The 18-tonne FE is mounted with a beavertail body and replaces a 14-tonne Volvo FL, allowing the company to transport larger vehicles.
David Harvey, Technical Sales Manager at Aebi Schmidt UK, says: “As the diversity of our products has continued to increase over the years, we were starting to reach the limits of what we were able to handle with our 14-tonne box truck. We needed something with a bigger payload capacity, so we took the decision to invest in this new FE and we couldn’t be happier with the finished result.”
Supplied by Alan Didwell, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia, the FE features Volvo’s I-Shift gearbox for a smooth and comfortable driving experience and is powered by the D8K Euro 6 engine, producing up to 250 hp and 900 Nm of torque.
Aebi Schmidt UK worked closely with Didwell and the team at bodybuilders Sterling GP to ensure the truck met its precise specifications.
“The quality of the product is superb, the demonstration team are delighted with it,” says Harvey. “We relied heavily on Alan, and his experience really helped us. We asked for a very low approach angle for loading, in the region of 12 degrees, as our sweepers all have brushes and are very low to the ground. Together with Sterling, he took all our requirements on board and delivered exactly what we needed.”
The new FE will be working five days a week and features a sleeper cab, with air conditioning and Bluetooth communication, giving comfortable accommodation for Aebi Schmidt UK’s drivers. Safety and visibility has also been improved with Volvo’s factory-fitted, additional lower glazing panel on the passenger door.
The truck – supplied through Volvo Financial Services – is covered by a five-year Volvo Gold Contract, with all servicing and maintenance to be carried out at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia’s Peterborough depot.
“We have a long relationship with Volvo,” says Harvey. “They deliver a premium product, but we also receive an exceptionally high level of service from our local dealer. The team are really on the ball, always proactive. That was an important factor for sticking with Volvo for this latest order. As a business, we need partners we can rely on.”
Part of the Aebi Schmidt global group, Aebi Schmidt UK supplies, maintains and provides training on equipment dedicated to all-year-round surface clearing, including winter snow and ice clearance, sweeping and vegetation control. The business provides effective solutions to keep roads, airports and motorways clear of waste, obstructions, snow and ice.
