GMF&RS and Thomas Hardie celebrate another milestone

In 2011, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMF&RS) and Volvo Dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials are celebrating 20 years of a unique partnership.

Thanks to the exceptional service delivered by Thomas Hardie Commercials, GMF&RS have operated a 100% fleet of Volvo appliances and specialist support vehicles since 2010.

The fleet includes a Volvo FL-based Urban Search and Rescue truck and a 60 tonnes GTW FM-380 Euro-5 compliant recovery vehicle. The latter’s bodywork was built in-house by the brigade’s Technical Service Centre for a fraction of the costs which would be incurred by purchasing outside.

GMF&RS currently operate 123 Volvo trucks and have purchased a total of 172 since they began working with Thomas Hardie Commercials in February 1991. “This relationship is based on commercial merit and Thomas Hardie and Volvo Trucks have to compete in a straight fight with other manufacturers and dealers for each and every slice of our business,” says GMF&RS Head of Engineering and Technical Services John Collier.

He added, “Although we specify a pretty standard Volvo FL product for our appliances, Thomas Hardie Commercials have always been very supportive in terms of technical advice and parts supply. We do our maintenance in-house and Thomas Hardie maintains an imprest stock of parts at our Technical Service Centre at Leigh. They manage this Genuine Volvo Parts stock on our behalf and also deliver on demand.”

Volvo’s ability to offer the Allison World Series automatic transmission in the FL, coupled to the accessibility of Thomas Hardie Commercials’ Dealerships in the Greater Manchester region, were two of the reasons GMF&RS decided to allow them to tender for business 20 years ago.

“The Allison World Series transmission in its Volvo FL installation has proved to be the benchmark and at this time, we have never had one fail,” says John Collier, adding: “From an engineering point of view, we can also say that Volvo has delivered a good performance. For example, we were able to operate an FL10 for 8 years without it being necessary to reline the brakes. That’s one reason we always use Genuine Volvo Parts.”

Thomas Hardie Commercials also provide GMR&RS with workshop technician training. In particular, on Volvo’s Tech Tool computerised vehicle diagnostics system: “We have two Tech Tool installations in the field and one at the Fleet workshop in Leigh,” says John Collier.

As you would expect, GMF&RS technical specifications have evolved during the last 20 years and careful monitoring of components has allowed the fine tuning of the Volvo FL-based appliance.

One of the main innovations is the use of polypropylene plastic bodywork manufactured by Strongs Plastic Products of Tamworth with final assembly completed by John Dennis of Guildford. John Collier reports that this alone has saved 750kgs compared to the traditional alloy and steel construction. The reduction in weight has delivered corresponding improvements in operating costs, including fuel usage. As a result of the plastic bodywork, kerb weight of the Volvo FL pump appliance, including a crew of 5 and a full payload of 1800 litres of water and equipment is only 11.75 tonnes.

A significant reduction in carbon emissions is another by-product in a wholly virtuous economic circle as the bodywork can be recycled at the end of its useful operating life of 12 years.

As an active member of the Greater Manchester community, GMF&RS are keen to play their part in reducing vehicle emissions. To that end, the brigade is undertaking an engineering viability study of the social and economic benefits of operating a hybrid diesel – electric vehicle. If this project goes ahead, it will be the world’s first hybrid pumping appliance.

For Thomas Hardie Commercials and GMF&RS, the next 20 years will provide many engineering and technical challenges in the design and operation of fire appliances. One thing is certain however: Thomas Hardie Commercials are committed to continuing to deliver top class, cost effective support to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.