Category Archives: Vans In Business

News and information relating to the use and function of vans by UK businesses.

Wessex Water Renault Kangoo

Wessex Water taps Renault for 25 new Kangoo vans

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One of the best ways to measure customer satisfaction is through repeat purchase levels.

By that standard Wessex Water must be happy with the Renault Kangoo. The utility company has just added 25 Renault Kangoo vans to its fleet. This takes the firm’s Kangoo count up to 150 vans.

Wessex Water Renault Kangoo

In its work to provide household and business customers across Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, the majority of Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire with water and sewerage services, Wessex Water will use its new Kangoos in the completion of essential site surveys and callouts by its scientists, water samplers and inspectors.

Previous experience with the Renault Kangoo and competitive whole-life costs were cited as two of the main reasons for the purchase. The Wessex Water vans are fully liveried and powered by Renault’s dCi 75 1.5-litre ENERGY diesel engine, which returns up to 67.3mpg on the combined cycle.

Wessex Water specified Business trim for its vans, meaning that they benefit from standard features as electric door mirrors and electric front windows, DAB radio with AUX input, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, remote central locking, and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend, which optimises traction of both front wheels depending on the conditions.

Each van was also specified with  a factory-fitted 68mph speed limiter and the R-Link multimedia system with built-in satellite navigation.

Martin Crocker, Head of Fleet, Wessex Water, said:

“The Kangoo is a perfect fit for our needs and when its whole life costs, payload and efficiency are taken into consideration, it continues to provide us with an excellent package at a very competitive price.

“Feedback from everyone who drives them is very good and the high level of standard equipment has been particularly well received.”

Ahead of this year’s Euro 6 compliance deadline in September, Renault has updated the Kangoo range with a wider choice of Euro 6 engines. These include the dCi 75 1.5-litre ENERGY diesel engine chosen by Wessex Water.

The standard length Kangoo (ML) will now be solely available with 75, 90 and 110hp ENERGY engines until the start of 2017, when more engines will be added to the range.

Renault Master DJ BBQ conversion

DJ BBQ & Renault unleash a burger van with a difference

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Here’s a van you definitely won’t find at your local rental branch! Renault has teamed up with outdoor cooking guru DJ BBQ to create the ultimate festival catering van, complete with banging sound system and pyrotechnics!

Renault Master DJ BBQ conversion

The new partnership will see DJ BBQ, aka Christian Stevenson, visit some of this summer’s essential festivals in a completely one-off Renault Master, where he will serve up his trademark signature dishes to the backdrop of thumping beats and shooting flames!

A star of Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube television channel and with a lifelong passion for barbequing and music, DJ BBQ is renowned for his exciting fun-filled take on outdoor cooking. By combining Renault’s van conversion experience and DJ BBQ’s imagination the pair have created this ultimate ‘catertainment’ vehicle for the summer festival season.

THe DJ BBQ van is based on the same Renault Master Chassis Cab that’s used for many of the brand’s off-the-shelf LCV conversions. The vehicle includes a fully equipped kitchen plus a DJ and sound system. There’s even an in-built pyrotechnic display.

Highlights of the unique Renault Master include a 24-inch griddle, an electric rise speaker box on the roof and vertical exhaust flame throwers.

Over the next two years, DJ BBQ will take the bespoke Renault Master on tour to many of the UK’s festivals and will also support Renault at its own events, offering visitors a truly memorable catering and entertainment experience.

DJ BBQ wowing the crowds in his Renault van conversion

DJ BBQ wowing the crowds in his Renault van conversion

On the totally unique Renault Master, DJ BBQ said:

“I think it’s the best thing since steak! No one has ever done anything like this before – it’s a total one-off and we’ve got the loudest catering van in history, the sound system is better than most music stages!

“It’s going to be a big hit on the festival circuit, but I’d love to do some road trips with it too, taking it around Europe and working some pop-up restaurants out of the back. Renault has been incredible in creating it and they pushed me to follow my dreams and embraced all my ideas for the build, it’s been a joy to do.”

Festival goers can catch DJ BBQ and the Renault Master at:

  • Jimmy’s Beer & Sausage Festival 23-24 July
  • Camp Bestival 28-31 July
  • Big Feastival 26-28 August
  • Meatopia 2-4 September
  • On Blackheath 10-11 September

For more information about Renault conversions, visit www.conversions.renault.co.uk.

Joseph Valente with VW Transporter

Apprentice winner plumbs in new VW Transporter vans to power growth

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The winner of The Apprentice 2015 wasn’t looking for a job with Alan Sugar — he’s already a successful businessman with a fast-growing plumbing business in Peterborough.

