Two new Mercedes-Benz Arocs have played a key role in keeping Manchester Airport’s runways open during the recent winter weather.
The Arocs were supplied by dealer Rygor Commercials to Aebi Schmidt UK in January this year.
Before being delivered to the airport, Aebi Schmidt UK fitted both Arocs with Aiport Sprayer 30m extendable side and rear spray booms, pumping equipment and modular polyethylene fluid tank by Peterborough-based specialist bodybuilder Aebi Schmidt UK.
Senior airport engineer Jay Harding said: “These new trucks have already played a vital part in keeping our runways open through some challenging conditions, and have greatly impressed the teams who work with them. The cabs are comfortable and well-designed, while the controls for the spraying and pumping equipment integrate seamlessly with the vehicles’ own electronics.”
The Arocs’ 7.7-litre straight-six engines generate 235 kW (320 hp) and come with Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions.
With side booms fully extended, each Arocs can spray de-icing solution across a 30-metre span, while travelling at speeds of up to 45 km/h. The truck carries 12,500 litres of fluid with the dosage and spraying width controlled by the operative in the cab.
The Manchester Airport engineering team have named one Aroc after Sir Bruce Forsyth and the other after former colleague Steve Clousen, who passed away in 2017.
