Zeeland collects glass with truck-mounted crane

Netherlands-based Zeeland Cleaning Service (ZRD) has commissioned a Volvo FM 420 8x2 tridem for emptying glass containers.

The company chose the truck for its manoeuvrability in tight spaces

The truck has a 26 tonne-metre Palfinger truck-mounted crane with a 28 tonne hooklift system. Different colours of bottle glass can be stored in three separate compartments.

The delivery was made in collaboration with Volvo Trucks dealer Bluekens Truck en Bus and Volvo Trucks Nederland.

ZRD, owned by thirteen municipalities in Zeeland, Netherlands, was looking for a suitable truck for this new work through a public tender.

“We recently started collecting bottled glass ourselves, such as canning jars, wine bottles and soda bottles,” said ZRD director Paul Marinissen.

“An external party used to do this, but we believe that the collection of household waste streams is our core task and that is why we now carry out this task entirely in-house in eleven municipalities.”

Choosing the truck

Marinissen said, “We compared different brands with each other. We held a practical day in which trucks from different brands were tested and assessed on all kinds of points. The Volvo FM scored best on value for money.”

The company also thought the manoeuvrability in tight spaces and power steering system was good as the truck will be used in shopping centres.

“Our driver has been working with this truck for a few weeks now and he is very satisfied with the working and driving comfort. It has a spacious cabin with a comfortable driver’s seat. The automatically shifting I-Shift gearbox also makes work a lot easier in practice,” Marinissen concluded.