GRITIT, a road gritting and snow clearance company, is using a selection of Ford vehicles for its operations this winter.
The firm, which uses more than 70 Ford Transit and chassis cab vehicles, said it bolstered its fleet this year by purchasing 40 of the all-new Ford Ranger pick-up trucks. It also bought 30 previous-model Rangers in 2011.
Ford vehicles have been used exclusively by GRITIT, which was the first company in the UK to specialise in winter gritting and snow clearance, since 2009.
Managing director Nikki Singh-Barmi said it seeks out Ford deals on the manufacturer's vans and trucks because they "provide excellent reliability which is essential for our business".
She commented: "GRITIT operators visit retail, commercial, industrial, logistics and health sector premises, demanding the upmost in versatility. Ford's highly manoeuvrable, four-wheel drive Ranger provides exactly what we need.
"We expect excellence from our operators so we give them the best equipment on the market."
According to the west London-based company, it will provide more than 100,000 service visits across the UK from its 92 depots during an average winter.
Richard Brown, manager of Ford's Dunton Innovation Group, recently said that the process by which the manufacturer explores and implements new ideas "starts with the customer".
He made the comment when discussing the door system on the Ford B-MAX, which features hinged front doors, sliding rear doors and integrated central body pillars to create a wider opening in tight spaces.
The efforts of the Dunton Innovation Group can also be seen in the new Ford Transit Custom. The van features a roof rack system integrated into the roof to enhance its load-carrying capacity, as well as a hinged opening at the foot of the bulkhead. This means long items can be placed on the floor of the van and extend underneath the dual passenger seat in the front cabin.
Go to Cars2buy for the best Ford deals available.
Posted by Emma Grange