Euro 5 Canters green up the valleys
A Cwmbran-based landscaping company is using some of the first Euro 5 Fuso Canter light trucks in Wales to protect as well as improve the environment.
Alun John Landscapes bought its trio of 3.5-tonne tippers from Cardiff Mercedes-Benz dealer Euro Commercials – the Fuso range is sold and supported by the German manufacturer’s network in theUK.
The Canters – a 107kW (145hp) 3C15 and two 96kW(130hp) 3C13s – are powered by clean and efficient Euro 5 engines that offer reduced carbon emissions and improved fuel consumption compared to their Euro 4 predecessors.
The recently-launched Euro 5 Canter has at its heart a new range of modern, European-built engines and gearboxes. All variants, across the weight spectrum from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes, are now driven by a 3.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel powerplant – in addition to Euro 5 emissions limits, this meets the even more stringent – and voluntary – Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle (EEV) standard.
Alun John Landscapes is using its Canters to improve parkland, playing fields, gardens and open spaces. The trucks are fitted with Neath Coachbuilders bodies and equipped to tow trailers.
“For our application the Canter is clearly the best in its class,” said Partner Paul John, the brother of founder Alun. “We carried out a great deal of research before buying these vehicles, weighing up various options in terms of price, running costs and reputation for reliability, as well as more specific aspects such as manoeuvrability and towing capacity.
“Nothing could match the Canter as an all-round package. It’s very well-built, with a strong, truck-like chassis, and the prices are competitive. And as a towing vehicle it’s superb, capable of pulling 3.5-tonnes with ease, which is unbeatable for a vehicle in this gross weight segment.”
Indeed, the Canter’s ability to tow large, heavily-laden trailers is crucial. Most of Alun John Landscapes’ work is undertaken for large, public sector clients such as local authorities and housing associations, and teams of operatives are now using the new trucks to transport heavy plant machinery to work sites across south and west Wales, and south-west England.
“We’ve had Canters before so our staff know and like them,” continued Paul. “The old models were very driver-friendly but the new engine and gearbox combination makes these latest ones even better.
“Moving to Euro 5 also allows us to reassure our customers that, like them, we are doing all we can to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment.”
