Bevan bodies sparkle for AG Barr

The 18-tonne Mercedes-Benz Actros is fitted with a fast access curtainslider body by Bevan Group, AG Barr’s preferred supplier for its English-based trucks.

It is one of six vehicles built by Bevan at its production facility in Oldbury, West Midlands – the others are a pair of Mercedes-Benz Antos 18-tonners and three 15-tonne MAN TGMs. 

All have the same body design, which is ideally suited to multi-drop applications because the curtains are tensioned from front to back and have locks at both ends, so drivers have no time-consuming straps and buckles to contend with – to gain access they simply slide back the curtains, concertina-fashion, in seconds.

These vehicles are also AG Barr’s first to be fitted with a new, roof-retractable load retention system developed by Simark Engineering, of Rowley Regis. Compatible with the latest DVSA health and safety standards, this allows the operative to pull the retaining net down and over the product, then tension it, from ground level, without having to climb onto the back of the truck.   

The premium-specification Actros 1824 has a sleeper cab and is based at AG Barr’s depot in Walthamstow, East London, from where it is delivering to customers across the South-East, many at seaside resorts. Like the company’s other new Mercedes-Benz trucks, it is an LnR model with low frame and correspondingly easier to access load deck, as well as advanced Euro VI engine technology.

Barr Soft Drinks is the UK's leading independent manufacturer of branded soft drinks, and has an annual turnover of over £254m. Established by Robert Barr in Falkirk in 1875, the company now produces a large range of soft drinks including IRN-BRU – which is seen by many as part of the culture of the Scottish nation – Barr flavoured carbonates, Rubicon exotic juice drinks, KA, Strathmore Spring Water, Snapple (under a license agreement with Snapple Beverage Corporation) and Rockstar energy drink (under a license agreement with Rockstar Inc USA) and Funkin cocktail mixers.

Transport Services Supervisor Steve Bird is responsible for AG Barr’s English-based fleet of 45 trucks, most of which wear Mercedes-Benz three-pointed stars and were supplied by North-West Dealer Roanza, which previously traded as Enza. 

He says: "Our company profile, market position and sales performance continues to grow in England and this eye-catching livery can only help to make our brands even more visible and top of mind for English consumers.”

He continues: "We trialled some bodies by Bevan in 2008 and they were very good, so we stuck with them and have not looked back since. Bevan’s products are very well engineered – they require minimal maintenance, which is crucial given that we work to a 10-year vehicle replacement cycle.

"Bevan also provides a brilliant service and even managed to complete the production of our latest vehicles ahead of schedule, which was a big help.”