Long-established
Mercedes-Benz customer Broughton Plant Hire & Sales has underscored its
commitment to safety by commissioning its first dropsiders from the recently
launched new Sprinter range.
The
company operates from headquarters in Romford, Essex, and depots in Bristol,
and Alfreton, Derbyshire. Supplied by Dealer S & B Commercials, the latest
three additions to its fleet are 314 CDI L3 (Long) chassis cabs, with bodies by
Piggott Coachworks, of Bishop’s Stortford, and 500 kg Dhollandia tail-lifts.
Within
the last year Broughton Plant Hire & Sales has also acquired 16 Euro
6-engined vans from the previous Sprinter model range, while it has another
nine new-generation versions on order, the last of which is scheduled to enter
service next summer.
Broughton
Plant Hire & Sales specialises in the hire and sale of plant and equipment
to the heating, ventilation, and fire protection industries. The company was
established in 1984, as a trading division of the Michael Broughton Group,
which celebrates its 50th anniversary
next year.
Sprinters account for the overwhelming majority of its
vehicles. However, the line-up also includes three Mercedes-Benz Vito service
vans – one for each of its locations – and three trucks: an 18-tonne Mercedes-Benz Antos with beavertail plant
body, and a pair of 7.5-tonne FUSO Canters, which were also sourced from S
& B Commercials.
The
Sprinters are employed primarily to transport small tools, plant and equipment
– Broughton Plant Hire & Sales claims market leadership in the rental and
maintenance of pressfitting tools, and as a specialist supplier of low-level
access equipment owns a large fleet of podium steps and push-around vertical
lifts.
Having
previously run vans from the Mercedes-Benz T1 range that preceded the Sprinter,
Broughton Plant Hire & Sales switched to another brand in the early 1990s.
When the new vehicles proved to be nothing like as reliable, however, it
quickly reverted and has remained loyal to the three-pointed star ever since.
“We work on the basis that as it’s not broken,
we won’t try to fix it,” explained General Manager Joe Zammit. “We cannot
afford unplanned downtime, as we make next-day delivery commitments to our
customers. First and foremost, therefore, we need workhorses that won’t let us
down, and that’s what we get from Mercedes-Benz.”
Safety
is also crucial to a company which is proud to have secured Silver
accreditation from the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), and which
equips all of its Mercedes-Benz vans with recordable front- and rear-facing
cameras.
The
Sprinter has long been recognised as the benchmark for safety in the van
segment, and the third-generation model, which was launched to the UK Press in
June, once again leads the way. New features include the autonomous Active
Brake Assist system with pedestrian recognition technology – another industry
‘first’ – and ATTENTION ASSIST, which detects drowsiness in drivers and
encourages them to take breaks when tired.
External revisions are relatively subtle, but new
Sprinter also boasts a completely redesigned cab interior that raises the bar
in terms of quality, quietness and smoothness.
Ground-breaking 4G connectivity allows operators to take advantage of a number
fast, efficient and cost-effective vehicle management services via the Mercedes
PRO connect system, while drivers also benefit from cutting-edge Mercedes MBUX
infotainment technology, which features a user-friendly voice control function
that responds to “Hey Mercedes!” followed by the command, in conjunction with
Navigation.
“The previous Sprinter was good, but the latest
model represents a huge leap forward,” enthused Joe Zammit. “Safety is our
number one priority and we’re very conscious as a business of our Duty of Care
to colleagues and other road users, so the new developments in this area are
very welcome. As for the improved cab layout and comfort, the drivers were all
drooling when the first of the new dropsiders arrived, and I can understand why
– it’s a fantastic working environment.”
Broughton
Plant Hire & Sales serves customers across most of England, as far north as
Yorkshire, and Wales. The majority of its Sprinters are based at Romford, from
where they undertake multi-drop deliveries throughout London and the
South-East, as well as East Anglia and the East Midlands.
Underpinning
the company’s relationship with Mercedes-Benz is the exemplary service it
receives from S & B Commercials’ van sales executive Paul Ramsden, and
mobile technician John Beard. “Paul provides fantastic support, while we’ve
come to regard John as a member of our own team,” continued Mr Zammit.
“He’s
very flexible, and is always at our site on Saturday mornings and in the
evenings, carrying out routine and preventative maintenance. Over and above the
scheduled services, he also undertakes full inspections of every vehicle on a
quarterly basis, so we know they are always road-ready and performing at the
optimum level.”
Like all
Mercedes-Benz vans, Broughton Plant Hire & Sales’ new Sprinters are backed
by three-year, unlimited mileage warranties and came with MobiloVan cover,
which includes free, 24-hour emergency roadside assistance.
“The
Mercedes-Benz star conveys an image of quality which can only reflect well on
our own business,” added Mr Zammit. “With superb products, and customer-focused
back-up from S & B Commercials, we’ve developed a tried and tested formula
that’s served us very well for many years.”
