Astra Attachment Solutions, a major supplier of hydraulic excavator attachments, has taken delivery of 16 new Isuzu rigid trucks as part of a major fleet replacement programme at the national company.
Parent company A Plant has been a long-term user of Isuzu chassis and Astra has also switched over to the Isuzu marque for both its 3.5-tonne and 7.5-tonne truck replacements.
The business has deployed five Isuzu Grafter N35.125S SWB chassis, with bespoke flatbed bodies, and 11 Isuzu N75.190 SWB Easyshift chassis, also with bespoke flatbed bodies and fitted with corner scan and nearside camera system safety options.
Providing a replacement to the company’s former Nissan Cabstar, all 16 Isuzus bear the newly designed Astra livery and are now in service working from Astra’s locations in Scotland, Birmingham, Bristol and London.
Charlotte Evans, sales & marketing manager at Astra Attachment Solutions, said: “Finding a vehicle that could offer a substantial payload, a performance that complies with FORS Gold standards and be adapted to store and carry a bespoke set of tools and spare parts was not an easy task. Our operations team liaised with Isuzu Truck and Warrington Vehicle Centre, devising a build specification that met Astra’s strict criteria. We are really pleased with the end result, with the Grafter, in particular, meeting our strict requirement for a payload of 1.2 tonnes.”
The Isuzu trucks’ added safety features were also a key factor for Astra.
Evans explained: “On any given day a driver can find himself delivering an auger to fit a 3-tonne excavator in Leeds, followed by a set of pallet forks to a site in Manchester, as well as fitting a breaker to a 1-tonne mini digger in Blackburn, then collecting a pile hammer on their way back to the depot. Not only can the Isuzu Grafter 3.5-tonne trucks carry all these items to different sites in one safe and secure load, but they also arrive on site fully equipped to fit these attachments to any machine. If needs be, the operatives and their Isuzus can also attend nearby sites to assist with any on-site breakdowns, such as snapped chisels or burst hoses.”
