Regional operator ROSTtech told how garbage trucks operate in Norilsk in extreme frost conditions

Regional operator ROSTtech told how in Norilsk special equipment removes garbage in the cold.

The severe frosts that have shackled the northern city paralyze not only ordinary life, but also the work of special equipment, the ROSTtech press service said. There is practically no other special equipment on the streets other than garbage trucks, which, despite everything, continue to remove waste. Low temperatures make metal brittle and hydraulic systems fail.

“In cold weather, the garbage truck works slower; in addition, when the boom is lowered, the hydraulic hoses burst. The press plate may freeze and stop pressing waste,” explains ROSTtech.

According to experts, technology in such conditions requires a special approach. “The equipment cannot withstand severe frosts; the hydraulics freeze. We work, so to speak, in “rushes”: we drive the equipment into the garage to warm up, then we go back to the line. We try not to disrupt the schedule, but sometimes delays happen,” said Andrey Atlas, head of the motor transport section of the carrier of the regional operator ROSTtech.

To ensure uninterrupted operation, the repair shop switched to 24-hour operation. The key problem is hydraulic hoses, which often burst in the cold.

“Hydraulic hoses are one of the first elements of a garbage truck to fail in the cold. They supply hydraulic oil under high pressure to the distributor, and if the hose bursts in the cold, the equipment can no longer be operated. The repair shop specialists learned how to make hydraulic hoses with their own hands right on the spot, this makes it possible to speed up the repair of equipment and quickly put it on line,” explained the press service of the operator.

Despite challenges including snow-covered container yards and improperly parked vehicles, the operator is not reducing the number of flights on its winter schedule. The company emphasizes that although the work takes longer if there is a steady minus, the entire volume of garbage will be removed.

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