What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

The winner of the inaugural What Van? Award to recognise service suppliers and conversion specialists in the light commercial vehicle industry is Tevo.

The prize breaks new ground in that it is the first time we have opened up a category to readers’ votes.

It’s a sector under-represented in terms of the excellence it offers the industry so we are proud to give it the recognition it deserves.

Tevo, under the umbrella of its parent company Modul-System, is a pioneer of lightweight, high strength racking systems for light commercial vehicles.

As Thomas Johansson, vice-president of Modul-System explains: “We know lightweight is extremely important to our customers but so is the robustness.

Our customers want a lighter system without compromise on strength and load capacity.  Ultra-high strength steel is the optimum material if you want to achieve the combination of low weight, high strength and collision protection."

Low weight racking equipment is invaluable for LCVs as it keeps down the overall weight of the vehicle and impedes less on the payload, making it possible to carry more tools and work materials without having to return to base to reload, thus saving time and money. Tevo points out that using lightweight storage drawers also cuts emissions and fuel costs.

In 2012 Tevo introduced a new racking system with upgraded high-strength steel, which is four times stronger than traditional steel, but promised further improvements would follow. True to its word the firm has now launched a new drawer unit with weight reductions of up to 2kg, depending on the size of the unit.

“We actually lowered the weight of the drawer units two years ago, but we didn’t think the reduction was sufficient. Therefore we have continued to work with the product, and are now able to reduce the weight by an additional 20%,” says Johansson, who vows yet further weight reductions will come within a matter of months.

“There is always something more to do,” he says.

This year Tevo has developed racking solution proposals for new models such as the Ford Transit and Transit Courier, the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and the Renault Trafic. It has also produced a bespoke racking system for the Nissan E-NV200, which the Japanese brand displayed at the Postexpo exhibition in Hong Kong and at the Hanover Commercial Vehicle Show in September.

Tevo has also introduced a modular lighting range for shelves and drawers in LCVs. The system features LED lighting and an integrated voltage stabilising circuit that the manufacturer claims will ensure light intensity does not fluctuate with changes in the battery voltage.

“The products are modular, and will fit our range of racking perfectly. The drawer light is easily mounted on our integrated T-track profile, and the shelf light is installed using brackets. The shelf lights illuminate through the integrated holes in the base of the shelves, and will light up the space beneath them.” Johansson explains.

Modul-System has developed a control box that turns off the lights when battery power runs low, alerting the driver to start the engine to recharge the battery.