DALLAS, Tex. — Mack Trucks, Inc. views this year’s Waste Expo show as an opportunity not only to highlight its industry-leading line-up of heavy-duty refuse vehicles, but also to emphasize the company’s continuing commitment to innovation.

"Mack has long been the leading manufacturer of refuse vehicles in North America, with approximately 70 per cent of the market, and we did not become the leader by standing still," said Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing.

Company officials pointed to the Mack LE model as a prime example of the kinds of innovations that have helped it establish and maintain leadership in the refuse segment.

"The LE is the most versatile dedicated refuse vehicle in the industry," said Steve Ginter, Mack vocational products manager. "It can be configured to be loaded from the front, side or rear. And it is engineered from the ground up to be driven from either the left or right side."

Mack recently began offering a new single-axle version of the LE for refuse customers who typically use smaller bodies and haul lighter payloads, often in and out of tight spaces.

Also making an ideal front or rear loader is the Mack MR model, the number one selling heavy duty class 8 low cab-over truck in the U.S. The MR features power steering, a panoramic two-piece windshield, and a spacious cab mated to a rugged low-alloy steel frame.

The Mack Vision DayCab is the ideal tractor for refuse transfer operations. Like all Mack products, the Vision DayCab is extremely durable. And thanks to a combination of advanced materials and smart engineering, it is also one of the lightest, quietest day cabs on the road today.

The company’s responsive ASET engines, available in a variety of horsepower ratings, continue to meet customer expectations in terms of fuel economy, uptime and performance. The ASET Vocational, or AI, engine (utilizing Internal Exhaust Gas Recirculation, or IEGR), which is fully compliant with EPA emissions standards, powers MR, LE and Granite models. The AI-300A in particular is specifically designed for optimal performance with the new Allison RDS heavy-duty automatic transmission.

The company’s expanded family of UniMax front axles includes a 20,000 lb. version that’s ideal for many refuse applications. UniMax is the first-ever vocational axle with unitized hubs specifically designed for heavy-duty applications. The unitized wheel hubs are permanently sealed with synthetic grease, virtually eliminating maintenance costs. And there’s no wheel end-play adjustment, meaning components last longer with less trouble.

To date, engine brakes have not been widely used in cab-over refuse vehicles, in part because adding a traditional engine brake in many cases raises the overall profile of the engine, causing interference issues with the cab above it. That’s all changing now that Mack has introduced its PowerLeash engine brake. Fifty-five pounds lighter than the competition but with more braking horsepower and quicker response times, the PowerLeash brake is integrated within the engine envelope, eliminating interference and making it suitable for both cab-over as well as conventional applications.

Per customer demand, Mack has also been a leader in the production of innovative natural gas-powered refuse vehicles for more than fourteen years. And it continues to participate in research efforts aimed at recapturing the methane gas naturally produced at landfills for use as a fuel source for the refuse vehicles that service these sites.
Looking forward, the company recently announced that it has received a $1.2 million contract to develop diesel hybrid electric technology to be used initially in military re-fueling vehicles, and then ultimately in commercial refuse trucks.

Anticipated advantages of operating on a combination of electricity and diesel fuel include better fuel economy, longer engine and brake system service intervals, and reduced emissions. Refuse vehicles, particularly those involved in stop-and-go collection, are ideal candidates for this technology, which captures the energy produced by braking normally lost as heat, and uses it to power the vehicle during steady-state operations.

For more information visit, www.macktrucks.com