Fraikin has delivered a fleet of 93 new commercial vehicle assets on full service contract hire to Aliaxis, the global manufacturer and distributor of plastic fluid handling systems.
The deal, valued at approximately £9m over five years, extends a relationship between the two companies which began in 1996, and which is unique for seeing Fraikin provide full-time drivers and management for the customer’s fleet, on top of those services typically covered under full service contract hire.
The new fleet has been delivered to the company’sUKplastic extrusions manufacturing operation based inLenham,Kent. Expected to remain in service until at least 2021, it comprises a mix of 30 rigid trucks, split between 15 and 18 tonners, 49 demountable boxes and 14 drawbar trailers – two of which are new, and 12 of which are being comprehensively refurbished by Fraikin.
Aliaxis Fleet Manager Tom Hamlyn says: “We believe that by having the latest commercial vehicles within our fleet we can provide greater driver safety, improve fuel economy and contribute to a greener environment, while providing our customers with an outstanding service. Our full service contract hire agreement with Fraikin means the first three of those are all taken care of, so we can focus on our customers.”
The vehicles will be used to distribute products for the Hunter Plastics, Marley Plumbing & Drainage and DurapipeUKbrands with the fleet undertaking trunking runs from the Aliaxis manufacturing plant inKentto depots inBristol,Coventry, Heyward andLeeds. The vehicles will also be utilised for nightly runs toNorthamptonwhere Fraikin drivers exchange loaded demountable boxes – for distribution in the north of the country – with empties that are returned to the factory.
As part of the full-service package, Fraikin is providing a dedicated team of 26 drivers, together with all servicing, maintenance and repairs for the vehicles, road fund licensing, six-weekly safety inspections, annual MOT testing, tyre management and 24/7 roadside assistance – everything the fleet needs to keep it on the road, leaving Aliaxis free to focus on its core business.
To ensure that the fleet delivers in terms of the Aliaxis Group’s health and safety code, the new vehicles feature numerous enhancements to improve driver safety and load security. These include front and side platforms which are built into the demount chassis, an integrated step design and the introduction of a driver fall arrest system, along with flexible lateral and transverse load security systems.
Aliaxis is an international group of businesses dedicated to the manufacture and sales of pipe systems and the related building and sanitary products for residential and commercial construction, industrial and public utility applications.
