At a time when British industry continues to swim against the tide of recession, pro-Whale Tankers customer, SP Holding of Telford, Shropshire - a rapidly expanding drainage services, truck and plant hire, and events specialist - is throwing the gauntlet down to UK companies by asking them to buy the best of British.
And proof of the pudding comes in the form of SP Holding's latest fleet newcomer - a 12-tonne GVW vacuum tanker that has a 100% British pedigree. For not only has the company once again specified Whale Tankers' bodywork in the form of a 1200-gallon capacity vacuum tank, the same is also applicable of the chassis. For the first time, SP Holding's founder, Steve Holding, has paired a DAF FA LF 45 4 x 2 sleeper cab chassis assembled here in the UK at Leyland Trucks in Leyland near Preston with tanker equipment from Solihull-based Whale - a leading manufacturer of specialist equipment to the waste and cleaning industries.
Supplied by DAF dealership, Greenhous Commercials of Shrewsbury - Shropshire's largest commercial vehicle dealer - the chassis cab is sporting the Union Jack as part of the vehicle's livery, together with the wording 'Assembled in Britain'. Specified for multi-purpose blockage removal, this latest SP Holding vacuum tanker will, in particular, support the company's expanding Events division, which provides a full turnkey management solution taking in portable toilet hire, water tanks, temporary roads, buggy hire and drinking water.
Commenting on his decision to support buying British, Steve said: "Part of our ethos is to support British companies and in doing so keep people in work. Equally, it is not just about supporting UK business for the sake of it, it is about buying the best of British, and when it comes to Whale Tankers and DAF Trucks you simply can't get better than that. Both companies produce highly design engineered, quality products that are revered not only here in the UK but throughout numerous export markets."
He added: " In my opinion, as the Whale Tankers and DAF combination proves, British can mean the best."
Making its debut at last week's Expo 2010 PSE exhibition, where Whale Tankers also put in its inaugural appearance, the 100% British vacuum tanker joins an SP Holding fleet that is now 58-strong, some 50% of which is Whale. Complete with a 1200 gallon capacity tank constructed from Grade 304 stainless steel, the non-hazardous tanker is equipped with a vacuum system powered by the Mistral 402 series exhauster/compressor and features low volume jetting that delivers 12 gpm of water at 3500psi. Additionally, SP Holding used Expo 2010 to announce an order for a further six Whale tankers valued in the region of £1/2 million.