“Strong, on every terrain”. This was the Daimler motto at this year’s fair. As the world’s leading show for the construction sector it offered the ideal podium for the group’s diverse construction vehicles, from A for Arocs to Z for Zetros. Whether it’s an urban delivery vehicle or van, a light-duty truck or a heavy-duty truck, heavy-duty tractor unit or an individual special-purpose vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz and Fuso brands offer the right answer to every question in the construction segment. Over a total area of 2100 m², Daimler exhibited 22 vehicles in all for virtually every conceivable application.
Mercedes-Benz trucks
The Mercedes-Benz A Team is the main focus when it comes to trucks for the construction industry. At its heart is the Arocs, the specialised truck model series for construction transport and thus a true pro through and through. The Arocs celebrated its world premiere at bauma 2013, and now it is available with its full range. This includes the Arocs HAD with the engageable all-wheel drive Hydraulic Auxiliary Drive. It is currently causing a sensation in the construction sector.
In time for bauma 2016 Mercedes-Benz extended the spectrum of the Arocs to include a new hypoid-axle tandem in two different versions (2×10 t and 2×13 t) for even higher efficiency, plus cab variants with a low entrance and also additional equipment variants such as a cockpit with a light interior and optional equipment with the Home line or Style line. The Arocs demonstrated its abilities at bauma with six vehicles.
The Arocs was flanked by several model series. The Atego as a medium-duty dump truck, for instance, was shown at bauma 2016 as an all-wheel drive dump truck. An Actros from the tried-and-tested model series completes the stand-out range for export markets all over the world. One of the eye-catching features always comes in the form of the spectacular Actros SLT and Arocs SLT heavy-duty tractor/trailer combinations. At bauma 2016 an Actros 4163 LS Semi-SLT as a four-axle model with an additional dock axle opened the door to the fascinating world of heavy vehicles, and here it is configured for an overall towing weight of 155 t.
Special trucks
The off-road legend, the Unimog proves its unique skills as a highly specialised implement carrier in model series U 218 to U 530 with a multitude of attachments and implements – now even with four-wheel steering. In off-road applications the all-terrain Unimog U 4027/U 5027 accesses work-places which others would never reach. At the bauma show a Unimog U 527 demonstrated just what the implement carrier is capable of in road construction.
The Mercedes-Benz Zetros also has permanent all-wheel drive. At the same time it offers the load capacity of a heavy-duty truck. The extremely robust cab-over-engine vehicle was presented as a three-axle model, as befits a heavy-duty truck for off-road use. The Mercedes-Benz Econic is embarking on a career as a construction vehicle. In urban construction transport, it enhances safety due to its low-entry cab with an optimum view of pedestrians and cyclists.
Custom-tailored trucks
The Mercedes-Benz custom-tailored truck (CTT) meets individual needs. Whether it is a question of wheelbase modifications, an Arocs as a five-axle model featuring the axle configuration 10×4, a Zetros with a crewcab or as a tractor unit: CTT manufactures extraordinary variants for customers all over the world, developed by in-house engineers in close co-ordination with Daimler Trucks’ central development department.
Mercedes-Benz vans – Sprinter, Vito and Citan – along with the Fuso Canter, the high-payload and indestructible light-duty truck, added an additional dimension to Daimler’s display at the show.
Daimler services: a diverse range
With a truck from Mercedes-Benz, companies and drivers are never alone. Each vehicle is framed by a range of unique, high-performance services. The Mercedes-Benz Bank adds tailor-made financing or the right leasing model to the mix. Europe’s leading telematics provider FleetBoard cuts fuel consumption and wear, provides support for order management and reads out the driver card. The construction vehicle is available for lease from CharterWay, whether for 24 hours or a period of months, supplemented by services and special fleet contracts.
CharterWay even leases the Actros SLT. With the free Mercedes-Benz ServiceCard customers can put everything on one card: refuelling at the most favourably priced filling station on the route, paying service and toll fees, easier co-ordination of help should the vehicle break down.
After all, TruckStore is Europe’s largest used vehicle dealer for trucks and responsible for the purchase and sale of used vans and trucks. The average stock is around 4000 vehicles, including lots of trucks for the construction industry. A Europe-wide uniform evaluation plus individual services ensure fair and individual processing.