Hudson Brothers’ new Mercedes-Benz is a real head turner
10/07/2018
Hudson Brothers Ltd – who have been supplying the construction industry with premium raw materials since 1971 – are rightly proud of their newest fleet addition which is a show-stopping Mercedes-Benz Actros 2553.
The Blessington, Co. Wicklow-based family-run business recently took delivery of the 6x2 new generation unit from main Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealers, MUTEC, on Dublin’s Longmile Road. Mercedes-Benz are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch, in 1967, of their heavy commercial vehicles in Ireland and Hudson Brothers chose to mark the occasion by adding this 46-tonne, 530 brake horsepower unit to its fleet.
Boasting the most advanced engine and highest fuel economy on the market, the Actros 2553 comes with a big space cab, Dura-Bright lightweight wheels, a comfort Style-Line interior, which provides the same level of comfort as any Mercedes-Benz car, as well as a range of fittings and features. The Hudson’s were so impressed with the Obsidian Black metallic paint and chrome exterior that they felt it just wouldn’t be right to re-paint it in their trademark blue and white livery.
“We decided against respraying the Actros because it looked great the way it was. Nothing looks better with chrome than black,” Hudson Brothers Ltd’s Peter Hudson explains.
“It’s our first Merc in about 20 years and we’re delighted with it. We were well looked after by David Latham in MUTEC and we’ve already put it and its customised Schmitz trailer to work pulling one-tonne bags of sand and stone.”
The Actros is the pride and joy of the Hudson’s 13-strong fleet which also consists of Iveco, Renault and Hino. Last year, they purchased two new Renault C430 and C460 tippers with Gleeson and Fitzgerald bodies from Setanta Vehicle Sales, who are also located on the Longmile Road. The new vehicles represent a significant investment by the company which has experienced an increase in business thanks to a resurgent construction sector.
“Our fleet was showing signs of ageing before we invested in our first Renault C430 tipper nearly three years ago. We have been upgrading and replenishing our fleet ever since,” Peter continues.
Hudson Brothers Ltd was established 47 years ago by brothers Paddy, Peter and Sean to supply raw materials to the civil and construction industries. They have since been joined by the next generation of Hudson’s – Tommy (Paddy’s son), John (Sean’s son), Peter Jnr and Devin (Peter’s sons), with Devin being the managing director. There are also extended family members involved in the business which employs 50 people.
The state-of-the-art materials production facility at the company’s Phillipstown Quarry in Blessington incorporates modern grading and washing plants for the production of sands and limestone pebble which are renowned for their quality throughout the industry. Hudson Brothers’ fleet of three, four and six-axle trucks are able to meet the most demanding on delivery schedules.
The quarry also boasts a static rock crushing plant that is used to produce crushed graded materials from a sandstone source at the site. An array of grading and crushing mobile plant is also deployed throughout the quarry. Hudson Brothers have built up a large fleet of dumpers and excavators, including the largest operating dumpers to be found anywhere in Ireland.
Hudson’s supplies a wide range of materials in the greater Dublin area, including aggregates, topsoil, washed grit sand, mortar sand, plastering sand, drainage materials and one-tonne bags.
As quality is at the core of the business, the requirement for inhouse testing is a must. The onsite testing laboratory delivers comprehensive testing of aggregates and concrete. The concrete is maintained to EN206 standards, batched using a world-recognised computerised batching system and is third party certified through the NSAI. Aggregates, meanwhile, are maintained to EN13242 standards. Inhouse production of computer software modelling for the development of grading and data tracking ensures a consistent guarantee of quality.
Hudson’s are in the enviable position of being able to supply all of the aggregate requirements for the production of their high-quality concrete from their own quarrying facility. This predominantly limestone-based naturally occurring pebble and sand material is extracted, graded and washed to provide the ideal concrete aggregate.
“Our management and staff have a wealth of experience in the quarrying industry. We have built up a large client base, with the likes of John Paul Construction and JJ Rhatigan & Co being regular customers of ours. We have noticed a big pick-up in business since the recession ended and there is a good demand for all of products, especially concrete, stone and sand,” Tommy concludes.
Hudson Brothers Ltd
New Paddocks,
Blessington,
Co. Wicklow.
Telephone: +353 (0)45 865 880
Fax: +353 (0)45 857 017
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Trucker & Light Commercials magazine, April 2018, Vol 21 No 3
