SMT GB invest in new repair van solution

Distributor aiming to ensure the highest-quality maintenance of Volvo construction equipment

SMT GB, exclusive distributors for Volvo Construction Equipment across Great Britain, have made a significant investment to ensure their engineers have the best equipment to carry out their work.

The company has appointed Northgate Vehicle Hire in a four-year agreement to provide and maintain 150 customized Mercedes Sprinter repair vans, which were unveiled at Hillhead 2018 and proved popular among visitors to the stand.

Northgate are replacing SMT GB’s existing fleet of vans progressively over two years and are working with specialist suppliers Tevo and Gardner Denver to customize the interiors to meet engineers’ needs.

Each van includes on-board power generation, compressors, jump-start equipment, welding machines, Wi-Fi for diagnostics machines, bespoke racking, customized interior and exterior lighting, washbasins with hot and cold water, a kettle and safety features, including first aid kits and safety eyewash. 

With this investment, SMT GB aim to improve the welfare of engineers and better support them in carrying out their role – ultimately maximizing the uptime of Volvo construction equipment. 

Nathan Upchurch, service solutions manager at SMT GB, said: ‘The success of SMT GB is based on the highest-quality maintenance and servicing. To remain the industry leaders in customer support, we have to support our engineers with the correct equipment and tools to do the job.

‘The new vans are very much appreciated by our engineers, with increased driver satisfaction and comfort, and will also assist with the recruitment of new engineers in a highly competitive market. The investment in this area of the business certainly sends a clear signal that our engineers are very important to us.’