30.12.2009

Mercedes Zetros goes into Civvies

The first Mercedes Zetros truck designed for civilian use was delivered earlier this month to Finnish utility company Eltel Networks equipped with both a crane and a work platform.

The heavy-duty off-road truck was commissioned by Eltel Networks for constructing and maintaining electrical and telecommunications networks in northern Finland. The final product was developed in partnership between Hiab and Veho Commercial Vehicles.

The 37 tonne/metre Hiab XS 377 E-6 HiPro loader crane offers up to 30 metres of lift height and 24 metres of outreach. In order to maintain its maximum performance and reduce deflection the truck’s chassis frame had to be stiffened prior to installation.
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The vehicle has a 37 t/m crane and platform with 30m height

In addition the crane has a hoist and work platform options along with automatically stowing stabiliser legs.

The Zetros truck features continuous all-wheel drive a 326 horsepower 7.2 litre diesel engine and a choice of manual or fully automatic transmissions. Standard wading depth is 800 mm with an option for 1,110 mm.

The cab has more space than traditional forward mounted truck cabs with a flat walk through floor, three separate seats and room for tools and other equipment.

The first project for the new vehicle involved working on a 220-kilovolt cable from Levi to Sodankylä across a wilderness area with few roads or tracks. These conditions and the cold winter climate proved a good test for the vehicles capabilities.
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The all wheel drive Mercedes can cope with extreme off-road conditions

The Hiab/Veho partnership has also produced a concept designed for the four-wheel-drive 13 tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego chassis. This standardised, multipurpose vehicle, with a Hiab 088 HiDuo crane, is intended for energy companies in distribution network maintenance tasks, for minor construction work and in the laying of new power lines.