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The UK’s largest manufacturer of fibreglass products for the house-building market is running its own trucks for the first time.
Fast-expanding Stormking Plastics has bought five 7.5-tonne Mercedes Atego 816s from Birmingham dealer Gerard Mann Commercials.
The strikingly-liveried Euro 4 trucks are now working from Stormking’s production base in Tamworth, Staffordshire. They have day cabs and are fitted with 24ft curtainside bodies by Aire Truck Bodies, of Leeds.
Stormking has also bought two 3.5-tonne Mercedes Sprinters from Gerard Mann, one a chassis cab with 14ft Aire body.
The vehicle curtains and rear doors feature striking images of the company’s products, which include door sets, reproduction copings, fixings and flashings.
Stormking Plastics was established in 1985 by Gary King and Barry Whitehall, both of whom remain at the helm as Managing Director and Sales Director respectively.
The firm has previously relied on third-party haulage contractors to undertake its distribution, most notably Bridgens Transport, which was also based in Tamworth.
Founder Dave Bridgens sold his business three years ago but has spent the last six months working as a consultant to Stormking, helping his former customer to specify its new fleet.
Says Gary King: “We have known Dave for many years and are delighted with our Mercedes, which look fantastic and have been well received by our new team of drivers.
“We are going to work these trucks hard and are confident that they will provide us with five years of reliable, cost-effective performance.”
Adds Mr Bridgens: “Stormking wanted a premium quality vehicle and although we considered two other marques, I know from long experience of running my own transport operation that at this end of the market there’s no beating a Mercedes.
“The support from Gerard Mann has also been first-class. I have dealt with the dealer for 20 years and their truck sales executive Bryn Hudson is very professional and helpful.”
Stormking’s new Atego are on relatively local work covering the heart of England, where customers receive a twice-weekly ‘milk round’ delivery service. However, the bulk of the company’s distribution, amounting to some 60 per cent of the total, is still handled by third-party hauliers.
Stormking Plastics employs around 200 people and has developed a reputation for product innovation. The company recently invested £3 million in a new 40,000sq ft building on Tamworth’s Amington Industrial Estate, which has boosted manufacturing capacity by nearly 25 per cent.
With two other facilities on the same estate, Stormking now boasts some 250,000sq ft of manufacturing space, making it the biggest manufacturer of construction-related GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) in the UK. |
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