Unimog 0210 en Komplett Low

Safe workplaceSafety first The Unimog is well known as a multi-functional workhorse. But it also proves an exemplary model in terms of safety.

At the mine: Energy sector | On rails: Dual mode | On the land: Agrologistics

The magazine for multi-functional applications.

2 | 2010Mercedes-Benzw

ww

.mer

cede

s-be

nz.c

om

Sep

tem

ber 2

010

Unimog01_Titel_06_EN.qxd:01_01 12.10.2010 10:57 Uhr Seite 1

2 EDITORIAL • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Yaris PürsünMercedes-Benz Wörth Plant Manager and Director of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks Division

Dear friends of Unimog,appearances – and statistics – can be deceptive. We regularly hear news of

falling accident rates, yet the figures mostly relate to cars and trucks. The

situation with regard to farm tractors is sadly quite different. According to

Germany’s Office of Statistics, the number of fatalities in accidents involving

such vehicles rose by a dramatic 64 percent year-on-year in 2009.

Consequently, it is incumbent upon operators to address road safety as a top

priority: for their own good, for the sake of their employees, and to protect

other road users. The safety of our vehicles and their occupants has always

been a top priority for Mercedes-Benz. That is why we work to the now much

more stringent standards applicable to commercial vehicles, deploying all the

expertise and know-how of Mercedes-Benz in doing so. It is in keeping with

those considerations, too, that the Mercedes-Benz Unimog is fitted as

standard with extensive and innovative safety features. Safety and robustness

are assured by the special running gear, permanent all-wheel drive, ABS brake

system, compressed air brakes and portal axles, just for a start. And the safety

features continue into the cab. It is not without reason that the Unimog has

passed a variety of different safety and crash tests with ease. And another

safety benefit which should not be forgotten is the extraordinarily good

all-round view from the panoramic cab.

A number of upcoming events including the IFAT, IAA Commercial Vehicles

and InnoTrans shows promise great things for this Autumn. Mercedes-Benz

will once again be presenting its specialist vehicle solutions whenever and

wherever the movers and shakers in the industry get together. The present

mood is bright, and there is a great sense of anticipation. As one instance, the

organiser of the 63rd IAA Commercial Vehicles show, German Automotive

Industry Association VDA, is talking about the country’s economy enjoying a

“strong impetus” which it believes will benefit its upcoming international show.

The event of the year will doubtless be well attended once again, following on

from the approximately 300,000 visitors from 110 countries who came two

years ago to view close-up the new products and innovations on show from

the over 2,000 exhibitors.

The Autumn season of trade fairs marks one more step towards a very

special year for the Unimog in 2011: its 60th birthday. So there will no doubt

be much more to report about the exciting world of the Unimog in the near

future!

I very much hope you will enjoy reading this latest issue of Unimog Magazine.

Open-cast mining14 Extreme workhorses

02_Edi_Inhalt_06_EN.qxd:02-03 12.10.2010 10:59 Uhr Seite 2

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • CONTENTS 3

Publisher’s dataPublisher: Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, Sales Marketing, D-76742 WörthResponsible at publisher: Benjamin Syring, Special-Purpose Vehicles Product DivisionEditorial committee: Benjamin Syring, Marion Frank, Dieter SellnauAuthors: Martin Heying (13, 30 bottom), Richard Kienberger (4 bottom, 5 l.), Susanne Löw (4 top, 5 r., 9, 10 ff.,30 top, 31), Thomas Maier (20 ff.), Ralf Maile (18 f.), Saskia Meier (24 ff., 28 f.), Tanja Strauß (6 ff., 14 ff.)Photos: Aebi Schmidt (26 bottom), büro monaco (1, 3 no. 1+2, 6-8, 9 l., 10-12, 20 f., 22 r.), Daimler AG (Miscellaneous), Michael Ehritt (24, 26 top left/top right), Jürgen Freigang (9 r.), Martin Heying (3 no. 3, 13, 22 l., 23, 30 bottom), Richard Kienberger (4 bottom, 5 l.), Susanne Löw (31 top right), Ralf Maile (18 f.), Mercedes-Benz Schweiz AG (3 no. 4, 27 top left/top right), Morlock Photography (2 r., 4 top, 14-17), Carl-Heinz Vogler (30 top)Production: Verlag Heinrich Vogel, Springer Fachmedien München GmbH, Corporate Publishing, AschauerStraße 30, D-81549 Munich, Tel.: +49 (0)89 203043-1122; Art direction/graphics: Dierk Naumann; Editorialstaff: Susanne Löw, Thomas Maier (Editor-in-chief); Project management: Susanne Löw, Matthias PioroPrinted by: F&W Mediencenter GmbH, Holzhauser Feld 2, D-83361 KienbergTranslation: beo Gesellschaft für Sprachen & Technologie mbH, Freischützstraße 9, D-81927 MunichUnimog Magazine is published twice a year, in English, German, French and Spanish. All rightsreserved. Reproduction and electronic processing are only permitted with written authorisation fromthe publishers. No liability can be accepted for any unsolicited articles and images sent to us.Printed on paper bleached without chlorine • Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany

06

10

20

24

News04 All the latest from the Special Trucks division

Cover story06 Safety first Choosing a Unimog means keeping on the safe side.09 A misleading gut feeling Interview with Jürgen Freigang.

Agrologistics10 A striking success in agrologistics The Wolf family’s Unimog U 500 is not

just an attention-grabber – it is also a hard worker, which is rarely stood still.

Fire-fighting13 A highly manoeuvrable fire-fighter The volunteer fire service in Wuppertal

recently took delivery of a Unimog U 20 tank tender. And it’s a red hot hit.

Open-cast mining14 Extreme workhorses The Hambach open-cast mine near Cologne is

a place of superlatives. And Unimogs have been working there from thevery beginning.

16 “The Unimog is vital” Interview with Jörg Rübsteck.

Transport18 Sunday driving ban? Not for the Unimog Eugen Betz uses his U 500 to

transport construction machinery, among other purposes. And he profitsfrom it in lots of ways.

Dual-mode operation20 “Green Logistics” on road and rail For DB Schenker Rail the Unimog is

proving an environmentally friendly alternative to marshalling locomotives.

Engineering24 Flexible, manoeuvrable, agile – thanks to all-wheel steering Three

practical examples demonstrating the great benefits of all-wheel steering.

Service28 Being a king Mercedes-Benz customers can trust in the company’s reliable

quality. All the time, everywhere.

Uniscope30 Unimog exotic models collection/Unimog 2010 the star guest31 Shopping at the click of a mouse/World Tour, part I/Diary

02_Edi_Inhalt_06_EN.qxd:02-03 12.10.2010 10:59 Uhr Seite 3

4 NEWS • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Meals on two axles

Undemanding yet tough

At Stockholm Airport, caterer Gate Gourmet delivers its meals to the aircraft using the Econic. For good reasons.

In exploring for new oil fields in Jordan, all-wheel vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are handling the tough jobs.

International caterer Gate Gourmet supplies leading airlines suchas SAS and Delta with between 8,000 and 12,000 meals a day atArlanda Airport in Stockholm. To ensure just-in-time delivery of theportioned, packed and trolley-stacked meals, plus drinks, duty-freegoods and accessories to the aircraft on the nearby apron, Gate Gourmet relies on the Econic. The 10 low-floor units which havebeen serving the airport in this way since 2008 easily fit beneath alllow passage-ways around the terminals. As a further benefit, theinward-opening front passenger door and the panorama window provide the necessary all-round visibility for the drivers whenmanoeuvring directly beneath the aircraft.

The Mallaghan lift trucks mounted on the base units are capableof lifting a load capacity of 4,000 kilograms up to 5.70 metres. Therefrigerated containers are manoeuvred directly to the aircraft doorsfor loading and unloading at the press of a button. Another comfortfeature for drivers is the low entry and exit facility, thanks to thelow-level cab floor. All in all, the Econic is a key factor in helping toensure that air travellers flying from Arlanda will not be hungrywhen they arrive at their destination. r

They are undemanding, robust and can be deployed (almost) anywhere – just like the camels which are traditionally kept asbeasts of burden around the region. All-wheel vehicles from Mercedes-Benz were the firstchoice when oil company Josco, aJordanian-registered subsidiaryof Shell, set about putting together a vehicle fleet to assistin exploring and exploiting newfields. What is special about thisarrangement is that it representsthe first time ever that Shell hasrun such a fleet under its ownmanagement, having previouslyrelied on subcontractors.

To handle the extreme condi-tions encountered in the Jordan-ian desert a range of different

Luggage loading and unloading, refuelling, cleaning, catering

– with so much going on, it’s important to keep a clear view.

The panorama window of the Econic is a big help.

