Gloucester-based Ermin Plant Hire has taken delivery of a new 13-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego mounted with an Andover Trailers plant body and double-cranked beavertail. The firm also has a larger 26-tonne Arocs with plant body in build for delivery later this year.
The Atego replaces a similar truck, which also featured Andover Trailers bodywork, and will operate primarily from the company’s Cirencester depot carrying general plant including diggers, dumpers and rollers. It has been specified with a shorter wheelbase to allow for easier access to construction sites in the Cotswolds, which must often be accessed via narrow lanes.
Mark Davis, Ermin Plant Hire Transport Manager says: “Having worked with Andover Trailers across three decades, we have always found their plant bodies to perform exceptionally well and live up to the rigorous demands of transporting heavy equipment.
“When it came to ordering our new plant body, Andover Trailers was naturally our first choice.”
Constructed with combined mesh and hardwood ramps, to allow for the loading of machinery on tyres or tracks, as well as steel drum rollers, the plant body features a fixed-width working at height safety system complete with straps and stowage for the posts set against the headboard. Additional features include ramp controls situated on both sides for maximum ease of operation, a radio remote-controlled electric winch and open-top chain trays to safely store chains when not in use.
The 26-tonner on order will be built to the same specification as an identical vehicle delivered last year. The 6×2 rear-steer Arocs will be mounted with a plant body featuring a double-crank beavertail and fuel-saving fold-forward ramps, hydraulic steady legs and eight pairs of lashing rings – with four further rings fitted in the centre of the deck – as well as a removable, fixed-width working at height system and ramp controls on each side of the vehicle.
It will be used to deliver larger items of plant, which range from eight-tonne excavators to telehandlers, forklifts, boom lifts, cherry pickers and dump trucks.
Davis adds: “Andover Trailers has always provided us with purpose-built products specific to our needs and this new 26-tonne plant body will be no different.”
