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ITT charts a new way forward with Mercedes-Benz
 ITT Water & Wastewater is always keen to tap into the best deal – which explains why it turned to Mercedes-Benz CharterWay when it came to finance its latest vans.
The manufacturer’s in-house commercial vehicle finance and fleet management arm teamed-up with Chris Cubitt, New Business Development Manager at Birmingham dealer Gerard Mann Commercials, to supply a fleet of new Mercedes Sprinters and Vitos on three-year contract hire agreements.
ITT Water & Wastewater is a world leader in submersible pumps, mixers, aerators and associated equipment. It is also involved in a broad spectrum of activities aimed at helping governments, local authorities and businesses to improve sewage handling, flood control, energy conservation, land reclamation and tunnel construction.
As well as a network of UK service centres, the company has a team of highly trained mobile service engineers. They are called upon to handle a variety of jobs, from the repair of a single pump to the installation of multi-pump configurations capable of delivering thousands of gallons of liquid per hour.
Based at Colwick, Nottingham, ITT operates a fleet of some 70 vans and pick-ups. Until recently, all were supplied by another manufacturer, but these vehicles were proving unreliable and costly to maintain.
ITT has now taken delivery of 25 Long-bodied Mercedes Sprinter 311CDIs and 10 Sprinter 311CDI chassis cabs, with dropside bodies by Plant Equipment, of Alfreton. Twelve smaller Vitos have also joined the fleet, with another six Sprinter dropsiders due to be supplied by Gerard Mann this year. Orders for more Sprinters and Vitos are expected to follow, as the reminder of the fleet comes up for renewal.
The Sprinters are all fitted with the new ECO-Start system, which automatically cuts the engine when the vehicle is stationary for more than two seconds and re-starts it when the driver depresses the clutch. The saving in fuel consumption is potentially significant, especially in busy city centres or heavy traffic.
While the Sprinter’s environmentally-friendly credentials were a big part of the appeal to ITT, so, too, was the ‘one-stop shop’ element of the deal, with manufacturer and finance provider working together seamlessly.
Gerard Mann and CharterWay delivered several joint presentations at ITT Water & Wastewater’s UK headquarters and impressed Facilities & Transport Manager Andrea Gawel.
“The fact that Gerard Mann and CharterWay were effectively dealing with us as a single entity made it easy to couple the demands of finding the right models with the appropriate finance package,” explains Andrea.
“Of course there were other attractions, not least the reputation for reliability of Mercedes vehicles. And we were already wedded to contract hire as an acquisition method, because it requires no initial capital outlay and allows us to budget with complete confidence.”
ITT Waste & Wastewater was also impressed by the fact that Mercedes-Benz CharterWay guarantees out-of-hours servicing at authorised dealers across the country, along with 24-hour breakdown or accident recovery.
Before winning the ITT business, Gerard Mann supplied several vehicles for the company’s mobile engineers to test. The experience went well enough to convince the operator that Mercedes Sprinters and Vitos would be reliable and comfortable workhorses.
Engineer Jock Syme is delighted with his Sprinter, which has been racked out to carry a range of tools and equipment, including the Easylift, which is a collapsible hoist for lifting pumps. Based in Huntingdon, and covering East Anglia, his job is to install, maintain and service pumps, and to respond to emergency call-outs.
“The Sprinter’s in a different league to my previous van,” says Jock, who has been with ITT for 22 years. “The 109hp engine is powerful and smooth, the six-speed manual gearbox slick and easy to use, and the cab a great place to be, with lots of under-seat storage.”
Jock is also impressed by the space in the rear of his Sprinter; a high-roofed model, which is accessed via symmetrically hinged rear doors or sliding side load door. “It’s easy to get equipment in and out and to move around in,” he adds. “It’s a great all-round vehicle; I definitely wouldn’t want to go back to my old van.”
www.ittwww.co.uk
One Stop shops for Mercedes Axor
Convenience store chain One Stop went shopping for a fleet of new delivery trucks – and chose the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz Axor.
