Scrap business finds Mercedes trucks show their mettle 16 April 2014

Scrap processing merchant Henry Orchard & Sons has taken delivery of two Euro 6 8x4 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3240 trucks.

The Arocs vehicles are the latest additions to St Austell-based Orchard's fleet, and follow its acquisition of three New Actros 2545 BigSpace tractor units, which went into operation at the start of the year.

Supplied by dealer City West Commercials, the Arocs have 394bhp engines mated to Powershift 3 transmissions with Predictive Power Control.

Orchard specified the same transmissions for its earlier Actros units, because it values the system's ability to use 3D GPS mapping to read topography 3km ahead and then adjust speed, braking and gear ratio to maximise fuel efficiency.

The Arocs trucks, which were specified with Multilift hook loading gear, have replaced two older eight-wheelers and are being used to collect scrap in 40 cubic yard bins from local authorities, MoD establishments and demolition sites across Devon and Cornwall.

"The Arocs is clearly a strong, well-built truck, while its low-emission Euro 6 engine can only enhance our environmental credentials and help to reduce our carbon footprint," comments owner Henry Orchard.

The firm's New Actros tractors are hauling bulk tipping trailers to a steelworks in Cardiff, and collecting metal for processing on the return journey.

"It's a hard pull getting out of Cornwall because of all the hills, which is why we specified our New Actros with Predictive Powertrain Control," comments Orchard.

"It was a wise decision because, in terms of fuel efficiency, they are well ahead of the trucks we were using previously on the same job."

All Orchard's latest vehicles were supplied with a five-year R&M contract.

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Mercedes Benz Uk Limited

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