Actros, Zetros (see photo) and

Unimog units are working under

extreme conditions exploiting

new oil fields in the Jordanian desert.

models are deployed, in a wide variety of configurations – primarilyfrom the Zetros and Actros series. While the Zetros trucks aredeployed to supply the various camps with equipment and material,

the mobile drilling rigs aremounted on four-axled Actrostrucks. The Unimog, which isscheduled to join the beige-liveried Josco desert fleet shortly,will provide specialist equipmentto assist in handling of the pipesbeing sunk into the bore holes. r

04_News2_06_EN.qxd:04_05 12.10.2010 11:00 Uhr Seite 4

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • NEWS 5

Browse the Mercedes-Benz calendarThe Mercedes-Benz Unimog is turning 60.That achievement calls for a very special giftfor customers – something which is just asmulti-functional as the “universal motormachine” itself: a ring-bound calendar that canbe read like a book or used as a traditional wallcalendar. Titled “Lebensräume” (living spaces),it portrays the many fields of application ofthe Unimog, includingphotos of historic mod-els and the latest exam-ples. The calendar willsoon be available fromwww.shop.mercedes-b e n z . c o m / u n i m o g(size: 31 x 43 cm, price:24.90 Euro).

Get in gear fastSpecial offer weeks at your Unimog servicepartner. Come along and have a look, andsave yourself money. From September 15th toDecember 31, 2010 you can get clutches forvarious Unimog models at a special offerprice. And all in accustomed Mercedes-Benzoriginal parts quality. Talk to your Unimogservice partner. They will be glad to help you.

A real globetrotter!

With the new Bocklet body, the U 4000 iscapable of completing any expedition. Specialfeatures such as the heavy-duty running gear,the Tirecontrol tyre pressure control systemand the vehicle’s high diesel capacity (290litres + two 20-litre reserve canisters) make itpossible. In the cut-away shape live-in cab(standing height: 1.95, length: 4.35, interiorwidth: 2.20 metres) sanitary facilities and acorner galley provide the necessary comforts.

A ski stadium is more normally associatedwith the Winter time and the cold, yet on thisSummer’s day it is not just tourists who havecome flocking to the Olympic Ski Stadium inGarmisch-Partenkirchen. In conjunction withthe world’s largest Unimog distributor, Henne-Unimog GmbH, local Mercedes-Benz dealerAutohaus Hornung GmbH is hosting a majorshow, with large numbers of public worksvehicles demonstrating their capabilities atthe traditional wintersports venue. As the firstspectators begin to arrive at the historic stadi-um, which was completely rebuilt in 2007, ski-jumpers are conducting their Summertraining in the background.

The Mercedes-Benz dealer regularly offersits customers an overview of the product portfolio and first sight of the latest releasesby hosting special presentations. This time

the focus was on public works and fire-fightingvehicles. Gerhard Lutz, Managing Director ofAutohaus Hornung GmbH, sets out his corpo-rate strategy: “In our catchment area there arevery few freight forwarders. In fact, only one ofour major customers operates a long-distancetransport fleet. Consequently, we need to concentrate our commercial vehicle salesefforts on other market segments”. In pursuingits strategy, the dealership has put on a showabout everything that Mercedes-Benz has tooffer in the public works vehicles segment. Amajor feature of the show is a range of Unimogmodels from Henne-Unimog GmbH, based inKirchheim-Heimstetten. The various equipmentmanufacturers have made their matching built-on units available.

The show features a U 500 tipper tractor unitas is widely used in farming, as well as mainte-nance vehicles, Winter gritters and snow-clear-ers and a cherry-picker. Two lovingly restoredvintage models – one from the 1950s and asnow plough with a 54 hp engine and separate180 hp plough drive on its load space – arousea strong sense of nostalgia among the older vis-itors especially. A new model among the fireservice vehicles featured is based on the U 20,and is a product for which the Mercedes-Benzdealership in Garmisch sees bright prospects.One of the reasons for that optimism is that theUnimog fire-fighting vehicle carries equipmentwhich normally requires a much larger baseunit. “The manoeuvrability and off-road capabil-ity of the U 20 are key attractions in view of theapplications for which our fire services need touse it,” Lutz asserts. In terms of visitors, thedealership manager has focused on a closely tar-geted group: “You can’t expect to have thousandsof people attending such an event. For us it ismuch more important to have professionals anddecision-makers here, and to provide them withthe expert information and assistance theyexpect.” r

Unimog on show at the ski stadiumAgainst an impressive backdrop, local dealer Autohaus Hornung together with

Unimog distributor Henne-Unimog GmbH hosted a demonstration of public works

and fire-fighting vehicles.

04_News2_06_EN.qxd:04_05 12.10.2010 11:00 Uhr Seite 5

6 COVER STORY • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

carried out by the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety of theAssociation of German Statutory Accident Insurers, the Unimog demon-strated that the vibration impact on the driver during mowing and in off-road driving was below the trigger threshold laid down in noise andvibration protection regulations. Thanks to its fully sprung runninggear, cab suspension and air-sprung comfort seating, the Unimog prom-ises stress-free working conditions which alleviate the risk of tiring.

A clear view in all directionsThe Unimog also scores highly thanks to the good all-round visibility itprovides. The panoramic cab ensures a clear view of the road and of the

vehicle’s built-on units at all times. The low-slung windscreen providesa 12 metre visibility radius even with the mowing, gritting and snow clear-ing units dismounted. Including the heated and electrically adjustablelarge-area rear-view mirror, the vehicle features a total of five mirrors on

The Unimog is the right choice when it comes to ensuring safety. Its unique design protects vehicle occupants

and other road users thanks to optimum all-round visibility, efficient braking and lots of other safety features.

Safety first

CLIMB ABOARD, DRIVE OFF – and arrive safely. Whether the U 20,U 300 to U 500 or U 4000 to U 5000, with a Unimog you can be sureof always being on the safe side – and also enhancing general levelsof safety on the road. That is certainly not something to be taken forgranted. Every year there are numerous serious collisions between utility vehicles and other road users. Often they are caused by humanerror, and as such will never be completely eliminated. The dangers arenot restricted merely to other road users however: According to Germany’s Office of Statistics, the risk of farm tractor drivers beingfatally injured in an accident is on the increase. There was a 64 percentyear-on-year rise in such fatalities in 2009. The Unimog offers a widerange of driver safety features which no tractor can match.

All-round protection for driver and passengersThe cab of the Unimog is a safe, ergonomic workplace for the driver andother occupants. Occupant protection is enhanced by the seat construc-tion in conformance to EU Directives 74/408/EEC and 76/115/EEC(relating to seat and seat belt anchorage testing). The integrated headrestraints and three-point automatic seat belts provide effective protection in the event of a rear-end impact especially. And the Unimogalso sets standards in terms of low vibration, falling within the vibration limits stipulated in section 5 of the German OccupationalHealth and Safety regulations in mowing and Winter works. In tests

On the safety training course near Salzburg the sales staff

themselves had the chance to get behind the wheel.

Direct field of view in compliance with section 35b of the Germanroad vehicle licensing regulations (StVZO)1) The systems used to control the vehicles must be easy and safe

to operate.2) The vehicle driver must be guaranteed an adequate field of view

under all operating and weather conditions.

§

06_Titel_05_EN.qxd:06_09 12.10.2010 11:01 Uhr Seite 6

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • COVER STORY 7

ü

“Thanks to ABS the driver is able to maintain control of the Unimog under full braking.”

Robert Ramsauer, product manager special-purpose vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Austria

the driver and passenger sides to assure good rear visibility. This great-ly reduces the risk posed by blind-spots and resultant hazard situationssuch as on pedestrian crossings. The seating position also helps:“Because the driver is seated closely behind the front axle and so in thefront end of the vehicle, he can judge traffic situations, such as at cross-ings, earlier than would be the case if the position were set fartherback,” explains Robert Ramsauer, product manager special-purposevehicles with Mercedes-Benz Austria.

Unimog vehicles with built-on units also retain outstanding visibility.All units approved for mounting on a Unimog are within the legal limitsin terms of forward visibility. They are matched to the Unimog so as toensure all legal requirements regarding visibility are met. In concreteterms, for example, this means that when operating front-mounted

equipment the legally permissible 3.5 metre distance from the middleof the steering wheel to the front of the equipment is not exceeded.As a result, no special permit is required. The driver and the vehicleowner can relax, because with the Unimog they are complying with alllegal requirements regarding operation with mounted equipment andhave critical situations more effectively under control.

Safe braking to avoid dangerIf a Unimog encounters a potentially hazardous situation, the driver isable to rely on the vehicle’s high levels of braking safety, guaranteedby its dual-circuit service brake system with four disk brakes directlyon the wheels. The four-channel ABS additionally keeps the Unimogcontrollable in the event of danger. “Even under full braking, thanksto ABS the driver is able to maintain control of the Unimog and avoidhitting any obstacles. Without ABS, the driver would have to decidewhether to brake or steer,” Ramsauer points out. Braking is furtheraided by the two-stage engine brake, delivering over 100 kW of braking power. The automatic load-sensitive brake (ALB) controls the distribution of braking force between the front and rear axles,while the ABS socket assures safe trailer operation. ü

According to section 23(1) of the German road traffic regulations(StVO), the vehicle driver is responsible for ensuring that his orher view and hearing are not impaired by the other occupants, animals, load, equipment or machinery, or the condition of thevehicle.

§


��

��

�� !

