Case Studies

Service engineer vans

by Mark Rowe

A case study of a manufacturer of steel doors and its new service vans. Bradbury Group, which also produces security grilles, cages and server safes, has assigned Mercedes-Benz’s latest four Sprinter 313 CDIs to engineers who provide nationwide repair and maintenance.

The company customers include McDonalds, the London Olympics, Northern Power Grid, Portakabin, Cable and Wireless and Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

Bradbury Group recently won approval for a £287,000 Regional Growth Fund grant to build a new factory development at its headquarters in Scunthorpe; the company also has a satellite manufacturing plant in Ayr that specialises in doors for the social housing market.

Racked out to carry tools and equipment, its new Sprinters are all Medium-length models and arrived via Northside Truck & Van, Hull. The same dealer also supplied Bradbury Group last December with its first Mercedes-Benz vans, five Long-bodied Sprinter 313 CDIs which are used to deliver product – these vehicles have already clocked-up some 40,000 miles apiece!

Production Director Darren Bamford adds: “Our distribution vans will cover some 80,000 miles a year so reliability was at the top of our list of our priorities. We’ve rented Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the past and we know that whereas other manufacturers’ vans start falling to pieces at about 180,000 miles, the Sprinter just keeps on going.

“It’s also well equipped, popular with our staff, and widely recognised as the safest van on the road. That’s crucial because as a business we take our Duty of Care commitments to employees and other road users very seriously indeed.”

Bradbury Group’s first Sprinters are unliveried, reflecting the fact that the company supplies many trade customers who prefer their own suppliers to maintain a low profile. But its latest, service vans wear a striking design by Matt Vinyl Graphics, of Hull.

The operator’s Sprinters are being maintained by Northside and other members of the manufacturer’s franchised UK network, under a Mercedes-Benz Service Care package contract.

“It’s very reassuring to know that we have an organisation like Mercedes-Benz behind us,” adds Mr Bamford. “As for Northside, their service has been fantastic. We have been ‘bitten’ in the past by suppliers who failed to provide trustworthy aftercare, but Northside have delivered on all their promises.

“They’ve provided us with demonstrators which we could try for size before placing our orders, and were proactive in arranging the first services for our initial batch of Sprinters, with everything then being done on time. The dealer also put together an introductory driver’s pack and has assured us that back-up vans are available should we need them. All in all, the relationship has got off to a great start and I have every expectation that this will continue.”

Like their predecessors, Bradbury Group’s latest vans are the subject of an Agility contract from Mercedes-Benz Finance. Agility offers all conventional hire purchase with a Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) – including low monthly repayments – but gives operators extra options at the end of the term.

Key to the Agility concept is the agreement of a GFV for the vehicle. At the end of the agreement the customer can choose whether to pay off the final lump sum and keep the vehicle, use the vehicle as a part exchange for a brand new one, or return it free of any further obligations, apart from an excess mileage charge if the initially agreed limit has been exceeded, and damage charges over and above fair wear and tear. Visit www.bradburyuk.com

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