At the 2016 IFAT event in Munich, sweeper manufacturer Aebi-Schmidt, unveiled a brand new truck-mounted vacuum sweeper. So what is it? Malcolm Bates takes a closer look ...
We need to start by making it clear that there has been no public falling out between Faun and Schmidt. According to Helmut Schmeh, the director in charge of the Faun production facility in Grimma, where Faun Viatec machines - and those badged as Schmidts - are produced, the agreement between the two organisations is still ongoing. In fact, I was always of the impression that this ‘dual-branding’ agreement worked well for both Faun and Schmidt. But that just makes the unveiling of the ‘all new’ SK660 even more intriguing and raises the question “Why?”.
My attempts at finding an answer on the Aebi-Schmidt stand at IFAT were greeted with... Well, I wouldn’t say ‘hostility’, but when I started to ask specific questions and photograph some of the design details, I was prevented from doing so. So there’s another “Why?” Like, why take a new product to one of the largest ernational waste, recycling and public cleansing equipment trade shows - and then not let people take a closer look or ask specific questions? The plot, as a mystery thriller writer might say, ‘thickens’.
It took a couple of months for me to actually get behind the wheel of a new SK660 - a demonstrator based on a DAF LF chassis - but while production actually started late last year, this is very much a 2017 story because the next few months will determine how well this new contender is accepted into an already crowded vacuum sweeper market. As this article is being writen, I’m informed that the order book is looking good and that customer machines are now in the process of being delivered, so ‘Off to a Good Start’ might cover the reception so far, but as
I still haven’t totally got to grips with why Aebi-Schmidt has decided to ‘go it alone’ with this new product - one available alongside the existing Faun- built, Schmidt-branded machines - I can at least claim to be the first journalist to have been able to put one to the test. So let’s see how it performs...
STEP ONE
The first step is a familiarisation tour of the machine which is parked up out- side in the yard. Working on the basis that first impressions are often correct and the old saying “if it looks right, it probably is right” still holds good, it has to be said, the six cubic metre (it’s actually 5.8, but let’s not be picky) SK660 looks right. The first thing to observe is that it looks like the whole body/hopper and auxiliary engine unit is demountable as a square-section aperture for a jackleg is visible on each corner. This may be an option in the future for markets where the chassis might be utilised for winter maintenance (snow plough/gritter) duties, but I’m told their prime function is to facilitate production independent of the truck chassis. The jacklegs are used to move the units around on the production line, making chassis mounting one of the last operations.
Why? Well in European markets, there are often long delays in waiting for a batch of correct specification chassis to be produced, so this method at least enables sweeper production to continue until the chassis arrive. But the same philosophy also enables complete sweeper units to be produced for global markets and shipped ready for chassis mounting in each local market. It’s hardly a revolutionary idea, but it underlines the fact that Schmidt is serious in looking for business in expanding markets.
If there was one criticism of the original - and indeed current - Faun/ Schmidt range it would be the ‘weight’ of the sweeper body unit and the design of the brushes and sweep system. It’s really one of those arguments such as do operators of materials handlers prefer individual levers or a multi-functional joystick?’ Both work fine. The choice is down to operator preference. I use the word ‘was’ a criticism, because Faun now produces an alternative sweep system package, so I was interested to take a closer look at the design on the SK660. The whole ‘package’ is very nicely done and can be adjusted to suit the operation. Personally, I like to keep the kerb brush out where I can see it as it also gives greater flexibility when taking tight turns and... Well, it’s a question of pride really - as a journalist I realise I don’t have to do the job every day, but when I do, I want to make a good job of it. So on the SK660, the kerb brush position can be adjusted. It’s also possible to specify basic, dual sweep or dual simultaneous sweep options. And it will take brushes of three diameters.
