Three highly specialised Quon CW26 370 6×4 UD trucks, fitted with Fassi Cranes, Socage aerial platforms, and Kinshoffer pole manipulators, are being used to erect and maintain electrical infrastructure in Cape Town.

“These are unique and versatile units with which city workers can perform a range of tasks, all the while optimising resources and increasing the department’s efficiency,” says Lyndon Smith, fleet and tender manager at AAD Truck & Bus.

“The aim of this all-in-one vehicle is to improve the turnaround time in the electrical pole-planting and relocations process. It can handle a bigger workload and a wider range of pole replacements, so the metro has an opportunity to investigate a reduction in its operating fleet,” explains Smith. “It will also minimise the impact on traffic congestion and reduce public risk on the city’s roads when pole replacement is taking place.”

The ‘first of their kind’ vehicles were the result of a nine-month long tender and consultative process, which included research and development by the AAD dealership and their suppliers. It required continuous input from the City of Cape Town Electricity Services Technical Support Team in order to achieve the desired end result.

“We spent a lot of time working through the specifications and solutions with the workers who will be operating these units. In the end, we believe that it is this attention to detail and the collective input by all parties involved that enables us to deliver these assets,” Smith adds.

The crane has three extensions, with a lifting capacity of 1 075 kg, while the aerial platforms allow workers to be safely lifted to a height of 13.5 m to inspect, maintain, and repair streetlights. Due to the articulated platform’s small dimensions and weight, it can overcome different obstacles and perform complex movements.

The pole manipulator can lift up to 600 kg and is the first in the country to be used in a three-in-one combination vehicle. “The rig can carry up to four 11 m streetlight poles. The biggest challenge was getting the combination of equipment in the correct position on the purpose-built body so as to work with the pole manipulator,” explains Smith.

The high-specification, inherent strength, and minimalist approach of the overall Quon package, proven through extensive testing, make them ideal workhorses. The range employs a high level of focused technical specification but remains safe and easy to operate and maintain.

The units were specified with Allison 4440PR fully automatic gearboxes, with integrated PTO and retarder. This ensures ease of operation with an electronic shift control selector.

A SafeStop Multi-Product Interface (MPI) central distribution board was also specified to offer a plug-in connection for up to eight customer-specified aftermarket products.

UD Trucks’ Quon range utilises a 13 ℓ in-line 6-cylinder turbo-intercooled engine, which features an innovative unit injector that increases the maximum fuel injection pressure. This improves overall combustion efficiency and also achieves low emission and weight-reduction efficiency, leading to improved fuel economy.