The decision by Tadmarton to specify Isuzu for the first time for this replacement vehicle was due to the proven payload and reliability of the Isuzu marque for 7.5t distribution operations.

According to Tadmarton’s managing director Mike Mourant, “When we were looking to replace an existing 7.5tonne vehicle in our 10 strong distribution fleet, it was Euroway that suggested we take a look at Isuzu. We have also noticed the Isuzu’s popularity with other companies operating similar distribution operations as ourselves using temperature controlled trucks at 7.5 tonnes.”

Operating on a six-year contract hire agreement with Euroway, that includes their popular FleetSure fleet maintenance programme, the Isuzu N75.190 4×2 rigid has been specified with a single compartment G&A refrigerated box body that uses a Carrier Transicold Xarios 500 direct drive refrigeration system.

The vehicle is operating out of Tadmarton’s main distribution hub in Banbury, delivering chilled produce to customers in 19 counties across the Midlands and in particular supporting the company’s growth in the South West.

Handing over the vehicle to Tadmarton Products, Geoff Howard from Euroway said, “For this particular operation at 7.5tonne, the Isuzu Forward chassis cab is a proven workhorse, with outstanding payload, and it is sure to provide Tadmarton with excellent service over its working life. Tadmarton has been a customer with Euroway for many years now and we know their operation well and are able to specify the right vehicles for each individual operation.”

Further information on the full range of contract hire and fleet management services available from Euroway can be obtained by visiting their website on www.eurowaygroup.com

The initiative is relieving customers of McCarthy & Stone of much of the stress and aggravation that moving to a new home can entail, particularly for those who may have been settled in their previous property for 30 or 40 years.

The service is being co-ordinated and delivered by removals specialist House to Home UK, which commissioned the vehicles. The 10 fuel-efficient 3.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDIs are fitted with streamlined ICON bodies that offer market-leading payloads of more than 1,200kg.

The chassis were supplied by Birmingham dealer Midlands Truck & Van while the bodies were fitted by leading manufacturer Bevan Group, of Halesowen, West Midlands. Wearing eye-catching McCarthy & Stone liveries, and manned by uniformed staff, the vehicles are among the most distinctive on Britain’s roads.

Bournemouth-based McCarthy & Stone will sell over 1,300 homes this year and expects to provide a removals service for around 80 per cent of these. Its National Sales Director Lorena Brown says: “We spoke to a lot of potential customers and were shocked to discover how many of them found the prospect of moving out of the family home just too daunting. So we set out to help them through the process and the House to Home service is an important part of that. It’s a great benefit for the customer and a great benefit for us. Our branding looks great and we’ll be adding to the fleet as demand increases.”

House to Home UK is part of the Vogue Group of companies and operates from headquarters in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. Managing Director James Sandbrook explains: “The ICON-bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinter combines high levels of productivity, user-friendly-practicality and safety, with excellent environmental credentials.”

The Euro 5 Sprinter 313CDI is 15 per cent more efficient than its Euro 4 equivalent, this improvement equating to an extra 4.5 miles per gallon, while CO2 emissions are down by 13 per cent. Like all Mercedes-Benz vans, it also offers a driving experience more akin to a luxury car than a van, and is equipped with a comprehensive armoury of active and passive safety features, including the Adaptive ESP® anti-skid program; this monitors a vehicle’s changing load status and is thus able to intervene with even greater sensitivity and precision in critical situations.

The ICON body was developed by Bevan Group in partnership with independent aerodynamics experts from Cranfield University and Hatcher Components, and launched at the 2011 Commercial Vehicle Show.

Its innovative, modular panels – moulded cab deflector and collar, side walls and roof – were created using three-dimensional CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) technology then honed in a wind tunnel, and are manufactured in a lightweight and recyclable composite GRP material.

Adds Mr Sandbrook: “To contain costs we’re naturally keen to make maximum use of the available loadspace. The ICON offers impressive volume and payload capacities, while its aerodynamic design contributes to improved fuel economy. It also has a fantastic on-road presence allowing our vans to double as highly visible mobile advertising spaces, reinforcing consumer awareness of the McCarthy & Stone brand.”

Cedars has therefore been investing heavily in new, LEZ-compliant chassis over recent months, and relying on leading recovery equipment manufacturer Roger Dyson to prepare them for work.

Some have been fitted with brand new bodies. Examples include a pair of Hydraloader slidebeds with 3000kg capacities – one, a 3000SLa with Super Low approach angle of just 4.9 degrees, is mounted on a 7.5-tonne gvw Isuzu NQR chassis; the other is a 3000La with Cedars’ first aluminium deck, and a second vehicle lift, which is based on a 7.0-tonne Iveco 70C18 crew cab chassis.

In several other cases, though, technicians at Dyson’s production facility in Droitwich, Worcestershire, have removed equipment from older vehicles, before refurbishing and remounting it on new, LEZ-compliant chassis.

Among these was a small crane body demounted from an ageing, US-built Ford 350 chassis which had been something of a ‘mascot’ for Cedars Recovery – company boss Gary Driscoll had bought the vehicle from a previous employer in 2005 and Roger Dyson undertook an initial refurbishment.

“We ran it for a few years but the chassis had reached the end of the road and was just worn out,” says Gary. “So Roger overhauled the crane and fabricated an additional locker, repainted where necessary, then fitted it to a 7.5-tonne Renault Midlum also supplied by Dyson.

“It’s now proving very useful to recover vans as well as cars,” continues Gary. “It looks great too – in fact, you’d never know the body had ever been on anything else.”

With roots that go back to 1955, Cedars Recovery operates from headquarters in Bermondsey, south-east London.

The business was purchased by Gary in 2002, when it had three old trucks and a couple of vans, and a staff of four; today, Cedars runs a fleet of 50 service vans and recovery trucks, including several heavy units. Since acquiring the former Queens Motors last summer it also has a second depot in the south London suburb of Norwood.

