A truck for all seasons

The verdict is in and it’s unanimous...Liebherr’s articulated dumptruck is a winner...

It’s just over a year since the first TA 230 trucks were delivered in the UK and since then they have been impressing owners at sites across the country on applications ranging from forestry road construction in the Scottish Highlands to site clearance for the extension of Liebherr’s HQ in Biggleswade.

Michael Atkinson helped lead the truck’s introduction to these shores and he says a vital first step in monitoring market reaction to new equipment is to put potential customers in the cab. ‘When a new product is introduced to the market it is vitally important to capture feedback. Customers need to get in the seat, so our demonstration programme for the truck was crucial. The response and testimonies from those demonstrations were overwhelmingly positive and consistent,’ says Atkinson, ADT and Wheel Loader Product Specialist at Liebherr.

Investment in expensive capital equipment must be justified on several levels – by the purchasing department, workshop manager, transport organiser and, more often these days, by the person entrusted to operate the machine on a daily basis. And as far as operators are concerned, the TA 230 has hit the target on controls, comfort and safety as they guide the vehicle and its 28-tonne payload across demanding terrain.

‘Visibility from the operator seat has been hailed as unrivalled,’ explains Atkinson. ‘This is largely due to mounting the Liebherr Stage V D956 engine on a 7° incline under a streamlined engine hood. The inclined bonnet of the TA 230 allows optimal close-range visibility, even without mirrors. Generous glass and the lack of struts provide an unhindered view for the operator, further improving safety on site.’

As we enter the season of gloomy nights and mornings, the truck’s comprehensive light package is proving its worth, illuminating travel routes and working areas. ‘The operator has optimal visibility in all directions, even at night, and that means increased safety for the operator and other personnel on site,’ Atkinson points out.

Top marks have also been awarded for ride comfort, where the driving experience is aided by a hydro-pneumatic spring cylinder on the front axle, layered springs on the rear axle and a “premium” suspension seat.  Speed-sensitive steering allows for easy and precise manoeuvring, even at higher speeds, and fewer steering corrections are required during cornering. Rounding off the cab’s creature comforts are generous storage space, automatic air conditioning and a cooler box as standard.

Atkinson says the TA 230’s stopping ability has been highlighted by many operators, grateful for the electronically controlled continuous braking system consisting of a powerful engine brake and hydro-dynamic retarder. ‘The automatic retarder setting prevents unnecessary brake wear caused by operating errors. Easy retarder control via seven detent positions on the right-hand steering-column switch to match any type of operation,’ he adds.

Pulling power is fundamental for articulated dumptrucks and the phrase “it pulls like a train” has been used by several drivers. That’s thanks to the new Stage V Liebherr D956 6-cylinder diesel that delivers 360hp and drives through an automatic powershift transmission with a maximum forward speed of 57km/h, making it one of the fastest trucks of its size on the market. To cope with that speed, the three axles have load-switchable diff locks and four-point hydro-pneumatic suspension to smooth out any bumps in the road.

Other highlights of the generous ‘standard’ specification are an integrated weighing unit, extended LED package, automatic greasing including tailgate, ascent/descent lighting, dump body control, air-cushioned heated seat and electro-hydraulic opening of the bonnet.

On the dot

Soon after its launch, the TA 230 was awarded a Red Dot, an international accolade that acknowledges outstanding design. Judges commented ‘...power and agility are reflected in every aspect of its angular, dynamic lines. The development focused in particular on improving visibility from the cab and illuminating the truck’s travel and working area, but also on ensuring a smooth handling of the vehicle.’

 SPEC CHECK

▪ Empty vehicle weight – 24,600 kg

▪ Payload – 28,000 kg

▪ Max. trough capacity with tailgate – 18.1 m³ 

▪ Engine power (ISO 9249) – 265 kW / 360 hp

▪ Exhaust emissions standard – V

▪ Max. driving speed – 57 km/h forward / 16 km/h reverse