Siemens commissions Sprinter 4x4s for wind turbine maintenance 08 June 2015

Industrial giant Siemens has commissioned a new fleet of 50 all-terrain Sprinter 4x4 vans from Mercedes-Benz dealer Midlands Truck & Van.

The first are now entering service with maintenance crews servicing giant wind turbines in some of the UK's remotest locations – some replacing older vehicles, while others extend the existing fleet.

The new vans, which are being acquired under Lex Autolease contract hire agreements, are being converted by Qi Van Systems, of Telford.

Key fitments include racking and electrical equipment, including inverter systems for power tool operation, as well as sections for drying clothing.

"We have a well-established commitment to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4, which represents the best in class in terms of its combination of reliability, off-road capability and payload capacity," states commodity manager Paul Tate, who is responsible for Siemens' vehicle fleet in the UK.

"Given the very demanding nature of our operation, and the fact that our engineers can find themselves out on the hills in all weathers, they need vehicles that won't let them down," he continues.

"Experience has proved the Sprinter 4x4 to be more than equal to the job."

The Sprinter 4x4 sits higher than its standard cousin and uses rear-wheel drive for road use, with all-wheel drive selectable for off road.

Instead of conventional mechanically operated differential locks, the Sprinter 4x4 uses a development of the Mercedes-Benz 4-ETS (electronic traction system), which is integrated with the Adaptive ESP anti-skid technology.

"Aftermarket support is crucial and in this respect I cannot fault Mercedes-Benz – together with our strategic partner Lex Autolease it offers a well-rounded service package that meets all of our requirements," states Tate.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd

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