With a handful of exceptions, all of the company’s recovery equipment was supplied by Roger Dyson. Adds Gary: “When you buy a conversion from Roger you know it’s been done properly – that it’s going to work as it should, and is going to stand the test of time, so you won’t get rust coming through within a couple of years as you do with some other manufacturers’ equipment.”

Lucky Red is part of the Yearsley Group, since it was acquired as part of the takeover of Ice Pak Seafood Specialists earlier this year. Lucky Red chose Isuzu because of the combination of the product’s strong reputation for reliability and impressive payload carrying capacity.

The two new Isuzu N75.190 refrigerated 7.5 tonners, both fitted with Solomon 4.26m refrigerated bodies, are now operating on multi-drop regional work, delivering frozen food predominantly to Chinese restaurants in the north of England, each covering an estimated 80,000 miles per annum.

As Mark Haslam, head of logistics at Yearsley Group says, “We’ve been operating vehicles at 7.5 tonnes, but we now need the improved payload that is achievable by switching to Isuzu. Before committing to the brand however, we did speak to other operators of Isuzus and were even given access to telematics information. From that we could see accurate fuel consumption figures and reliability performance, which certainly helped us to make our final decision”.

Supplied by local Manchester dealer The Hulme Group, both of the Isuzu 7.5t rigids feature the company’s popular Easyshift semi-automated transmission system whilst the Solomon reefer bodies have Carrier Transicold Xarios 600 direct drive refrigeration systems, together with triple opening rear doors, and a single pallet width side door to the nearside.

Based in Middleton, North Manchester, Lucky Red specialises in the temperature-controlled delivery of premium foodstuffs. The products are sourced from throughout the world, and then stored and delivered from the Middleton warehouse, with fish being a particular speciality.

“Temperature controlled food distribution is a very significant market sector for Isuzu Truck UK. The proven performance of our 7.5 tonners, in terms of reliability and payload, has become recognised as industry leading. Our customer CARE philosophy has generated unprecedented levels of customer loyalty and as a consequence many companies such as Lucky Red are switching to Isuzu. At the end of the day, commercial vehicle operators have to trust the products they buy and the organisation they’re dealing with. I think it’s fair to say that, certainly amongst the food distribution fraternity, word is getting around that we’re living up to their expectations,” said Keith Child, marketing director at Isuzu Truck UK.

Full details of the current Isuzu Truck range can be viewed and downloaded from the company’s website on www.isuzutruck.co.uk

Recoverymen is a sister company to Tyremen, a leading supplier of car, truck and plant tyres to some 1,200 companies across London and the Home Counties; tyres supplied by Tyremen are currently being fitted to much of the plant now working on the 2012 Olympics site.

Operating from Staples Corner, at the junction of the North Circular and Edgware Road, Tyreman was founded 11 years ago by Managing Director Peter Harrison, who then launched Recoverymen in 2007.

“I realised that many of the companies to whom we were supplying tyres also required rescue and recovery back-up,” he explains. “The two businesses complement each other perfectly, and provide a first-class service to our customers.”

Recoverymen’s new Hydraloader SLa is mounted on a 12-tonne Renault Midlum 220.12 crew cab chassis that meets Euro 5 emissions limits. Its steel Hydraloader bed offers a market-leading approach angle of just 4.9 degrees.

Recoverymen operates a couple of heavy recovery units: a Dyson NRC 9735 Slider on a Volvo chassis, and a low-loader trailer which is pulled by a Scania tractor. The company’s other recovery vehicles are both Hydraloader La slidebeds built by Roger Dyson at its production facility in Droitwich, Worcestershire.

Peter Harrison says: “We’ve gone for the Euro 5 chassis because we’re determined to stay ahead of the game as far as the London Low Emission Zone is concerned. The new rules that kicked in for January 2012 mean you have to be running Euro 4 trucks within Greater London, so this vehicle should remain compliant for some time into the future.

“And we’ve chosen Roger’s Super Low approach Hydraloader this time,” he continues, “because a lot of the companies for which we work have sports cars and other low-slung models on their fleets. The very low approach angle to the slidebed means there’s no risk of damaging them when undertaking a recovery.”

Peter adds: “Roger’s a first class supplier. His equipment is excellent and he’s very personable – I like the fact that if I need to do so, I can always speak to the man himself.”

Steve Bridge, Van Sales and Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz UK, said: “As a manufacturer, we have always been the pioneer in setting new standards in terms of driver and pedestrian protection and we are delighted to have won the 2012 What Van? Award for Safety for the second year running.

“Mercedes-Benz has led the way in safety innovations, including creating the airbag in 1980 and launching ESP in 1995, making it standard across our vehicles in 1999. Our vans have however, always gone one stage further and are now using Adaptive ESP which automatically measures the current load condition to react with just the right amount of force to suit the driving situation. This works in conjunction with ABS, disc brakes all round, acceleration skid control, electronic brake force distribution and Brake Assist to ensure that Mercedes-Benz produce vans with safety always as standard.”

In addition, driver’s airbags and three-point seat belts with tensioners and force limiters are standard too, with adaptive brake lights, a bulkhead and large electric exterior mirrors all included in the price of a Mercedes-Benz van.

Paul Barker, Editor of What Van?, added: “Safety is a vital component of any commercial vehicle operator‘s priorities, and Mercedes-Benz is still leading the field in this area. The company’s focus on taking care of the people that drive its commercial vehicles is industry leading, and the What Van? judging panel were unanimous in awarding the Safety Award to Mercedes-Benz.”

Designed for insulated vans and light commercial vehicles with a load space of 12 to 30 cubic metres, the innovative range stands out for its ability to reach full refrigeration capacity at low engine speed (1,000 rpm), ensuring a constant set point throughout the delivery cycle. Additionally, the Pulsor unit has been designed to meet multi-temperature requirements, with the ability to cool and heat multiple compartments simultaneously to varying set points between -30°C and +30°C.

