Tower Security is patrolling clients’ premises and homes with a new Mercedes-Benz Citan. The Essex-based contract security firm says it compared servicing costs and warranty to those of a similar-sized van by a rival manufacturer.
The Long-bodied Citan 109 CDI BlueEFFICENCY will average 100,000 miles a year, making routine checks and responding to alarm calls.
Managing Director Miles Hill says: “We were on the verge of buying another make of van which was a bit cheaper ‘up front’ – until I asked for a price to cover three years’ servicing. Because of the high mileage we cover it was hugely expensive, and the vehicle would have been out of warranty after the first year. By contrast, the Citan’s servicing costs from Colchester dealer Orwell Truck & Van were very competitive. And it came with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, which says a great deal about the confidence that Mercedes-Benz has in its product.
“The manufacturer’s warranty was worth the purchase price premium on its own. But once we’d also factored in the Citan’s servicing costs and fuel efficiency it really was an easy decision – our new Mercedes-Benz will save us a fortune in the long run.”
Tower Security was founded in 1989 and has a head office in Great Holland. It is a family enterprise; Mr Hill’s sister Olivia serves as Finance and Administration Director and their mother Toni plays a role in business development, while also running a livery yard and caring for five foster children with disabilities.
The company offers a manned service 24 hours, and includes everything from key holding to static guards, dog handlers, and event security. Its uniformed staff protect the premises of commercial clients, as well as schools and colleges, council offices, leisure centres and private homes throughout Essex, Suffolk and Greater London.
The Citan was launched in January and is the first small van to wear the three-pointed star. Tower’s vehicle is powered by an economical 90 hp diesel engine and with BlueEFFICIENCY measures designed to reduce fuel consumption. These include the ECO start/stop function – which turns off the engine whenever the vehicle is stopped in traffic, then restarts it as soon as the driver depresses the clutch – low rolling resistance tyres and optimised alternator and battery management systems. An economy figure is of up to 65.7 mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 112 g/km.
Mr Hill adds: “The Citan is using a lot less fuel than our other vans and represents a huge step forward for us in terms of quality. Mercedes-Benz also has a great brand image and our new van looks a lot more professional when we’re visiting clients’ premises.”
Mr Hill was a guest of Orwell Truck & Van at the manufacturer’s annual Van Experience event in Warwickshire, where he put various Mercedes-Benz models through their paces in back-to-back tests against competitor products.
“We needed the new van because a previous vehicle was written off after hitting a tree,” he adds. “But having driven Mercedes-Benz vans and witnessed all of their standard-fit active safety systems in action, I’m convinced that if our security guard had been in the Citan that accident would never have happened.”
Visit www.tower-security.co.uk
