Wilrose Environmental of the Surrey area has purchased its first all-new Mercedes-Benz waste collection vehicle, a 26-tonne (28.7-U.S.-ton) Econic 2630 L. Based in Walton-on-Thames, Wilrose Environmental collects refuse from non-residential customers in Surrey, Middlesex, and London.
“We’ve been buying Mercedes-Benz vehicles since day one,” says Wilrose Environmental co-founder Andy Bishop. “We’ve bought pre-owned Econic chassis in the past, and they’ve always been reliable and cost-effective to run. As it’s completely new, though, I’d like to think the maintenance costs on the one we’ve just put to work will be even more attractive.”
Ready To Go To Work
Wilrose’s latest Econic truck is fitted with a Dennis Eagle Olympus OL21 compaction body and a 500-kilogram (1,102-pound) Beta 2 trade lift from Terberg Matec. Refuse Vehicle Solutions (RVS) sold the completed truck based on a chassis supplied by City West Commercials. The new Econic was pre-built for RVS’s RediTruck programme, which offers waste collection vehicles on short notice, such as for customers who have just won a new contract and need to skip the lead time required by most body manufacturers.
The new Econic 2630L is a 6x2 vehicle with a rear-steer axle to help it manoeuvre in narrow streets. It is powered by a 299-horsepower (220-kilowatt), 7.7-litre, inline six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM 936 diesel engine. The truck has a six-speed automatic Allison transmission with a crawler function suitable for waste collection.
Wilrose’s newest addition joins 10 other 26-t Econic six-wheeled refuse collection vehicles in its fleet. The family-run business also owns a 4x2, 18-t (19.8-U.S.-t) Econic; two 32-t (35.2-U.S.-t) Mercedes-Benz Actros hook loaders; and an 18-t Antos skip loader.
Visibility & Safety
As specified with a full-height, folding glass side door, the cabin of Wilrose’s new Econic earns a maximum five-star rating under the Direct Vision Standard. Its panoramic windscreen and low operator’s seat help the driver make better eye contact with others on the road, helping each to understand the other’s intentions, according to Mercedes.
“The Econic’s air-conditioned, low-entry cab is also very popular with our drivers—in terms of access, it’s a winner all day long,” says Bishop. “Plus, of course, the Mercedes-Benz is well ahead of the rest when it comes to safety, and given that we operate on some of the country’s busiest and most congested streets that’s always a top priority.”
Among the standard features of the latest Econic range is Mercedes’ Active Brake Assist 5 emergency braking system. It uses radar and a camera to detect objects in the lane ahead at speeds of up to 56 mph (90 km/h). It warns the driver with visual and audible alerts, but will also slow down and stop the vehicle with its hazard lights on if the driver fails to act. Active Brake Assist 5 can also bring the Econic to a complete stop from speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph) and apply the Electronic Parking Brake should a pedestrian be detected walking ahead of the truck, crossing its path, or approaching from the front.
The Econic Range
Mercedes sells two- and three-axle Econic trucks with gross weights of 18 and 26 t, wheelbases of 3.45 to 5.7 metres (11.3 to 18.7 feet), and electrohydraulically steered leading or trailing axles. Each of its axles has a full air suspension that is height-adjustable from -50 to +160 millimetres (-2 to +6.3 inches).
The Econic’s Euro VI, 7.7-litre engine is available in 272- to 354-HP (200- to 260-kW) power levels. Besides the Allison automatic, there is an optional 12-speed semi-automatic PowerShift transmission. Apart from the waste disposal market, the Econic can be configured for local distribution, fire and rescue, airport, and construction site applications.
Find The Right Mercedes-Benz
You can browse hundreds of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks for sale on Truck Locator, including scores of Econic models such as the 2630.
Source: Mercedes-Benz