Volvo & AEBI Schmidt FL-240/SK600 demonstrator
Volvo Trucks, through its Dealer Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia, has co-operated with the market leaders in sweeping technology, Aebi Schmidt UK, to create a state-of-the art demonstrator vehicle. The specially-adapted Volvo FL-240 is equipped with an Aebi Schmidt SK600 sweeper unit and is already in high demand with a wide range of potential users. “The Aebi Schmidt SK600 demonstration vehicle is designed to improve the environment by removing litter and debris – and we are delighted that Volvo is supplying a chassis and powerful, efficient, low emission, high performance diesel engine,” says Henk Landeweerd, Managing Director of Aebi Schmidt UK. “The Volvo Euro 4 engine complements the industry-leading benefits of the SK600 as a rugged and powerful workhorse.”
“We’re delighted to be co-operating with Aebi Schmidt UK,” comments Neil Crouchman, New Truck Sales Executive with Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia. “They’re recognised as one of the leaders in this field and, like Volvo, they see customer satisfaction as their number one priority. In partnership with them, I’m confident that we can fulfil the needs – in terms of specification, quality and Dealer support – of any customer. We’re looking forward to talking to those customers and working with Schmidt to meet and exceed their requirements.”
The base vehicle is Volvo’s factory road sweeper package, a specially-prepared 4x2 chassis which includes a rear-mounted fuel tank and the relocation of AdBlue reservoir, air tanks and exhaust to the area just behind the cab. It has a 3.5m wheelbase and steel rear suspension. The six-speed manual gearbox is that recommended by Volvo’s Warwick Technical team, who were closely involved in specifying the vehicle; its comparatively short ratios make it ideal for sweeping. The day cab is laid out for left-hand drive and features a CD player; production models will be available with air conditioning and a more powerful, 280hp version is also available which complies with Euro 5.
The SK600 is the only truck-mounted sweeper to have a full width brush located behind the powerful suction nozzle. This mechanically sweeps the area that conventional sweepers can only clean by using suction. It also allows faster sweeping across a full 2.3 metres using both side and channel brushes. The normal sweep configuration is a channel brush, a suction tube with trailing brush and a belly brush. The configuration of the SK600’s sweeping equipment means the belly brush and channel brushes follow the contours of the road without adjustment. This leads to a longer brush life and reduced cost of replacements, while its Teflon-coated suction duct and hopper entry chute minimises damage and maximises the working life and reliability of the unit, especially when handling road planings and other hard construction materials.
The large, 6cu. m. hopper is of hard wearing, corrosion-free GRP and it has a tip-out angle of 60º for safe and accurate tipping; the water tank holds 1,200 litres and has a 70Bar high pressure washing system, with the front-mounted spray bar capable of dispensing 70 litres at 100Bar pressure.
The demonstration package is already in high demand. Detailed evaluations and trials are currently being carried out by road construction companies and civil engineers, local authorities, and some of the UK’s most significant vehicle and plant leasing companies.