��

��

��

��

��

��

8 COVER STORY • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Changes of season pose a particular hazard to road users. Fog hindersvisibility and vision, and Autumn leaves make roads slippery. So it isgood that the rear lighting on the Unimog makes it so clearly visible tothe traffic behind: with four tail lights, two indicators, two rear head-lights, two reflectors, a fog tail light and two brake lights. In addition,two side-marker lamps as well as outline and periphery marker lampsensure that the Unimog is clearly seen in every situation. The front head-lights feature a range control system. Wild animals on German roadscaused 2,412 accidents entailing personal injury last year (Destatis,

The Unimog remains on track even on wet and icy roads thanks to ABS.

Advertisement

July 1, 2010). In such cases, and others in which abrupt braking isrequired, ABS prevents the vehicle from breaking away in various roadconditions. Optional anti-skid or snow chains can be fitted in Winter toenhance traction and track control.

Safety training: The Unimog shows what it can doFull braking on a wet road, cornering on a slippery surface and evadingobstacles – 20 members of staff from the Unimog Austria sales organi-sation had the opportunity to experience for themselves the outstandingsafety features and top-class handling of the Unimog over the course ofa two-day event. “It’s the best way to get to know all the benefits andkey features of the product you are selling. There is nothing more per-suasive than getting behind the wheel yourself and managing to keepyour vehicle on track under full braking on a mirror-like icy surface,”Ramsauer asserts.

The driving technical centre of the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycleand Touring Club (ÖAMTC) in Marchtrenk in Upper Austria providedthe perfect setting for the safety training course, with its computer- controlled water obstacles, inclines and slide surfaces. After all, thewhole point of the event was for the Unimog to show what it can do.And it did just that. The result was clear: the Unimog is well ahead ofthe rest when it comes to safety. r


UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • COVER STORY 9

Jürgen Freigang, an expert on transportation of hazardous goods and

load securing, knows what is important when safety is at stake.

A misleading gut feeling

Unimog Magazine: You recently gave a pres-entation to a customer event at Minufa, theUnimog distributor in Herborn in the state ofHesse. What was the purpose of the event?Jürgen Freigang: It was intended to comparetwo different systems: a tractor and a Unimog.Minufa clearly demonstrated that the Unimogis safer to handle in some situations – evenfor the unpractised driver. When brakingwith ABS, for example, the Unimog remainswell on track, even on a road surface withvarying grip on the left and right sides ofthe vehicle and when driving at 50 km/h,whereas the tractor breaks away at just30 km/h on such a surface, because it has noABS. The test also compared load securing.It demonstrated that a tonne weight on avehicle moves around under full braking at20 km/h just the same as a light load. Manyof the people attending the event expectedthat the crate holding the tonne weightwould barely move on the load space. Yetwhen they saw that both crates were cata-pulted forward against the front bulkhead

even at such a low speed at the same rate – the heavy object merely with much greaterimpact energy than the empty one – there waswidespread astonishment. Their gut feelinghad told them the outcome would be very different!

Unimog Magazine: The issue of safety is alsoalways linked to the question of responsibili-ty – who is liable in the event of an accident?Jürgen Freigang: Many people are not suffi-ciently aware of their responsibility in thisrespect. According to StVZO regulations sections 30 and 31, a vehicle’s owner is fundamentally responsible for its operation.He/she must ensure that a vehicle is onlyever used when it is safe. That includes, inparticular, ensuring compliance with trafficsafety regulations as well as rules governingsafety when operating equipment and carrying passengers, etc. And the units built-on to a carrier vehicle – such as a Unimog –must also be joined together so as to techni-cally ensure safe operation on the road.

Jürgen Freigang:

“A vehicle’s owner

is fundamentally

responsible for

its operation.”

In a comparison between a tractor and a Unimog, the “universal motor machine” comes out impressively on top.

Unimog Magazine: What role do vehicle,body and built-on unit manufacturers play inthat?Jürgen Freigang: Vehicle manufacturerssuch as Mercedes-Benz, and the associatedbody manufacturers, maintain close mutuallinks and coordinate their products to anoptimum degree. The issues of product safetyand – where appropriate – product liabilityare key considerations for both parties, justas they are for the company which fits the built-on units and then supplies the complete system.

With regard to load securing for example:StVO section 22, paragraph 1 stipulates that,on taking evasive action under full braking,the load must not slide, roll, tip, make noiseor fall down – meaning that lashing pointsor other load securing aids and systems areessential. That is to say, body manufacturersshould work out in advance and advise thevehicle manufacturer of the locations atwhich lashing points or other facilities needto be fitted, and how they need to be dimen-sioned. In concrete terms, this means: Howmany deca-Newtons (= daN; see also, forexample, the blue lashing point identifierson flat-bed truck) need to be held in whatdirection? The standard stipulations fortrucks over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weightrating are as follows: 80 percent of the forcedue to weight must be secured against sliding forward, and 50 percent respective-ly against sliding to the rear and side. Putsimply: Of a tonne load weight, as much as800 kilograms is forced towards the cabunder full braking; of 10 tonnes, 8 is forcedforward, etc. Once the load has started sliding, enormous impacts can occur repre-senting many times the force due to weightof the load! In the case of a gritter vehicle orthe like, this can result in a few tonnes’impact in a very short space of time … r


10 AGROLOGISTICS• UNIMOG 2 • 2010

A striking success in agrologisticsThe Wolf family has been running a farm near Ulm for the last 18 years. Since 2006 the farm has

been employing a Unimog U 500 in pretty much continuous operation – primarily to transport

animals, whey and grain. The vehicle has notched up an impressive 220,000 kilometres to date!

10_Agro_Feuerwehr_06_EN.qxd:10-13 12.10.2010 11:03 Uhr Seite 10

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • AGROLOGISTICS 11

THE RAIN WAS BADLY NEEDED. Not a drop fell for weeks. The abnor-mally high July temperatures placed a strain on the people, the cropsand the animals alike. “17 millilitres per square metre”, is how relievedfarmer Gerhard Wolf quantifies the rain when it eventually came. But, ashe comments: “It was nowhere near enough.” Whatever the weather, theday had begun early on the Wolf family farm, which is home to Gerhardand his wife Sigrid, their three sons as well as Sigrid’s parents. It was3.30 a.m. when son Martin started up the engine of the green UnimogU 500, with its 7,500 litre mounted tanker and 18,500 litre trailer, todrive the 60 kilometres to Oberschönegg in order to fetch whey as feedfor the farm’s 1,500 fattening pigs.

Apart from keeping the pigs and 60 dairy cows, the Wolfs farm a totalof some 100 hectares in Börslingen and on a second farm 50 kilometresaway which they leased in 2004. But even normally, the U 500 is rarelystood still. “Well, we didn’t buy it for fun, or because it’s nice to look at,”Gerhard Wolf comments. Quite the contrary: Three times a week theU 500 fetches whey; twice a week it runs overnight taking pigs to theslaughterhouse; and once a month the Wolfs use it to collect piglets andfeed respectively. To handle the different kinds of transport, Wolf is ableto quickly exchange the Unimog’s tanker body for a flat-bed tipper.

Accordingly, after a total of 5,100 hours in operation since first beingregistered the vehicle’s clock already shows an impressive 220,000 kilo-metres. That kind of duty makes it essential to have reliable service back-up for the entire fleet, which also includes a MB-trac 900, a MB-trac 1600and a Unimog 2400. The Baden-Württemberg born farmer is full of praisefor the service provided by Mayer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH: “The U 500 has tobe ready to run round the clock, seven days a week. In view of that, it isimportant for us to be able to rely on the well trained staff of our servicepartner, and to be sure of getting help quickly when we need it. Even ifwe occasionally need to replace a worn part on a weekend, they help usout.” The versatile functionality of the U 500 was a key factor in the deci-sion to purchase it: “Quite simply, we need a vehicle with which we cando everything,” Gerhard Wolf states. “At the time it was a choice betweena truck and a Unimog, to replace a Unimog U 1700.” We chose the U 500,

Gerhard, Sigrid and Martin Wolf (from left) are happy with their U 500, which they use

mainly for transportation purposes.

ü


12 AGROLOGISTICS• UNIMOG 2 • 2010

among other reasons, because it is not subject to road tolls andbecause of its 15 tonne load capacity. Son Martin cites “economyand reliability” as the main reasons for the acquisition. Particularlyunder the cost pressures faced by farmers at present, Martin Wolf’sappraisal highlights an aspect which must not be underestimated: “Itsfuel consumption is much better than that of earlier models – 32 litresper 100 kilometres on average, which is around five litres less.”

Economical and reliable in continuous useHe likes sitting behind the wheel of the Unimog: “It’s a terrific vehicle, particularly with regard to all-round visibility, and also ridecomfort.” As the Wolfs were undertaking more and more transports– including on the motorway – the safety aspect was another key factor. Sigrid and Martin Wolf recall: “In earlier times it was danger-ous on the motorway, towing the big cattle trailer and carrying thepigs. You were constantly afraid that the big trucks would run intothe back of you. With the U 500 it’s easy to keep up with the trucktraffic.”

The U 500 frequently gets the Wolfs noticed. “It is a strikingdesign. Something a bit different”, says Gerhard Wolf with a grin.