Joseph Valente founded Impra Gas to provide service, maintenance and installation of all plumbing, heating and electrical products to property management companies, landlords and private homeowners in the Peterborough area.

Joseph Valente with VW Transporter

2015 Apprentice winner Joseph Valente with one of his new Volkswagen Transporter vans.

Lord Sugar’s investment will be used to help the firm increase the geographic coverage of its operations and target new business relationships with property developers and other plumbing users.

To help support the expansion of Impra Gas, Valente has used some of Lord Sugar’s funds to acquire four new Volkswagen vans for his engineers. The new vehicles – Transporter T28 Trendline models with a 2.0-litre 102 PS engine have been fitted with Bott Vario in-vehicle storage equipment to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Bott Vario racking fitted inside VW Transporter

The new vans have been fitted with Bott Vario racking to provide safe and efficient in-vehicle storage.

Valente, who started in the plumbing industry as an apprentice himself, commented:

“Winning The Apprenticewas a dream come true for me. Having already established my business, the £250,000 investment, as well as the counsel from Lord Sugar himself, have enabled me to grow it further and I am really excited about the next chapter for Impra Gas.”

As well as supporting his traditional plumbing and heating services, Impra Gas will also be championing smart heating and home technologies, partnering with the industry’s most innovative technology providers as soon as they come to market.

Kate Humble with her new Mitusbishi L200

No grumbles from Humble: TV star takes delivery of 4th L200

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Broadcaster, businesswoman and farmer, Kate Humble, has taken delivery of an all-new Mitsubishi L200 Series 5. The pickup is the TV presenter’s fourth, with earlier models having proved indispensable on her farm.

Kate Humble with her new Mitusbishi L200

Kate Humble with her new Mitusbishi L200

The well known TV presenter’s relationship with the L200 started when she bought a secondhand series 2 model some years ago. Kate has since gone on to become a Mitsubishi brand ambassador and the series 5 is her fourth L200.

Kate is currently busy gearing up for The Big Day Out, a weekend festival of food, music, crafts and fun at her farm, Humble by Nature, in the Wye Valley, Monmouth. The new L200 is already being put to good use and has become the go-to vehicle on her working farm.

It’s used for everything from transporting animals to getting things ready for the Big Day Out, which takes place from Friday, July 1st to Sunday, July 3rd in 2016.

Kate also uses the pick up for business, travelling to filming locations and personal appearances across Europe. Taking delivery of the new L200 Series 5, an excited Kate said:

“I absolutely love the L200. With my lifestyle, I want a vehicle that’s really going to work and one that isn’t phased by anything.

“For me, that’s the L200 because it does exactly what it says on the tin and is up to any job.”

Kate, whose second book, A Friend for Life: The Extraordinary Partnership Between Humans and Dogs came out at the end of May, added:

“I’ve been through the L200s over the years – this will be my fourth – and the Mitsubishi designers and engineers have been winning me over with a better driving experience and more creature comforts each time.

“As soon as you drive the new Series 5 you can feel the improvements Mitsubishi has made. It has a lighter touch and is instantly more responsive and car like. We have already been putting it to work on the farm and it can handle everything we need it to.”

Mercedes-Benz Citan

Van drivers admit Brexit confusion: 22% remain undecided

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Mercedes-Benz CitanOne of the main complaints about the EU referendum campaign as been the amount of hot air and speculation on both sides of the debate. It’s a complex and important issue, but it’s been very hard for any of us to get to get hold of hard facts about what might happen if we leave.

According to a survey carried out by Mercedes-Benz Vans, 22% of van drivers have not yet decided how to vote. Of those questioned, 29% were concerned about whether Britain leaving the EU will have an impact on their business or the businesses they work for.

Although 58% that to some extent, the EU imposes too many rules on businesses, a fifth (19%) of van drivers flagged concerns that working hours in the UK will worsen if the UK were to vote to leave the EU. 40% were concerned that it would be harder to trade with the rest of the UK.

Just over 40% (41%) believe that Britain’s status in the world would be damaged by leaving the EU, making the country ‘less secure’. However, 46% of van drivers felt the country would have greater control of its boarders if the UK votes to leave, with nearly 70% (67%) wanting Britain to reduce the number of migrants coming to the UK to work anyway.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, commented:

“The nation’s van drivers support the foundations of this country, so their unease in knowing which way to vote is a big indicator of the uncertainties facing the UK public as a whole. Our research highlights real concerns from van drivers, which needs to be addressed by both the Vote Leave and Stronger In campaigns.

This week (11 May 2016), official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that UK industry entered recession following two successive quarters of shrinking output. The ONS measured falls of 0.4% in both the final quarter of 2015 and in the first three months of this year – a technical recession for the sector.

