Go Plant Group, a major road sweeper, refuse vehicle and plant hire equipment specialist, has taken delivery of a new 26-tonne low profile plant body from Andover Trailers, to be operated from the company’s busy Southampton depot.

Go Plant Group, a major road sweeper, refuse vehicle and plant hire equipment specialist, has taken delivery of a new 26-tonne low profile plant body from Andover Trailers.

Mounted to a Volvo FM370 6×2 rear-steer rigid, the bespoke-built plant body incorporates Andover Trailers’ pioneering fold flat ramps, which help to improve aerodynamics and fuel consumption. Also key to the specification is a removable fixed-width working at height safety system, engineered by Andover to be securely stowed against the headboard when not in use.

Vince Nicholls, Transport Manager at Go Plant’s Southampton depot, commissioned Andover Trailers after the successful delivery of a plant body and drawbar combination to another branch in 2015. He says: “We chose Andover Trailers based on their industry reputation, and on direct feedback from colleagues who have operated their products.

“It also helps that Andover Trailers is a local company, as we liaised closely over the build and were able to visit the factory to see how everything was coming along.”

Andover Trailers built the body to Go Plant’s exacting requirements – offering the firm’s trademark low profile deck height, plus 3.7m long ramps with knife-edged toes, to create a shallow entry angle that allows the full range of Go Plant sweepers to be loaded safely and efficiently.

The build also included affixing six pairs of lashing points to allow for a range of plant to be transported safely and securely; mounting a Hiab XS244-E3 HIDUO crane for loading static plant and hydraulic steady legs to ensure stability on uneven surfaces. A 6,000kg-rated electric winch can be used for assisted loading, offering front and rear control sockets for better visibility; lockable tool boxes; an easily accessible chain tray in the beavertail; and LED working lights to provide an extra level of safety.

The new plant body joins an older vehicle on the fleet and will be used to transport Go Plant’s own sweepers, as well as the movement of cabins, tipper skips and other plant for third-parties. Though not the core area of Go Plant’s business model, Nicholls has recognised there is a market for this type of vehicle, both within the existing customer base and with prospects. This has been an area that has seen consistent growth over the last four years.

“Our current truck is fully utilised every day, and we are confident there’s scope to make the business grow with two trucks. This is why we got Andover Trailers involved,” Nicholls says.

The vehicle is expected to remain on the fleet for the next 10 years, operating five days a week, and clocking-up between 40,000 and 50,000km per year.

Go Plant is a significant player in the provision of operated and self-drive specialist vehicles and plant hire – handling contract, short-term rental and operated hire, with a fleet consisting of nearly 100 machines. It covers the south of England, from Cornwall to Sussex, including south west London, the M4 corridor and south Wales.

Andover Trailers

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