Kilmarnock-based Blackwood Plant Hire specified Andover Trailers bodywork on its two new Scania G450 8x2 chassis.
The trucks, which have been specified with rear lifting and steering axles, have full air suspension. They feature double crank beavertails, which are connected to a pair of 2.8m long hydraulic power toe ramps. The ramps are Andover’s fold-forward design, which help to reduce drag. They also have hydraulic sideways movement, allowing them to be brought together to assist with loading narrow machines. Other highlights include Andover’s low-profile deck, which is achieved by designing the cross members to transect the body runners, rather than simply sitting on top. The decks also include four pairs of lashing points as standard, with Blackwood opting for an additional four pairs of 5-tonne D-rings to increase load flexibility and security.
“Over the years we’ve had five new step-frames and a second hand Andover plant body in our fleet, all of which have consistently performed superbly. So, when it came to specifying these new trucks the decision was simple,” says Paul McCormack, MD at Blackwood Plant Hire. “Andover builds to our exact spec, delivering products that are ultra-strong and extremely lightweight – a perfect combination. No matter what is asked of these new rigids, we know they’ll be up to the task. Then when we eventually come to sell them on, Andover’s reputation means that they command strong residual values.”
Based out of the Blackwood Plant Hire’s Stewarton depot, the new Scanias will deliver a range of plant, including diggers and excavators weighing up to 14 tonnes, to customers across the UK. They are expected to clock-up around 150,000km per annum.