However, the ONS also measured growth of 0.3% between February and March, highlighting further confusion for the public as to the state of the nation. The level of confusion on all fronts is completely understandable.

As things stand at the moment, Mercedes-Benz found that 22% of van drivers haven’t yet decided which way to vote, while a third will vote to remain in and 40% have said they’ll vote to leave.

Protyre Renault Master

Micheldever chooses Renault Master for updated Protyre fleet

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Protyre customers are increasingly likely to have their tyres delivered in Renault Master vans from now on, thanks to a 100-van order that will replace a third of the company’s existing fleet.

Protyre Renault Master

Protyre’s parent company, Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services, has ordered the new vans to replace vehicles from another manufacturer. The Master’s generous payload, good value and comprehensive four-year, 100,000 mile warranty helped Renault to win the sale.

Malcolm Turnbull, Group Fleet Manager, Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services, said:

“Against the other LCVs we considered, the Renault Master was unrivalled when it came to its combination of price and payload. The vans we have taken delivery of have arrived with us on schedule and, now that they are starting to be operative in the field, are exceeding our expectations and generating some good feedback from our drivers.”

On the distribution side, the Masters will contribute to the delivery of tyres to the 8,000 nationwide retailers that Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services supplies from its network of 15 distribution sites.

Meanwhile the specially-equipped Master breakdown vehicles will provide private and business customers with an emergency and comprehensive mobile tyre fitting service that encompasses tyre replacement and puncture repair on virtually any car, van, truck or agricultural vehicle.

Protyre’s new Masters are long-wheelbase, high-roof format (LH35) models, with front-wheel drive. Powered by Renault’s 2.3-litre dCi turbodiesel engine, they produce 125 hp and boast an official combined fuel consumption figure of 35 mpg.

To provide the optimum level of comfort and safety for Protyre’s drivers, the new vans were ordered in Business specification. This includes DAB radio with Bluetooth, electric front windows, remote central locking, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with HSA (Hill Start Assist) and Grip Xtend; a traction control system which provides improved traction on loose surfaces such as gravel, light snow and mud.

Other options chosen by Micheldever include 270-degree opening, unglazed rear doors and a 68 mph speed limiter. The breakdown vehicles have also been equipped with onboard, engine-driven compressors and full tyre changing facilities to Micheldever’s bespoke specification.

RSPCA VW Crafter designed by Kitty Wright

New RSPCA van design is youngest yet thanks to winner Kitty

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The RSPCA’s newest ‘Networking Project’ van features the work of Kitty Wright from Derby, who was the youngest winner of the RSPCA’a national school competition.

RSPCA VW Crafter designed by Kitty Wright

Kitty with her competition-winning design

The new van is a Volkswagen Crafter that’s been wrapped in a Kitty’s colourful winning design. It’s one of six Crafters the RSPCA will use to transport animals around the country as part of the charity’s rehoming programme. By moving animals around the UK to even out supply and demand, the RSPCA should be able to rehome more animals, more quickly.

The converted short wheelbase CR30 2.0-litre TDI 136 PS BlueMotion Crafter vans feature a bespoke load-carrying area that allows the charity to transport the animals and equipment safely between shelters in England and Wales. Each van has been fully lined with a waterproof material to aid with cleaning and hygiene, and fitted with a ‘Flettner Ventilator to ensure constant fresh air for the animals as well as nine bespoke cages that can be adapted in size, depending on the animals being transported.

A number of the vehicles will be on display at this year’s RSPCA ‘Big Walkies’ event in Hyde Park in London on 26 May, offering visitors a chance to see the winning designs up close. Between now and then the RSPCA and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles are encouraging people to take and share pictures of the vans on social media (@Volkswagen_CV) when they see them out and about on the roads.

Breezemount Vauxhall Movano MaxiQube van

T.O.M. helps Breezemount save cash with innovative MaxiQube van

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Choosing a van often involves a trade off between cubic capacity and payload. Sometimes standard 3.5t body shapes just aren’t big enough. This is an especially common problem for companies moving furniture, which tends to be relatively light for its size.

Furniture delivery specialist Breezemount UK has taken a step towards solving this problem by replacing its standard 3.5t panel vans with a fleet of 47 new Vauxhall Movano MaxiQube vans. These were designed by Maxi-Low and are new to the UK market.

Breezemount Vauxhall Movano MaxiQube van

These new vans were sourced and provided to Breezemount under contract hire by T.O.M. Vehicle Rental. Whereas removal firms often use jumbo luton designs, these aren’t efficient for pure furniture delivery, as the luton area cannot be used for heavy objects and causes a sharp rise in fuel consumption.