Its 18 new Axor 1840 tractor units are now helping to service a network of 510 stores across England and Wales.
Supplied by West Midlands dealer Gerard Mann Commercials, the 4x2 units are powered by 400hp straight-six BlueTec® Euro 5 engines, driving through manual gearboxes. They are also fitted with air management kits specially designed for the Axor by Hatcher Components, which have been shown in tests to deliver significant fuel efficiency gains, even when compared with standard wind deflectors.
The new trucks are working from One Stop’s distribution hub in Brownhills, near Walsall – the company also has a second site in Southampton. Between them, the two centres run a fleet of 37 tractor units and five rigids, as well as 55 trailers in a range of lengths from 26 to 40 feet.
Most of the trailers are equipped with steering rear axles and tail lifts, in order to access shops based on high streets and in residential areas more easily, and to minimise local environmental impact in line with One Stop’s ‘good neighbour’ policy.
The smart new Axor have replaced a ‘mixed bag’ of three- and four-year-old units from various manufacturers, and were chosen partly as a result of the close relationship that One Stop’s parent enjoys with Mercedes-Benz. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesco, which also relies heavily on identically-specified Axor units.
“Our drivers are delighted with the Axor,” says One Stop’s Head of Distribution, David Scott. “We’ve not had a single negative comment, which is a very good sign. The cabs are very well laid out and given our relatively low weights, the 400hp output makes them a pleasure to drive.
“The service we received from Mercedes-Benz and Gerard Mann was excellent too – before the trucks arrived they brought a demo unit to our premises and left it with us, so the drivers could familiarise themselves with the new model.”
He continues: “As far as fuel economy and reliability go, of course it’s too early to say how good they’ll be, but the early signs are certainly very encouraging.”
One-Stop is now looking to update the trucks operating from its Southampton depot, most of which are three or four years old, and also planning to replace 44 trailers in the next 18 months.
One Stop stores receive an average of 2.5 deliveries per week, each ‘drop’ occurring within a timed delivery window. As shops are not equipped with loading bays, goods are off-loaded using tail lifts and delivered in collapsible wheeled cages, which store staff then ‘break down’, so they can be taken back by the next truck. Drivers also collect packaging materials, which are returned to base for recycling.
www.onestop.co.uk
Landscaper goes for growth with Sprinter
 Landscaper goes for growth with Sprinter
Landscaping specialist Max Smith has turned to Mercedes-Benz to help him branch out and expand his business.
The owner of S&R Landscapers has just taken delivery of a V6-engined Mercedes Sprinter van that gives his company the extra flexibility it needs to take on a wider variety of jobs.
The new Sprinter 318CDI has lined up alongside a 4x4 pick-up that was the firm’s only form of transport prior to the arrival of its new van.
S&R Landscapers was established in 1987 and is based in Bretby, near Burton upon Trent. The firm carries out landscaping and general garden maintenance work for domestic and commercial customers.
Its new Sprinter was supplied by Birmingham dealer Gerard Mann Commercials and is the subject of a five-year lease deal with Mercedes-Benz CharterWay, the manufacturer’s commercial vehicle finance arm.
A Medium-length high-roofed model, the van is powered by a turbo-charged 184hp 3.0-litre common-rail diesel engine that pumps out a stump-pulling 400Nm of torque.
“We chose the Sprinter because we wanted a van with a strong image and a reputation for reliability,” explains Mr Smith. “It also had to be powerful enough to carry all of our equipment and pull a trailer loaded with the rubbish generated in the course of a job.”
S& R Landscapers specified an uprated rear axle, allowing it to carry up to a tonne inside the vehicle and a further two tonnes on the trailer.
“The Sprinter is comfortable, safe and easy to drive, handling the weight superbly. With the V6 engine too, I just can’t fault it,” continues Mr Smith, who has added a host of optional extras to its all ready well-equipped Sprinter. These include a five-speed automatic transmission, a multi-function steering wheel, a Parktronic parking aid, heated exterior mirrors, a tyre pressure monitoring system, auxiliary heating and hot water systems and the latest bi-xenon headlamps with cornering function.
