What better way to celebrate your silver anniversary than by treating yourself to a couple of new trucks bearing the silver, three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz.
The latest additions to the fleet of timber merchant Beaumont Forest Products are both 16-tonne Atego 1624 models. They were supplied, together with the operator's first Fuso Canter, by Reading dealer Rygor Commercials.
Founded 25 years ago by Managing Director Andy Ferguson, Beaumont Forest has branches in Ascot, High Wycombe and Hoddesdon, from which it serves customers throughout Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and London.
The company has been buying Mercedes-Benz trucks for more than 15 years and currently runs 10 Atego rigids, the majority of them 16-tonners. The new arrivals are fitted with platform bodies by Wessex Vehicle Services and 8.7 tonne/metre Palfinger cranes; one of the trucks is also Beaumont Forest's first to be finished with a full cab vinyl wrap.
The Canter, meanwhile, is a 6.5-tonne 6C15 with Wessex dropside body - like other Mercedes-Benz dealers in the UK Rygor Commercials is additionally responsible for sales and support of the popular Japanese light truck range.
Purchased because its 150hp Euro 5 engine will allow the operator to stay on the right side of London's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) rules for some time to come, the Canter has replaced an ageing 5.0-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Beaumont Forest relies on its trucks to deliver its high quality range of construction timber and plywood, cladding and decking, fencing and landscaping materials, to contractors, developers and other trade customers, as well as to the general public.
"Our job can be quite demanding with deliveries often being made to rough sites but our Mercedes-Benz vehicles have never let us down," confirmed Andy Ferguson. "They've proved over the years to be more than capable of standing up to this kind of work, while the fact that our drivers love their trucks is another big 'plus'.
"No less important, though, is the appearance of our vehicles. We're a very image-conscious company and believe that when we turn up at a customer's premises with a smartly presented, premium brand vehicle like a Mercedes, then it says a lot for the quality and professionalism of our own business."
Beaumont Forest has again signed-up to Mercedes-Benz Repair and Maintenance Contracts - the Ategos are the subject of five-year arrangements, the Canter a three-year deal. The operator keeps its trucks for a maximum of seven years, so extends the R&M Contracts as necessary.
"The Rygor Commercials team maintain all of our vehicles under contract and do a first-rate job," added Mr Ferguson. "The dealer handles everything for us, which is brilliant. We get the peace of mind that comes from knowing the trucks are being serviced on schedule, and our managers are left free to concentrate on running their depots and serving our customers."