Specialist vehicle manufacturer Rioned has increased its order from 25 to 46 Fuso Canters after interest in its latest jet/vac combination unit. 

Based in Thetford, Norfolk, the Dutch-owned company expects to be purchasing some 40-plus chassis per year from East Anglia Dealer Orwell Truck & Van.

Rioned chose the Canter for several reasons. Chief among these was the fact that in order to meet the latest emissions standards, the new RioCom 7.5t jet/vac combi relies on the vehicle’s Euro VI engine PTO (Power Take-off) to operate its jetting and vacuum pumps.

FUSO Canters continue to reduce emissions, something the company has been working on for the past few years.

Mark Cox, UK sales manager for Rioned, said: “We were previously using a competitor’s chassis and an auxiliary engine for this application.

“Although the new model is our first production-line PTO drive unit, previous bespoke projects have utilised the Canter’s PTO with great success.”

“We’ve always listened to our customers and, as a result, the 7.5-tonne unit has evolved over time."

"With the 2019 model, we’ve produced a machine that offers more suction, more storage and a sleeker design.”

Each 7.5-tonne Canter 7C18 models offer Comfort day cabs, the trucks are powered by 3.0-litre common-rail turbodiesels producing a range-topping 129 kW (175 hp) and up to 430 Nm of torque across a broad engine speed range. Fully-automated, dual-clutch DUONIC transmissions contribute to their fuel-efficiency.

The new model enhances the already popular, existing range.

Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) Stage V emissions regulations which require that relevant equipment must be registered, currently apply to all ‘Major Development Sites’ in Greater London.

From September 2020 they will be extended to cover every site. As Rioned’s new combi uses the Canter’s engine PTO, it is automatically compliant.

Rioned UK is pre-building the new units at its production facility in The Netherlands. Fourteen have been sold to customers since its launch in April and the company has already scheduled 25 units to be built in 2020.

The need for contractors to carry a bigger load of equipment on UK highways- without adding to the overall weight- has been met..

Like other FUSO Canter Dealers in Britain, Orwell Truck & Van is also a member of the franchised Mercedes-Benz Trucks network – Rioned UK is taking advantage of competitive funding support from Mercedes-Benz Finance to acquire the Canter chassis.

Cox concluded: “We are Europe’s leading manufacturer of sewer and drain cleaning equipment, and already enjoy an excellent relationship with Mercedes-Benz.

“I’ve every confidence that our new partnership with Orwell Truck & Van will prove equally successful.”

“The dealer’s pricing is keen, and its Truck Sales Executive Chris Benefer has been very supportive, answering any questions quickly and efficiently.”