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Register c

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  1. I was sent this pic recently more becuase of my work on the Volvo NL types for this market

    I can tell you the NL,s were for Caltex.. they were built with Allison HT750 Trans usually with a retarder..

    I worked on them maybe around 15 yrs ago - supplied from the Volvo Factory in Australia

    For the Mack sorry no info but maybe its sign its still in use

    post-3299-0-72938400-1373630842_thumb.jp

  2. Well as you know they offer the Sleeper cab option in Aus...

    The tests on the intergrated sleeper cab that was offered showed it would not survive here..

    I am not a fan of the fibreglass sleeper boxes they offer here.. I hope we can offer an intergrated sleeper of our own design

    And Paccar kicks our ass here in Oz We dont like it..

    For the record the Mack Team and the Volvo team are now one In aus we all sit in the same design office

    we learn from each other.. What we find challenging is the continual change in customer design requests..

    Anything is possable but for one off designs the costs can be too high for anyone to accept...

  3. I think this is typical of what we face within the group

    Any change made is seen as detrimental

    I can tell you 1st hand the culture intergration has been one of the biggest hurdles

    There are two choices.. make what you can from it or walk away

    Mack as a stand alone brand with unique designs would not have lasted..

    No engine to meet emissions STD,s a Cab that is very old

    So we are where we are.. as much as you can bag the company i could give it back and point out some different views

    A typical response would be this is an example of Bullydog culture....

  4. Yes they were based in Jakarta.. different island..

    And to think everything changed overnight is un realistic

    When did Mack Production move from the Richlands Factory to the Wacol Factory?

    When was the 1st changes in dealership support or change to company or private dealers and importors in Aust / Asia

    When was the 1st design changes impacted on Mack Product?

    I know that the legacy product was not touched design wise - only the new breed had design collaboration...

  5. You seem to have an axe to grind...so we should agree to disagree..

    The former Mack is or was what it was

    The one Mack dealer on your list was in jakarta, this mine is in kalimantan different island and about 6 hrs drive from the airport

    But i will dig into the Vin. find the sales responsable, also confirm the actual build date

    I sent the pics to the long term guys back at VGA/Mack

    At the same site but different customer there are a larger number of renaults - again parked and slowlt being stripped

    These are described as unsuitable with the amount of frame flex when loaded -

    I guess they are operating at about 60 tonnes when loaded

    and for the record there were two Volvo FM.s there as well

  6. Sorry I can say with surety Mack was seperate from Volvo in Australia when these were built, delivered and service supported.

    I think i could name the guys that built them in the Mack SVC workshop at Richlands..

    but i will concurr that i dont understand how the kenworths have survived and not the Mack..

    If it was possable i would support their resurection... i am not a fan of the Cummins engine.. but to keep a brand operating their i would support it

    My view if its not our brand I find its a compromise Cummins engine is generic.. compromised to suit Eaton trans Volvo Trans and allison trans and to intergrate to VECU same as Eaton Auto shift.. it is only the early engines that were managable,

    You can blame Volvo but we within the company might have a different view ( Both Mack and Volvo people )

    We can take the blame for the MP10 685 hp The MP8 530 The new Titan, the Superliner, The Trident, maybe even the Granite as well,

    We have developed a great team over the years. we have embraced culture changes.

    I also think perhaps the low sales volumes of only 2 compromised the support offered in the way of spare parts kept on hand, the local dealer training and even driver training...

    On the bright side i will post up some pics of another site still operating some early macks..

    • Like 1
  7. Well funny.. i took that picture...

    The are not Big Foots they are Titans ISX600 Eaton 22918 with the Renault Hub reduction axles

    Built in 2001 i believe by the VIN plate.. before Volvo was involved

    They are relativly complete.. even have the alternators still fitted..

    Why are they parked there.. well technical support fell below acceptable stds.

    Becuase its a hybrid of cummins / eaton no one stop shop could provide support..

    The site now does operate a lot of Volvo and Scania and some Benz with a smattering of the Kenworth version of the Mack Bigfoot

    But that will follow the same fate as the macks

    The customer want one stop shop for complete service

    The trucks operate there at 200 tonnes on dedicated roads

    Its not modern but then its not backwards either

    As the drivers and they lean towards comfort now as part of the job requirment

    Drivers are in short supply there the same as the rest of the world..

    So they do steer what the companies will buy..

    But is saying all of the above i do think a new Titan might make the cut in Asia but with the M drive...