The streamlined and large capacity body of the MaxiQube offers improved payload and cubic capacity, with an internal load length of 4200mm and internal load height of 1951mm. Breezemount makes more than 1 million home deliveries each year. The firm believes that greater volume and payload of the new vans will mean a reduction in road miles. This should cut costs and help reduce the firm’s environmental impact.

The service from T.O.M offers Breezemount a fleet-focussed, fixed cost, risk managed solution on the exact vehicle types their business needs with additional features including lightweight rear container-style barn doors, LED rear lights and reversing camera with integrated rear light to reduce collision and damage incidents and recessed D –load rings for securing loads as well as a mix of single and dual passenger seats to suit different operations.

Breezemount Vauxhall Movano MaxiQube van

The contract hire offering from T.O.M includes repairs, servicing, maintenance, tax, worn tyre replacement and replacement vehicles to keep Breezemount moving. The vans will also be fitted with Lytx DriveCam cameras as part of a drive to improve driver standards and safety.

Anyone interested in viewing one of the vehicles  or discussing its improved payload can visit the T.O.M Vehicle Rental/MaxiLow stand 5C40 at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the Birmingham NEC on 26-28thApril where the new MaxiQube will be officially launched and a completed Breezemount vehicle will be on display.

Ale & Beer Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

Drinks wholesaler raises glass to super-reliable Sprinters

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If you’re running a van fleet, there are few things more frustrating — and costly — than unreliable vans. This was the situation that Merseyside-based drink wholesaler Ale & Beer Supplies found itself in until it decided ti make the switch to Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.

Ale & Beer Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

The firm says that its previous vans were the cheapest on offer. Managing Director Chris Lawler admits that this approach was not a success:

“That proved to be a false economy. They were terrible – something was always going wrong. Not only were we were paying a fortune to keep them on the road, but it was also a huge job to meet our delivery schedule, and live up to the dependable service promise we make to customers.”

The vans have now been replaced by three long-bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, which Mr Lawler says are a revelation:

“The Sprinters are so much better, in every way,” enthused Mr Lawler. “The price difference was negligible and they’re proving far more cost-effective to operate, as well as promising the long-term reliability for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned.”

The vans are 20th Anniversary Special Edition Sprinter 313 CDIs. The 20th anniversary model was introduced to mark the van’s 20th birthday and just 1,200 units have been made available.

The anniversary models offer a generous specification that includes air conditioning, sat nav, driver’s Comfort seat with arm rest and some chrome trim. The total cost is just £750, versus a usual list price of more than £2,000 for these options.

The vans are used to deliver alcoholic and soft drinks to pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels across the North-West. Chris Lawler says that after six months of service, the firm’s decision to switch marques “has been vindicated” and that the new vans are popular with staff and have proved totally reliable.

Supertrucks 7.5t double A-frame glass carrier

Vans you can’t hire: GG Glass and Glazing goes large with Supertrucks’ double A-frame concept

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Here at vanrental.co.uk, we mostly deal with standard vans of the kind you see (and can hire) all over the UK. But there are some specialist models that are only made to order in small numbers and are pretty much impossible to hire.

One example is this 7.5t double A-frame glass carrier, which is one of two that have been designed and built by glass carrier specialist Supertrucks for GG Glass and Glazing of Liverpool.

Supertrucks 7.5t double A-frame glass carrier

Supertrucks designed and built two of these innovative double A-frame 7.5t glass carriers for regular customer GG Glass and Glazing.

Based on a 7.5-tonne Isuzu chassis, the vehicles feature an innovative double A-frame design concept. This offers four facings and means sheets of glass measuring more than 3.2 metres in height and 4.5 metres in length can be crane-loaded from the rear.

The new trucks are ideal for the large sheets of glass fitted to retail and other commercial premises by GG Glass and Glazing. This new design is significantly cheaper than enclosed vehicles, without sacrificing any practicality.

Supertrucks has used aluminium extrusions which are powder-coated in white for an enhanced appearance and increased durability, as well as the corrosion-resistant stainless steel fixings which are the firm’s trademark.

Roy Williams, the GG Glass and Glazing director with responsibility for transport, says that he is very happy with the new trucks’ cost saving open design:

“We could have gone for a variety of configurations but when Supertrucks came up with the double A-frame design we quickly realised it would be ideal. These vehicles are workhorses and used solely to carry glass, so the fact that the back is open does not present any issues – it is also significantly less expensive than an enclosed vehicle.”

GG Glass and Glazing has previously bought 3.5t panel van-based glass carriers from Supertrucks, but these are the firm’s first heavier vehicles.