Mr Smith was a guest of Gerard Mann at a recent Mercedes-Benz Van Experience event, which was staged at the Warwickshire test facility of race and rally specialist Prodrive. There, together with hundreds of other light commercial vehicle operators, he was able to put various Mercedes vans through their paces.
“It was an amazing day,” he recalls, “and helped to convince me that the Sprinter was the van for us.”
Mr Smith was particularly impressed by the Sprinter’s arsenal of active and passive safety features, designed to offer the highest possible degree of protection to vehicle occupants and other road users. These include the latest Adaptive version of the ESP® anti-skid system, which dynamically monitors the vehicle’s load status while it is on the move.
www.maxlandscapers.com
Sprinting ahead…that’s Max Smith, with his new Mercedes Sprinter
Eurohire’s star rises with Mercedes-Benz Birmingham
 Eurohire’s star rises with Mercedes-Benz
Leading commercial vehicle rental firm Eurohire has made another round of investments in Mercedes-Benz trucks.
The company runs a fleet of 300 vehicles from its depots at West Bromwich, Birmingham and Nottingham.
Ranging from vans to 44-tonne articulated tractor units, these are offered on a short-term rental or contract hire basis to business operators across the UK. Most vehicles wear Eurohire’s own livery but some contract hired units work in its customers’ colours.
Eurohire operates a variety of vehicle marques in order to offer customers the widest possible choice, but Mercedes-Benz has always enjoyed a significant share of its fleet.
The latest arrivals from Gerard Mann Commercials, Birmingham, were four 18-tonne Axor 1824s and a 6x2 Actros 2543 tractor unit. All replace vehicles that Eurohire has stood down – the firm typically runs its trucks for five years.
Director Victoria Kerr says: “We’ve been offering Mercedes trucks and vans for some 30 years now. They have always given us solid, reliable service, as well as being popular with customers for both daily rental and longer term hire.”
She continues: “Rental vehicles must be reliable, especially as they’re often hired in to cover when an operator’s own trucks are off the road. They should also be easy to drive, as drivers don’t always have the luxury of spending a long time familiarising themselves with a new set of controls. And they need comfortable but hard-wearing cabs, a smart, professional image, and delivering good fuel economy.
“Mercedes trucks score highly on all those counts and represent an excellent all-round package.”
The Eurohire fleet includes box-bodied and curtainsided trucks of all sizes, as well as tipper and platform-bodied vehicles, some of which have cranes.
www.eurohire.uk.com
Moving forward with Mercedes…Eurohire Director Victoria Kerr, with Operations Manager Lee Hudson
New Sprinter keeps Radshape in the fast lane
 Sprinting ahead…that’s Ken Brown, with Radshape’s first Mercedes van
New Sprinter keeps Radshape in the fast lane
A Birmingham company that makes the advanced aluminium alloy chassis for the stunning Morgan Aero 8 has turned to Mercedes-Benz to drive its own business forward.
Radshape Sheet Metal chose a new Mercedes Sprinter to deliver its precision-engineered components to the manufacturer of the iconic British sports car.
Radshape also fashions parts for customers such as Bentley, Pianoforte Supplies, CHK Engineering, Whale Tankers, IMI Components and Tata Motors, as well as for others in the commercial vehicle, motorsport, electrical, defence and rail industries.
The firm has more than 40 years’ experience in the manufacture of sheet metal parts, combining traditional skills and craftsmanship with state-of-the-art computerised technology. Based at Shefford Road, Aston, it employs 60 people and has an annual turnover of £4 million.
Supplied by Birmingham dealer Gerard Mann Commercials, Radshape’s new Sprinter 311CDI chassis cab has a curtainside body by Summedale Truck Bodies, also of Birmingham. It has replaced a vehicle by another manufacturer and is the first Mercedes to wear Radshape’s colours.
“There’s a lot of prestige associated with the Mercedes-Benz brand and we decided that it was time to for us to take that step up,” declares Sales Director Ken Brown. “The Sprinter may cost a little more than some rivals but its predicted ‘whole life’ running costs are a lot lower, thanks to its reliability, long service intervals and high residual values.”
