Lawton Tubes welcomes its first ever Volvo truck

Coventry-based Lawton Tubes has taken delivery of a Volvo FM 6×2 rigid, marking the first time that the family-run company has ordered a truck from the Swedish manufacturer in more than a century of operation. Supplied by Rory Kelly, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, the company’s new FM joins a fleet of 12 vehicles used to deliver copper tubing nationwide. The rigid is mounted with a SlidaFlex body, provided by Fred Smith & Sons.

Giles Lawton, Managing Director – Operations, Lawton Tubes, says: “Our fleet delivers as far north as Inverness and as far south as Penzance, so driving performance and reliability are both paramount for us when we are choosing a new model. “This time around, we found that Volvo put forward the most competitive package in terms of vehicle availability, performance and pricing. We’re very excited to put our new FM through its paces.”

The Volvo FM tag axle rigid is powered by a Euro-6 compliant Step E diesel engine, producing 380 hp and a peak torque of 1,800 Nm. This is driven via the innovative I-Shift transmission, which applies extreme precision to every gear change by constantly evaluating information about speed, weight, road grade and torque demand. The truck is fitted with a Globetrotter sleeper cab and benefits from a Single Bed Living package.

This sees the inclusion of a lower bunk with a comfy pocket-sprung mattress, luxury sleeper control panel and a 28-litre wall-mounted fridge. Also onboard is an air-suspended driver’s seat.
The in-cab experience is further complemented by a chrome-surrounded high performance 12-inch fully dynamic instrument cluster, paired with a nine-inch side display, courtesy of Volvo’s Information package with navigation support. The truck also features Volvo’s distinctive V-Shaped LED headlights, which automatically adapt to ambient light conditions, and electrically heated and operated main rear view mirrors and wide-angle mirrors to boost visibility.

Safety is increased thanks to Lane Keeping Support and Lane Departure Warning systems and Forward Collision Warning with Emergency Braking technology. “As a member of the fourth generation of Lawtons to run this business, both myself and our team know a thing or two of what makes a good truck,” adds Giles. “The service we’ve received from Volvo so far has been top-notch – Rory and his colleagues have been extremely helpful.

When we visited Volvo’s Coventry depot we were made to feel very welcome and were hugely impressed with the facilities there.” The firm’s new Volvo FM is expected to cover 115,000 km annually, completing six to seven drops a day delivering both to wholesale merchant traders and OEMs in the heat exchange and distillery industries. It is covered by a five-year Volvo Gold Contract which delivers full cost control, worry-free ownership, and maximum uptime.

Founded in 1917, Lawton Tubes is the UK’s biggest manufacturer and distributor of copper tubes and associated products.