London-based materials handling company, Hiremech, has taken delivery of two bespoke-built curtainside plant bodies from Andover Trailers, each mounted to a 26-tonne Mercedes-Benz Antos 6×2 rigid. The two new trucks will deliver a wide range of plant across the south east and the Midlands.
Andover’s reputation for excellent build quality, alongside recommendations from industry peers, were key to securing the order. Both new vehicles will replace the company’s outgoing 26-tonne Renault Premiums.
Brian Lacey-Smith, Workshop and Logistics Manager at Hiremech, says: “Andover is extremely well respected throughout the industry, and this quickly became apparent when we chatted to some customers of theirs.
“We work our vehicles very hard, so they need to be robust and reliable. We’re confident that with Andover’s build quality these new trucks are built to last.”
As London’s only Cat® Lift Trucks forklift dealer, Hiremech will use the new vehicles to transport a range of forklifts, scissorlifts and other plant, weighing anywhere between one and 12 tonnes. To accommodate such loads, Andover designed both bodies with pierced crossmembers to create the lowest possible profile. Each build also includes a sturdy, all-steel TSE full-width sliding roof system to accommodate high-mast machines – a feature shared with Andover’s specialist forklift trailers.
Because Hiremech works with low ground clearance machinery, Andover designed the bodies with a double-cranked beavertail and a full-width, full-height hydraulic ramp for easier loading and unloading. A six-tonne electric winch is also mounted to the bulkhead of each vehicle to aid the process.
The specification of the plant bodies includes hydraulic steady legs to ensure a stable platform for loading and unloading, as well as six pairs of lashing points in the floor to secure each load. Andover also arranged for the Hiremech livery to be applied to each of the curtains.
“These are the only HGVs we operate, so they are integral to our business. We primarily operate in London, which makes using a specialist trailer difficult – hence our preference for rigids. The features Andover has included, particularly the lower deck height, makes the vehicles extremely versatile and are ideally suited to our needs,” Lacey-Smith adds.
Hiremech has been providing materials handling solutions since 1994. Specialising in sales, hire, servicing and repair, it has more than 1,000 forklift trucks on hire. The new plant bodies will be in operation a minimum of five days per week, will clock up around 100,000km a year and are expected to remain in the customer’s fleet for a minimum of five years.
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For information on the heavy haulage and specialist transport solutions provided by Andover Trailers, contact Andover Trailers Ltd, Unit 75, Columbus Way, Walworth Business Park, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 5NP. Tel: 01264 358 944 or e-mail: sales@andovertrailers.co.uk Website: www.andovertrailers.co.uk
Note to editor: For further press information please contact Gary Baker or James Keeler on 020 8647 4467.