Western Star Launches Extreme Duty Truck

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  May 12, 2016

Western Star Truck Sales, Inc., announced its new Extreme Duty (XD) Offroad package and the launch of the MBT-40 Transformer chassis.

The Western Star XD Offroad package is engineered specifically for extremely rugged environments and is available on both 4900 and 6900 models. Vehicles spec’ed with the XD Offroad package deliver maximum driver safety and comfort while providing customers with a low cost per ton product for offroad applications.

Western Star plans to open the XD Offroad package up to other models in the future.

The 6900XD Offroad MBT-40, dubbed the Multi-Body Transformer for its ability to quickly change from one fully functional in-cab controlled body application to another, is the first XD Offroad series offering from Western Star and a new concept for off-road equipment markets.

The PALFINGER G68 hooklift has a lifting capacity of 68,000 pounds and a new transformer package and is designed to replace the need for having multiple pieces of dedicated off-road equipment on a job site that sit for long periods of time when not needed. 

The unit is equipped with a generic in-cab control system and a self-adapting hydraulic system that also allows the operators to quickly and easily swap the controls of multiple body applications as well. The MBT-40 features multiple hydraulic air and electrical connections, which allow it to connect and power a variety of body needs from powerful flow controlled hydraulic motors and pumps to heavy high flow tip cylinders.

“The MBT-40 package is a game changer in construction applications for its ability to be multiple pieces of equipment in one chassis,” said John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager, Western Star. “The development of this platform was all about finding better economic ways of filling needs for our customers. Offroad chassis equipment can be expensive to buy and maintain and new emissions levels are making the investment even more costly.”

The 6900XD is available in both 6x4 and 6x6 configurations.

For more information, go to www.WesternStarTrucks.com. 

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[kscarbel2]

 

[kscarbel2]

Western Star targets new markets with XD off-road lineup

Fleet Owner  /  May 13, 2016

Leveraging an iconic brand and Daimler corporate clout, Western Star is looking to “transform” the off-road construction and mining markets with a new line of specialty trucks and an innovative system for swapping truck bodies to suit the immediate needs of equipment operators in the field.

Company executives on Thursday introduced the trade press to the Extreme Duty (XD) Offroad package and the new the MBT-40 Transformer chassis in a demonstration at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds.

Calling Western Star a “brand with attitude,” President Kelley Platt explained she wanted to event to highlight the “vocational focus” as part of the company’s growth plan, which also includes expanding the dealer network “to help them tap into new markets and convert new customers to Western Star.”

The XD Offroad line is an important part of that growth strategy, designed to deliver the “serious trucks” label to the articulated and ridged frame markets. Engineered specifically for extremely rugged environments, it’s now available on both the 4900 and 6900 models. Vehicles spec’d with the XD Offroad package deliver maximum driver safety and comfort while providing customers with a low cost per ton product for off-road applications. Western Star plans to open the XD Offroad package up to other models in the future.

And the real star is the 6900XD Offroad MBT-40, dubbed the Multi-Body Transformer for its ability to quickly change from one fully functional in-cab controlled body application to another, a new concept for off-road equipment markets, explained John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager, Western Star .

Simply, Western Star has taken the concept of a “demountable” roll-off or hook-lift body a step further.

“A transformer is an off-road chassis that’s capable of transforming from one fully functional truck to another fully function truck,” Tomlinson said. “We’ve created a system where you plug the trucks in. All of the switches turn into the new body switches. All of the hydraulics size themselves to the new body.”

Basically, the concept means that customers don’t need to buy a whole, new vehicle for specialized tasks only to park it at the job site most of the time.

Using a Palfinger G68 hooklift with a lifting capacity of 68,000lbs and a new transformer package, the MBT-40 gives customers greater utilization of their chassis. With the new product, extremely complex and heavy capacity bodies can be changed over and back to work quickly and easily.

“It’s a fully functional water truck if you need it; if you don’t need it, 10 minutes later it’s a dump truck,” Tomlinson said of the demonstration vehicle. ““The MBT-40 package is a game changer in construction applications for its ability to be multiple pieces of equipment in one chassis. Mining, quarry and off-road construction industries are looking for better solutions right now and we have the answers for them with this new product.”