    And yep I work for Volvo.. but i support Mack and UD and Renault

  8. Im all for the idea.. we can pull the Mack Brand out of Australia then to concentrate on Volvo here..

    And yep lets develope a cab for one brand only.. we need to proportion the development budget based on Nth American Volumes only..

    I think its not a very good idea.. if you reduce volumes you reduce potential revenue return to the company.. and there is no way to be sure that the current Volvo buyers will turn to a Mack.. so it could be a disaster...

  9. Well for my two bucks worth we see designs changed from what could be termed as robust to what the marketing people see as required for Brand image.

    If Mack could stand alone it would be a mighty effort.. but then my Volvo heritage would say find your own engines/ gearboxes etc etc ad the costs for that alone would end the brand.

    I see some choices on Mack products that have been driven by Mack that have not worked well in the long term.. they were driven by the heart and not the head.. I am optimistic.. my future depends on it.. In Oz the common group engine now has more power, the Mdrive seems to be eagerly awaited..

    OK its been a challenge to keep the heritage of twin vertical stacks in keeping with brand requirments.. would have been cheaper and more robust to have a single low outlet but thats not what a Mack should look like..

  10. Its really a non event.. The Mack brand will remain, the good source is yanking your chain...

    In Australia it wouldnt work to rebadge vehicles..

    You could in theory bring in North American Volvos and sell them but then that would make it even more competative than it is today.

    And yes we speak english...

    And I think we have done some good things with the Mack Product... and there are some really cool things to come..

    Euro 5 for Mack in Australia will kick some ass

    100% Mack is a reality in the future.. if the background is shared components is that so bad..

    Is a Kenworth 100% Kenworth or is it a bitsa...

  11. Split tanks for DEF ( Urea ) and Fuel has not been adopted.

    Most Urea tanks will be either plastic or stainless steel

    Urea and aluminiam or steel dont make friends..

    SCR technology has been used in OZ for sometime with good success..

    SCR with a DPF is no big drama... For the future expct SCR / EGR and DPF to be used in conjunction with each other.

    Although the pace at which technology changes there could be something else surface,,

    Currently Australia is at EU4 or US07 and made up with SCR or EGR technology.. with a sprinkling of ACERT

    2011 will require all new vehicles to be at EU5 and US10 which will be SCR or EGR with DPF

    The urea filter in the pump ( paper type ) has a service life of 180,000 km

    there is an inline filter on the inlet which is removable and cleanable..

    There is also a filter on the pick up...

    Petroleum products dont work well in theses systems.. so dont have a brain fade and put the wrong bowser in the wrong tank

    Also keep the urea tank cap clean and tight..

  12. Yep, all we have here is desert and kangaroos, you might find the hood hides a larger cooling pack as well.. and when you lift the hood then you need to move the lower guards.. and then the supports from the fuel tanks to the lower guards..Also if you moving the cab around then you might find the air intakes to the air filter might not connect...

    The only cummins gas engine offered here in a Mack is the ISL in the Metroliner.. its extremely expensive, and the gas volume required for such a short range makes it suitable only in the metropolitan area if you have your own gas suppy ( Boral )

    Also the Trident is placed here for Construction and line haul work, where the Titan and Superliner are Long demanding haul ( Desert )

  13. I could fill the forum with the fact the reverse happened here in Oz..

    We lost a lot of things we had as Volvo employees becuase Mack didnt have them and we lost a lot of good people.

    And they moved our headquaters....

    Its change, we might not like it, but its going to happen anyway..

    The feelings will last until the very last employee leaves that knew the brands as seperate companies..

    If you talk to someone that is new to the company it will most likely be a different view..

  14. I will stand my ground and say your kidding yourself on some of these assumptions..

    You will have your opinion and I will have mine so we can agree to diagree..

    I could fill the forum with similar stories and feelings from here, but why bother, it seems a pointless discussion.

    If you dont want to accept that maybe there are some people working for the company that give a dam I am not bothered..

    But then if I see something on the forum I might be able to help with I will ask myself why bother...

  15. Sounds like a very passionate customer...

    Not sure I would agree with all those facts though..

    Its interesting that all the mistakes are made by Volvo, Is the perception that everyone that worked for Mack has left the building and not involved in any of the decesions?? Do you think that the ones who are still there sit quietly like church mice and say nothing and have no input? Does this really sound like the brand culture you so proudly support?

    For the Titan sleeper maybe there were good reasons not to offer it.. maybe the cab broke up under some operating conditions, then when did offer it it would be Volvos fault for selling something that was poor quality..

    Good to hear your Multi brand commercial platform is a profitable investment..

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