Independent repair specialist Sapphire Vehicle Services can now offer truck operators in and around north Hampshire support so good, it’s approved by not one but two leading manufacturers. CVW reports.
Following an investment of £150,000, and a lot of time and effort, to ensure its depot in Basingstoke, Hampshire, is fully compliant with its authorised repairer status for Isuzu and Mercedes Benz, Sapphire Vehicle Services – one of Britain’s most successful independent CV aftersales providers – now looks after upwards of 28,000 trucks and vans for a client portfolio that includes some of the biggest names in the supermarket sector.
One of 19 Sapphire workshops nationwide, the company’s Basingstoke depot is set up to look after trucks, trailers and vans of all makes, but has also won recognition as an authorised repairer of both Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Taking on the facility in 2018, the team has since been responsible for keeping vehicles, including one customer’s fleet of more than 500 tractor units, rigid trucks and semitrailers, on the road and performing with optimum efficiency.
Fully loaded
Located on the site of Sainsbury’s Houndsmill Distribution Centre, a stone’s throw from the A339 Ringway and less than three miles from Junction 6 of the M3, the north Hampshire operation is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The workshop is fully geared-up to maintain and repair semi-trailers as well as trucks. It has 14 bays, two with 35-metre pits and another with an 18-metre pit and is comprehensively equipped with diagnostic and other tooling. Inspectors from the DVSA carry out truck MOT Tests in its dedicated Authorised Testing Facility, while another lane is dedicated to calibrations and other work on tachographs.
As an authorised repairer, the facility is now able to work on Isuzu’s range of Grafter, N55-75 and F110-135 rigids, which span the range from 3.5 to 13.5 tonnes, as well as Mercedes-Benz Actros, Arocs, Atego and Econic models, covered by the manufacturers’ contract maintenance plans. The company can also undertake warranty work.
The site boasts its own bodyshop and holds extensive stocks of truck and trailer parts, while the customer reception and waiting area has been smartly refurbished. Further services available include tail lift repairs and LOLER inspections, 24-hour breakdown and recovery assistance, and access through other group divisions to rental, contract hire and full fleet management packages.
Sapphire is led by managing director Perry Reeves, a seasoned industry professional, but day-to-day running of the Basingstoke site is in the hands VMU manager, Steve Wright, and parts manager, Phil Savage.
Perry said: “We’d already brought in a new management team at Basingstoke before work on this project began 18 months ago. Our aim is to provide customers with exemplary standards of ‘one-stop shop’ aftersales support.
The brand expertise that we have in the Basingstoke, coupled with the fact that we can undertake R&M contract and warranty work, means we’re now able to provide local operators with a truly comprehensive service in which they can have total confidence.”