Many people simply cannot imagine Unimog and agricultural trans-ports being mentioned in the same breath. Martin can only smile.He knows better. That afternoon he will be off again, fetching whey.Around one the following morning father Gerhard will be off drivingpigs to the slaughterhouse in Schwäbisch Hall. Another plus pointfor the Unimog is its robustness: “The roads are sometimes quitebad, especially in Winter. And I am on a tight schedule: I have to beat the slaughterhouse between half past two and half past three,whatever the weather. In fact, there have been times in the pastwhen I got through with the Unimog but none of the other trucksdid.” In such situations, Wolf is much helped by the all-wheel driveand the short wheelbase of the Unimog. Those benefits enable himto drive safely in difficult road conditions, and to manoeuvre easilyaround roads narrowed by snowfall.

Unimog driving as relaxationThe night trips are usually handled by Gerhard Wolf himself. “It’s akind of relaxation for him,” says Sigrid Wolf with a laugh. “Well, itcertainly doesn’t bother me,” the farmer himself comments. MartinWolf sums it up: “He has the three-pointed star in his heart.” r

Tanker body, flat-bed tipper, tractor rig: The versatility of the U 500 was a key factor

in the Wolfs’ decision to buy it.

The Wolfs also use

their U 500 to collect grain

from the fields.

Martin Wolf loading up – a short break for the Unimog. But in Börslingen it is rarely

stood still.


UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • FIRE-FIGHTING 13

A highly manoeuvrable fire-fighterThe volunteer fire service in Wuppertal this Spring began using a Unimog U 20 tank tender.

LAST YEAR, the local volunteer fire servicein the Lagerfeld district of Wuppertal wasfaced with having to replace an ageing all-wheel drive fire-fighting tank tender. The oldone had always been a faithful servant, butit had some weaknesses too. In tight spacesand on steeply inclined terrain, especially,it quickly came up against its limits. Thiswas problematic particularly in view of thefact that the Wuppertal municipal area isover 29 percent forest and fields, much of itextending over quite hilly terrain. That wasreason enough for the fire service to focus onthe ability to handle tough terrain whenchoosing their new vehicle.

They soon found the ideal candidate: a Unimog U 20 configured as a TLF 10/20 fire-fighting tank tender with a Schlingmannbody. Its short 2700 millimetre wheelbaseprovided the Wuppertal fire-fighters with themanoeuvrability they were looking for. And,of course, the superior off-road capabilityof the Unimog was a further benefit. The

mounted body incorporates everything nec-essary for first-phase fire-fighting operations:a 2,400 litre tank, a pump with a throughputrate of 2,000 litres a minute, a front splashguard as a self-protection feature and fordamping-down wide-area fires, and a water

Christian Reeker (left), head of the Engineering and

Logistics department, and fire chief Karl Grünewald

are already convinced of the U 20’s merits.

cannon mountable on the roof – all operablewith the vehicle in motion.

Rapid response in an emergencyFor fire chief Karl Grünewald the “little” Unimog has already proved its worth: “LastMonday we had a 500 square metre forestfire on a difficult-to-access slope. With ourold tender we would not have got to it.”

Thanks to the U 20 TLF 10/20, the fire-fighters did not have to lay their hoses labo-riously across the surrounding scrub and then slowly follow the fire’s path. TheUnimog U 20 reached the fire quickly, andthe ground jets and roof-mounted cannonsoon had it all under control.

Christian Reeker, head of the Engineeringand Logistics department and responsiblefor procurement, is just as certain that theUnimog U 20 will prove a hit: “At the momentour TLF forest tender is the only one of itskind in Germany. But the idea is so good thatmore are bound to follow.” r


14 Service • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Extreme conditions at the Hambach open-cast mine demand

maximum performance from personnel and machinery alike.

The off-road capability and broad-ranging flexibility of the

Unimog make it a highly respected partner.

Extreme workhorses

14 OPEN-CAST MINING • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Imposing dimensions:

Alongside the gigantic excavators

at the Hambach mine the Unimog

looks quite tiny.

ROUND THE CLOCK, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the staff andvehicle fleet at the Hambach open-cast mine are on continuous duty. Itsimmense size alone, but especially the extreme ground conditions andthe varying applications in which they need to be deployed at the mine,demand maximum performance from personnel and machinery alike.That is why operator RWE Power has for years relied on the Unimog –in a range of variants according to the application: from the U 400 upto the U 5000, all models are represented. Most of them, however, arethe ultra-rugged off-road specialists of the Unimog U 4000 and U 5000series. The Unimog can cope with the most demanding of routes alongmuddy tracks and over rugged terrain, climbing huge inclines, andworking their way down some extremely steep slopes, too.

The broad range of applications of the Unimog on the site reflect theenormous dimensions of the open-cast mine located right on the out-skirts of Cologne: As far as the eye can see, there are miles of terracedcuttings extending hundreds of metres down into the ground. But themain feature of the Hambach mine is the millions of tonnes of sand,clay and gravel. These so-called covering layers conceal the valuablelignite, or brown coal. The site looks like some fantastical moonscape,with gigantic excavators seemingly grazing across the unending bar-ren plains of this artificial landscape like some species of colossal monster.

In all weather and on any groundAnd among them, some 50 yellowish-gold coloured Unimog wend theirway around the approximately 85 square kilometre site – in all weath-ers – with what seems almost stoic calmness. Thanks to their all-wheeldrive, differential lock and heavy-duty thick-treaded tyres, they are ableto handle even extremely slippery terrain in rain, snow and icy con -ditions. “If you want to drive around extreme terrain such as this, a Unimog is essential. Its off-road capability is simply unbeatable,” com-ments Jörg Rübsteck, a member of the RWE Power Vehicle Service staff.

Another key factor for the company, which is provided with servicebackup by RKF-Bleses, is that vehicles can be tailored to specific oper-ations. “The Unimog offers us lots of different body mounting options.That means we can use one vehicle model for a wide variety of purpos-es,” Rübsteck goes on. As a universal master of all tasks, the Unimoghandles virtually every transport job at the mine: Fitted with a doublecab, it is used to transport work crews; as a flat-bed truck, it carriesmaterials and tools; and configured as a tanker it distributes water and

14_Tagebau_06_EN.qxd:14-17 12.10.2010 11:05 Uhr Seite 14

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • OPEN-CAST MINING 15

fuel. “The Unimog with diesel tanks mounted on them have to be particularly reliable, running round the clock, supplying diesel to construction machinery such as bulldozers. If the Unimog broke down, a lot of machines and vehicles would be forced to stop work.”

There are also Unimog on-site mounted with Palfinger cranes andflat-bed load spaces, used primarily for repair and maintenance work,and there are also units fitted with box bodies, used for servicing oflarge-scale machinery. “They are our ‘workhorses’. Without them practically nothing would get done here,” asserts Rübsteck with a grin.The all-rounders from Mercedes-Benz also serve as fire-fighting andemergency vehicles, as well as providing Winter ice and snow clearingservices. Because those vehicles, more than any other, have to get totheir destination rapidly, however tough the conditions may be.

In view of the difficult terrain on which the vehicles operate, RWEPower places great value in their safety features. Pendulum strike androof load tests to the ECE R29 standard passed by the Unimog’s all-steelcab were powerful arguments in favour of the vehicles, alongside theirreliable brake systems and seat-integrated safety belts. “We have to beable to rely on our vehicles. It is a reassuring feeling for us to send outour drivers in a Unimog,” says Herbert Töller, RWE Power’s head ofVehicle and Transport Service. “The Unimog is simply an exemplarymodel when it comes to safety.” The Unimog not only sets standards interms of safety, but also with regard to low vibration. That was a key

All-wheel drive and differential locks help the Unimog achieve outstanding off-road

capability – an absolutely vital aspect of fire-fighting operations!

ü


16 OPEN-CAST MINING • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Unimog Magazine: Mr. Rübsteck, your company has been relying on the Unimog for a long time …Jörg Rübsteck: Yes, indeed. The Unimog hasbeen working at the Hambach mine since itsvery beginnings. We even still have a really

early Unimog still in operation: a U 900, builtin 1978. It is the oldest in our field. We arestill using it to transport material.

Unimog Magazine: What makes the Unimogso attractive for open-cast mining specifi -cally?Jörg Rübsteck: We were convinced above allby its versatility. The Unimog is tops wher ever you need to get a vehicle across thetoughest of terrain – whether with a dieseltanker or a crane mounted on it. A particularchallenge is that the ground conditions on-site are continually changing. Yet the Unimog never lets us down.

Unimog Magazine: How do the vehicles copewith the extreme conditions?Jörg Rübsteck: Very well. Our Unimog arefitted with special features which additionallyprotect them against dust and mud. We devel-

oped the brake encapsulation installed in allour vehicles together with Mercedes-Benzfor example. It isolates the brakes behind asteel covering, so protecting them againstdirtying. The brakes are much more durableas a result. The heavy-duty tractor tread onthe tyres prevents dirt from getting trappedin them and additionally provides optimumtraction on rugged terrain.