Justin Grace, managing director of Carrier Transicold UK, explains, “The beauty of the Pulsor unit is that it uses patented new Carrier E-Drive™ technology, combined with an inverter and a variable speed hermetic compressor. E-Drive technology has been specially adapted from Carrier’s proven Vector™ all-electric trailer system, which the majority of supermarket fleets in the UK and Ireland already benefit from.

“Many of these customers also run significant home delivery operations; where extensive product testing has shown the Pulsor unit to thrive, with a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption during pull down. This can provide operators with a tangible return on investment.”

“We also expect this new technology to prove attractive to fleets operating direct drive systems as it eliminates the requirement for a roadside compressor – a component renowned for being the primary cause of unit downtime,” he adds.

Innovative technology

As with the Vector 1550 and Vector 1850 trailer units, Carrier E-Drive technology removes mechanical transmissions found in traditional belt-driven systems and transforms engine power into electricity via a generator. The generator then channels the electrical power to an inverter that regulates the power delivered according to refrigeration needs. Finally, the variable speed hermetic compressor works at different speeds according to the inverter’s output, delivering constant capacity in all refrigeration phases.

The Pulsor unit’s high and continuous capacity at low engine speeds is ideally suited to modern-day refrigerated light commercial vehicles operating in congested urban centres, where multi-drop work is commonplace. In contrast, a traditional refrigeration unit’s compressor is connected to the vehicle’s engine and runs at the same speed, meaning refrigeration capacity is directly linked with engine speed and only reaches optimum capacity at 2,400 rpm. During urban deliveries approximately 90 per cent of a typical journey is completed with engine speeds below 2,400 rpm, resulting in the potential risk of fluctuation in temperature control and possible damage to perishable cargo.

Optimised cold chain protection

The Pulsor unit reaches the designated set point twice as fast as conventional technology, and is accurate to within +/- 0.3°C of the defined set point. This rapid pull down and temperature accuracy, combined with constant, full refrigeration capacity delivered even at low speeds, ensures that the temperature within the load space is always maintained regardless of traffic jams and multiple door openings. Furthermore, it can operate effectively in extreme ambient temperatures ranging from -30°C to +50°C.

Reducing environmental footprint

The new refrigeration unit meets Carrier Transicold’s objective of minimizing environmental impact, with Carrier’s E-Drive technology enabling a significant reduction in fittings and hoses, considerably reducing the potential for refrigerant leaks. In addition, all connections are made with copper pipe instead of flexible hoses to further reduce potential leaks. With an average of 2.5 per cent refrigerant leak per year, the Pulsor unit reduces CO2 emissions by 75 per cent per annum compared with conventional technology

Positive feedback

The Pulsor unit has undergone more than a year of extensive field testing with customers throughout Europe, including the UK. In addition to temperature accuracy and improved environmental performance, fleet operators have been impressed with the Pulsor unit’s low cost of ownership, owing to a reduction in the number of serviceable parts, hoses and fittings combined with the proven robustness of the inverter. The inverter is a standard component used in the air- conditioning industry that has been further strengthened to meet Carrier

Transicold’s requirements, and which provides users with superior product reliability. This is made possible as the inverter regulates the power delivered to the compressor according to refrigeration needs, meaning the compressor always works within its envelope, minimising the potential for breakdowns.

The Pulsor range will be commercially available from January 2012 in six models: Pulsor 300, 350, 400, 500, 400MT (multi-temp) and 600MT.

The Caddy and Transporter models performed well, both being honoured among the top five van models, while the Crafter finished a respectable sixth overall.

The FN50 reliability survey is compiled from the feedback and opinions of the UK’s top 50 leasing companies, and gives an impartial and valuable account of how commercial vehicles operate and perform in the ‘real world’.

Stephen Briers, editor of Fleet News, said: “Van reliability is arguably more important than car reliability as vital supply chains can be disrupted through unnecessary vehicle downtime. Volkswagen has demonstrated with its leading position as a van manufacturer, and high placing for its models, that fleet operators can choose its vehicles in confidence.”

Alex Smith, newly appointed Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK added: ‘We all know that vehicle reliability is even more significant for van drivers and fleet operators as their business depends on them, so this award is very important and explains why we are on track to sell more Volkswagen vans in the UK this year than ever before. Superior reliability delivers better business, while stronger demand for used Volkswagen vans and stronger residual values reduce whole life costs, making every Volkswagen van owner a winner!’

With the versatile Caddy, Transporter and Crafter models, the award-winning Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range offers a van to suit every need, with load volumes from 3.2 m³ up to 17.0 m³ and payloads from 681 kg up to 2,480 kg.

The Hydraloader 3000La (Low approach) slidebed is fabricated from lightweight aluminium and has a 3,000kg capacity. It is mounted on a 7.0-tonne gvw Iveco Eco Daily 70C18D crewcab chassis which is also low in weight, thus contributing to the finished vehicle’s excellent payload.

Power, meanwhile, comes from a Euro 4 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine which is impressively fuel-efficient – Ross’s Garage reports returns of 22mpg from four long, 400-mile round trips to Edinburgh.

The new arrival has lined-up alongside Ross’s Garage’s 41 other recovery vehicles, many of which were also built by Roger Dyson. They include a pair of Hydraloader 4500La steel slidebeds, which entered service earlier this year. As with the latest Iveco chassis, the Euro 5 12-tonne Renault Midlum crewcabs on which these two bodies are based were also supplied by Roger Dyson.

Meanwhile, at its production facility in Droitwich, Worcestershire, the manufacturer is currently building another vehicle for Ross’s Garage, this time an accident unit with Amco Veba 12 tonne/metre crane, which will be mounted on a used 12-tonne Renault Midlum.

