ITT Hub news logo
  • News
    • Main categories

      • Editor's Pick
      • Cities & Towns
      • Coach, Bus, Minibus
      • Innovation
      • Environment
    •  

      • Events
      • Vans
      • Truck
      • People
    • The Bigger Picture

      • Logistics
      • Materials handling
      • Software
      • Ports & Shipping
      • Warehouse
      • Sustainability
    •  

      • Health & Safety
      • Rail & Air
      • Cold Chain
      • Associations
      • Automation
      • Skills & Training
  • OpinionThought, leadership, and your say….
  • The Hub ViewWith Mel Holley, Editor of ITT Hub News
  • Knowledge HubResources about innovation and technology in transport
      • Calendar
      • Campaigns
      • UK & Europe pan-border projects
      • Jargon Buster
      • Funding Streams
      • Organisations
  • Podcast
    • Lunch with Leon podcast

      Latest episode:

      • Lunch with Leon episode 35 – Anna Whitty MBE
    • CV Focus

      Latest episode:

      • CV Focus episode 16 – John Proctor
    • Latest episode:

      • Talking Net Zero episode 8 – Leon Daniels
    • The Back View podcast

      Latest episode:

      • The Back View episode 8 – David Somers
  • Contact
    • Advertising
Link to ITT Hub event site

MPs to probe National Bus Strategy for England

ARI delivers for The Modern Milkman

CoolKit commits £2.4m to new van stock

Concept EQT – pioneer of a new class of small van – to be revealed in May

Volvo Trucks ready to electrify a large part of goods transport

  • News
  • Truck

DrainsAid delivers eco-friendly ‘deep cleans’ with Müller-equipped Mercedes-Benz Arocs from Northside

Mel Holley

  • April 2, 2021
  • 4:26 pm
  • Truck

The new Mercedes-Benz sewer-cleaning vehicle that has just entered service with Yorkshire-based DrainsAid combines high-performance jetting and suction capabilities with impeccable environmental credentials.

Equipped to clean large diameter sewers and deep wells, the vehicle is based on an Arocs 3251 chassis supplied by local Dealer Northside Truck & Van. Its Canalmaster Super Recycler bodywork was built and fitted in Germany by specialist manufacturer Müller, and works with a liquid ring vacuum pump by CVS Engineering and jetting pump by URACA.

Key to the appeal of Müller’s system is the fact that the dirty water it sucks up is then filtered, with silt and sludge being separated, then fed back to the high-pressure jetting nozzles for re-use in the cleaning process. The recycling of water in this way negates the need for the truck to leave the site to refill a tank with clean water, thereby enabling the operator to save on fuel costs and reduce its carbon footprint.  

DrainsAid provides a ‘Total Drainage Management’ service that includes preventative maintenance and reactive repairs, to a customer base that includes utilities and rail companies, brewers and chemical plants. 

It is part of the privately-owned Peter Duffy Limited civil engineering, utilities and construction group, which operates from headquarters in Wakefield and celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. The new truck was acquired by the group’s Plant & Fleet Services division, which sources vehicles and equipment for other parts of the business.

The 8×4 Arocs employs a 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engine that produces 375 kW (510 hp) and is paired with a smooth and fuel-efficient 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated manual transmission. As an ENA variant, it has a single front axle – uprated to 9.0 tonnes – a double-drive bogie and a steered rear axle. This configuration affords the truck a level of manoeuvrability comparable to a six-wheeler, an important attribute given that access to some of the locations at which DrainsAid works is tight.

The ClassicSpace L-cab with 170mm engine tunnel offers the low roof height needed to accommodate Müller’s bodywork. It features Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ ground-breaking MirrorCam technology, as well as the optionally upgraded interactive version of the stylish and intuitive twin-screen Multimedia Cockpit, and a fridge.

Although the operator’s fleet includes a 32-tonne Mercedes-Benz vacuum tanker that has provided impressively reliable service, the decision to mount its latest machine on another chassis bearing the three-pointed star was based primarily on the firm recommendation of the bodybuilder.

Director Neil Duffy is from the second generation of the founder’s family, and leads the Plant & Fleet Services arm. He explained: “We believe Müller’s equipment to be the best on the market for deep suction work. Although it also builds on other makes of truck the bodybuilder’s strong preference was for the Arocs.