NICE DETAILS
There are a couple of other nice design details - the actual pick-up tube has a very short and straight path into the body/hopper - which should reduce downtime to clear blockages. But just to keep things flowing - and to cut-out dust emissions, a water spray nozzle has been fitted inside the tract. Another interesting option is the reverse roller brush, which flicks any remaining debris back into the pick-up head. This is a useful option - although it’s likely that contractors and hire companies would not specify it as it isn’t suited to heavy ‘blacktop’ operations on road resurfacing contracts. But looking more closely, I reckon it would be possible to employ a power flap and brush lift so that this feature can either be used or raised/closed as required. I’m told that idea is being looked into, too.
Anything else? Oh yes. Perhaps the most important potential downtime causing disaster on a truck-mounted vacuum sweeper by the auxiliary en- gine overheating. And one of the great- est sources of annoyance to local resi- dents? The noise created by a ‘donkey engine’ revving its guts out. The SK660 makes a gallant stab at solving both these ‘issues’ by featuring the 75hp Deutz TD2.9 diesel to power the fan and sweep systems - and then locate it behind a 350-litre cross-chassis water tank which has the effect of dampen- ing the noise, both to the driver and the passersby. Thanks to the vacuum fan being hydraulically driven, there are no drive-line issues to overcome, so the Deutz could be fitted in the best location to achieve efficient operation. Water capacity (under body) is 1250 li- tres.
LET’S HIT IT
Right, enough of the features, let’s hit the road. Due to time factors, my test today is going to be more of an impression. But the good news in waiting until after the official launch - where I wouldn’t have been allowed to operate a machine anyway - is that today we have plenty of autumn leaves to content with. Pity it hasn’t rained overnight as that would have really given the SK660 something to think about, but straight away, I’m getting some interesting input. First off, the whole control panel is excellent - the use of subtle colours on screen helps make it much easier to read while driving. But the best bit is what you can't see - the SK660 uses the same control techno- logy and dedicated software that is used on the more expensive runway sweepers and snow plough gritters. Which means it has not only been designed to work under all conditions, it’s already well proven.
My sweeping route is around some residential districts in the City of Peterborough, close to the Schmidt UK head office. We have some fast outer
urban roads to sweep and endless cul-de-sacs that are going to test the brush and pick-up geometry. Time is short, so I don’t want to waste it by going back over an area I’ve already swept to pick-up any trails of leftover debris. And with a Schmidt-UK engineer beside me, I don’t want to be smashing brushes into the kerbs, or missing stuff on corners, either. I’ve been keeping an eye on the rearview mirrors for some while now and the road surface behind is... It’s totally clear. Spot on. Time to turn up the heat and increase speed. That’s impressive. Plenty of suction. No blockages and still no ‘left overs’.
plough gritters for winter maintenance duties To look after such 24/7 operations, Aebi-Schmidt offers the ‘TLC’ package - Total Lifetime Care - a factory-controlled contract maintenance programme that is designed to leave the customer free to concentrate on operations, rather than worry about machine availability.
Interestingly, in the SK660, we are just talking about one specific design. But it comes with several options and has been designed to fit a wide range of truck chassis between 15 and 19 tonnes gross weight. The ‘hardware’ is interesting enough. And so is the ‘software’. But I’d suggest the key factor worth looking at here is the ‘TLC’ package - total lifetime care. If Schmidt and its distributors can introduce this fixed cost of ownership package into every key global market, it could have a real winner on its hands.
CONCLUSION
The SK660 is entering an already overcrowded marketplace and, it has to be said, one that is already dominated by several other brands of global significance. One approach might have been to come up with a highly advanced concept, well ahead of the competition. Aebi- Schmidt hasn’t gone that route and while that might be disappointing from a journalist’s perspective, the truth is, that could have been a big mistake as the vacuum sweeper market is (a) littered with ‘advanced concepts’ that have failed in service and (b) in the current economic climate, operators are more likely to be looking for ‘evolution’ rather than ‘revolution’. Reduced operating costs. Longer service life without the need for expensive overhauls, or replacement parts. A fixed cost of ownership. That kind of thing.
And in that respect, Aebi-Schmidt has a lot going for it. The brand already produces a range of other smaller compact precinct sweeping machines like the Swingo. And snow…