Unimog Magazine: How long do the Unimogrun for?Jörg Rübsteck: It depends on what job theyare doing. On average, we run Unimog forbetween 7 and 13 years. During that time, theycover between 180,000 and 300,000 kilo -metres. That is a lot – especially given theextreme conditions on-site. 200,000 kilo -metres at an open-cast mine is almost com-parable to twice or even three times themileage on the road. r

Jörg Rübsteck, from the RWE Power Vehicle Service staff, talking about vehicle outfitting options

developed specially for open-cast mining and how the Unimog handles extreme situations.

“The Unimog is vital”

selection criterion for RWE. Because only vehicles capable of minimis-ing vibration will protect and preserve the health of their drivers.As part of its strong commitment to occupational health and safety,RWE Power conducts vibration measurements on all vehicles. Theseare applied to determine how long a driver can operate a vehicle with-out interruption before it poses a health risk. “The operating time of theUnimog is six hours per shift. That is a very good length of time giventhe conditions under which we operate,” Rübsteck states. Thanks to itshelical-spring deformable chassis, rigid cab mounting and air-sprungcomfort cab seat, the Unimog provides a workplace which not only fallswell within stipulated vibration limits but also retains a very highdegree of comfort and quiet even in extreme conditions.

Just how extraordinary the Unimog’s operations at the Hambachmine are is also illustrated by the fact that Mercedes-Benz conductsvehicle testing at the site. “It provides us with an ideal test setting,because the brown coal, water and mud create really extreme condi-tions,” explains Unimog product manager Jan Debler. Those extremeconditions can be used to simulate scenarios which would otherwisetake years to recreate. They enable Mercedes-Benz to test the Unimogin a kind of time-lapse environment. “We place great value in being

The wide-ranging body and equipment mounting options exactly meet the needs

of RWE Power: Here a Unimog configured as a tanker is supplying essential fuel.

Jörg Rübsteck is thoroughly impressed by the Unimog.


Ehranger Straße 101

D-54293 Trier

[email protected]

www.werner-trier.com

Tel.: +49 (0) 651 6867-124

Fax.: +49 (0) 651 64146

Postfach 8051

D-54181 Trier

Unimogstraße 1

76571 Gaggenau

MULTIFUNCTIONALPOWERHOUSECable winches, compressors, hydraulic supports, flatbed body or crane? Or every-thing together? Werner makes sure that all your equipment is not only installed perfectly, but also that it fits together perfectly.

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • OPEN-CAST MINING 17

Advertisement

r Hambach mine

Operations at the Hambach open-cast mine close to the village of the

same name began in September 1978. It was six years before the first

brown coal was extracted from a depth of 160 metres. The 700 million

cubic metres of sand, clay and gravel above it – the so-called spoil – had

to be moved first. Today the Hambach mine, with its workforce of some

1,500 people, mines some 40 million tonnes of brown coal a year from

depths of down to 370 metres, excavating some 250 million cubic metres

of spoil in the process. The brown coal from the mine is used to generate

electricity at the nearby power stations operated by RWE, which make up

around 25 percent of Germany’s total energy mix.

able to conduct practical trials in real-life operation at a customer loca-tion and incorporate the results into the ongoing technical develop-ment of our vehicles,” says Debler. That works also thanks to partnerssuch as RWE Power AG. r

Some of the 50 Unimogs are fitted with a Palfinger crane. They are used primarily

to carry out repair work.


Eugen Betz from St. Johann near Reutlingen has been a self-employed transport operator serving the construction

trade since 1975, and he is a convinced Unimog fan. He also uses his U 500 for Winter gritting and snow clearing.

18 TRANSPORT• UNIMOG 2 • 2010

With his 10 metre long low-loader Eugen Betz

transports construction machinery quickly and reliably

to sites around the Schwäbische Alb area.

Sunday driving ban? Not for the Unimog

“MY U 500 IS simply the ideal vehicle for me– and not just as a tractor rig,” Eugen Betz com-ments enthusiastically. “I need it all year round.I supply machinery and building materials onthe low-loader to construction sites around thedistrict. During flat periods when that work isnot available I can do transport jobs using dif-ferent trailers without having to modify thevehicle itself. And in Winter, when there is noconstruction work going on, I can earn goodmoney gritting and snow clearing.”

That is why his U 500 additionally has a ball-head trailer hitch and on-spot tyre chains. TheU 500 is his fourth Unimog in 30 years. In theearly days he also drove trucks that were some-what more powerful: “But after comparing theadvantages and disadvantages, I stuck with theUnimog,” he recalls. He uses the 10 metre longlow-loader to transport construction machineryto sites around the Schwäbische Alb hill areas.The manoeuvrability and compact design ofthe U 500, with its short wheelbase of just

3350 millimetres, make the vehicle easy tohandle: “I can easily get to sites in town cen-tres, negotiating tight bends, narrow, windingstreets and tricky one-way systems where atruck would often not be able to get,” Betzreports with a grin. Another important aspectfor him is that the Unimog is registered as anagricultural tractor rig, which means he doesnot have to pay road tolls when travellingunladen. And he is not subject to the Sundaydriving ban on motorways. The state-of-the-art

18_Transport_06_EN.qxd:18-19 12.10.2010 11:08 Uhr Seite 18

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • TRANSPORT 19

Eugen Betz and Unimog – a good partnership.

Betz will definitely be sticking with his all-purpose

workhorse in future.

The U 500 is a boon to Eugen Betz because of its registration as a tractor rig.

As a result, he has no road tolls to pay, and is not subject to overtaking bans and

driving restrictions which affect trucks.

between November and March,” he goes on.“A lot of other operating costs are much lowerthan for a truck too.” The insurance classifica-tion for the U 500 is also useful. “As a lightindustrial tractor rig, it runs with a blacklicence plate at the same rate of premium asan agricultural tractor.” And there are morebenefits, as he outlines: “Incidentally, theU 500 also needs just four tyres of all thesame size. To handle the identical transportcapacity with a truck, I would need a double-tyred three-axle rig, which would mean buy-ing 10 in total.”

All-round talent: working all year roundThe flat-bed load space is particularly valuableto Betz. “It is not only excellent for mountingthe gritter, but is also useful in Summer forcarrying ballast, occasionally also a fuel tankto refuel construction machinery on-site, butmost of all for transporting gravel and exca-vated spoil.” This fills a gap which is oftenleft between different types of constructionmachinery and trucks. The low-loader is then

BlueTec® engine OM 906 LA, developing210 kW of power output and conforming to theEuro 5 emissions standard, is another key factor for Betz: “It gives me plenty of power and speed; the automatic transmission meansI can concentrate fully on driving; and by meeting the high emissions standard I amallowed into any designated pollution controlzone where other trucks are not. As a result,my consignments are guaranteed to be delivered punctually every time.”

The all-round visibility offered by the Uni-mog’s cab provides Betz with a clear overviewat all times – and that is especially importantfor his Winter work on the roads. “Only theU 500 allows me to control the snow plough sotightly and accurately.” He is assigned to keepclear some 180 kilometres of roads aroundWürtingen and St. Johann in the Winter, whichmeans he is out and about from four in themorning, with a snow plough mounted on thefront and a grit silo on the flat-bed load space.“My gritting and snow clearing contract withthe local authority also means I pay no road tax

parked up, and a three-axle trailer is hitchedin its place. The trailer has air suspension ofcourse, because a trailer with leaf springs wouldbe continuously bouncing, as Betz asserts. Andhe adds: “Thanks to the Unimog’s tight chassissetup, the trailer keeps nicely in line with thetowing vehicle, and does not wobble around.”For his tandem-axle trailer he needs the addi-tional hitch to DIN 74051 with the 40 mm bolt.“With that I can easily tow a 30 tonne load andstill keep to the 40 tonne gross vehicle weightlimit without having to get a special permit,which I would need for a truck towing such a load.”

He has extra space on the flat-bed load spacetoo, providing even greater flexibility. “Onlythe all-round capabilities of the Unimog allowme to keep busy all year round with a singlevehicle. Thanks to it, I have virtually no flatperiods in between.” He is also full of praise forthe Unimog distributor Schmalz + Sohn inOberndorf: “I will certainly be staying faithfulto both: to the Unimog and to my local servicecentre.” r

“I can easily get to sites in town centres, negotiating tight bends and narrow, winding streets.”

Eugen Betz, self-employed transport operator serving the construction trade

18_Transport_06_EN.qxd:18-19 12.10.2010 11:08 Uhr Seite 19

20 DUAL-MODE OPERATION • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

environmentally friendly railway marshallingvehicle. The company has been operating theUnimog for almost two years now in what isone of the largest and most efficient mar-shalling yards in Germany, at its Cargo Centrein the major rail hub city of Nuremberg. Thetwo other dual-mode Unimog are being rununder the control of DB Schenker Rail’sHanover Cargo Centre. In contrast to theNuremberg operation, in Hanover the companyis running the vehicles as a service providerdirectly on behalf of its customers, on theirown sidings – at Sappi GmbH in Alfeld and atPanopa GmbH in Wolfsburg-Vorsfelde.

