NEW STEP FRAME TRAILER FLEET ENTERS OPERATION WITH H.E. SERVICES (PLANT HIRE) LTD
19 December 2012
Andover Trailers is delivering more than £500,000 worth of custom-built step frame trailers to H.E. SERVICES, the UK’s largest specialist excavator hire company. It marks one of the biggest trailer orders the Hampshire-based firm has secured this year – with the specialist new trailers manufactured exclusively at its two factories in Andover.
This latest order includes the first ever four-axle Andover step frame trailers to be built with SAF 11 tonne disc brake axles, which H.E. SERVICES’ Managing Director Peter Durey believes will alleviate issues experienced in the past with older-style drum brakes cracking during service.
In addition to bringing enhanced reliability, the disc brakes are expected to offer improved braking performance, coupled with simpler and faster maintenance, helping to further reduce downtime during trailer servicing.
Mr Durey explains: “We’ve had good service from the disc brakes on our smaller Andover step frames, so we asked the design team to incorporate them into the big new SFCL 67s. These larger trailers also feature new attached side extensions to the deck, bridge and beavertail, but aside from that, we’ve kept specifications very similar.
“It says something about Andover’s build quality when you can work the trailers as hard as we do for four years, and then have the confidence to put in a repeat order for an almost identical product,” Durey adds.
The order includes six SFCL 48 and two SFCL 53 tri-axle step frames, plus two larger four-axle SFCL 67 step frames – built with a low profile neck, beavertail and capable of operating at 48, 53 and 67 tonnes respectively (under STGO conditions). The six SFCL 48 models replace a fleet of smaller 40-tonne (SFCL 40) step frames; to give H.E. SERVICES increased capacity.
The trailers all feature SAF air-suspension with raise/lower control, hydraulic steady legs, top deck ramps, rugged trailer-mounted toolboxes, full LED lighting and multiple lashing points for maximum load security.
The smaller SFCL 48 step frames benefit from a lifting rear axle and fuel-saving 1m wide fold-forward ramps, with groucer bars to aid the loading of tracked machinery. The SFCL 53s have 1m wide by 2.5m long heavy duty single ramps, with hydraulic sideways controls, groucer bars on the beavertail plus a steering rear-axle for increased manoeuvrability. The range-topping SFCL 67s feature identical ramps and groucer bars, but with a self-tracking fourth axle and lifting front axle. All trailers are finished in distinctive French Blue paintwork, with silver and red conspicuity markings.
Ivan Collins, Sales Director of Andover Trailers, says: “We’re taking in 10 used step frames as part-exchange against the new order, and it’s very satisfying to see how straight the frames are after four years of intensive work from H.E. SERVICES. It’s the ultimate conformation of how strong our four member frame construction is.”
The supply of new trailers follows delivery to H.E.SERVICES earlier this year of seven Andover plant bodies, each mounted to Daf rigids. Together, the fleet will be used to support the delivery of more than 2,500 excavators from the company’s 12 depots throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
ends
For further information on H.E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Limited, please contact Pam Durey, Marketing Director, H.E. SERVICES, Whitewall Road, Strood, Kent, ME2 4DZ
Tel: 0871 22 70707
Email: pam.durey@heservices.co.uk Website www.heservices.co.uk
For information on the heavy haulage and specialist transport solutions provided by Andover Trailers, contact Ivan Collins at 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 James Keeler on 020 8647 4467.
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