impresses the specialists Stuttgart/Wörth
 |
Datum nieuwsfeit: 04-11-2009 |
 |
Bron: DaimlerChrysler |
|
|
| Scroll de pagina (druk op een toets of muisknop om het scrollen te stoppen) |
DaimlerChrysler
Daimler Trucks
>
Mercedes-Benz CVs
>
Special Trucks
Mercedes-Benz Fire & Rescue impresses the specialists
Stuttgart/Wörth
,
Nov 04, 2009
(3)
New products for the fire and rescue services from the
special-purpose vehicles product unit
Technical presentation and workshops at the Mercedes-Benz
Application Information Center (BIC) in Wörth
Driving under extreme conditions on the Ötigheim proving ground
Stuttgart/Wörth - International vehicle specialists from the
bodybuilding sector for firefighting vehicles recently came together
for a two-day event to find out about new products from the
special-purpose vehicles product unit at Mercedes-Benz. The focus was
on the different Unimog model series, the new all-wheel drive Zetros
truck and the Econic with its low and high cab variants.
Even on arrival at the Center the guests were able to gain an initial
impression of the sheer variety of special-purpose vehicles offered by
Mercedes-Benz. The range of exhibits outside the Center extended from
the smart as a first responder to the Sprinter as an emergency
ambulance, and right up to the Actros as a swap body vehicle with an
impressive heavy-duty fan. As a full-range manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz
meets all the international user requirements for fire and rescue
vehicles with its range of passenger cars, vans, trucks and
special-purpose chassis.
As an all-terrain special-purpose chassis for emergency vehicles, the
Unimog in all its variants has been in use in more than 100 countries
of the world for many decades. In addition to the familiar U 300 to U
500 series of implement carriers and the U 4000/U 5000 as all-terrain
trucks, the specialists visiting Wörth were particularly attracted to
the new, lightweight Unimog U 20. Available in three weight variants
with gross vehicle weights of 7.5, 8.5 and 9.3 tonnes, the U 20 is the
first Unimog with a forward-control cab. At the same time its short
wheelbase of only 2.70 metres makes it an extremely compact and
manoeuvrable off-road vehicle. The U20 opens up new operational
possibilities, especially in areas with steep, narrow roads such as
mountain regions and historic old towns. The first Unimog U 20 is
already operational as a fire tender in Croatia.
First presented to the public at the last International Commercial
Vehicle Show (IAA), the new, all-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz Zetros
truck was very much in the limelight among the off-road vehicles.
Positioned above the Unimog, the Zetros allows the configuration of
heavy emergency vehicles whose key attributes are a high payload and
load capacity combined with outstanding off-road capabilities and good
on-road performance. The Zetros meets these requirements as a two-axle
18-tonner and as a 25-tonner (27 tonnes are technically possible) with
three axles. Large-size single tyres on all axles as standard combined
with permanent all-wheel drive make the Zetros an ideal off-road
vehicle. A fully automatic transmission is now available on request as
an alternative to the standard eight-speed manual transmission. With a
standard fording depth of 0.8 m (optionally 1.1 m), operations in
flooded areas are no problem either. A new feature shown for the first
time in Wörth was the overhead power take-off for the Zetros, which
enables manufacturers of fire tenders in particular to drive a
centrifugal fire pump without difficulty. Thus prepared, the Zetros
with its spacious cab for up to three emergency personnel behind the
massive hood will no doubt soon celebrate its premiere as a forest
fire tender.
The Econic has long established itself as a special-purpose chassis
for specialized firefighting vehicle bodies. Especially as a rescue
vehicle with a hydraulic platform - turntable ladders or telescopic
mast platforms - the Econic is increasingly often the vehicle of first
choice with its low cab, which is able to accommodate up to four
emergency personnel. The standard air suspension helps to ensure that
these vehicles, which inherently have a high centre of gravity, have
excellent handling stability. The driver's workload is reduced by an
automatic transmission, which is also standard equipment. Steerable
rear axles available as an option - even for the two-axle vehicle with
a permissible gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes - make the Econic
extremely manoeuvrable and facilitate access to confined areas. The
Econic is also becoming increasingly popular as a specialist fire
tender among works fire services, who highly appreciate the advantages
of a spacious cab for ergonomic reasons. It enables the crew to don
their breathing apparatus as they drive to the scene. On arrival they
are able to exit the cab at the front via just two steps - there is no
faster or safer way. An optionally available double-wing door on the
co-driver's side allows the easiest possible exit. In addition to 2
two and three-axle chassis with low and high cabs, three Econics with
fully completed bodies were displayed in Wörth. The turntable-ladder
DLA(K) 23-12 with a body by Metzis based on an Econic 1833 with the
low cab. Using the same chassis, but with the high cab, the EnBW
gasworks fire service had the body of its latest fire tender built by
Ziegler. Due to be delivered shortly, the fire tender built by
Rosenbauer for the works fire service of the Shell refinery in
Wesseling is another size larger.
Driving off-road
Following the workshops in the Center, the specialists attending the
Mercedes-Benz Fire & Rescue event had plenty of opportunity to explore
the advantages of the Unimog and Zetros all-wheel drive vehicles on
the Ötigheim proving ground near Rastatt. They were duly impressed
with the outstanding climbing ability of these vehicles, as well as
their safe downhill performance using only the engine brake. Fording
ability was demonstrated in a water trench, and exiting from this also
showed their excellent axle articulation. The participants had ample
opportunity to take the wheel of Unimog or Zetros themselves, and gain
unforgettable impressions of these unique vehicles when driving
off-road. In addition to various chassis with platform or tipper
bodies, the guests also had a fully equipped forest fire tender with
an Empl body, several of which are already in service in the state of
Brandenburg, at their disposal. A water tank holding 5000 litres and a
front-mounted self-recovery winch by Werner on a U 5000 with a
permissible gross vehicle weight of 14.1 tonnes leaves no options
unexplored. Naturally the chassis also features ex factory heat
protection for the electrics and the fuel and brake lines.
|
|
 |
Dit is een bericht uit het Nieuwsbank persberichtenarchief. Gegevens in
dit bericht kunnen verouderd zijn. Overname is toegestaan onder
voorwaarden.
Eventueel in dit bericht vermelde (e-mail) adressen en telefoonnummers
zijn uitsluitend bedoeld voor journalisten.
Terug naar boven
|
|
