One of Eskimo Express’ new Paneltex Somers dual compartment conversions — the temperature difference between the two compartments can be up to 50C!
For most van users, a standard panel van, perhaps with some racking or tie-down points, is all that’s necessary, making it relatively easy to source replacements from hire companies and van dealers.
However, some van operators have much more demanding requirements. One example is specialist courier Eskimo Express, which runs a fleet of 20 temperature controlled vehicles and does a lot of work for the pharmaceutical industry, transporting materials all over Europe.
The firm’s latest vans are Citroën Relay models with high-specification dual compartment bodies that enable the Citroëns to operate at -25°C in one compartment and +25°C in the other. This means it’s now possible for Eskimo Express to use one vehicle for jobs that previously required two.
Of course, building a conversion like this isn’t simple: consider the level of insulation needed to effectively separate two compartments that might have a temperature differential of 50°C.
Chertsey-based Eskimo Express sourced the new vans from Norwich-based refrigerated body manufacturer Paneltex Somers. Each van uses Paneltex’s Flexi-Temp bulkhead system to provide effective separation between the two compartments, and Tony Colato from Eskimo Express says that the firm hasn’t found any other converters which can offer such high quality refrigerated conversions:
“Much of our courier work is specifically for the pharmaceutical industry and we have found that, apart from Paneltex Somers, no other vehicle body manufacturer can manufacture such a high level of refrigerated conversion that is ideally suited to this industry. Our vehicles work extremely hard, on deliveries and collections all over Europe, so the reliability and consistent performance achieved by our refrigerated vehicles is vital to the success of the business.”
The new Citroën Relay vans are both L3H2 (long wheelbase medium-high roof) models and the Paneltex Somers conversions have been completed to ATP Certification Class C, which is recognised as the gold standard for refrigerated conversions in Europe. The Flexi-Temp bulkhead has can be secured in two positions, allowing the relative sizes of each compartment to be changed, to suit the loads being carried.
Each van has Europe-wide satellite tracking and twin temperature recorders, ensuring that the load’s integrity is never questioned and that clients have full visibility of ‘their’ van’s location at all times.
Definitely not your average van.