All four trucks are based 444bhp DAF CF chassis. Three are standard tippers, fitted with a single-skinned steel Loadmaster Lite body and a front end cylinder to give an unladen weight of 12,400kg. The fourth is a tipper grab, fitted with a heavy-duty, double-skinned Loadmaster body, with a Palfinger Epsilon crane.
Each vehicle also features a Thompsons air-operated tailgate.
A longstanding Thompsons customer, D&E Roberts had looked at other bodybuilders in recent years after becoming dissatisfied with its longer lead times. It returns to Thompsons now, after the bodybuilder’s £4m investment in automated systems to boost production capacity.
“We’ve been impressed by the way Thompsons has really tackled the issue head on by committing to such a large investment programme,” says Dave Roberts, director at the Leatherhead-based operator.
“And we can see that the new factory systems are bringing other benefits, too, because our new vehicles show that Thompsons product quality is now actually better than ever.”
Roberts adds: “In particular, it’s the final fit and finish that really impresses, not least the outstanding quality of the paint. I’m delighted that Thompsons is once again at the forefront of our fleet.”
Thompsons’ investment includes a new laser cutter in the Croydon factory; the acquisition of a fourth factory, near the existing Blackburn site, which is now kitted out with an automated robot welding system and a brake press; and multi-bay paintshops in both Croydon and Blackburn.