Rail freight operator DB Schenker Rail Deutschland AG, a subsidiary of German national rail

company Deutsche Bahn, has for approaching two years now been running a pilot project at

three of its locations deploying the Mercedes-Benz Unimog as a railway marshalling vehicle.

The results it has delivered have been outstanding in terms of economy and eco-friendliness.

“Green Logistics” on road and rail

BOTH ON THE road and on the railways,DB Schenker is a leading international logis-tics company. As part of the landmark “GreenLogistics Networks” project, the DeutscheBahn subsidiary is interlinking its variousmodes of transport not only with a view tomaximising commercial benefit but also,especially, according to ecological considera-tions, in order to provide its customers witha carbon-optimised transport chain. Withinthat remit, DB Schenker Rail, Europe’s largestrail freight operator, is also currently runninga pilot project at three locations in Germanyinvolving the use of a Unimog U 400 as an

Environmentally friendly thanks to BlueTec®

technology“We were looking to adopt a new approach tomarshalling, and we initially commissioneda degree thesis to investigate in detail alter-native concepts for marshalling vehicles,”explains Werner Matz, manager of theNuremberg Cargo Centre of DB Schenker RailDeutschland AG. “The outcome of the studyrevealed the dual-mode Unimog to be themost suitable system for our needs. Followingon from those findings, in 2008 we procureda Unimog U 400 with rail operation systemsfrom Zwiehoff/Zagro as a replacement for

20_2-Wege2_06_EN.qxd:20-23 12.10.2010 11:10 Uhr Seite 20

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • DUAL-MODE OPERATION 21

ü

r DB SCHENKER RAIL

an ageing marshalling locomotive,” WernerMatz continues. The core task of the dual-mode Unimog in Nuremberg is to transportfreight cars into the maintenance shed. Theserviced and repaired cars are then pulledout of the shed again by the Unimog into themarshalling yard where they are ready to beput back into operation. Claus Barth, groupleader at DB Schenker Rail in Nuremberg,comments: “We are particularly impressedby the low consumption levels of the Unimog.Between 5 and 6 litres of diesel per hour inoperation is a major savings potential com-pared to a locomotive.” And not just that: The

locomotive’s engine is not usually switchedoff for brief periods of inactivity, whereasthe Unimog can be. Werner Matz comments:“That is exactly the right kind of solutionfor a company such as ours, which takes theissue of Green Logistics very seriously andis looking to drive forward developments inthe field. In fact, it is also something whichtransport companies using our servicesincreasingly expect of us.” And the Unimogoffers another major advantage over a locomotive: “Since we have been using the Unimog instead of a marshalling locomotive,we have had much better working conditions

r TECHNICAL FEATURES AT A GLANCE

� State-of-the-art, environmentally

friendly Euro 5 diesel technology

� Permanent all-wheel drive and

differential locks for maximum

pulling power

� Torque converter clutch for smooth

drive-off when pulling heavy loads

� Full traction thanks to high friction

coefficient between rubber tyre and rail

� High-swinging rail guidance system

for safe tracking

� Rail car brake system for

800 tonnes/52 axles

� User-friendly remote control to

safety class AK6

� EBA approval, licensed to operate

on DB network infrastructure

“The dual-mode Unimog has worked

very well for us to date,” comments

Werner Matz.

With sales of some 3.7 billion Euros,

25,000 employees and 3,300 rail heads

served in Germany alone, DB Schenker Rail

is Europe’s leading rail freight operator.

Its range of services, working together with

a number of European subsidiaries to provide

cross-border transport services all from one

source, incorporates complete trains, single-car

transports and combination consignments.

The focus of its rail freight operations is

on bulk transports for the iron and steel,

chemicals, oil, building materials and waste

management industries.


22 DUAL-MODE OPERATION • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Finally cleaner air: Compared to locomotives, the emissions of a Unimog in the maintenance shed

are barely noticeable. That represents a considerable improvement in working conditions for staff.

in the maintenance shed. The Unimog, with its state-of-the-art BlueTec® technology, goes virtually unnoticed – both in terms of emissions and in terms of noise.”

Economical: low fuel consumptionThe Unimog’s low emissions, based on itsenvironmentally friendly engine technology,were also a key factor in the decision to deploythe vehicle at the Wolfsburg-Vorsfelde site.Ralf Peters, responsible for marshalling plan-ning at the Hanover Cargo Centre, explains:“The marshalling vehicle frequently has to gointo the shed. Our customer Panopa was nolonger willing to accept the diesel locomotivewe had previously been using for the jobinside the shed because the soot emissions,in particular, were harmful to staff. By usingthe Unimog we have now regained our cus-tomer’s full acceptance – an absolutely vitalfactor for us as a service provider of course.”

Panopa operates an interim storage facilityfor steel coils in Vorsfelde near Wolfsburg.Ralf Peters reports: “DB Schenker Rail sup-plies steel on behalf of Panopa to the VW

press plant in Fallersleben on a just-in-timebasis for the plant’s three-shift operations.The Unimog handles all the marshallingwork on the Panopa site – unlinking theincoming trains and transferring cars to theappropriate loading and unloading points.It also assembles trains and makes availablecar groups for outgoing goods shipments.”Ralf Peters is likewise very happy with theperformance of his Unimog: “Marshalling atthis location is a particular challenge, as wepull around 500 tonnes on average, and atpeak times occasionally even 800 tonnes.Moreover, the rail yard at Panopa features aconsiderable curve radius as well as a smallincline, which poses more difficulties for themarshalling vehicle. But the Unimog is ableto deal perfectly with those challenges too!”

Wienhold Averbeck, deputy head of finan-cial controlling at the Hanover Cargo Centreand responsible for the dual-mode Unimogproject, is more impressed by the economy ofthe vehicle: “We have to date run the dual-mode Unimog for almost 4,000 hours, andit has consumed just 5.5 litres of diesel per

hour on average. That represents an enor-mous saving compared to the diesel locomo-tive we had previously been using, and isin itself sufficient to make our use of the Unimog worthwhile.”

Operator comfort highly appreciatedDB Schenker Rail is also deploying a dual-mode Unimog in its role as a service providerto Sappi GmbH in Alfeld, and has already succeeded in convincing the customer of itsmerits. Detlef Spyra, Sappi procurementmanager and head of rail operations,explains: “To ensure our production opera-tions run smoothly and efficiently, it isimportant for us that DB Schenker Rail isable to transport all the required rail carspunctuality and reliably to where they areneeded. The transports primarily involve rawmaterials for the manu facture of high-gradespecial papers”. Detlef Spyra goes on: “Previ-ously DB Schenker Rail did the job using afour-axle locomotive. The dual-mode Unimoghas been operating at our plant for about18 months now, and we are very happy with

The Unimog is dismounted quickly and easily from the rails and can be driven

on the road around the plant to its next work location.

“The Unimog’s fuel consumption is astonishingly low, at 5.5 litres of diesel per operating hour on average.”

Werner Matz, manager of the Nuremberg Cargo Centre of DB Schenker Rail Deutschland AG


Advertisement

the new setup.” Egbert Henkel, marshallingvehicle driver at the Alfeld facility, greatlyappreciates the comfort the Unimog offers.“After having undergone a short period ofinduction in use of the dual-mode Unimog,I am now a big fan of it. The ability to dis-mount the vehicle from the rails, drive it toanother location around the plant and thenmount it back on the rails there means I am

much more flexible than when using a rail-bound vehicle.”

Maximum availability is assuredThe service backup offered for the Unimogsystem is also a hit: “The nearby Mercedes-Benz customer service centre is able tocarry out most maintenance work on-site,so maximum availability of the vehicle is

The U 400 offers very high performance

capability: it is able to move as much as

800 tonnes along the rails with ease.

assured,” affirms Lothar Pallant, who wasone of the first operators to drive the Unimogin Alfeld.Based on its positive experiencewith the dual-mode Unimog, the HanoverCargo Centre is already planning ahead.Wienhold Averbeck reveals the thinking:“We are already looking into a number ofother potential applications for the Unimogas a marshalling vehicle.” r

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • DUAL-MODE OPERATION 23


Handling any bend with all-wheel steering: auxiliary rear

axle steering makes the Unimog even more adaptable and

manoeuvrable. Three practical examples.

Flexible, manoeuvrable, agile – thanks to all-wheel steering

59 METRES ABOVE NORMAL ZERO. 10 o’clock in the morning in aforest clearing 40 kilometres south of Potsdam. A heavy machine isparked on the cycle path. A prototype: the U 400 with all-wheel steer-ing and a 3600 millimetre wheelbase. Mounted on its right-hand sideis a special unit designed for root barrier cutting – the WSF 800. Themachine is on operations for gardening and landscaping company Feindbased in Lübben. The aim of the work is to protect the asphalt, whichhas already been pushed up by roots at many points, against furtherdestruction. The WSF 800 was developed by Feind in conjunction withconstruction machinery company AS Baugeräte.