As well as recovery operations Ross’s Garage offers vehicle servicing, MoTs and repairs at its base in Milton of Clava, Culloden Moor. The company was founded 31 years ago by Malcolm Ross, who is still at the helm, and built with the support of his sons Steven and Michael, and business partner Alisha Anderson.

“We’ve had equipment from other manufacturers and we also build our own,” explains Michael, “but Roger’s is definitely the best. The quality and workmanship that goes into his bodies is second to none, while the winching capability of his equipment is unbelievable.

“We have a Mitsubishi Canter which we bought from Roger in 2003 and it still looks as good as new. There’s not a trace of rust on the bed and the winch still pulls to its original capacity, which is more than can be said for some of our other, non-Dyson vehicles.”

Michael continues: “Problems with Roger’s equipment are very rare but when they do occur we know we can rely on him for a quick response, a straight answer and a speedy resolution. The parts service is very good too. In the unlikely event that he doesn’t have it on the shelf already, Alex (Mills, Roger Dyson’s Parts Manager) will go out of his way to source a component for you.”

As a general rule Ross’s Garage renews its recovery vehicles every five or six years and Malcolm adds: “The secondhand value of Roger’s equipment is outstanding – people are always queuing up for it, which is something that cannot be said for other manufacturers’ products. I also appreciate the fact that Roger is always available, and if I need to do so I can always call and speak directly to him.”

The most recent of these is an ingenious answer to the problem of replacing wiper linkages following failure. With replacement failed linkages becoming an issue because the supply of the original part is no longer available, Multipart’s dedicated LDV parts team set out to find a solution.

Its efforts focussed on the key wear areas in the system, which are usually the plastic moulded end cups. The outcome is a repair kit consisting of two link rods with new end cups crimped into place to result in an easy and cost-effective replacement of the linkage where evidence of end cup wear is apparent

As LDV vehicles get older, owners are always looking for ways to reduce parts costs. Recognising this, Multipart has introduced a re-manufactured alternator for the LDV Maxus model which is offered at a price reflecting the age of these vehicles. It is produced using the same processes as those on the new original equipment and is available at a significantly lower cost

Body panels can be a problem and last year Multipart made a range of panel skins available to enable body shops to repair damaged panels rather than replace the entire unit. This has proven very successful, and the scheme has been modified in a number of ways to ensure that repairs can be carried out at much lower cost levels using standard body repair techniques and tooling.

The new wiper linkages, re-manufactured Maxus alternator and body skins are available through the 80-strong LDV dealer network on a same-day or next-day delivery basis. The part numbers are PBU2220 for the wiper linkages and 528110010R for the alternator.

Commenting on the new products, John Cascone, Multipart Director, said: “With around 100,000 LDV vans and minibuses still out there and with years of service still in them, it’s becoming more important to find cost-effective answers to the needs of operators for parts.

“As these vehicles get older we know that owners will not want to spend heavily on them. That’s why at Multipart our highly committed and knowledgeable LDV team is focussed on ensuring that we can meet their needs in innovative ways. These latest additions to the range are prime examples of just how effective we are in doing that.”

The manufacturer’s representative for Surrey and Sussex has supplied the BLOODHOUND Project with a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDI van, which is now being used to transport technicians and the equipment they use when staging public presentations of their awesome machine.

At 129hp the Long-bodied van’s 2148cc common rail, turbocharged diesel cannot quite match the power output of the car’s custom-built Falcon rocket, which produces 27,500lbs of thrust – equivalent to 77,500hp or 645 family saloons – and works in unison with a jet engine.

But its low-emission Euro 5 credentials mean the strikingly-liveried Sprinter wins hands down when it comes to miles-per-gallon, while it is also a good deal easier to manoeuvre – pencil thin and over 12 metres (40ft) long, the rocket car has no reverse gear and a turning circle of 120 metres, which makes parking somewhat tricky!

In fact, its technologically advanced specification makes the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter a perfect ‘fit’ for the Bloodhound Project. And that’s because speed is not the car’s only purpose; rather, it is the focal point of an education programme designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM subjects) by showcasing them in the most exciting way possible – through the development of a car that’s faster than a bullet.

More than 4,500 UK schools have signed up to bring their science and maths lessons to life by using BLOODHOUND’s curriculum-ready resources, while design and operational data is being made available live on the web as the project develops, thus enabling tomorrow’s scientists and engineers to follow the project’s progress in the finest technical detail.

Some 220 high-tech engineering companies across the UK are producing key components for the car and after runway testing in the UK the team aim to be on the Hakskeen Pan in South Africa’s Northern Cape to begin high speed testing in 2013.

The BLOODHOUND Project is funded entirely by corporate sponsorship and public donations and Director Richard Noble welcomed the support of Rossetts Commercials, which has headquarters in Worthing and other dealerships in Aldershot, Crawley and Eastbourne.

“‘We had one hell of a problem!” recalled Mr Noble. “We are best described as an aerospace company financed by sponsorship and public donation, and demand for the project at exhibitions and schools was growing at an exponential rate.

“Our cashflow, which has to be spent on the project engineering, didn’t permit long term lease or purchase, so we were hiring vans which meant we had constantly to load and unload them, and our presentation didn’t look good.

“And then along came Perry Reeves from Rossetts who could see the opportunity immediately. The deal was done quickly and we now have the smartest van on the road. The project is still expanding fast and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is going to do a huge mileage! We are extremely grateful to Rossetts for their help.”

Rossetts Commercials Dealer Principal Perry Reeves confirmed: “The BLOODHOUND Project is a truly inspiring British initiative and we are delighted to become one of its sponsors.”

The deal was agreed after Richard Noble delivered a lecture to a joint meeting of the Institute of the Motor Industry and Institute of Road Transport Engineers – Perry is a Full Member of the IMI and a Fellow of the IRTE, as well as its Southern Centre Chairman. The Mercedes-Benz man was hugely impressed by what he heard.

