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Not only is Solihull-based Whale Tankers continuing to buck the recession here in the UK, the specialist manufacturer to the waste and cleaning industries is enjoying a sunny outlook when it comes to its export activities.
Indeed Whale has recently seen another if its popular VacuumWhales leave our shores for Malta, the third Whale tanker to be supplied to the European Union member country in the last twelve months. But what makes this latest vehicle delivery so special is the fact that it is one of the first tankers to feature Whale ‘iWeigh’, a recently developed waste monitoring and receipt printing system with the capability of being upgraded to provide predictive axle loading.
As Whale Tankers’ Export Manager, Andy Norris states: "Whilst our export business continues to look very positive, it is always particularly pleasing to be commissioned to supply a vehicle solution that features one of a range of innovations, and iWeigh on the VacuumWhale is the perfect example.
"Basically, the end user in Malta, the Falzon Group of Companies, was interested in incorporating iWeigh into their vehicle specification in order to provide them with an onboard waste monitoring system that incorporated the facility to print customer receipts," he added.
And whilst iWeigh has already attracted interest from overseas, Andy is optimistic it will become widely specified here in the UK. "We have already received a lot of interest from our UK customers, many of whom are particularly interested in upgrading the system to incorporate the feature of predictive axle loading. Not surprisingly, the system already has this capability inbuilt into it."
Whale iWeigh comprises an in-cab mounted display/controller, thermal printer and level monitoring sensor in the waste compartment, the VacuumWhale supplied to the Falzon Group via DAF dealer, United Equipment, also features an additional, externally mounted LED display.
Capable of providing multiple copies of each load receipt, the system includes a packaged ‘real time clock’ that allows the date and time to be recorded on the printout. Clearly displayed, iWeigh details figures for the initial load, the final load and amount collected, as well as a customer reference.
Designed to carry sewage and other non-hazardous sludges, the 9,000 litre VacuumWhale has been supplied on DAF’s LF55 19-tonne GVW 4 x 2 right hand drive chassis. Commenting on the decision to specify Whale Tankers, Falzon Group’s Director, Carmel Falzon said: "We already operate a number of Whale tankers in our fleet, it was a great experience to visit their manufacturing operation in the UK, as it more than lived up to our expectations. We were keen to have iWeigh featured on the new Vacuum tanker and we are confident that the new VacuumWhale will prove a valuable addition to the Falzon Group’s expanding vehicle fleet."
As United Equipment Co Ltd’s Marcus Bonnici added: "Despite being aware of Whale’s reputation for producing products of the highest quality, it was particularly pleasing to gain an insight into the materials, components and systems that go into delivering what is an industry leading product. As a DAF distributor, we are delighted to have worked with them on delivering this latest vehicle into the Falzon Group fleet."
