Terberg Matec UK, known for its range of bin lifts and specialist recycling bodies, is upping the stakes in the municipal fleet market by launching new products at RWM that will add several new strings to its bow, writes Ann-Marie Knegt.

The contracts for two new distributorships with Spanish manufacturer Ausa and French manufacturer PB Environnement were signed back in July, which means that several new products will be on show during RWM in association with CIWM ' held in Birmingham from September 11-15.

Ausa is known mainly in the UK for its extensive range of construction equipment, however the company also manufactures a range of street cleansing equipment and Terberg is adding the Urban range of products to its portfolio which includes the compact sweeper line.

Both distributorships are equally important but perhaps the most diverse move is Terberg's agreement to sign a distributorship with Spanish manufacturer Ausa for the UK and Ireland. One example of the new entry into the UK sweeper market will be on show at Terberg Matec's stand at RWM.

'The turning circle from wall to wall is the best on the market, that, coupled with the fact that it is one of the few in the market to use a fuel-efficient VW TDI engine makes it an exciting and unique proposition for the UK. Even though Ausa has a wide range of sweeping products, we felt that we should focus on the compact sweeper range initially, as the target market for this product matches closest with our existing customer base. The Ausa brand is also very well established on the continent and there are aspects for the B200H unit such as its class 3 PM10 rating that set it apart from other products,' adds Rob Colby, Director for Terberg Matec UK.

The B200H features a Euro V engine and the manufacturer claims it has the lowest fuel consumption of its sort on the market whilst being certified to EUnited standard with a 3 star in the PM10 test.

Ausa has extensive manufacturing facilities in Manresa on the outskirts of Barcelona, producing 120,000 units a year. The company provides a diverse range of niche products including compact telehandlers, rough terrain forklifts, utility vehicles, and much more.

Russell Perrett from Ausa UK explains that the average fuel saving per hour of Ausa's sweepers can help deliver savings of 2,000-3,000 litres in diesel used per year ' based on an average operation of 2,000 hours per annum. 'This means that huge savings can be made over the life of the sweeper. Critical in achieving this was the decision to use the Volkswagen Tier 5 TDI engine, which massively helps reduce the running cost and the environmental image of the operator by cutting CO2 produced by over five tonnes per year.

'Not only can the chassis be used for sweeping operations, the iLink system also makes it possible to perform different types of tasks by using a range of different attachments including options for winter and grounds maintenance activities.'

According to Russell this is a great benefit in the current financial climate whereby operators have to justify any type of investment while delivering best value at the same time. He also points out that multi-functionality enables operators to maintain the same level of service at a considerably reduced cost.

'The Ausa B200H has been designed to do the job, and is used all over the world by both large contractors and local authorities and delivers great results with regards to sweeping and productivity. The B200H should also interest clients looking for low investment costs, high productivity and carbon reduction. The iLink system is a great example of how this can be achieved. Clients that require the use of a washer system for any length of time can attach this to the sweeper. Where the climate is harsh in winter the iLink system enables a snowplough to be attached to the sweeper. This means the machines do not have to be stored in a warehouse because they are multi-functional and can be used throughout the year. The B200H can reduce the vehicle needs for several different tasks without compromising on performance.'

The B200H comes with a 2m3 hopper capacity and the disposal height is 1580mm. The water tank contains 300 litres and the sweeper features two independently controlled brushes. The cabin has been designed for high visibility from all angles and also features inspection windows for the nozzle and brushes whilst the drivers seat is mechanically adjustable. Electronic engine and speed control also come as standard on the B200H.

Features such as snowblades, washer bars and a pole for high-pressure water cleaning all come as optional extras .

The Ausa machines are currently working in many major cities including; Madrid, Barcelona, Moscow, St Petersburg, Berlin, Munich, Paris and Brisbane. Ausa is represented in 103 countries around the world and has over 441 dealerships. All clients have unique individual requirements based on diverse global weather conditions and local landscape. Russell explains that service and support are a top priority for the company and Terberg Matec UK's service and maintenance philosophy matches this perfectly. Russell concludes that 'Our experience, R&D infrastructure (10% of our overall personnel is employed in our R&D department) and extensive knowledge has helped us enter the municipal sector with great success. We foresee a bright future in the local authority sector in the UK. Due to our agreement with Terberg Matec UK we will be utilising their strong brand awareness, customer loyalty and unparelled service and after-sales support.