Radshape’s new Mercedes is already a regular visitor to Morgan’s Malvern factory, where it delivers up to two Aero 8 chassis at a time.
The Sprinter is powered by a smooth and clean common-rail diesel engine, and bristles with safety features, including the latest Adaptive version of the ESP® anti-skid system, which dynamically monitors the vehicle’s load status while it is on the move. A class-leading three-year, unlimited mileage warranty also comes as standard, as does a free, Service Package that covers the first five years or 60,000 miles of operation, whichever is reached sooner.
“Our drivers love the Sprinter,” explains Mr Brown. “It’s very comfortable and easy to drive, and is proving to be economical to operate.”
Radshape is also delighted with the service it has received from Gerard Mann van sales executive Rob Lynock. “He responded quickly and efficiently to our initial inquiry and was very helpful in explaining our options and in keeping us informed every step of the way,” adds Mr Brown. www.radshape.co.uk
Renewable energy company gets to grips with 4x4 Sprinter
 Gripping stuff… technicians Colin Mitchell and Peter Simonett with the new Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 at Kirby Moor Wind Farm, in Cumbria
Renewable energy company gets to grips with 4x4 Sprinter
One of the UK’s leading renewable energy companies has plugged into the electrifying off-road ability of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4.
RWE npower renewables is operating the all-wheel drive van at its Kirby Moor Wind Farm, near Ulverston, in Cumbria, which is perched above a slate quarry, well away from any roads.
Supplied by Birmingham dealer Gerard Mann Commercials, the Sprinter 318CDI has been racked out by Sortimo, of Wolverhampton, to carry a full load of tools and equipment used by the energy company’s wind turbine maintenance technicians.
“The Sprinter 4x4’s traction in slippery, low-grip conditions is very impressive and our technicians are delighted with it,” declares Operations Maintenance Strategy Manager Chris Griffiths. “We tested several vehicles over some tricky terrain before opting for the Mercedes, which was the only one that really handled well off-road with a full load of equipment on board.”
The new van also clocks up plenty of road miles, travelling to and from the company’s operations centre at Llanidloes, Mid-Wales, and making occasional trips to other wind farms in the South West.
Powered by a 184bhp, 2.2-litre common-rail diesel engine, the Medium-length Sprinter has an innovative all-wheel drive system that can be engaged at the touch of a button, directing torque to the wheels with the greatest amount of grip and reducing wheel slip on those with less traction. Called 4-ETS (Electronic Traction System), this mimics the operation of mechanical differential locks, but without the penalty of their weight, cost and consequent wear.
“It’s a very simple system and should mean improved reliability as well as reduced maintenance costs,” says Mrs Griffiths. “Mercedes Sprinters also come with an unlimited mileage, three-year warranty, long service intervals and high residual values, as well as excellent support from the Mercedes-Benz dealer network – it’s a great all-round package.”
RWE npower renewables generates electricity using sustainable, environmentally-friendly resources. The company, which has headquarters in Swindon, operates a portfolio of onshore and offshore wind farms, hydroelectric schemes and co-firing biomass power stations. It is also developing a wave power scheme on the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland.
While most of its maintenance and repair work is contracted out, the company employs a handful of technicians to service its older generating facilities. Apart from the new Sprinter 4x4, transport is provided by crewcab pick-ups and Argocat all-terrain vehicles.
“Our pick-ups are coming to the end of their working lives and I would anticipate placing an order for three more Sprinter 4x4s before the end of the year,” explains Mr Griffiths. “It’s also possible that we might bring more maintenance work ‘in house’, so potentially we could be looking at another five or six Sprinters on top of that.”
Mr Griffiths is delighted with the service he received from Gerard Mann Commercials sales executive Chris Cubitt. “Chris was very professional and responsive, going out of his way to answer all our questions and putting us in touch with the technical experts at Mercedes-Benz UK,” adds Mr Griffiths.
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