Environmental Waste Controls (EWC) of Widnes has awarded a contract in excess of GBP 0.5 million to Edbro to supply and fit lightweight Rolatip power hooklift systems and Rolatarp powered sheeting systems to 23 DAF 8 x 4 chassis that are intended for the collection of household waste. The new vehicles have been purchased by EWC in the wake of two major waste management contact wins from county councils. On the 18th May 2006, EWC secured the Lincolnshire County Council waste transport contract.

This was followed on the 31st May 2006 with a 10-year contract win with Gloucestershire County Council household waste and recycling centres (HWRC).

'Our business is growing strongly because we offer a bespoke integrated waste management and recycling solution to meet the needs of every business', said Neil Ball of EWC.

'With our council contracts reliability is the major factor: our vehicles work 9-hours a day, 7-days a week, 364 days a year'.

'This is the major reason why we have specified Edbro on our latest vehicles: we have tried different suppliers, but have found Edbro equipment to be the most reliable'.

'Edbro also provide the best back-up service: as part of the DAF contract they are providing a comprehensive warranty package, which not only includes service and technical backup, but also a Loler testing package that requires Edbro to test the hooklift equipment annually'.

In addition to providing high levels of reliability, the combination of Edbro's hooklift and powered sheeting system is claimed to be the fastest package of its type for use in waste management, providing faster turnarounds and improved productivity for operators.

The Rolatip hooklift system is lighter, 30% faster in operation, and offers improved payloads compared with competitive systems.

It employs a patented roller lift mechanism, which greatly improves the lifting effect of the hydraulic lift cylinders.

The major benefit of this is twofold: smaller cylinders can be used, which reduces weight, and less effort is required to 'roll on and off' the container, due to the increased leverage generated via the lift mechanism.

As well as providing increased safety, the Rolatarp sheeting system, which is used in conjunction with the hooklift system, also offers the benefits of lightweight construction and speed of operation, which means improved productivity, with more trips per day than manual sheeting systems.

In addition, Rolatarp has a unique action, which lifts and lowers the sheet over, rather than pulling the cover across the load.

As a result, it is less prone to damage from projections above the height of the container.

Moreover, when the sheet cover is retracted, the Rolatarp side arms stow horizontally below the level of the container.

This avoids any possibility of damage when lifting on misaligned containers.

The package of the Rolatip and Rolatarp systems is being installed onto EWC's DAF chassis in a purpose-built facility at Edbro's Bolton works.

The modern facility is large, well equipped and staffed by fully trained, time-served engineers who understand all aspects of chassis development and modification.

Supporting the facility is a large paint shop, which enables Edbro to provide chassis ready painted in customer colours to a very high standard of finish.