Linfox rolls out custom Karcher truck wash

Logistics heavyweight Linfox recently teamed up with Karcher to build a new and innovative bespoke truck wash in Port Hedland, WA

Linfox has ramped up its vehicle maintenance procedures in the Pilbara, with the logistics giant recently unveiling a new truck wash facility in Port Hedland to keep its large truck fleet gleaming.

Designed by high-pressure cleaning specialist Karcher, the truck wash is said to have cut down on the time it typically takes to clean a prime mover and B-double from around five hours to just 15 minutes, with the site's old concrete pad and manual cleaning facilities making way for a fully enclosed building with automated jets and mezzanine deck.

The investment goes far beyond preserving a truck's general presentation, too. After rain the region's thick mud can add several hundred kilos of weight to a truck and its trailers – mud that can also lead to significant cooling issues for the prime mover. In addition to this, the Pilbara's iron ore dust is highly abrasive and can cause significant component damage if left unchecked.

After consulting with Linfox and examining the special requirements of the firm's Port Hedland operation, Karcher designed the new truck wash over a 12-month period.

The 30-metre-long facility sees trucks pass through a number of stages. First, jets of water cool the truck down so cleaning solutions can safely be applied. The truck then rolls over an underbody wash to remove caked-on mud and dust, before a team of four staff attack any remaining grime with Karcher washguns – two from the ground and two on an upstairs gantry that runs either side of the truck. Finally the truck passes through a rinsing arc, before returning to the road in spic-and-span condition.

The waste water collects in a 'beach pit' situated next to the truck wash. After a filtering process around 80 per cent of this water is returned to the truck wash system.

Karcher says it's currently looking at a further two bespoke truck wash solutions for Linfox.

Take a look at the clip below to see Linfox's Port Hedland truck wash in operation.

Linfox rolls out custom Karcher truck wash

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