Unimog U 20 Special - Mercedes Benz

2 EDITORIAL • UNIMOG 1 • 2010
Dear friends
of Unimog,
I am delighted to present to you this latest
issue of Unimog Magazine. On scrolling
through, and on closer reading, you will
notice that we have made some changes
to the layout – and also that we have
added this Editorial section. I will from
now on be taking this opportunity, as
head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks
and plant manager in Wörth, to address you twice a year through this channel.
I was appointed to manage the world’s largest truck assembly plant in 2009. A key
aspect of my role, however, is in heading the Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks division
– the home of the Zetros and the Econic, and of the Unimog range, from the
U 20 up to the U 5000. We established this unit within Daimler AG in order to meet
the special requirements of customers in the segment. With a dedicated team of
specialists in development, production and sales, we are able to create tailored
system solutions which are greatly appreciated by our customers. That is true even
in difficult economic times confronting the world as a whole, as were seen last year
especially. Our legendary Unimog, the “universal motor machine”, has proved more
than a mere survivor in such times. Indeed, it was the only production unit in the
entire commercial vehicles industry not to be affected by short-time working during
the crisis.
At INTERSCHUTZ, the international rescue, fire prevention, disaster relief, safety
and security fair in Leipzig, the spotlight on the Mercedes-Benz stand will be on the
Unimog U 20. This issue of Unimog Magazine likewise focuses its attention on the
Unimog U 20. This Special provides extensive coverage of the most compact unit
in the universal implement carrier range, featuring operational reports from its work
in Winter service in St. Moritz and helping with pipe-laying in Luxembourg. We also
take a look across the Alps, where Italian power company Enel recently ordered
50 Unimog U 20 vehicles.
Despite the diversity of these applications, users of the Unimog U 20 are united in
their pleasure on discovering product advantages which the model’s “big brothers”
cannot deliver: The U 20 scores particularly thanks to its compact size and slim
design, allied to a short wheelbase of just 2.7 metres, providing for a turning circle
of just 12.6 metres, enabling it to work in locations which larger vehicles have no
chance of reaching. Those attributes are brought to bear in the fire-fighting segment,
for example, where the vehicle is attracting great interest. In fact, the Unimog U 20
in its tank tender specification even conforms to the fire service standard TLF 10/20
currently still in preparation, and as such is fully eligible for the relevant subsidies.
The U 20 thus represents a genuine Unimog at an attractive entry-level price.
I would be very pleased to see you at INTERSCHUTZ or to welcome you on some
other occasion to our headquarters.
I very much hope you enjoy reading your new Unimog Magazine.
Yaris Pürsün
Mercedes-Benz Wörth Plant Manager and Director of
Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks Division
Fire-fighting
08 A little power pack with
life-saving qualities_Compact,
manoeuvrable and powerful: the
Unimog U 20 is popular among
fire services all over Europe.