These are exciting times for Complete Shutter Services – the fast-growing family firm has just moved to a much bigger head office and production facility, while its engineers are now serving customers from an eye-catching fleet of Mercedes-Benz vans.
North East Dealer Bell Truck and Van has supplied 10 new vehicles. Eight are stylish and practical Vito 114 CDI L2 models with long bodies, sliding doors on both sides, and top-of-the range PREMIUM trimlines. The remaining two are long Sprinter 314 CDI L3 PROGRESSIVES with dropside bodies.
Complete Shutter Services installs and maintains shutters, sectional overhead and automatic doors for commercial, retail and industrial concerns nationwide. It provides emergency call out support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The company has relocated from its previous HQ in Sheffield to a new home in Rotherham which, at 11,000 sq ft, offers double the space. Six of the Vito vans and one of the Sprinters are working from here, with the remaining vehicles located at a second branch in Harlow, Essex, from where they cover London and the South East.
Complete Shutter Services was established in 1990 by the father-in-law of Managing Director Paul Quealey – having been involved since 2000, Mr Quealey purchased the business with his wife Nicki six years ago.
Their decision to commit to a major update of the Complete Shutter Services fleet reflects in part the changing nature of its work, with earnings from scheduled maintenance and emergency repairs becoming increasingly significant relative to installations.
As a result, although several of the company’s engineers worked previously from 3.5-tonne vehicles, all are now doing so from the smaller, more agile and economical Vito vans. Strikingly finished in Complete Shutter Services’ distinctive branding over metallic Selenite Grey paintwork with colour-coded bumpers and chrome radiator grilles, they ride on multi-spoke 17in alloy wheels.
Inside, at the request of those who use them, Complete Shutter Services opted for a second single Comfort seat instead of the standard-fit double bench, while the PREMIUM specification includes Tempmatic air conditioning and a Parking package.
Their 140 hp 2.1-litre engines drive the rear wheels – the 114 CDI model is also available with front-wheel drive – and combine outstanding economy with well proven reliability. Most assignments require two engineers so gross weights have been uprated to 3.2 tonnes, ensuring the vehicles have sufficient carrying capacity to carry both, together with all their tools and a full complement of spares, with no risk of overloading.
Explaining the rationale behind the Vito vans’ high specification, Paul Quealey said: “We have a great team of engineers and I’m keen to retain them. They spend a lot of time in their vehicles, and are out in all weathers, and at any time of the day or night.
“We therefore gave them the opportunity to tell us what they wanted in a new van. If features like air conditioning and the second passenger seat help to make their journeys that bit more comfortable and enjoyable, then it’s an investment I’m very happy to make.”
Complete Shutter Services relies on its two dropsiders to transport materials used for installations. Bell Truck and Van responded to its initial requirement for a single vehicle by delivering a Ready to Work example that had been pre-built at the Mercedes-Benz factory with a 4.0-metre body. Shortly afterwards Mr Quealey returned with an order for the second dropsider – this time the Dealer arranged for UK Truck Bodies, of Darlington, to fit a 5.0-metre bed to a stock chassis cab.
Complete Shutter Services’ orders were managed by Joe Puggmurr, who joined Bell’s Van Sales team earlier this year. “Joe was a pleasure to deal with,” confirmed Paul Quealey. “We were very conscious of the payload and size of van that we needed, and had compiled a pretty detailed specification. Joe responded very quickly to our initial enquiry and within 24 hours he’d put together a package that met our budget.
“He was ‘on the ball’ in providing regular updates, arranged Mercedes-Benz Finance funding on the second dropsider, and delivered the vehicles on time and in perfect condition. In truth, he couldn’t have made the process any easier.”
Complete Shutter Services is also preparing to trial its new vans’ intelligent Mercedes PRO connect technology, which provides customers with a range of services including GPS tracking, real-time updates via an app on the status of critical parts such as brake pads, fluids and fuel levels, as well as theft alerts, geofencing and remote locking.
Mr Quealey added: “Our engineers couldn’t wait to get into their new Mercedes-Benz vans, which also fit the bill perfectly in terms of image. Given the brand’s unrivalled reputation for quality, I’m confident these smart looking vehicles are creating exactly the right impression when they arrive at our customers’ premises.”
Like all new Mercedes-Benz vans sold through the manufacturer’s official Dealer network, Complete Shutter Services’ new vehicles are backed by three-year, unlimited mileage warranties and came with MobiloVan cover, which includes free, round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance.