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www.truckandtrack.com
Winter 2018
Truck and Track
29
TRAILERS
Chester-based AH Plant Hire has taken delivery of a new
bespoke-built Andover Trailers plant body, an upgrade for the
company’s original Andover build, which entered service 14
years ago and is still in operation today.
The new body, mounted to a 32-tonne 8x2 rear steer Scania G450,
joins two other Andover-built plant bodies in service with the
company, mounted to a 2010 17-tonne 4x2 Mercedes-Benz Atego
and the original 2004 26-tonne 6x2 Scania.
Andrew Heaton, Director at AH Plant Hire, says: “We’ve looked after
our original Scania and both the truck and body have been brilliant.
We calculated that the vehicle has been loaded and unloaded
close to 120,000 times, and it’s still going strong – if that isn’t a
testament to the build quality and longevity of Andover’s products,
I don’t knowwhat is!”
Despite its age, the 2004 Scania isn’t being retired from service, as
both truck and body are still in excellent condition. The new Scania
is a fleet addition brought in to helpmaintain the continued growth
of the business, providing AH Plant Hire with a bigger truck offering
more flexibility and the ability to move larger loads.
The new body boasts Andover’s trademark low-profile deck, which
sees the cross members transect the body runners, rather than
simply sitting on top. It also features a double crank beavertail
connected to a pair of 2.8m long hydraulic power toe, knife edged
ramps, alongside a hydraulic winch to aid loading and unloading
and 10 pairs of lashing points on the deck for maximum load
security and flexibility.
The combination of the double crank beavertail and longer ramp
length creates a shallower load angle, helping to improve safety
when loading and unloading. Safety was also at the forefront of AH
Plant’s decision to include additional lighting under the bed and
inside the toolboxes, helping to make operation at night as safe as
possible.
“The ability to develop a plant body to our specific requirements
is what makes Andover stand out from its competitors – that and
the fantastic level of customer service we have received from them
since day one. It sealed our decision to remain loyal to Andover with
this latest order,” Heaton adds.
AH Plant expects the new vehicle to remain in service for around
six years, it will be on the road six days a week, clocking up close to
75,000 km a year.
New Andover Trailers plant body for AH Plant Hire
joins hard working predecessor
The
Cartwright
Group
has
further
strengthened its engineering and technical
team with the announcement of a new key
appointment and an exciting innovation
initiative.
The Group has appointed Michael Bolger
as Director of Engineering. An experienced
engineering executive, Michael joins the
company from Leyland Trucks and will head
up Cartwright’s highly regarded engineering
team.
The appointment of Michael will enable
Technical Director Lionel Curtis, to focus on
innovation and electric vehicles as well as
exciting new development projects. This
will include investment in important areas
such as carbon reduction programmes, light
weighting, aerodynamics, renewable energy,
Streetwise and other urban delivery solutions.
Michael Bolger brings extensive vehicle engineering experience to
his new position. In addition to his career with Leyland he spent
three years with Ford and was also employed by US engineering
software and product engineering consultancy Altair.
CommentingonhisnewrolewithCartwright he said: “I amdelighted
to be joining Cartwright at a time when the company is expanding
into new and international markets. I was obviously aware of their
reputation for producing quality and reliable products and their
customer portfolio of household names speaks for itself.”
Lionel Curtis said he was looking forward to working alongside
Michael Bolger and to have the opportunity to focus his engineering
passion on innovation and major projects such as electric vehicles.
“The move to further develop and expand the engineering and
technical areas has created an exciting new chapter for Cartwright
and allows me to spend time on innovation and ideas for future
product development that are sometimes out of the box, but which
will enable Cartwright to stay at the forefront of the industry.”
Group Managing Director Mark Cartwright added: “Our growth in
recent years has been unprecedented and we recognised the major
benefits we can potentially develop for our customers through
investing in Lionel’s passion and skills as an innovator.
“We believe we now have the dream ticket, having appointed
a highly experienced engineer in Michael Bolger to head our
engineering teamand allowing Lionel Curtis the time and flexibility
to focus on innovation and development projects thatwill hopefully
be game changers for the future.”
Cartwright Group strengthens engineering & technical team
Michael Bolger -
Cartwright Director of
Engineering
Lionel Curtis