“At Rossetts Commercials we rely constantly on our qualified engineering staff to solve technological problems in order to keep our customers’ vehicles on the road,” Perry explained.

“But it’s not just workshop roles that require technical and mathematical knowledge. Our sales staff make calculations on a host of factors such as payloads and load volumes, and must also understand things like drive ratios if we are to supply our customers with vehicles built to the optimum specification for the task. Even the graphic designers in our marketing department use vectors in their work.

“So anything we can do to help encourage youngsters to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is going to benefit our company in the future. And how can something as exciting as the BLOODHOUND Project fail to get them motivated?”

Citroën, which has attended every CV Show in its current format, will use next year’s event as a launch platform for key new developments of its award-winning LCV range.

Citroën’s 2012 LCV developments will come hot on the heels of the introduction of its complete 2011 Euro 5 engine range. This will see Citroën maintain its position as the supplier of LCVs with class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures. As part of its 2011 Euro 5 programme, Citroën will be introducing ultra-low emissions, highly fuel efficient Euro 5 HDi engines.

These will be available with manual gearboxes, as well as an increased number of advanced EGS automated manual and torque-converter automatic transmissions. The addition of Stop & Start technology to key models in the range enhances the fuel-saving and emissions-reducing benefits of Citroën’s Euro 5 engines still further.

The Sprinter 313CDIs have been kitted out by VFS, of Eastleigh, Hampshire, as mobile Post Offices – each has desks and a counter from which staff can offer the full range of Post Office services to residents of remote villages and settlements

Three of the vehicles are now at work – one on the Lleyn Peninsula in north-east Wales, one in North Yorkshire, and one in an area south of Bristol. The two remaining Sprinters are contingency vehicles and provide cover where needed.

Mobile Concept Manager Steve Fox said: “These vehicles are designed to provide the communities they serve with everything you’d find in a Post Office.”

Each vehicle is typically visiting five or six locations in a week, stopping for at least an hour on a minimum of two occasions. Using mobile telecommunications technology, they are able to offer financial assistance with, for example, bill payments, as well as the familiar range of over-the-counter services, including foreign currency, travellers’ cheques and driving licence applications.

Mr Fox continued: “The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was chosen for this role because, as well as being the ideal size for the interior conversion, it has a first-class reputation reliability and safety.

“Its low-emission Euro 5 engine also offers excellent fuel economy and ‘green’ credentials – other divisions in the Royal Mail Group run large numbers of Sprinters on their fleets and they are proving to be extremely efficient performers.”

And he added: “The fact that the Sprinter also offers excellent value for money was another point in its favour, and we expect to get at least six years’ hard work from our new vans.”

The Gillingham-based company’s new 7.5-tonne Fuso Canter was supplied by Mercedes-Benz dealer Sparshatts of Kent – the German manufacturer’s UK dealers are also responsible for sales and support of the popular Japanese light truck range.

A Canter 7C18 model with high volume curtainside body by JC Payne (UK), of Aldridge, West Midlands, it replaced a 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Vario panel van which was nine years old and which Sparshatts took back in part-exchange.

L Robinson & Co was founded in 1921 by Commander Lumley Robinson RN, inventor of the Jubilee Clip. His worm drive hose clamp is widely acknowledged as a design classic and is still to be found in factories, workshops, garages and sheds across the globe.

As Ian Jennings, the great-grandson of Lumley Robinson and recently appointed Managing Director of the family business confirmed proudly: “We are not the only manufacturer of hose clip and clamping materials these days but we still set the standard to which others aspire. Customers can be assured that if their clip carries the ‘Jubilee’ trademark, then it was made here in Gillingham.”

L Robinson & Co’s new truck is powered by a 175hp engine that not only meets Euro 5 emissions limits but also the even more stringent – and voluntary – Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle (EEV) standard.

As with the vast majority of 7.5-tonne Canters, the new truck’s appeal owed much to its market-leading payload – L Robinson & Co makes full use of its new vehicle’s impressive carrying capacity of just under 4.0 tonnes.

The company produces a comprehensive range of clips in different styles and sizes, and exports roughly half of its annual production across the globe – the Canter is used to deliver consolidated consignments to the docks.

The balance goes to distributors and wholesalers located throughout the UK and although L Robinson & Co relies on third-party distribution partners it also assigns some of this work to its new truck.

Mr Jennings, who has just succeeded his father John at the helm, explained: “We like to retain a degree of control by delivering to our regular customers so each week we send the Canter across to the west side of the country, up as far as Liverpool then across to Hull and back down to Kent.”

The trip takes a couple of days and is made by David Bairnsfather, who has worked for the company since 1973. “He’s very well known to our customers and delighted with his new truck, not least because we specified it with optional air conditioning,” continued Mr Jennings.

“The Canter’s clean engine technology means we won’t have any issues with the London Low Emissions Zone for many years to come while the body was as big as we could get, and capable of carrying up to 16 pallets.

“The fact that it’s a curtainsider has also made life a lot easier because it means that David doesn’t have to load and unload in a pre-determined order, as he did with the van. So should the need arise it’s now very easy for us to intervene while he’s out and about and change his delivery route.”

L Robinson & Co’s Canter came with a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty.

Excelerate Technology’s latest, Long-bodied Vito 120CDIs, bristle with a comprehensive array of systems. Their prime role is to showcase the Cardiff-based company’s products and expertise to existing and prospective customers.

However, in addition to their promotional work the Vitos may be called into action to support the emergency services during major incidents. They boast multiple screen monitoring and control facilities and can be deployed anytime, anywhere.

Excelerate Technology leads the market in the supply and integration of satellite and wireless-based data, voice and video applications for use on mobile incident command and control, and communications support vehicles used by the emergency services, counter-terror agencies and governments, both in the UK and world-wide.

It also offers a range of similar solutions for use in fixed and mobile environments by customers across a wide range of other sectors, including education, utilities, medical, sport and commercial.

