Scania K-series coach chassis can be delivered fitted with coaches built by Irizar, one of the world’s largest and most successful coach builders.
It is the first time Scania has been able to offer coach bodies with European design and build.
Scania Australia National Manager Bus and Coach Trevor O’Brien said the decision to import Irizar Century coach bodies gave customers a new standard of product with much shorter delivery lead times.
“Irizar is a mass producer of coach bodies, so the Century is a totally different body to the hand-built short-production-run coach bodies that are available in Australia,” he said.
“There are simply some things that mass production offer that short-run production does not, from the fit and finish to the use of injection mouldings.
“Mass production also brings that uniformity of design and uniformity of manufacture that means that whether it’s the first or the 100th delivery, every coach will be the same.
“This brings enormous advantages from the point of view of servicing and maintenance - and that’s even without consideration for the sleek, aerodynamic design of the Century, which is clearly apparent the first time you see one.”
Trevor said delivery lead times were expected to be cut dramatically.
“Irizar has six manufacturing plants globally, operates in 65 countries and employs over 3000 people – that’s quite a level of support,” he said.
“Furthermore, Scania is one of Irizar’s largest customers globally, so to be bringing Irizar coaches to Australia is merely the extension of that relationship rather than the creation of a new one.”
The Century range is available for installation on Scania K-series 4x2 or 6x2 chassis in either 3.5-metre or 3.7-metre heights. Body lengths include 11.3 metres, 12 metres, 12.8 metres, 13.7 metres and 14.5 metres. Initially, Century coaches bound for Australia will be manufactured in Brazil. Irizar Oceania is responsible for parts and after sales support for the Century range.