Bodies to be proud of

Municipal, refrigerated and tanker bodies from specialist builders stand out at this year's show, in part thanks to the decision by many well-known names to decide against exhibiting this year, including Boalloy, Don-Bur, Lawrence David and SDC. With the exception of Fruehauf and Chieftain Trailers, tipper manufacturers are concentrating on the dedicated Tip-Ex event in Harrogate which takes place the week following the Birmingham show. However, there is plenty of innovation from those that are attending and continental manufacturers are out in force, with Legras, Kassbohrer, Talson and Van Eck among those with stands.

TRAILERS

Cartwright

The Cartwright stand is proof that double-deck trailers are enjoying increasing sales. The company is showing no fewer than three. Most innovative is a prototype 13.6 metre tri-axle straight-frame double deck trailer for Royal Mail which has been engineered with environmentally-friendly materials. The trailer has recyclable polypropylene panels manufactured by Omnia and an aluminium rather than wood floor to save weight and improve fuel efficiency. Even the paint is eco-friendly: Cartwright has used Akzo Nobel waterborne primer and a topcoat made from organic raw materials which is lead and chrome-free and reduces ozone-damaging volatile organic compound emissions by 55%. The trailer has a full-length hydraulically-lifting deck designed to carry cages, pallets and containers. Sloping-nose double-decks are taking an increasing share of the double-deck market thanks to some proven fuel-economy savings, and Cartwright is showing a 13.6m, curtainsided stepframe for Circle Express. A refrigerated stepframe double-deck with twin hydraulic moving decks and twin-temp capability will also be shown.

Gray & Adams

Gray & Adams is celebrating its 50th anniversary at this year's show. The City Link double-deck on show demonstrates that you don't have to go to maximum height to get the benefits of double-decks. The 4.3m tall trailer for has a floor height of just 350mm thanks to Tridec independent suspension and BPW sub axles. Each deck has a height of 1.9m and there is a two-tier internal lift with hydraulic loading ramp.

Gray & Adams has a reputation for bespoke refrigerated vehicles and the rigid body for wholesale food distributor 3663demonstrates that operational efficiency can still benefit from customisation. The 8m long insulated body features a moveable partition system that makes it possible to alter the sizes of compartments to 12 different temperature zone configurations. Temperature control is with a Frigoblock FK25 refrigeration unit and RE11 remote evaporator. There are three rear doors and a Ross and Bonnyman overhead beam column tail-lift.

Fruehauf

Tipper operators can find three new designs on the Fruehauf stand, which seems to have lost none of its engineering enthusiasm since it was acquired by Wordsworth Holdings last year. The first Fruehauf trailer to have a sloping floor makes its debut at the show. It has a smooth-sided aluminium body and 49cu m capacity. There is also an insulated aggregate body built to a specification by construction materials company Lafarge. It has a 32cu m capacity. Fruehauf, which claims it has a 50% share of the trailer market, has now got its eye on the rigid tipper business. In January, Fruehauf started production of rigid versions of its famous "bath-tub" trailer design, built from aluminium sheets with external ribbing for strength and one will be shown on a Daf 8x4 chassis.

Schmitz Cargobull

Schmitz Cargobull is already Europe's largest trailer producer with over 50,000 built per year. The UK plant produces 3,000 of these, and there are plans to increase that to 9,000 trailers as part of plans to increase overall production to 85,000 by 2010. New designs include a bolted and galvanised chassis frame in place of a welded chassis frame and a curtain-sider with high-security curtains. Also being shown for the first time in the UK is a new version of the Rotos trailer axle which is claimed to reduced wear and tear by around 30%.

Krone

Krone is stepping up production from 114 to136 curtainsiders a day to reduce lead times. In Birmingham the company is showing three new trailers: a CoolLiner which offers more internal length thanks to a revised bulkhead design. Injected foam insulation has replaced slab-insulation for both the bulkhead and rear doors. The Dry-Liner box body has garment-carrying interior fitments, while the company's Prof-Liner now incorporates LED lamps and BPW EcoPremium axles.

Ekeri

Finnish trailer builder Ekeri created a lot of interest at last year's show with its insulated trailers with one side comprising side-opening doors that gave full access to the load. The one on display this year is for Davie Malcom Transport, and has a rear-steering axle for greater manoeuvrability and reduced tyre wear. At this year's show it is going one better with a trailer with both sides having full-length doors, which is joining the Dobbs Transport fleet at Hailsham.

