Harris Installation Services
Teams of experienced professionals employed by Harris Installation Services are now travelling to and from job locations throughout London in the comfortable and spacious six-man crew cab of their new, 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego.
The company operates from headquarters in Thamesmead, South-East London, and provides a variety of office relocation, furniture installation, storage and associated services for clients in and around the capital.
Supplied by Dealer Sparshatts of Kent, the latest addition to its all-Mercedes-Benz fleet is powered by an advanced, 5.1-litre engine that produces 155 kW (211 hp). The truck is fitted with a six-metre (20 ft) box body by Fred Smith & Sons, of West Bromwich, West Midlands, a 1.0-tonne Dhollandia cantilever tail-lift forming the rear enclosure.
The Euro VI Mercedes-Benz Atego range sets the standards in the 6.5-16-tonne gvw light distribution segment. There are no fewer than 42 model variants to choose from and all combine outstanding driving dynamics – the product of a comprehensively reworked chassis, rear suspension, cab mounting and steering system – with new-look, ergonomically designed dashboards.
Harris Installation Services’ Atego 821 has an L ClassicSpace cab – behind the driver and front passenger is a four-man bench seat, which pulls out to reveal a single bunk. Meanwhile, its four-cylinder OM 934 engine, like the six-cylinder OM 936 unit which powers larger models, offers high torque, even at low revs. Despite a 90% reduction in particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, these engines also consume significantly less fuel and up to 40% less AdBlue than their Euro 5 equivalents.
Harris Installation Services was founded in 2003 by husband-and-wife team Phil and Sheri Harris. Initially, the couple ran the business from their home before setting up in Charlton and then moving in 2005 to their current base.
The new truck has replaced an older 7.5-tonne Atego. It has joined a fleet that also includes an Actros tractor unit used to undertake large-scale office removals and haul containers, one other Atego 7.5-tonner and seven vans: three Sprinter Lutons, a pair of Vito models and a small Citan.
“Our first Euro VI vehicle is a big step forward compared to previous models,” confirmed Phil Harris. “Although these are still early days and we haven’t been able to do a strict like-for-like comparison, we’ve also noticed a definite improvement in fuel efficiency.”
He continued: “We’re not a typical transport operation as our vehicle bodies are specially built for the job, so it’s imperative that they’re always available for work when we need them. Mercedes-Benz chassis have always given us the reliability and durability we need, as well as being popular with our drivers and economical to operate – as a member of the manufacturer’s TradePartner scheme, we are also able to purchase GenuineParts at highly competitive prices.”
Driver Victor Jenkins added: “The new truck is much smoother and quieter than my old 7.5-tonner, while the steering is a lot better too – I can turn this one on a sixpence, which is a big advantage when you’re working in London.”
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