Top-quality back-up from Mercedes-Benz Dealer City West Commercials prompted Cornwall's leading independent scrap processing merchant to make its first investments in trucks bearing the three-pointed star.
Latest additions to the fleet of St Austell-based Henry Orchard & Sons are a pair of 8x4 Arocs 3240s with 290 kW (394 hp) Euro VI engines and Multilift hook loading gear.
They follow hot on the heels of three New Actros 2545 BigSpace tractor units, which entered service on 1st January. All are fitted with the optional Predictive Power Control system, which employs 3D GPS mapping to read three kilometres of topography ahead then responds by controlling speed, braking and the transmission to maximise fuel efficiency.
The third-generation family firm's first experience of City West Commercials was as a service agent - it began using the workshop team at the Dealer's recently refurbished Roche facility last year, to maintain its fleet of 15 trucks and trailers.
So impressed was Managing Director Henry Orchard with City West's flexible, customer-focused support that he placed an order shortly afterwards for two 6x2 units from the previous Actros range.
Founded in 1947, Henry Orchard & Sons takes pride in offering its customers the best metal reclamation and recycling solutions with excellent returns. The company has a strong commitment to progressive environmental management and corporate social responsibility, and has won awards for its 'green' policies.
Its Arocs have replaced a pair of older eight-wheelers. They are now collecting scrap in 40 cubic yard bins from local authorities, factories, Ministry of Defence establishments and demolition sites throughout Devon and Cornwall.
"The Arocs is clearly a strong, well built truck, while its low-emission Euro VI engine can only enhance our environmental credentials and help to reduce our carbon footprint," says Henry Orchard.
The New Actros, meanwhile, haul bulk tipping trailers to a steelworks in Cardiff, then collect metal for processing from customer locations in Hampshire and Dorset, before returning to base.
Mr Orchard continues: "It's a hard pull getting out of Cornwall because of all the hills, which explains why we specified our New Actros with Predictive Powertrain Control. 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."
Henry Orchard & Sons' latest vehicles are being serviced by City West Commercials under five-year Mercedes-Benz Repair and Maintenance Contracts. Adds Mr Orchard: "With Mercedes-Benz we now have premium quality trucks backed-up by premium quality after sales support from City West, Roche."
The muscular Arocs is the 'New force in construction' from Mercedes-Benz. Available in a huge number of variants, the purpose-designed range comprises tractors and four-, six- and eight-wheeled rigids, with gross weights from 18 to 250 tonnes. All combine previously unseen levels of performance and efficiency, with state-of-the-art Euro VI engines that offer mpg savings of up to 5% compared to equivalent, outgoing models. AdBlue consumption, meanwhile, is reduced by as much as 40%.