Brand Energy & Infrastructure was formed late last year, through the merger of two businesses, Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services and Harsco Infrastructure. Both were based in the United States but operated on a global scale.
The company has a UK head office in Tamworth, Staffordshire, from which it manages a network of 11, strategically located depots. Most of its new Citans wear the SGB name, although 25 are in Brand colours. All are Extra-long Dualiner models with second rows of seats, and are used primarily to transport scaffolders and other operatives, together with their tools, to and from job sites.
On arrival at the ports of Killingholme and Purfleet the Citans were liveried, ply-lined and fitted by Mercedes-Benz technicians with special, top-hinged bulkheads designed by Brand’s UK transport manager, John McKeever, and his team. When deployed the bulkhead provides additional safety for staff – but when load carrying capacity is the priority, it can be folded out of the way, along with the rear, three-seat bench, to maximise the space available for cargo.
The 3.5-tonne Sprinters are fitted with dropside bodies by Bevan Group, of Halesowen, West Midlands. As with the Citans they are in a combination of SGB and Brand liveries, and are used to carry scaffolding required for small jobs, as well as for other light haulage duties.
The vehicles have been specified with limiters that restrict their top speeds to 62 mph. According to McKeever, this, coupled with the inherent fuel efficiency of their diesel engines – 90 hp in the case of the Citan, 129 hp for the Sprinter – has led to a significant improvement in economy.