Hanson contractor, Cris Services, has purchased a sixth 32-tonne Mercedes-Benz Econic 8x4 mixer. Like the firm’s other five Econics, the new addition is a 3235L with the same 7.7-litre 354hp engine.
Mercedes’s latest 12-speed PowerShift 3 transmission has been chosen instead of the 6-speed Allison automatic gearboxes found in Cris’s earlier Econics.
Supplied by Sparshatt Truck and Van in Dartford, it’s been fitted with an 8m3 drum from Germany’s Schwing Stetter. The body builder is a staple of Cris’s mixer fleet - so much so that the company’s workshop business, CS Commercial Repairs, is one of its licensed service agents.
The Econic’s single front-steer axle, double-drive bogie and rear-steer axle give it a tight turning circle, which is an advantage when working in London. It has been specified with air suspension for improved ride comfort, while Active Brake Assist 4 and a panoramic windscreen, for maximised visibility, help it achieve a four-star Direct Vision rating.
Founder of Cris Services, Cris Calina, said: “There was a bit of resistance to the low-entry cab from some drivers, but this was quickly overcome. Within a very short time at the wheel they realised how much better the visibility is, and as a result, how much less stressful the job could be.”
Operating alongside four other Econics, at Hanson’s depot in Kings Cross, the new example comes with a three year and 160,000km warranty.
Calina, said: “Our first Econic has been on the road for a couple of years now and has been very good – we’ve had no reliability issues with any of our Mercedes-Benz trucks.”
