The company, based in Belper, Derbyshire, will take delivery of 110 vans this year for Vaillant's after-sales service engineers to use as a mobile workspace and for component storage.
‘Our vans carry a large number of spares to enable them to maintain a very high first-call success rate,’ explained Keith Mathers, Vaillant group service director. ‘When we are called out, our goal is to fix any problem immediately, which we do in more than 95% of cases. The Transit is ideal for this role because of its high load capacity, and we know it to be exceptionally reliable in service.’
According to Mathers, Transit Custom's safety features and high specification levels were key purchase factors: ‘Vaillant prides itself on offering a quality service, so it is vital to put our engineers in an environment which reflects our values. Our engineers spend all day in their vehicles, and their safety and comfort is paramount. If their vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, sun protection glass, parking sensors and central locking, then that also helps lower the stress of their daily working lives.
‘In terms of ease or repair and use, as well as comfort, the Ford Transit Custom was our best option.’
Available in a wide variety of payload configurations and with an advanced and economical 2.2 litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, the Transit Custom boasts six speed manual transmission as standard. There are three power levels from which to choose: 100PS/310Nm, 125PS/350Nm and 155PS/385Nm.
Ford Fleet business manager Martin McDonald added: ‘Vaillant is a long-standing Ford customer and is well aware of the Transit's in-service benefits. The new Transit Custom is a perfect fit for the business, we are delighted to meet the company's needs and look forward to many further years of collaboration.’