Supplied by Tewkesbury dealer Mudie-Bond with support from Mercedes-Benz UK, the new vans were converted by J S Fraser of Witney, which fitted workbenches and seating, before Excelerate Technology began the task of installing its own, extensive array of systems.

CEO David Savage, who founded the company in 2001, said: “We run a number of other Mercedes-Benz vehicles and enjoy close working relationships with the manufacturer and its dealer.

“The association works well as we are all leaders in our respective fields, providing first-class products backed-up unrivalled customer support.”

He added: “The response of existing and prospective customers to these two demonstration units has been very positive and they are definitely proving to be a real asset in our sales armoury.

“It’s crucial that we present an image of quality and the three-pointed star only serves to underpin our own brand values.”

Excelerate Technology was a recent winner of the Communications Award at the Counter Terrorism and Specialist Security Awards, voted for by members of the global security and defence community.

The SevelSud factory in Val Di Sangro, Italy, produces the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper range of LCVs.

Following detailed analysis it has also been jointly agreed by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Fiat Group Automobiles that their SevelNord joint venture, based in Valenciennes, France, will not be renewed after its expiry in 2017 due to changes in each partner’s future product strategies.

SevelNord currently manufactures the Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy and Fiat Scudo range of light commercial vehicles.

As well as top selling standard vans, Peugeot is fast forging a strong reputation for its converted vehicle and specialist vehicle range, from forensic support vehicles, ambulances and taxis, to tippers and drop sides. A range of these vehicles will also be found on the Peugeot stand, number 4D80 in Hall 4, at the Commercial Vehicle Show.

The Peugeot display at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show includes a Red Kite Boxer Minibus Conversion, a Boxer Tipper Conversion, an Expert Sport van, an electric Allied ePartner, a Royal Mail Bipper van, as well as standard vans.

At the heart of the appeal of Peugeot’s vans are their highly fuel-efficient HDi engines, which help keep running costs down at a time when fuel costs are a worry for many businesses. They are also among the cleanest, thanks to Peugeot’s HDi engine technology, with the entire range well within average fleet CO2 emissions targets for 2014. In fact, the smaller

Peugeot vans already comply with longer term targets set to be deployed in 2020.

The hotly anticipated four-door, four-wheel drive Amarok pick-up will be the main attraction on the stand.

Based on the recently launched and award-winning model, the new Caddy Racer will be unveiled ahead of its racing debut.

Celebrating Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ heritage, a fully restored 1954 split-screen ‘barn-door’ Transporter will also be on display.

This model, which has become a legend of great design and durability serves as a reminder to visitors to the stand of where it all began.

Trakm8’s innovative algorithm uses many different vehicle parameters to accurately measure how much CO2 a vehicle emits.

Following research with the Technology Strategy Board and Imperial College London, Trakm8 are the only vehicle telematics company to accurately measure the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, and not rely on manufacturer’s estimates.

John Watkins, Trakm8’s CEO, said: ‘For green thinking fleet managers, CO2 is increasingly becoming a major factor in determining which LCV to purchase. Using our own algorithm, we can accurately measure the amount of CO2 each van in a fleet produces, and identify areas that can be adapted to reduce the amount of CO2 being emitted.’

Trakm8 are on stand 4C50 at the CV Show which is at the NEC in Birmingham from 12-14 April.

Also on display at the show will be Trakm8’s fuel consumption reducing technology, their latest innovative hardware – the T8 – and SWIFT – the user friendly web portal

For further information on Trakm8’s CO2 monitoring technology, visit www.trakm8.com, email info@trakm8.com

For the second year running, Iveco will be the commercial vehicle supplier to the MotoGP, the most important championship in the world of motorcycle racing, with over 60 years of history, broadcast in 207 countries and followed by a TV audience averaging 28 million for each race.

Thanks to the agreement established last season with Dorna Sports, the Iveco brand will again be present and visible at many circuits. In addition, as for the past two seasons, the company will be title sponsor of the Australian race at Phillip Island, billed as “The Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2011″ and will see the entire circuit branded Iveco.

Also this year Iveco will be behind the transportation of the entire MotoGP logistical support infrastructure – utilising a fleet of 15 Stralis tractor units and a mix of four ECODAILY van and Combi nine-seat vehicles, delivering fittings, equipment and personnel along the route that unites the 18 races of the World Championship.

The partnership continues between Iveco and Team Yamaha with the reigning World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo, and Ben Spies, considered to be the most promising newcomer of 2010. The association between the two companies has led to excellent results with the conquest by Yamaha of the “Triple Crown” for the third consecutive year and of all three world championship titles (Driver, Team and Constructor). Team Yamaha will use its own fleet of seven Stralis and 2 ECODAILY vehicles for transporting the team and the bikes with all the associated materials, to and from each circuit, along with offices and mobile workshops. For the first time, Iveco branding will appear on the racing bikes too.

This continued involvement by Iveco in the world of MotoGP is an integral part of the company’s communication strategy.

The latest VOSA effectiveness report shows that ‘condition of tyres’ remains the most frequent prohibition defect at spot checks on light goods vehicles across the country, but worryingly, the incidence rate has increased from 20 percent in 2007/08 and in 2008/09 to just under 26 percent in 2009/10.

“Van tyres lead a particularly hard life so it is critical that operators regularly check the condition of their tyres for signs of damage or premature and uneven wear,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Building site debris or regular scuffing on kerbs during delivery drops can cause significant damage to tyres. If left unchecked, they may fail at a critical moment, risking serious injury for the driver and other road users.”

Responsibility for the condition of the tyres on the vehicle lies both with the van driver and the business itself. Drivers should ensure the tyres are in a roadworthy condition before setting off each day. Indeed, drivers found to be driving on illegal tyres risk incurring a personal fine of £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. Business owners also have a responsibility and duty of care obligation to provide their employees with a safe working environment, which includes the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles. Under the Health and Safety Offences Act (2009), UK courts have greater authority to prosecute businesses for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres or faulty brakes. The maximum penalty has increased from £5,000 to £20,000.