Accessing the location through rough terrain and working on the nar-row cycle paths with no side surfacing demands the right tools. And inthat respect company proprietor Reinhardt Feind swears by the Unimog– and has been doing so for the last 20 years. “We have been relying onUnimog since the company was founded back in 1990. We have the fullrange in our fleet, from the U 2100 to the U 500,” he goes on. It is a rela-tionship of trust which remains on a firm foundation to this day. Or on24 wheels, to be precise. Because the R. Feind gardening and landscap-ing business operates six Unimog as part of its basic portfolio. The six-cylinder, 231 hp engine of the U 400 with all-wheel steering emits areassuring brumming noise as its rotating cutter neatly chops away theroots. In the same pass it lays down a root-barrier membrane and thenback-fills and seals the trench it has made. The company boss is partic-ularly proud of this U 400. Its steerable rear axle is what made it pos-sible to do today’s job in the first place. “This is the first instance of aU 400 with this special equipment configuration on cutting operations,”he reports.

Round the bend with the cutter“The particularly tricky part about using this vehicle was cutting roundbends,” the head of the root barrier department at Feind, Norman Fruth,recalls. The cutter disk mounted on the right-hand side of the vehicleparallel to the direction of travel at a height of 50 centimetres above theground must be guided smoothly round bends. That is the only way to ü

24 ENGINEERING • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

24_HZL_06_EN.qxd:24-27 12.10.2010 11:11 Uhr Seite 24

On narrow, winding cycle paths the all-wheel steering of the

U 400 operated by gardening and landscaping company

R. Feind is very practical for root-barrier cutting.

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • ENGINEERING 25


26 ENGINEERING • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Low-slung side windows and large rear windows ensure a clear all-round overview

even when faced by heavy snow drifts. Heated air driers additionally help keep the

driver warm.

Maximum manoeuvrability – all-wheel steering makes it possible. This optimum

starting position is a key criterion in favour of the U 400 for Reinhardt Feind.

The root cutter cuts a five centimetre wide trench next to the cycle path in which

the RootBarrier® membrane is laid. It is the ideal method of stopping roots.

ensure a high-quality job. The solution found was a steerable rear axle.When the driver turns the front wheels to the left on a left-hand bend,the rear wheels move even further to the right. On tight left-hand bends,all four wheels are steered to the left, causing the Unimog to drive in acircle – a very tight circle. Because, despite the long wheelbase, the all-wheel steering reduces the vehicle’s turning circle to just 13.2 metres.Steering with a flexible rear axle is possible up to a maximum speedof 30 km/h; the system then switches automatically to straight-aheadrunning with only the front axle controlling the steering. Consequently,neither the vehicle’s maximum speed nor its safety is affected. “Thehydrostatic drive system was also very important for us,” company bossFeind adds. “It alone enables high levels of power transmission whilemaintaining consistent and precise vehicle movement, because the rateof working can be infinitely varied at a constant engine speed. It’s alsoideal for cutting verges.” As if in agreement, the low-emission Euro 5standard engine of the U 400 growls away, working on metre by metrethrough the roots in the ground.

Snow clearing on the St. Gotthard passChange of scene: 2,091 metres above sea level. In a 2.5 metre snow drifton a road up on the St. Gotthard pass. Routine clearing of one of the keylinking routes across the Alps is a full-time job for specialist machineryin the Spring months. So it is the ideal place to demonstrate high- efficiency snow clearing. And that was the reason why Aebi Schmidt,a manufacturer of specialist machinery and vehicles for snow clearing,de-icing and cleaning of road surfaces chose to invite its customers toa very special event. The object of the demonstration was to enable cus-tomers to see for themselves the methods, equipment and machineryused, in live operation. Up on the pass itself, the big snow-clearers werethen deployed. One of them was the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 400, fitted with the Schmidt FS 105 snow cutter. The nine-tonne vehicle cutsits way through metre-high snow walls with ease. This vehicle combi-nation is capable of handling up to 900 tonnes per hour. In parallel,the Schmidt gritter unit mounted on the U 400 spreads grit from its2.5 cubic metre silo. Low-slung side windows and the large rear windowon all Unimog models ensure drivers have an optimum view of thesnow masses. Even at temperatures down to 30 degrees below zero, the


UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • ENGINEERING 27

In the Summer, the U 400 is deployed to clean the narrow lanes around the harbour

promenade in Lausanne. In the Winter it shifts the snow.

Water tank, equipment container, washer bar, sweeper unit – all in one assembly

mounted on a U 400, keeping Lausanne clean.

climate inside the Unimog remains pleasant, thanks to a heated air drier,an engine block preheater and a power-boosted alternator – all factory-fitted.

The all-wheel steering is particularly appreciated in this terrain too –in contrast to the root-barrier cutting operations, here in crab steeringmode. In this mode, all four wheels are turned by the same angle in thesame direction. As a result, the Unimog moves neither forwards nor in acurve, but in effect diagonally straight-ahead. This is beneficial on lateralslopes in compensating for the downward gravity force. It also greatlyenhances manoeuvrability on the narrow St. Gotthard pass roads, andmost especially in the tight snow channels with their steep side walls.

All-wheel steering for narrow lanesAll good things come in threes: 495 metres above normal zero. DriverAntoine Philipe steers his U 400 on street cleaning duties along thepromenade of Lake Geneva. It is an impressive demonstration, extend-ing into the narrow streets and lanes of the old city of Lausanne. This,too, is only possible thanks to the all-wheel steering. It enables Philipeto work in the tightest of urban spaces without resorting to time- consuming reversing and manoeuvring. The 238 hp six-cylinder dieselengine, conforming to the latest Euro 5 standard, delivers all the powerneeded for the job. Mounted on the U 400 is a Trilety SK 370 sweeper.The assembly comprises a 1,000 litre water tank, a 4.7 cubic metre equip-ment container, a washer bar, the sweeper unit itself and the sweeperroller. The washer bar is mounted on the front mounting panel and is fedby a high-pressure unit.

Despite this mounting, the panoramic cab design provides Philipewith a clear view of the frontal units at all times. On being asked abouthis U 400, Philipe shows real enthusiasm: “It is so flexible. I can even turnit into a Winter gritting and snow clearing vehicle, with all the necessaryequipment, by making just a few changes.” And the U 400 offers a safeworkplace in Winter too. Fitted with a Zaugg snow cutter and an auto-matic gritter, the U 400, with its all-wheel steering, gets its driver reli-ably to wherever he needs to be, including along the switchbacks to highup on the pass at Chalet-à-Gobet, an altitude of 873 metres. The hydro-static drive system is a boon to this workhorse too – whether in the snowor not. Antoine Philipe is able to accelerate sensitively and smoothly up

r ALL-WHEEL STEERING IN DETAIL

Technical details:

� The maximum steering angle is 14 degrees

� The total weight is increased by about 180 kilograms

� Rear axle steering is possible up to a maximum of 30 km/h ; above 30 km/h

the system switches automatically to straight-ahead axle running

Benefits in summary:

� Reduced turning circle for the U 400 (short wheelbase: 11 to 12 metres;

long wheelbase: 13 to 14 metres)

� Improved manoeuvrability in dealing with obstacles

� Highly manoeuvrable on narrow roads

� Stability on lateral slopes thanks to crab steering

to speeds of around 25 km/h. The engine and power take-off shaft speedsare constant. For the last year the two have been running in combinedoperation. The Swiss operative clearly remembers the early times: “Inorder to make optimum use of the city of Lausanne’s available resources,a vehicle for Winter gritting and snow clearing operations and for streetcleaning as well as a three-sided tipper with a rear-mounted crane hadto be procured. So we had a choice: a Unimog or two other vehicles.” Thedecision in favour of the flexible Unimog with all-wheel steering was aneasy one to make. r


28 SERVICE • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

TO BE A KING. To be cared for in every respect. To express wishes, andhave them fulfilled. That level of customer expectation in terms of whatservice providers should deliver is certainly not an outdated maxim – asis clearly shown by what Unimog Service is able to offer: top standardsof quality and environmental awareness, demonstrated to customers ona daily basis. When drivers bring their Unimog to the service centre,they are looking for one thing above all else: rapid assistance, withsound advice. Trust is a key element in this business, and it is foundedon a combination of reliable service backup and expert technical know-how. And trust has to be earned. A service provider is put to the testtime and again, every day, and has to deliver performance, flexibilityand a strong sense of personal care and attention.

Tailored service packagesSelective service packages are part of the standard offer when buyinga new Unimog. Customers can choose from the following levels of serv-ice agreement, each bundling a range of services in a tailored package:

� Service Extend. This provides an extended warranty for the drivetrain. Agreement terms can be up to 36 months, or 4,500 operatinghours, from date of first registration. The only exclusions are mainte-nance and wearing parts. The drive train cover is available for the U 20and for the 100 and 1000 series.

� Service Extend Plus. This service agreement protects the vehiclecomprehensively, from the drive train and chassis to the frame, as wellas the fuel, exhaust and steering systems. It also includes the electronics.

The warranty period is 36 months / 4,500 operating hours or24 months / 3,000 operating hours from date of first registration. Againmaintenance and wearing parts are excluded. Service Extend Plus canalso be taken out with Service Mobility Protection.

� Service Complete. The top option for comprehensive additionalprotection of the Unimog is the Service Complete agreement. It coversall workshop work, from coordination of appointments through toinvoice checking. It also incorporates vehicle management, as well as

Help, as soon as it is needed, and in full: With the Service Complete package, any Unimog

can be provided with the optimum backup at all times – at a calculable fixed price.