The unit is equipped with a generic in-cab control system and a self-adapting hydraulic system that also allows the operators to quickly and easily swap the controls of multiple body applications as well. The MBT-40 features multiple hydraulic air and electrical connections that allow it to connect and power a variety of body needs from powerful flow controlled hydraulic motors and pumps to heavy high flow tip cylinders.

“Working with Western Star on this open platform concept product has been great. CARCO Industries is very experienced in mining and off-road fuel and service products along with carrying the Palfinger crane lines,” said Charlie Schimmels, sales manager, CARCO Industries. “This combination of experience and product along with the rugged design and carrying capacity of the XD40 Offroad chassis offered by Western Star makes this a very unique product. With commodity prices down and budget cuts becoming common place we need to think smarter about how we do business and the MBT-40 does that.”

The 6900XD is available in both 6x4 and 6x6 configurations.

Photo gallery - http://fleetowner.com/equipment/western-star-targets-new-markets-xd-offroad-lineup

[Red Horse]

DUHH??  Marketing 101- announce a "revolutionary system-a hooklift!!"  Let's see -hook lifts have been around for how many years???

[superdog405]

I've bought 5 new stars in the last couple years, great trucks. Most of what I have are gliders, but I saw this truck last summer when I toured the Portland plant. Massive and interesting truck, John was even the lucky one to take use on the tour and for some lunch, great guy. Some where my wife has a pic of me standing on the step, really shows how massive it is, ill have to see if I can find it.

[DailyDiesel]

I happened to see one of these systems at the local Western Star dealer back in January. Hook lift with a fifth wheel and all other kinds of attachments. Very cool system.

 

[TeamsterGrrrl]

Heck, we swap implements on our tractors for different jobs instead of owning a half dozen tractors... Why not swap truck bodies for different tasks? Been doin' it in Europe for years, will work here too.

[kscarbel2]

6900HD with German Liebherr dump body In Johannesburg, South Africa. (Liebherr builds good mixer bodies as well)

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[kscarbel2]

 

[kscarbel2]

 

[james j neiweem]

Western Star moving ahead with HD trucks to compete with KW.---Mack-ZZZZZZZZZ

[fxfymn]

Quote

Leveraging an iconic brand and Daimler corporate clout, Western Star is looking to “transform” the off-road construction and mining markets with a new line of specialty trucks and an innovative system for swapping truck bodies to suit the immediate needs of equipment operators in the field.

We used the same system on an IH Paystar for our command center, communications module, and shoring systems for the Technical Rescue team starting in the late 80's. It was OK, but inevitably we needed more than one module at one time and it just didn't work out over time. The last significant incident we used it on was the Pentagon on 9/11. We needed all 4 modules and it took the better part of the day to get them all there. Everything old is new again.

I wonder who ended up with the Paystar. It had about 8000 miles on it after 15 years.

[bulldogboy]

One unique roll-off, hook-lift truck in the fire service is in the town of Granville, MA. The fire department has Tanker 2, 1980 Mack "RB" chassis, painted green, with a roll-off body and a 3000 gallon water tank, painted red, mounted on it. Once or twice a week highway department workers drop the tank and use the truck to haul dumpsters from the transfer station to the landfill. Afterwards, they bring the truck back to the station and remount the tank. Not to worry, Tanker 1, a 2001 Mack "RD"/US Tanker, 1250/3000, is still available for full time fire service.

bulldogboy

[fxfymn]

Quote

 Once or twice a week highway department workers drop the tank and use the truck to haul dumpsters from the transfer station to the landfill.

That is ingenious; my bet is the same guy who drives it to the land fill is probably a call guy who drives the tanker as well. Plus it exercises a truck that would probably get no more than a few hundred miles a year on it otherwise. 

[TeamsterGrrrl]

Need 2 modules at once? Trailer with a hook, too.

This system would make a lot of sense for small towns- One near me has a half dozen similar trucks with different bodies- garbage truck, dump trucks, bucket truck, fire truck, fire tanker, etc.. Couple trucks with interchangeable bodies could probably do the same job more efficiently.