“Given our previous experience with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, which have always proved exceptionally reliable and cost-effective to run, we had no reservations about accepting that recommendation.”

An approved Mercedes-Benz bodybuilder for many years, Müller is represented in the UK and Ireland by sole distributor Roadvac, of Alfreton. Roadvac Sales Director Donal Kearney commented: “Mercedes-Benz chassis offer an ideal base for Müller’s bodywork in terms of weight distribution. Müller also favours them for the high performance of the engine PTOs, and because Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ bodybuilder module works seamlessly with its own equipment.

“For example, the recycler is fully radio remote-controlled for ease of use and safety. The enhanced connectivity provided by the bodybuilder module means the operative can also stop or start the truck engine and PTO directly from the Müller control panel.”

The operator will be inspecting and maintaining the new truck in its own workshop, with parts back-up from Northside Truck & Van. “The Dealer’s service has been excellent throughout,” confirmed Neil Duffy.

“Its Sales Executive Steve Cusworth has liaised closely with the bodybuilder and we received regular progress updates throughout the year, from confirmation of our order to delivery of the finished vehicle. Northside also arranged a full day of driver training, immediately prior to the three days we then received on operation of Muller’s Super Recycler.”

He added: “The DrainsAid team are delighted with their new Mercedes-Benz. It’s already very busy and demand is such that they are confident it will remain fully utilised in the service of customers throughout the country. As well as being perfectly specified to fulfil its demanding role, the Arocs looks the part and is an impressive flagship for our business.”

Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
Share on twitter

Latest news

Transport-select-committee-bus-20-04-2021

MPs to probe National Bus Strategy for England

  • 20 April, 2021
ARI-modern-milkman-20-04-2021-TMM-Group-4-1

ARI delivers for The Modern Milkman

  • 20 April, 2021
Coolkit-20-04-2021

CoolKit commits £2.4m to new van stock

  • 20 April, 2021
Designskizze Concept EQT 

Design sketch Concept EQT

Concept EQT – pioneer of a new class of small van – to be revealed in May

  • 20 April, 2021
20-04-2021-Volvo-Electric-Trucks

Volvo Trucks ready to electrify a large part of goods transport

  • 20 April, 2021
Premiere für den eCitaro G mit neuen Lithium-Ionen-Batterien: Mercedes-Benz liefert erste vollelektrisch angetriebene Gelenkbusse an die ÜSTRA in Hannover aus 

Premiere for the eCitaro G bus with new lithium-ion batteries: Mercedes-Benz delivers the first fully-electric articulated buses to ÜSTRA in Hanover

Premiere for eCitaro with new lithium-ion batteries

  • 20 April, 2021
CV Focus podcast

Get the latest ITT Hub news updates

  • The latest industry news, insight, and opinion from leading figures
  • Podcasts from ITT Hub and its partners
  • Hand-picked stories from our editors
  • Stay informed and up-to-date with the bigger picture
  • Subscribe to all our free digital and audio news updates

Get the latest ITT Hub news updates

  • The latest industry news, insight, and opinion from leading figures
  • Podcasts from ITT Hub and its partners
  • Hand-picked stories from our editors
  • Stay informed and up-to-date with the bigger picture
ITT Hub logo

ITT Hub is a new, industry led event showcasing the best in transport innovation and technology.

  • 07930 391 461
  • editor@itthub.net
  • newsdesk@itthub.net
News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • The Hub View
  • The Bigger Picture
  • Subscribe
Extras
  • Knowledge Hub
  • Podcasts
Useful links
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertising
ITT Hub 2021 team
Our commercial partners
Centrica logo
LLoyds bank logo
LEX Autolease logo
National grid logo
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Compliance statement
  • Cookies
Menu
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Compliance statement
  • Cookies

© Copyright 2020. Site design and hosting by The Press Rooms. 

ITT Hub 2021

Your privacy

We and our partners use technologies, such as cookies, and process personal data, such as IP addresses and cookie identifiers, to personalise ads and content based on your interests, measure the performance of ads and content, and derive insights about the audiences who saw ads and content. Click below to consent to the use of this technology and the processing of your personal data for these purposes. View our privacy policy.

Accept and move on
Reject