RVL Bodies

RVL Bodies says that each one of its box bodies for 3,500kg chassis has a potential life of three chassis, making them better value for money than conversions of integral panel vans. It is showing a new design for food home deliveries. The 3,535mm dual-compartment body can be used in frozen/ambient or chilled/ambient configurations and has a Eurofrigo electric refrigeration unit in the front compartment. There are no rear doors, to maximise use of interior space. The body has capacity for 141 plastic totes which are unloaded via a single side door and double folding-step. Mounted on a new Sprinter CDI 3,500kg chassis it has a 1,000kg payload.

To maximise internal space, there are no rear doors and sliding bulkhead doors replace the more conventional hinged bulkhead doors. The configuration allows 141 plastic totes to be carried which the driver accesses through a single side door via a double folding step. RVL is also showing a 6,785mm dual-temperature body for multi-drop deliveries with fixed internal bulkhead and internal shelving. There is a single rear door and nearside pallet-width doors for access to the front compartment. The all-bonded construction adds strength, says RVL, and eliminates potential for water ingress through mechanical fixings.

VANS

Citroën

Citroën has five new Dispatch vans and five new Relay vans on display, together with a Euro 4 Berlingo and C2 Enterprise van. Dispatch models include a new L2H2 high-roof model, on show for the first time. Dispatch LX panel vans have the latest pneumatic, self-levelling rear suspension with lowering facility as standard, and all models with the 136hp 2.0HDi engine are fitted with an ultra-clean Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS). The Relay Combi also gets its first UK outing.

Fiat

New Ducato and Scudo vans will dominate the Fiat stand. Scudo is shown in Comfort trim level and two versions of the MultiJet engine: a 2-litre 120hp unit and a 1.6-litre 90hp version. Sales of Scudo have been steadily increasing, says Fiat, with the 2007 year-to-date figures of 5,000 units up 50% on 2006. Load volume has increased to 7cu m and payload is 1,200kg. Load height is just 490mm. Ducato models on show include a Ducato 30 short-wheelbase van, a Ducato 35 long-wheelbase high-roof van, and a Ducato 33 medium-wheelbase fitted with dropside body.

Ford

Ford is promising plenty of examples of the new Transit van, including a special show edition, ready-to-work chassis-cabs for its One Stop range and a 4WD all-terrain model. Making its debut will be the tipper conversion of the Ranger pick-up.

Peugeot

Peugeot's 207 van makes its world debut at the CV show. It has a bigger cube and longer load bed than the 206 model and comes with a choice of diesel engines: a 70hp 1.4 litre HDI diesel, or a 1. 6-litre unit producing 90hp. The new Expert is shown as a conversion for police work.

LDV

Another world debutant at the show is the chassis-cab version of LDV's Maxus van. LDV's Special Vehicle Operations division has a good reputation with fleet operators and new owner GAZ will be hoping the chassis-cab version will boost sales. The range includes long- and short-wheelbase models with tipper, dropsider, Luton and box bodies. On display are Ingimex tipper and drop-sider bodies.

Renault

The new Maxity makes its UK debut on the Renault Trucks stand. This is the restyled version of the Nissan Cabstar. Renault is selling the 3.5-tonne model, which overlaps with both the Master and the Mascot. Renault Mascotts now have Euro 4,130hp or 150hp diesels matched to a new six-speed gearbox, rear-wheel drive axle, and new braking system. Gross vehicle weights range from 3.5 to 6.5 tonnes, and also features a revised interior. Clio Campus van will also be on display.

Vauxhall

Vauxhall's new Corsavan has a 550kg payload compared with 465kg on the old model. The diesel power unit is a 75hp 1.3-litre CDTi engine. There is just one trim level, but it includes a radio/CD player, deadlock central locking, electric mirrors, tinted tailgate glass and side protection mouldings. Options include air conditioning, electronic stability program on the brakes and a four-piece load cover.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is showing the new Crafter along with examples of its new fast-fit body conversion ranges. There will be a Crafter CR35 long-wheelbase extra-high roof maxi 3.5-tonner with a Shiftmatic six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.

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