Avon Metals takes delivery of new Volvo FM drawbar

Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners, Avon Metals Ltd, which is privately owned by The Remet Company, has taken delivery of a new Volvo Euro 4 FM-380 6x2 drawbar, which can collect both recycled non-ferrous metals and deliver finished aluminium ingots, which they manufacture for the automotive and aerospace industries.

Commenting on the FM, John Verdon, Operations Director for the Gloucester-based company, said, “It is proving to be a good and very reliable truck. It offers good driver comfort and the drivers love it. It’s a multi-functional vehicle which can deliver the ingots we manufacture and collect non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminium and titanium for recycling.”

He added, “It is also proving to be very efficient, especially with Volvo’s I-shift automated transmission which was recommended to me by other hauliers. It is absolutely fantastic, the drivers find it easy to use and it offers a significant fuel economy improvement. The truck also features a 3rd lifting axle which gives improved manoeuvrability, fuel savings and reduced tyre wear.”

Operating on a UK wide basis, the truck is expected to cover 70,000 kms per year.

The combination features Macklift skip equipment with extending arms, supplied by Trio of Gloucester and a tri-axle trailer with a foremost lifting axle supplied by Truckmate of Bristol. This multi-purpose trailer allows the whole rig to operate at 44 tonnes.

Commenting on the back-up from the Volvo Dealer, John added “The truck is serviced by the local Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Wales and West depot in Gloucester. They are very professional, give a very good service and the local manager has been to see us on site. They have a good sized depot and the workshop technicians have a good level of skills. The truck is covered by a full 5-year maintenance contract providing us with complete peace of mind”.

Avon Metals has been trading since 1959 and their core activity is the production of 10,000 tonnes per year of primary and secondary based aluminium master alloys, grain refiners and modifiers. The recently awarded Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2007 is complemented by the ISO 9001 International Quality Assurance Standard and the recently awarded ISO 14001 International Environmental Quality standard, all of which will put them in a good position for future growth.