Six new Volvo FM trucks for Banks Group
North East mining firm buys local with major six-figure investment in new Volvo HGVs
THE Banks Group have invested more than £650,000 in a new fleet of regionally sourced HGVs that will help to further reduce the company’s vehicle emissions levels.
The Co. Durham-headquartered firm has bought six new Volvo FM trucks that conform with the latest Euro VI legislation, which demands an 80% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions on the preceding Euro V regulations, as well as a 50% drop in particulate emissions and a 72% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions.
The vehicles have been sourced through Volvo’s Truck & Bus Centres in Blyth and Washington, in line with Banks’ policy of investing in the local supply chain wherever possible.
The trucks, which are equipped with the latest Driver Assist safety technology, are now being used to transport the coal being mined at Banks’ Shotton and Brenkley Lane surface mines, in Northumberland, and Bradley surface mine in Co. Durham.
A full repair and maintenance agreement with the Volvo Blyth depot also forms part of Banks’ investment.
Robbie Bentham, plant director at the Banks Group, said: ‘We take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously, and this investment will maximize the emissions reductions that we’re able to get from our fleet while also providing our drivers with all the vehicle features they need to do their jobs.
‘Investing in the local supply chain wherever possible is a central part in delivering tangible benefits to the communities in which we operate, and having the expert Volvo Blyth team on the doorstep means we can keep our vehicles in service for the maximum time possible.
‘Giving our highly skilled teams the equipment they need to work in the safest, most efficient and most environmentally responsible way possible is an essential part of our overall operational strategy.’
Adam Burt, workshop controller at the Volvo Truck & Bus Centre in Blyth, added: ‘The FM range of trucks provides a step-change in reducing vehicle emissions, as well as offering safety features that help to keep both drivers and other road users as safe as possible.’
