HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions has taken delivery of nine new 18-tonne unibody vehicles from Econ as part of its fleet renewal to support the delivery of North Lanarkshire Council’s roads maintenance and improvement contract.
The German-headquartered firm is marking the first year of its eight-year agreement with the local authority. The partnership with the council is HOCHTIEF’s first dedicated roads maintenance contract in the UK.
The nine 18-tonne unibody vehicles were purpose-built by Econ and will be based in the Bargeddie and Blairlinn depots. The vehicles are described as the workhorses for the delivery of the contract and capable of supporting winter maintenance gritting and general road maintenance operations across North Lanarkshire.
The maintenance vehicles form the part of HOCHTIEF’s ongoing fleet renewal in 2025. In September, the firm took delivery of a further 15 vehicles from Econ, including five 14-tonne multibody tippers/gritters; four 7.2-tonne Iveco tippers with electric demountable spreaders; a further three 18-tonne unibody vehicles; two 18-tonne quick change body gully/gritter vehicles; and one 26-tonne hookloader with gritter body.
Jannis Nasoulis, contract manager for HOCHTIEF operations UK and Ireland, said, “We are delighted to support the Council in the delivery of a high quality roads maintenance and improvement service across North Lanarkshire. The renewal of our fleet demonstrates our commitment to providing the best tools and equipment for our employees. In the first year of our contract, it also shows our long-term commitment to the residents in North Lanarkshire.”
Councillor Helen Loughran, convener of the environment and climate change committee at North Lanarkshire Council, added, “It’s great to see HOCHTIEF’s continued investment in new fleet which not only enhances our ability to respond swiftly to adverse weather but also supports our wider maintenance operations by improving efficiency and reliability across the network.”
Jonathan Lupton, MD at Econ, commented, “We are proud to be supporting HOCHTIEF with the delivery of their first dedicated roads maintenance contract in the UK. These vehicles have been purpose-built to meet the demanding requirements of year-round operations in North Lanarkshire, ensuring both winter resilience and high-quality road maintenance. At Econ, we are committed to providing robust, innovative solutions that enable our partners to deliver essential services for local communities, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with HOCHTIEF over the coming years.”
