Volvo cooks up perfect package for Waterline’s 15-truck order

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Transport Engineer  /  May 31, 2016

Kitchen equipment supplier Waterline has taken delivery of its first Volvo trucks – 15 FL 4x2 rigids – following a multi-marque evaluation in which Volvo met all criteria.

Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Milton Keynes, the 12-tonne FL vehicles are a renewal for a third of the operator’s fleet and the trucks ticked all the boxes for Waterline, including on safety, environmental impact, fuel performance, driver comfort, reliability and network support.

“We started with a blank sheet and looked at all the options,” says Matt Elborough, group logistics manager for the Newport Pagnell-based business.

“Through this exhaustive process, it was the Volvo FL that stood out as the only truck that met all of the criteria we’d defined at the outset.”

The day cabs are fitted with Super Sky Cab conversions by Hatcher Components, of Framlingham, and feature ‘Cheetah’ fast back bodies from Cartwright Group of Altrincham for enhanced aerodynamics.

“We take the environment extremely seriously,” explains Elborough. “Everything about these new trucks – from the fuel-saving curved roof through the highly responsive and effective six-speed overdrive I-Sync automated mechanical gearbox to the high torque at low revs 210bhp engines – is about efficiency and limiting our impact on the environment.

“This attention to detail has already been borne out in fuel figures that show we’re returning over 16mpg. This has really impressed.”

The trucks are all specified to FORS and CLOCS standard, with forward, rear and nearside cameras. Additional lighting illuminates the loading area and the trucks have Dhollandia tuck-away tail-lifts.

They are being maintained on a three-year Volvo Gold R&M contract.

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Fuel-efficient Cheetah “fast back” bodies and trailers from Cartwright Group

http://www.cartwright-group.co.uk/Products/Trailers/Cheetah-Fastback

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Hatcher Components

The Betts Group began trading in the late 1960s. Its founder, Mr P H Betts came from the haulage industry and branched out into the commercial vehicle accessory market. The company began manufacturing products made from Glass Reinforced Plastic (aka. GRP, fibreglass) – a composite that had been developed in the UK during the Second World War. GRP had its first civilian application in the production of boats during the 1950s. Following on from this, the Betts Group began utilising its unique properties to manufacture signs and air deflectors for commercial vehicles.

These activities grew and were eventually divided between two companies: Hatcher Components Ltd and Broadwater Mouldings Ltd.

During the 1990s, both increased their production and began trading in the UK and export markets.

Hatcher Components is Europe’s leading cab conversion and aerodynamics specialist and are proud to be a market leader in the development of truck components and accessories. Our products range from simple signs and air deflectors to sophisticated high-roof cab extensions and cab-top sleeper conversions.

Continuous investment at our facilities has enabled us to extend our Framlingham operations a number of times and allowed us to devote a second factory to fitting work. We also have two manufacturing sites in Parham, Suffolk.

Website - http://www.hatchercomp.co.uk/

Volvo application download – http://www.hatchercomp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/006-Broch-Volvo-6pp.pdf

All application downloads - http://www.hatchercomp.co.uk/downloads/