'Based on statistics provided by EUnited, the UK is the largest market globally for the 1-4m3 compact sweeper market, and we are extremely proud to be partnering such a company as Terberg in these exiting times for our company.'

PB Environnement ' based in Lambesc, France ' produces amongst other things, the PB Medium+ and Mega G3, two ranges of small aluminium bodied refuse collection vehicles which lend themselves nicely to food waste collection, missed bin rounds as well as general waste collection activities. The new product lines include bodies to fit 7.5 tonnes GVW chassis with rear-mounted lifts for standard EN840 accredited wheeled bin sizes.

The Mega G3 has been designed for the collection of waste in tight urban environments such as inner city precincts and the typically narrower streets of old cities. Manufactured from aluminium the Mega G3 offers an extremely good loading versus volume ratio. It can load up to 450kg and offers an 8m3 collection body on a 7 to 9 tonne choice of chassis. It can lift bins (80L-360L) and trade containers (500L-1100L) in up to 12 seconds. The Mega G3 can collect up to 3 tonnes of solid or food waste utilising its integral curved compaction blade to reduce material volumes.

The Medium+ offers a slighter smaller solution built onto a 7.5 tonne chassis and can also collect up to 2.5 tonnes. This vehicle offers a fast and efficient collection method in city centres and areas where there is little space for turning and reversing whilst offering an excellent volume versus loading capacity. The body is made out of double panelled aluminium and features four compartments. It is leak proof and can lift containers (80L-1100L) in as little as 9 seconds.

PB Environnement is well established in mainland Europe for its range of compact refuse collection vehicles and sells around 1,000 units per annum in France alone. Christian Reverdy, President of PB Environnement, explains that the French manufacturer is recognised for its capacity to conceive and build efficient and reliable products. 'Our equipment is tailored to waste professionals' exact requirements in compliance with the most stringent regulations and quality standards.' The company was founded in 1989 and was integrated into Technamm in 2000, an equipment builder for the fire and rescue industry. The vehicles are manufactured at an 18,000 m2 site in the South of France and the company has been enjoying constant growth ever since.

'We have since been constantly evolving into international markets ' in 2008 our subsidiary PB EspaƱa was set up in Madrid and now we are entering the UK market with our exclusive distribution agreement with Terberg Matec,' continued Christian.

'To have Terberg Matec UK as our sole distributors for the UK and Ireland is a fantastic partnership for us and one we look forward to being part of. We have long believed that our products have a place in the waste and recycling market in the UK.

'On our part we have complete faith in Terberg's ability to deliver our products to the market with the same professionalism and integrity the company applies to its own products. We cannot wait to see our Medium+ and Mega G3 taking pride of place along with the Terberg product range at RWM in September.'

Will Marzano, MD of Terberg Matec UK, shares PB Environnement's enthusiasm regarding the agreement. 'The PB Environnement deal offers us new growth opportunities for the future. Its products fill a gap in our range nicely whilst still complementing our recycling vehicle bodies. The Medium+ and Mega G3 represent a truly great compact RCV solution, and we are sure that they will surprise our customers with their performance, reliability and flexibility.'

Rob Colby, Director for Terberg Matec UK, explains that the range of PB Environnement vehicles adds to our growing product range perfectly, offering our client base an alternative method for collecting food waste, missed collections and smaller more difficult to access collections.

PB Environnement's whole range has been very successful on the continent and the PBE Medium+ and Mega G3 will compliment our family of products perfectly.

Both units will be on our stands at RWM ' 20C29-B28 and 20B29-A28 ' and are available for demonstrations after the show.'

Rob adds that spare parts will be handled in the UK via Terberg's existing spare parts network that is already in place. 'The Ausa and PB Environnement service and maintenance will be integrated in our well-established service infrastructure. We have over 20 service vehicles located all over the UK and our plan is to utilise and strengthen our existing network of field based service engineers that support our bin lifts and specialist vehicle bodies. We have one of the largest and most highly rated post sale support networks in our industry. Our service engineers and maintenance staff have received comprehensive technical training on how to maintain and service the new machines and other relevant people in our organisation have been trained in this area as well.'