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Aggregates and building products specialist Thomas Armstrong has bypassed the entire Euro 4 SCR/EGR debate by jumping straight to Euro 5 with its latest Mercedes 6x2 Actros tractor units.
Its decision rendered any arguments about the two technologies irrelevant, as only SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) – the system adopted by all but two of the major manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz – is able to meet the stringent Euro 5 standard.
And following Chancellor Gordon Brown’s announcement of a Reduced Pollution Certificate in his recent Budget, the trucks should qualify for a Vehicle Excise Duty rebate of £500 per truck from October 2007.
Supplied by Ciceley Commercials, Carlisle, the five BlueTec 5 Actros 2546s have joined a fleet of more than 80 trucks working from a network of depots that stretches from Scotland to Staffordshire. Most are articulated tractor units but the line-up also includes rigids and drawbar units of various configurations.
All of the new arrivals boast the latest 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions and will soon be joined by another five identical units, as well as a 6x2 Actros 2544 drawbar unit with Dennison tri-axle trailer and Atlas crane, to carry bricks and blocks.
The Euro 5 Mercedes are also fitted with additional tanks to carry AdBlue, the non-toxic reduction agent required in the SCR process to convert pollutant nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water.
Thomas Armstrong examined every option before deciding on the BlueTec 5 Actros, which have replaced Euro 3 trucks. “We considered EGR as well as SCR vehicles at Euro 4, and even contemplated changing early so we could stay at Euro 3,” says Transport Director Frank Harkness.
“But as far as we can see EGR has no future beyond Euro 4. There’s no point in stop-gap measures – SCR is the way forward, so we might as well embrace it now.”
He continues: “There were several convincing reasons behind our decision to go straight to Euro 5. Most importantly, we believe Euro 5 vehicles will command much stronger residual values.
“And, as we’d hoped, the recent Budget included the long-awaited promise of a financial incentive for early take-up of Euro 5 from the Government. We’re constantly being reminded of our responsibility to minimise environmental impact, so I think it’s about time we had some encouragement.
“If companies like ours are prepared to invest in the newest, cleanest technology ,then it’s only fair that we should be supported.”
Four of the new trucks are now working from Thomas Armstrong’s headquarters at Flimby, near Maryport, delivering a variety of building products to customers in Cumbria. The fifth is based at Aintree, Liverpool, and distributes blocks and other builders’ material around the north-west. All of the company’s depots are now equipped with AdBlue storage facilites. |
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