The customer is king – it’s an old yet nonetheless true saying.

But few businesses really apply the principle. Unimog Service

proves that service is also always a question of attitude and

commitment to one’s own products.

Being a king

28_Service_05_EN.qxd:28_29 12.10.2010 11:12 Uhr Seite 28

Reliable machines for urban and rural areas Clearing, de-icing and cleaning of circulation areas; we offer innovative and tailor-made system solutions for every purpose of application.

Schmidt –your partner when it comes to safety on our roads!

Schmidt Winterdienst- und Kommunaltechnik GmbHAlbtalstraße 36, 79837 St. BlasienPhone: + 49 7672 412 0, Fax: + 49 7672 412 [email protected], www.aebi-schmidt.com

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • SERVICE 29

Advertisement

the personalised Unimog Service Card. The benefit is that the vehicleis always ready according to schedule, and costs are calculable basedon fixed instalments.

� Service Leasing Complete. With this package, Mercedes-Benzoffers a full-service package covering maintenance, repair, warrantyand also vehicle leasing, all from one source.

Routine care and maintenance: a mustThe Unimog is usually operated on continuous duty. In Summer.In Winter. Off road. On road. A breakdown can very quickly turn into acost. This makes routine care and maintenance all the more important,both in ensuring optimum protection of the vehicle and in saving itsoperators money.

If you have any questions please contact your local authorised Unimog dealer. r

With attention to detail and a real feel for the product: Unimog Service is a hit among

customers thanks to offers including selective, customisable service packages.

28_Service_05_EN.qxd:28_29 12.10.2010 11:12 Uhr Seite 29

Unimog – Extreme – Exotic. It is under those three classifications that Carl-Heinz Vogler has for many years been collecting pictures of

highly unusual and special Unimog vehicles. He is now presenting a selection from his collection in an exhibition at the Unimog Museum.

THE UNIMOG is a special kind of vehicle inany case, but there are some variants of itwhich are even more unusual and special. Thatfact is richly evidenced by the “UnimogExoten” (Unimog Exotic Models) exhibition atthe Unimog Museum Gaggenau. Through untilOctober 31st, Carl-Heinz Vogler, editor of the“Unimog Heft’l” specialist magazine, will beshowing 105 large-format photos from hisextensive personal collection of images. Thepictures are accompanied by short texts oneach of the extraordinary vehicles portrayed.

Carl-Heinz Vogler’s impressive collectiontoday comprises some 8,000 photographs ofUnimog of all types, including 300 images ofexotic model variants. “For the last 17 yearsI have been receiving around 30 to 70 photosof Unimog a month for the magazine – and the

30 UNISCOPE • UNIMOG 2 • 2010

Unimog exotic model collection

trend is rising. For theextreme modifications andvehicles which could notbe otherwise classified Iinvented the “Exotic mod-els” category. I regard it ascomprising an ascendingscale of unusual or exoticcharacteristics – Unimog– Extreme – Exotic – ‘Dis-aster’ – which variouslydefine the very special nature of the modifiedvehicles.” His collection has grown steadilyover the years thanks to contributions fromclub members, friends, former Mercedes-Benzemployees, authors of books on the Unimog,holidaymakers, archives, and of course also hisown pictures taken at Unimog meets. Vogler’s

personal favourite amongthe exotic specimens is aUnimog-S (U 404) fromUpper Bavaria with awood-burning carburetor,which burns a sack ofdried wood per 100 kilo-metres (see photo).

Anyone wanting stillmore Unimog exotica aftervisiting the exhibition

should stop by the Unimog Museum’s shop,which is offering a 2011 desk calendar featur-ing photos from the exhibition. And Carl-HeinzVogler has not yet had nearly enough either.He is currently planning a book about exoticUnimog models, incorporating some 200 illus-trations. r

A very special model: this U 404 runs on

a wood-burning carburetor.

Unimog 2010 the star guestAt the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Unimog Veterans Club, the focus of attention was on the first Unimog built under the

auspices of Mercedes-Benz.

WHEN THE Unimog Veterans Club (UVC) holdsits Summer meet, fans of the characterful all-rounder converge from all over Germany. Thisyear the 900 members of the club gathered inSassenberg-Füchtorf. The anniversary proved abig hit, as every year, with over 350 Unimog ofall ages and sizes coming together. The 2010was the star feature, but attention was alsofocused on an original Boehringer from 1949.Equally impressive elements of the show werethe rare mountings brought along by the oldiefans – some lovingly restored along with theircarrier vehicles, some mounted in their origi-nal condition on a battered old ‘Mog. Hans-

Peter Hartke, Chairman of the UVC, explains:“There are now two separate trends amongUnimog collectors: some lovingly restore theirvehicles part by part, while others render themdriveable as they are, so as to preserve a pieceof living history.” And so it was that, at the2010 UVC Summer meet on the Hof Hörstkampestate, shiny new-looking restorations stoodalongside battered old wrecks. The extensiveparts market is also very popular. “We try tokeep the hobby affordable by promoting the

buying and selling of parts,” Hartke comments.“Many of the parts get passed around withinthe club before they get put on the free market.It is also useful that Unimog’s Classic line pro-duces and makes available technical compo-nents such as brakes for the old models.” r

Vintage models on parade.

The focus of attention: the 2010.

30_Uniskop2_05_EN.qxd 12.10.2010 11:13 Uhr Seite 30

UNIMOG 2 • 2010 • UNISCOPE 31

World Tour, part I

THE UNIMOG SHOP provides Unimogfans with a comfortable and convenient wayof following their hobby online. Visitwww.mercedes-benz.de/unimog and

Shopping at the click of a mouse

No heavy carrying, no queuing at

checkouts – Unimog fans can shop

here comfortably and conveniently ...

Regional Group Central Baden-Ortenau-Alsace: “Historic films about the U 421”16 September 2010Unimog Museum, Gaggenau (D)

Regional Group Northern Black Forest:Off-road driving day29 September 2010Waldachtal-Tumlingen (D)

Unimog and MBtrac parts market2 October 2010Kuppenheim near Baden-Baden (D)

FOREST5 to 8 October 2010Nitra (SK)

AgroTech Russia8 to 11 October 2010Moscow (RUS)

Stuttgart regional Unimog meet17 October 2010Hotel Gärtner, Holzgerlingen (D)

Historic Unimog models U 2010 meet(rides, model differentiation tutorials ...)24 October 2010Unimog Museum, Gaggenau (D)

“Unimog Exoten” (Unimog Exotic Models)exhibitionTo 31 October 2010Unimog Museum Gaggenau (D)

BAU 201117 to 22 January 2011Munich (D)

enertec25 to 27 January 2011Leipzig (D)

REISEN HAMBURG9 to 13 February 2011Hamburg (D)

ITB Berlin9 to 13 March 2011Berlin (D)

NUFAM commercial vehicles show14 to 17 April 2011Karlsruhe

RITON GRAB has a big plan. As part of it,the Swiss adventurer has had a UnimogU 4000 (with a 3850 mm wheelbase) con-verted into a mobile home. The expeditionUnimog, featuring all genuine leather trimin the cab and a Rotzler forward-pullinghydraulic winch on the vehicle’s rear (with5 tonnes pulling force and a Kevlar cable),offers lots of comforts for even the mostextreme of tours. The interior features aseating group with a folding table on apedestal in the front end area, a double bedwith a slatted frame and comfort mattress(160 x 300 cm) as well as a shower and toi-let cubicle with doors separating it from theinterior. It also features a washing machine,an infrared surveillance camera (withsearchlight), a tyre pressure control system,a roof flap and a fording unit. Grab’s firsttrip in his Unimog will take him to Argentina.It remains open to question whether he will

have time on such an exciting trip to enjoyall the delights of the on-board entertain-ment facilities. They include a satellite TVreceiver, DVD and video player, and anaudio system with Bose speakers. We wishhim a great trip – and we will be reportingagain on his progress! r

select “Unimog Welt” to accessthe Unimog Shop. The shop offerseverything to make the Unimogfan’s heart beat faster: scale models, accessories and textileproducts. Whether it be a woolyhat, a 1:43 scale model Unimog

U 500 Black Edition or a flashlight – just afew clicks will place the chosen article fromthe world of the Unimog in your basket. It really is the fun way to shop! r

Riton Grab, shortly before his first trip in his

Unimog 4000. His destination: Argentina.


The Unimog. One for all.Greater economic efficiency through all-year-round use.

A D

aim

ler

Bra

nd

The Mercedes-Benz Unimog is a versatile assistant 365 days a year, whether mowing, snow clearing, gritting, snow cutting, cleaning or transporting, in summer or Winter. With up to four attachment and mounting points and quick-change system, implements can be exchanged quickly and simply. And at the same time, the Unimog is exceedingly cost-effective to run. Find out more about the Unimog from your retailer or website www.mercedes-benz.com/unimog


Unimog 0210 en Komplett Low

Documents

Transcript of Unimog 0210 en Komplett Low