A New South Wales based specialist manufacturing company has acquired a Hino 300 Series Hybrid with a view to reducing its carbon footprint, lowering costs and benefiting its clients.
Headquartered in the US, SICO South Pacific purchased the 300 Series Hybrid 616 IFS (independent front suspension) as its first company-owned truck in Australia.
According to purchasing manager Andy Lovis, the arrival of the new 300 Series Hybrid meant SICO could transport its own products to Wollongong and Port Macquarie rather than using external carriers, leading to a new level of operational efficiency.
“The additional benefits of the Hino Hybrid meant we could transport our products more quickly, which is good for our business,” he said. “The truck offers a significant suite of safety features – including dual SRS airbags and vehicle stability control –which is very important to fleet operators these days.
“As a company, SICO is working hard to bridge the gap between supplying sustainable, earth-friendly product solutions and constructing products that represent good value for our customers – and the Hino Hybrid is a perfect fit for our operations.”
Lovis said the purchase of a Hino Hybrid tied in with the company’s commitment to minimising its impact on the environment. For instance, it has an auto stop-start system that saves fuel by shutting down the engine when the vehicle is stationary.
In addition, the truck’s exhaust emissions are lower than what’s required for ADR 80/03 (Euro 5) compliance, and actually meet the more stringent EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) standard. This combined with the Hino Hybrid’s lower fuel consumption makes it arguably the cleanest light-duty truck on the Australian market.
When it came to selecting the new vehicle, Andy said Hino really helped out by demonstrating the best truck for the company’s purposes.
“We have been impressed with all the features of the truck including the reversing camera and comfortable driver’s seat, which has its own suspension,” he concluded.
Since 1951, SICO has provided its customers with a range of mobile folding and rolling, space-efficient tables, stages, dance floors and many other products that help customers get the most from their available space.