New Harsh hookloaders for Martin Waste Management
Waste operator bolsters vehicle fleet with new batch of Harsh HH26 hookloader trucks
RAPIDLY becoming one of the UK’s most prominent waste-handling and recycling businesses, Martin Waste Management (MWM) of Alfreton, in Derbyshire, are currently part way through a complete renewal of their hookloader truck fleet, with 13 new vehicles in service in the last nine months.
The first Harsh hookloaders were put into operation at the start of this year and the HH26 models have particularly impressed MWM. ‘The equipment we ran previously just wasn’t good enough,’ said Mark Faulconbridge, operations director of MWM. ‘As we were being let down by frequent product performance and support issues, it was clearly time to see what the other equipment suppliers had to offer.
‘Exhibitions such as RWM gave us an ideal opportunity to look at all the competitors and judge them against a strict set of criteria that we were looking for. From the outset, Harsh particularly impressed us with their ‘hands-on, can-do’ approach, so we went with them for an initial four vehicles.’
Key to gaining MWM’s confidence was Harsh’s ability to meet their customer’s strict delivery timetable, which required the first phase of vehicles to be on the road in early 2017. With speedy installation of the bodywork – following delivery of the chassis – Harsh provided a full on-site driver familiarization programme to ensure that the trucks would be working at their optimum right from the start.
‘Vehicle performance of these first four trucks has been everything that we could ask for,’ continued Mr Faulconbridge. Mounted on MWM’s preferred 8x4 DAF CF chassis, the Harsh HH26 hookloader is built in strong, low-weight and high-tensile steel and provides a 26-tonne lift capacity with a 52 tipping angle.
Designed for reliable operation in arduous environments, the HH26 unit is built to a CHEM TS17 standard and can a handle a range of containers up to 5,790mm in length. Key features of the hookloader truck include: a low-centre of gravity Z-frame chassis; hydraulically operated cams to securely lock containers; and Harsh’s ‘hook and go’ adjustable sheeting system.
Adam Hargreaves, sales director for Harsh, said: ‘We are obviously delighted that MWM has placed such significant trust in us – not just to provide optimum products but also to deliver them to strict timetables and with comprehensive driver training and customer support as well. Being able to work closely with major customers and meet each and all of their particular requirements demonstrates our professionalism and commitment to the waste-management industry.’
