F CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY

Nidera forges ahead with Mercedes Benz fleet

An international trading company, Nidera is active at every stage of the grain supply chain, originating all types of arable crops from farmers and marketing and distributing them to consumers throughout the UK.

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he grain, seed and fertiliser merchant is now benefiting from increased fuel efficiency after commissioning its first Mercedes-Benz tractor units to be equipped with the manufacturer’s groundbreaking Predictive Powertrain Control system. Their introduction has opened the way for the Ipswich-based operator to stand down its last three non-Mercedes-Benz trucks, so that by the end of 2015 every one of its 40 vehicles will wear a three-pointed star. Supplied by East Anglia Dealer Orwell Truck and Van, the five new trucks are all Actros 2445 models with wind-cheating

Pulling together: Nidera’s Transport Manager Tom Poutney, right, with Paul Simpson of Orwell Truck & Van

66 | November 2015 - Milling and Grain

StreamSpace cabs and small-wheeled (17.5in) mid-lift axles, which offer a weight saving of some 300 kg compared to the standard version with 22.5in wheels. The lighter mid-lift axles are contributing to improved economy when the vehicles run empty, as well as increasing payload capacity. However, Tim Capey, Operations Director at Nidera, believes the main reason for the impressive early mpg performance of the new vehicles is its adoption of Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), and the associated driver training delivered by Orwell Truck andi think Van’s designated ‘Fuel Saver’ Lee Betts. PPC is a clever cruise control that works in conjunction with the Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmission and employs threedimensional GPS mapping to read three kilometres of topography