West Midlands-based Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has invested in a fleet of nine Stratos III spreaders.

The new outright purchased fleet replaces an ageing contract hired fleet and includes three 4x4 Aebi Schmidt spreaders, which will be more effective in hilly areas around the borough this winter. The spreading bodies are fitted on Mercedes Arocs chassis.

Sandwell Council has also specified that the new winter maintenance fleet comes fitted with Aebi Schmidt's automated GPS-guided spreading system, AutoLogic, and its Winter Report tracking software to ensure they were at the very forefront of gritting technology.

The new fleet is also fitted with Schmidt SNK blade ploughs, which are quick and easy to fit and remove and are easily controlled via a dashboard joystick for raising and lowering. When not in use, the new single blade ploughs can be stored safely and then quickly fitted when and where required.

'We are now in possession of some of the best winter equipment available on the UK market today and, thanks to the technology and reliability of Schmidt, we are confident this will help ensure we continue to treat our roads with efficiency and precision,â€