Nusteel Structures’ new Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3363 6x4 tractor unit is not only the bridge and gantry specialist’s first truck from the manufacturer, it’s now the most powerful in its fleet. The new heavy-hauler has a flat-floored BigSpace cab and is plated for special types operation up to 150 tonnes (165 U.S. tons) gross combination weight (GCW). Based at Nusteel Structures’ head office and fabrication facilities in Lympne, Hythe, Kent, the truck is being used to deliver sections spanning up to 57 metres (187 feet) long to construction sites across the nation.
“The bridges and gantries we manufacture have gradually become bigger and structurally more robust over the years, and therefore significantly heavier,” says Iain Bates, Nusteel Structures transport manager and driver. “We’d reached the point at which we needed the increased capability of an uprated vehicle.”
Superb Turbo Clutch Performance
Local dealer Sparshatt Truck & Van supplied the Arocs 3363, which is powered by a six-cylinder, 15.6-litre engine rated for 617 horsepower (460 kilowatts). Nusteel Structures specified the truck with a Turbo Retarder Clutch (TRC), which works with a 16-speed PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission in place of a traditional manual gearbox with torque converter clutch. The TRC can deliver up to 3,000 newton-metres (2,213 pounds-foot) of torque, which Mercedes-Benz says is significantly more than a torque converter.
“I’ve always had manual gearboxes in the past, but the way the auto shift works in tandem with the Turbo Clutch is superb,” says Doug Newsholme, another Nusteel Structures transport manager and driver. “Pulling away with a load on is easy, whatever the ground. There’s never an issue with traction. “Heavy mode completely changes the feel of the vehicle, which drives like a train. A little while back, it pulled 100 t up Wrotham Hill near Tonbridge at 20 mph in eighth gear without breaking a sweat, which was some going. The integral retarder also holds you back when going down hills, which is very reassuring and exactly what you need. In fact, the system does everything we were promised, and it does it supremely well.”
The Arocs Up Close
Nusteel Structures’ Arocs also boasts colour-coded bumpers, a roof-mounted Kelsa light bar, and a chassis catwalk infill from SB Components of Wisbech. The Arocs truck range also include rigids, concrete mixers, and tippers from 18 to 41 t (20 to 45 U.S. t) and is available in axle configurations from 4x2 to 8x8. Rated power options range from 235 to 617 hp (175 to 460 kW).
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Source: Mercedes-Benz