The vehicles have each been mounted with a Hiab XS144-4 Hi-Pro crane. They are being used in the construction and maintenance of overhead power lines from the Midlands to the Scottish borders.
Two Unimog U5000Ls and two Axors have already been delivered to United Utilities, with a third Unimog currently being built.
United Utilities transport manager Graham Davies said: “The Unimogs and Axors are ideal as they can carry all the tools we need to complete a job. This is vital in our work as if we need to interrupt a high voltage network the cost to us is £200 per minute, so we obviously need to be as quick as possible.
“These new models enable us to work more efficiently and they also cut down on operator fatigue. For example, extensions that were previously manually operated are now hydraulic and it is easier to swap between the drilling and lifting functions.”
Charles Pugh, Londonderry Garage’s product sales manager for Hiab, said he was “delighted” with the results and that Londonderry Garage is in discussion with United Utilities over adding personnel baskets to the Hiab cranes in order to increase their operational flexibility.
