Mercedes Atego makes a winning case

Exhibition and display cabinet supplier Casemate has shelved its previous Mercedes trucks in favour of a show-stopping new Atego.

The Daventry-based company stood down two faithful Mercedes 814s after 13 years of sterling service, and replaced them with a highly specified Atego 824, from Oxford dealer Mudie-Bond.

The new truck has a powerful 240hp engine and bespoke body, which has been designed around Casemate’s standard sizes of display cases and is fitted with internal cargo bars and a one-tonne tail lift.

Founded 20 years ago and a leader in its field, Casemate stocks more than 200 glass display cabinets. It hires out these cabinets to customers mounting displays at exhibitions and trade fairs nationwide – many specialise in ‘high-end’ jewellery and antique products.

Casemate’s decision to stand down its previous trucks was prompted by the introduction of new emissions rules banning older vehicles from the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) area, which covers most of Greater London, where Casemate does much of its work.

"Our old 814s have been brilliant workhorses and were still going strong,” says Director Simon Moss, who also drives the new truck. “But the new rules meant our hand was forced and we had to get a new vehicle quickly.

“We’ve been so impressed by the reliability of our Mercedes over the last 13 years that another vehicle with a three-pointed star on the front was the obvious choice.”

And he continues: “The new Atego looks just as strong and well engineered as our old 814s, but is a quantum leap forward in terms of comfort, ease of use and driver appeal.

“The cab is a massive improvement and the higher output engine that we specified means it always has performance to spare and never feels as though it needs to strain. She’s a real pleasure to drive and looks extremely smart too, so we’ll probably order another very soon.”