Linfox Acquisition, New Scania Range, DFE Opens Depot, Hino 4×4 Reveal and Telematics on Display, all in Diesel News this week.
Linfox acquires alcohol specialist BevChain
Linfox has acquired full ownership of alcohol supply chain specialist BevChain, after purchasing 50 per cent of the business from food and beverage company, Lion.
This acquisition will reportedly provide Linfox with a direct inroad to the multibillion-dollar beverage industry and will enable the business to meet the needs of a wide range of customers in the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage sector.
“BevChain began in 2006 to provide a specialised service to the alcoholic beverage industry,” said Linfox CEO Annette Carey. “We plan to grow the business further by expanding into new sectors within the broader beverage industry. The acquisition is aligned to Linfox’s growth strategy and we will continue to invest in sectors where we see an opportunity for growth.”
Scania launches new generation construction truck range
Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer, Scania, has launched its construction industry XT truck range.
“This industry is facing increasing demands for sustainable and cost-effective production,” said Scania President and CEO, Henrik Henriksson. “Each component in the complex construction logistics process must adapt to higher standards for efficiency and Scania XT is our contribution to this shift.”
The new construction range is the second stage in Scania’s introduction of new generation trucks, which has been in development for over a decade with an investment that has reportedly exceeded $2.9 billion.
Scania has said the XT trucks have engine power outputs that range from 280 to 730hp.
“We are putting a higher emphasis on construction,” said Henriksson. “The global construction industry continues to grow and Scania now presents enhanced tools to meet the demand. We are well aware of the slim margins for many hauliers in this business and we have developed vehicles and solutions to ensure sustained profitability.”
According to Scania Australia: “While Scania in Australia is keen to add these vehicles to our range in due course, local specification and compliance work has not yet been undertaken, so their arrival is still a considerable way off.”
Direct Freight Express opens $36m depot in Keysborough, Victoria
Road carrier service, Direct Freight Express (DFE), has announced the opening of a new $36m facility in Keysborough, Victoria, to complement its direct linehaul operations.
The company has reported that the new site was necessary due to business growth and increased travel times and traffic across the greater Victorian metropolitan and regional areas.
DFE has said the depot is fitted with state-of-the-art tilt tray automated sortation systems that can sort up to 4,500 cartons per hour. The company has also reportedly invested in six-sided camera technology that detects side-by-side cartons.
Hino 300 series 4×4 details revealed
The Hino 300 Series 4×4 is available in single cab and crew cab configurations, both powered by a four-litre diesel engine delivering 165hp (121kW) at 2,500rpm and 464Nm of torque at 1,400 rpm, mated to a six-speed manual overdrive transmission and a dual range 4×4 transfer case.
“With a six-speed overdrive manual transmission mated to a Hino transfer case with superior low range gearing of 2.2:1, the Hino 300 series 4×4 has the widest spread of ratios and the lowest crawl speed in its class,” said Daniel Petrovski, Manager, Product Strategy for Hino Australia.
“This means the 300 Series 4×4 can crawl slower off-road than its rivals providing better vehicle control in tricky off-road conditions, which is a key measure of performance in that market.”
The Hino N04C engine is Euro 5 ADR 80/03 emission compliant and utilises the Hino Diesel Particulate active Reduction filter (DPR).
“The Hino DPR captures over 95 per cent of the exhaust particulates (soot) and is designed to be automatically self-cleaning (regenerating) without the need for driver intervention,” said Petrovski.
The Hino 300 is reportedly the only 7,500kg Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) 4×4 in Australia with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
According to Hino, the 300 series 4×4 has undergone extensive in-field Australian testing.
“Selected Hino customers have been evaluating prototype trucks on and off-road on some of Australia’s harshest bush tracks, trails and roads over a number of years, and they haven’t missed a beat,” said Petrovski.
The Hino 300 Series 4×4 will be begin arriving at selected Hino dealerships in October 2017.
Teletrac Navman to exhibit at MEGATRANS2018
Fleet management technology specialist, Teletrac Navman, will bring telematics to the forefront at supply chain trade event MEGATRANS2018.
The three-day expo will provide a platform for leaders and professionals involved in planning, executing and documenting the flow and storage of goods between the point of origin and point of consumption.
Teletrac Navman will exhibit at the multi-modal event next May as part of Transport Certification Australia’s Telematics Hub – a core section of the event’s Technology Showcase that will straddle the entire exhibition floor to reinforce the importance of cutting edge technological trends in the wider logistics space.
Regulatory Program and Partner Manager at Teletrac Navman, Anthony Laras, has said that MEGATRANS2018 will be imperative for the company. “It lets us talk directly to the transport and logistics industry in general – from guys that own one truck all the way up to the biggest of players – and hear from them about what they want from their technology partners,” he said. “Our most fantastic solutions often come directly from industry’s ideas and requests.”
Laras has also said that MEGATRANS2018 will provide Teletrac Navman the chance to demonstrate its current and ‘in development’ solutions and how they can add value to a transport operator. “We think it’s a great move for this event to come into the centre of Melbourne and can’t wait to be a part of it.”