Quality food producer Samworth Brothers – owner of the famous Ginsters pasty brand – has reaffirmed its commitment to running a predominantly Michelin-shod fleet after pitting its Michelin tyres against another premium brand in a year-long trial.
The results showed the Michelin ‘regional’ tread pattern tyres to be 1.19 per cent more fuel efficient than the competitor’s regional tyres – amounting to a significant saving for the business. At the same time, CO2 emissions are reduced by approximately 252 tonnes annually across the fleet – further reducing the firm’s carbon footprint.
The trial compared the performance of a set of 315/70 R 22.5 Michelin X MultiWay 3D XZE all-position and XDE drive tyres against a premium competitor, both fitted to identical MAN TGX 6×2 tractor units.
“It was staggering to see how much fuel can be saved by fitting Michelin tyres. The test confirmed that when it comes to tyres, you get what you pay for,” says Ian Cooper, Vehicle Maintenance Unit Manager at Samworth Brothers’ Leicester depot.
The trial also demonstrated that a Michelin policy means Samworth Brothers buys 55 fewer steer axle tyres and 69 fewer drive axle tyres per year than it would if running the competitor policy. The Michelin fitments’ projected run-out mileage was more than 60,000km greater than the competitor tyres.
Samworth Brothers operates a fleet of 124 Volvo, Scania and MAN tractor units, plus 200 refrigerated Gray & Adams trailers – 56 of which are double-decks. The company currently runs Michelin tyres on around 80 per cent of its tractor fleet and 70 per cent of its trailers, plus is now specifying Michelin tyres as original equipment for 100 per cent of new vehicle orders.
The fleet operates intensively, 24/7, on a double-shift basis. Each vehicle clocks up to 250,000km per year whilst transporting chilled products to regional distribution centres, with depots in Bristol, Callington, Leicester and Penrith.
Samworth Brothers is part of the Samworth Brothers group, which was established in 1896 and is made up of 19 businesses, employing 8,000 people. The company was named Temperature Controlled Operator of the Year at the 2016 Motor Transport Awards.
For further information on the Michelin commercial vehicle tyre range visit http://trucks.michelin.co.uk/
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Michelin, the leading tyre company, is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing, distributing and marketing tyres for every type of vehicle. It also offers innovative business support services, digital mobility services and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 112,300 employees and operates 68 production plants in 17 countries. The Group also has a Technology Centre, responsible for research and development, with operations in Europe, North America and Asia. (www.michelin.com)
For further press information please contact:
David Johnson, Michelin Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0) 1782 402341 Email: d.johnson@michelin.com
Andy Hemphill or Beth Laws, Garnett Keeler PR, Inver House, 37-39 Pound Street, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3PG
Tel: +44 (0)20 8647 4467 Fax: +44 (0)20 8544 4711 E-mail: andy.hemphill@garnettkeeler.com or beth.laws@garnettkeeler.com
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