DAF expands Plug and Play programme

DAF is expanding its Plug and Play program to achieve maximum efficiency.
As part of the DAF Transport Efficiency philosophy, DAF Trucks has further developed the equipment range of vehicles in the New Generation DAF wagon segment. The Dutch truck manufacturer has extended its revolutionary Plug & Play program, increased payloads to 160 kilograms, and introduced new hole layout options for chassis rails.
Last year, DAF introduced its Plug & Play program for bodybuilders and its entire range of two-wheel drive tractors and wagons for off-road and on-road applications. This program was designed in close cooperation with 25 of Europe’s leading bodybuilders to optimize demand, ordering, and assembly processes for cabover vehicles.

Ready to use
The program allows the customer, bodybuilder, and dealer to jointly select predefined and customized “Plug and Play” body options directly in the DAF ordering system.
The main objective is to make the “marriage” between the equipment and the DAF chassis as simple as possible. After mounting the body on the chassis (using the appropriate factory-installed mounting modules), the connectors are connected, and the equipment is immediately ready for use.
To make this possible, DAF vehicles can leave the factory (on request) completely ready for quick assembly and ready-to-use quality integration between bodywork and vehicle.

Plug and play for everyone.

DAF is also expanding its unique Plug & Play program to include a variety of universal installations for all other bodybuilders beyond the 25 already participating. These Plug & Play options are available for the installation of five specific applications: hook lifts, cranes, dump bodies, concrete mixers, and loaders.
Cornelis van der Lee, Director of Rigid and Vocational Trucks at DAF Trucks, said: “These installations represent around 90 percent of the market. Customers and dealers can now work with almost any bodybuilder to decide which chassis preparations are required for the ultra-fast assembly of a body. DAF can take care of not only chassis configurations but also the correct placement of connectors. This allows instant communication between the body and the information panel on the dashboard and switches in the cab. As a result, lead times in the body development process are shortened, which increases the operational availability of newly ordered Next Generation DAF vehicles. DAF is at the forefront of versatility for bodybuilders.”

Noticeable weight reduction
Further reduction of the already industry-leading curb weight of DAF cab vehicles is guaranteed by the newly designed, all-aluminum rear underbody protection (RUP). Despite its 28-kilogram lower weight, the RUP is much more robust than the previous steel version.
Customers of the New Generation DAF vehicles can also choose to combine the rigidity of the longitudinal beams of the DAF cab chassis with the rigidity of the subframe of the bodywork. Additional chassis reinforcements are no longer required. This results in a weight reduction of up to 135 kilograms, facilitating unrivaled load capacity without compromising the vehicle’s durability and robustness.

New bore layout
The DAF frame’s hole pattern usually includes 60-millimetre holes. However, a 50 mm hole pattern for the entire length of the frame is now also available to meet the manufacturer’s specific requirements. In addition, even if the holes have to go all the way to the rear end of the frame, the layout of the entire model can be modified to suit the needs of a particular bodybuilder.

Versatility of installation
Flexibility is part of every DAF vehicle’s DNA. The position of almost all chassis components, as well as the engine after-treatment system, can be customized according to the needs of the vehicle owner or bodybuilder. The latter can also indicate which DAF connection modules (BAMs) should be fitted at the factory and in exactly which position. A superstructure can then be quickly and efficiently mounted on the chassis, thus reducing costs and enabling rapid commissioning.

DAF also offers numerous options for controlling the superstructure and equipment from the cab and cab-to-cab via analog systems or the bodybuilder’s dedicated CAN Bus network, which allows signals and warnings to be transmitted to the cab and clearly projected on the large digital display. There are at least 51 icons and 31 text blocks (green, yellow, and red) that various attention or warning beeps can accompany.
A wide range of aftermarket programmable MUX switches are also available for superstructure control. These switches can be positioned and grouped according to the driver’s preferences, contributing to the unrivaled usability of the New Generation DAF vehicles.

The right PTO for every application
Installations often require a PTO. DAF offers at least 68 different PTO options, ranging from clutch-independent, engine-driven PTOs positioned at 11 o’clock and 13 o’clock to clutch-connected transmission PTOs. All of these PTOs are available with a direct pump or drive flange mounting. DAF also offers the possibility of operating up to three PTOs independently of each other at the same time.

Lower TCO, higher quality
To ensure maximum reliability and quality of the entire vehicle (body) and the fastest possible operational availability, DAF Trucks is committed to continuously improving the ease of use of its next-generation vehicles. The improvements, together with optimized payload capacities, mean that the total cost of ownership (TCO) of every Next Generation DAF articulated vehicle is unrivaled.