In addition to the punitive risks, businesses also face a number of additional costs by failing to look after their tyres properly. Under-inflated tyres will not only wear out quicker, but the vehicle’s fuel economy deteriorates. Vehicle downtime at the roadside or in the workshop changing or repairing tyres means the vehicle is not earning money, and if deliveries are delayed, this can trigger penalty payments to customers.

“This rising trend of tyre related prohibition defects is extremely worrying,” continues Jackson. “I would urge all businesses, large or small, that operate vans and other light commercial vehicles to ensure they have robust procedures in place to regularly check the condition of their fleet’s tyres.”

To help businesses and van users understand their responsibilities towards tyre care and the key tyre safety issues they need to consider, TyreSafe has launched a new dedicated van tyre safety section on its website. The site includes a selection of useful tips and guides as well as a free downloadable safety leaflet. To view the pages or download the leaflet, visit www.tyresafe.org.

In a double success, Ford Transit was named the most reliable van for the fourth year running, with the Ford Transit Connect in third place for the second year running.

The annual reliability survey is published by Fleet News magazine and polls the UK’s leading leasing companies, which together operate over 1,000,000 vehicles.

The leasing and contract hire companies – all running multi marque fleets – rated vehicles according to breakdowns per 100 of each model. This year’s survey covered a total of 840,000 cars and 183,000 light commercial vehicles.

Ford’s investment in commercial vehicles – at Dunton engineering centre in Essex, at Dagenham where the majority of Transit diesel engines are built, and at Southampton assembly plant – ensures they continue to offer leading reliability and cost of ownership.

The new facilities replace existing sites within Hermes’ 18-strong depot network and enable the company to better service customer needs in London and Scotland.

The Dunstable depot has been relocated to a new, larger unit at Woodside Industrial Estate. The facility will provide 46,000 sq ft of warehousing space, with almost 40 per cent added capacity over the previous site, to enhance Hermes’ ability to service North London.

Meanwhile, the current Dundee depot has transferred from West Gourdie Industrial Estate to a warehouse development at North Muirton Industrial Estate in Perth. The 15,000 sq ft facility will increase warehousing capacity by more than 35 per cent and is better located for the provision of timely deliveries into the Highlands and the far north of Scotland.

Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes in the UK, commented: “These latest investments are part of an ongoing review of our depot network to ensure that the UK infrastructure possesses the appropriate capacity and capability to support our growth strategy. We are committed to enhancing our delivery offering over the next 12 months to improve the service we provide to our customers, so it essential that we are best-placed to handle these changes to our business.”

The new depots will retain all existing staff to protect jobs and ensure the necessary expertise is kept within the company.

The new van achieved 128 out of a possible 168 points, from a jury made up of 24 specialist commercial vehicle trade journalists representing the same number of countries.

The prestigious trophy was presented during a gala evening to mark the 63rd edition of the Hanover International Motor Show, the most important commercial and industrial vehicle exhibition in Europe.

Announcing the 2011 result, chairman of the International Van of the Year jury, Pieter Wieman, said: “The winning van design had impressed the jury on a number of fronts and above all by the fact that Fiat has succeeded in widening the number of platform and body varieties to a higher number than any other van in this category.

“The jury was particularly impressed with the wide range of engines. Furthermore it was impressed with the driving qualities and the high level of comfort that the different versions of the Doblò offer”.

Lorenzo Sistino, Fiat Professional CEO, commented: “New Doblò Cargo has been an innovative vehicle right from its concept. With Doblò we offer our customers the widest choice, the lowest emissions and the most advanced technology in this category. The award is a testimony to our product innovation capacity. The fact that the Doblò has won demonstrates its level of innovation, but also the extent of the changes in order to respond to new customer needs”.

Gerry Clarke, Director of Fiat Professional UK, said: “We have been enjoying a high level of interest from customers and the media in new Doblò Cargo since it was launched in the UK in March this year. It has already been widely acclaimed, and the International Van of the Year title is a wonderful accolade.”

Available with a choice of four low emissions, Euro 4 and 5-specification engines, the new Doblò comes in seven different forms – Cargo, Cargo Maxi, Cargo SX, Cargo Maxi SX, Combi, Combi Maxi and Platform Cab – to offer something for a wide spectrum of van users.

The engine line-up comprises a 1.4-litre 16v 95bhp petrol unit and three MultiJet 16v diesels – 1.3 (90bhp), 1.6 (105bhp), and 2.0 (135bhp). Prices start at £11,305 (exc. VAT) for the Doblò Cargo 1.4 16v Petrol.

The two companies started their cooperation in 1996 with the first generation of the Renault Master & Opel/Vauxhall Movano Van programme.

Earlier this year, the new generation of these products was successfully launched with an extended model range including rear wheel drive versions and a number of factory produced specially converted vehicles.

The renewed agreement covers the next generation of the Opel Vivaro and Renault Trafic models. While the sister models are being jointly developed, they are independently marketed and sold through the respective brand’s distribution channels.

There are many aspects of the project to discuss and agree. No further details regarding the product specification, investments or business arrangements will therefore be communicated at this point in time.

The milestone vehicle was a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. More than 2,000 employees, political officials, and businesspeople took part in the ceremony at the plant and witnessed the official handover of the milestone vehicle to the Berlin Landesverkehrswacht traffic safety organisation.

And there’s something extra special about this milestone: That’s because the one millionth commercial vehicle from Ludwigsfelde is equipped with the one millionth engine produced at the nearby Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin.

“Our plant has had a very eventful history and things have not always been easy,” said Michael Humpert, Plant Manager and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfeld GmbH. “That’s why we are particularly happy that we can jointly celebrate this production milestone today. I would therefore like to thank our employees for their dedication.”

