Chemical Corporation returned to the tried and trusted formula of Mercedes-Benz trucks supplied by South Wales Dealer Euro Commercials for its 35th anniversary flagship.
The arrival of the eye-catching 26-tonner has taken Chemical Corporation another step closer to its goal of a fleet in which every vehicle wears a three-pointed star. “We’ve tried other makes of truck in the past, but they’ve not offered the same reliability or efficiency, so we’re only buying Mercedes-Benz now,” said the Caerphilly-based company’s Operations Director Steve Stewart.
The Actros 2533 has an aerodynamic StreamSpace cab with colour-coded bumpers and door mirror covers. At its heart is an advanced, 10.7-litre straight-six engine which produces 240 kW (326 hp) and drives through a smooth and fuel-efficient Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmission. A steering back axle provides the enhanced manoeuvrability needed to access tight locations, and can be lifted when running light to reduce tyre wear.
The truck’s curtainside body, meanwhile, is by Commercial Truck Bodies, also of Caerphilly. It is fitted with a 1.5-tonne DEL column tail-lift, and wears an ExxonMobil livery – Chemical Corporation is one of two authorised UK distributors for the world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company.
The Actros is now working alongside the operator’s four other trucks, three of which – a pair of 18-tonners and a 10-tonner – are also Mercedes-Benz models supplied by Euro Commercials. This time, though, Chemical Corporation has incorporated a new system for dispensing its products, which represents a major step forward in terms of both health and safety, and productivity.
Established in 1983, the company supplies ExxonMobil lubricants to vehicle workshops and other customers. It previously undertook deliveries throughout the South-West and Wales but was recently rewarded for outstanding service with its appointment to cover the Midlands region as well.