A brief film clip was shown during the ceremony enabling the guests to relive the plant’s 45-year history. In his address, Mayor Frank Gerhard of Ludwigsfelde congratulated the plant and highlighted the facility’s great importance for the region. Further speakers were Dr. Heinrich Weiss, Head of Production at Mercedes-Benz Vans and a former manager of the plant, and Lothar Heinzmann, a former director of the IFA combine. Seven vehicles were exhibited during the celebration as representatives of all the various model series that have been produced in Ludwigsfelde to date.

In fact, many gents would now prefer to be fashion designers, creating couture collections instead of kicking footballs.

That’s according to research by Vauxhall Motors and Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week’s largest off schedule event, which surveyed men across the UK and discovered that given the choice, more prefer the idea of being a fashion designer (31%) than playing football for England (25%).

It doesn’t end with aspirations for catwalk collections either, as the results of the survey show how the average British man has become a fully-fledged ‘boutique bloke’. Where power tools, pubs and pugilism once dominated male conversations, today’s men will be more likely to discuss their wardrobe with friends1 and have an easier time naming Liam Gallagher’s ‘Pretty Green’ fashion label than the last Oasis album – 60% correctly named the label, while only 27% could identify the band’s most recent effort.

It also seems that fashion designers themselves are having greater influence on the lives of British men, with those surveyed naming style supremos Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood as more positive role models than David Cameron, Prince Charles and Wayne Rooney.

Commenting on the findings, Robert Johnston, Style Editor for GQ, said: ‘This survey shows a real break with tradition. Where once we might have seen laddish football types idolised and sport top a list of men’s favourite interests, fashion and fashion designers are now favoured above them.

With celebrities like Liam Gallagher venturing into fashion design, British men are finding the idea of owning their own label both acceptable and aspirational. Throw in changing attitudes amongst men and it’s no surprise that we’ve seen the rise of the boutique bloke.’

In fact, so fashion-focused are this generation’s fellas that a third of all men would actually refuse to go out with a girl they considered to have poor dress sense, while the ‘WAGs’ of this world have lost the admirations of many British men to true style icons like Emma Watson and Alexa Chung3.

According to Martyn Roberts, Creative Director at Vauxhall Fashion Scout: ‘While the stereotypical British man hates shopping and dreams of the football lifestyle, what we’re seeing now is a tendency for more and more men to follow fashion, with it playing a central role in their lives, from socialising to relationships and entertainment.

Wendy Towler, spokesperson for Vauxhall Motors, comments: ‘Whether it’s the car they drive or the clothes they wear, style is now key to many British men. Vauxhall Motors became involved with UK fashion because of its heritage as a British company and its forward thinking approach, which recognises the importance of style and design to its customers in all aspects of their lives.

The most stylish men according to survey results:

1. David Beckham

2. Daniel Craig

3. Jude Law

4. Danny Dyer

5. George Clooney

6. Dizzee Rascal

7. Liam Gallagher

8. Tom Ford

9. John Hamm

10.Wayne Rooney

11.Jeremy Clarkson

The site will allow the commercial vehicle arm of Fiat Group Automobiles UK to offer an enhanced and even more enjoyable web experience, compared with the outgoing website.

Among its features is a new home page with larger, clearer buttons to locate the most important elements of the site. Access to information on finance, promotions, conversions and fleets has also been made simpler

Further links are provided while more buttons give details of the full commercial vehicle model range, offer the opportunity to configure a vehicle to exact requirements, book a test drive, make further inquiries or locate the nearest dealer.

The brochure download facility has also been simplified and unlike the previous site, it does not require personal contact details to be input by the customer.

The new website also contains a history of the brand, by decade, from its beginnings in 1903 to the present day.

“We are delighted to unveil this new website,” says Gerry Clarke, director, Fiat Professional. “As the brand continues to grow, we are expecting more customers to visit us, so it’s right that we have a clearer, easier-to-use website that everyone can enjoy and obtain good use from.”

The vans include a mixture of Volkswagen Caddy and Caddy Maxi vans, plus a Crafter dropside, and the trial of a Transporter Shuttle minibus. They form part of the British Gas vehicle exchange programme to update its fleet of over 10,000 vehicles.

These new Volkswagen vans will be driven by British Gas engineers and energy experts across the UK who make on average 10,000 service checks a day, looking after 12 million British homes and one million businesses. British Gas also helps customers with energy savings advice as well as a large range of energy efficiency products and services, such as insulation, smart meters or solar panels.

For improved safety the vans are fitted with speed limiters and racking to help control any load if the vehicle has to brake heavily. In addition, the new livery includes high visibility chevrons on the rear doors.

Externally, the vans still feature the iconic British Gas flame, but the new livery is also designed to have more space to communicate information and features to keep customers, and potential customers, informed.

Colin Marriott, General Manager for British Gas fleet said: ‘Our on-going strategic relationship with Volkswagen is very important to our business. It enables us to provide our engineers with safe and reliable vehicles, which meet highest quality standards and offer excellent value in terms of whole life costs. ‘

Simon Elliott, Director, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: ‘We are pleased to see that the quality, durability and cost effective running costs of Volkswagen vans have passed the formidable British Gas acceptance criteria, and above all, proud to have our vans delivering such great service to British Gas and its customers.’

The Caddy and Caddy Maxi vans are the most compact and economical models available from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles with load volumes from 3.2 m³ and up to 54.3 mpg on the extra urban cycle.

Fleet operators have told Ford that productivity, safety, and cost of ownership are the areas constantly reviewed for efficiency improvements. Every aspect of this new Transit Tipper has been geared to improve these operational needs.

Mark Simpson, marketing director, Ford of Britain, said: “The success of the Ford One Stop Shop programme can be attributed to our customers. We listened to their operational concerns and needs and created a programme to cater for thousands of different types of businesses. Transit’s dependability and robustness enable us to create commercial vehicles that provide effective business solutions.”