Sortimo , for instance, has just launched a service case called T-BOXX in the UK. Made from high-grade plastic, it's got a transparent lid and at 2.3kg is one-third lighter than the firm's equivalent steel case.

It's designed to slot into Sortimo's Globelyst storage system, which relies on an aluminium framework made up of a series of bracings; spaceframe technology in effect. It's an approach that can reduce weight by from 20 to 30 per cent.

Simply specifying alloy as opposed to steel shelves can cut weight by from 2kg to 3kg per shelf, says Jones; a useful saving.

Any drawbacks? “Alloy has 90 per cent of the carrying capacity of steel and is from four to six per cent more expensive at present,” he points out.

There's also the concern that alloy may be less able than steel to withstand the battering that some trades dish out.

Cost Conscious

Some manufacturers - Bri-Stor and Modul-System for example - are helping van operators fight the flab by making extensive use of lightweight high-strength steel. No matter what is employed, however, one thing is pretty much guaranteed; rising raw material costs mean that racking, which is made up of plastic and rubber as well as metal, is going to get more expensive.

“We put our prices up by five per cent in January,” says Modul-System UK general manager, Kevin Tillotson.

“We're not planning any more increases during the rest of this year and we're trying to absorb any further increases in raw material costs ourselves. However it's becoming very difficult.”

“The ballooning cost of steel and plastic is hitting us hard, no question about it,” says a director of a racking manufacturing business, who asked not to be named. “We'll do our best to hold down price rises, but I'm sure they'll have to go up by several percentage points by the end of the year.”

Matters are not helped by the fact that many racking systems are produced in countries in the euro zone; sterling has fallen dramatically against the euro. Further upward pressure is being brought to bear on prices as a consequence, and rising freight bills – again related to the ballooning cost of diesel – are making matters even worse.

New Product

Nothing daunted, racking makers are continuing to introduce fresh packages to cater for the new models that have gone on sale in the UK over the past 12 months.

Modul-System, for instance, has developed systems for Citroën's Nemo, Peugeot's Bipper and Fiat's Fiorino, while Edstrom has come up with a package for Volkswagen's Caddy Maxi. It includes shelving, drawer units and drawers and storage boxes.

Nor is the tough economic climate inhibiting innovation. Modul-System has introduced something called Compact Series, which incorporates a slot-and-wheel mechanism that locks the storage boxes it contains into place.

Using a spring release, the mechanism is designed in such a way that the boxes do not have to be lifted as they are removed. As a consequence more rows of boxes can be installed, increased onboard stowage capacity by up to 25 per cent.

In addition the company is launching clip-on plastic windows capable of increasing a box's capacity by more than 100 per cent.

“Something else we've introduced is a folding arm secured to the van's bulkhead that can hold a laptop so that the driver can use it easily,” Tillotson says. It allows the driver to tap away on a keyboard while his van is parked, then fold the arm back and put the laptop away when it's time to drive off.

Package Prices

Well-designed, good-quality onboard storage systems do not come cheap. A package for a Mercedes-Benz Vito Compact with racking on each side of the load area will set you back around £850, says Jones, rising to nearer £1,800 to £2,000 if you want something really sophisticated.

“Remember though that some customers expect to be able to switch all the cabinets, racks and so on to the next van they acquire, and to the one after that,” he says. If that's the plan, then any package selected has to be durable; and products that last tend to be more expensive than those that do not.

Modular

Given the modular design of Sortimo's system it's easy for customers to, say, swap a drawer unit for a set of shelves when the storage units are being moved from one van to the next if their requirements change, says Jones. He makes the further point that no drilling is required to install the units – they locate to existing mounting points on the vehicle.

Avoiding drilling wherever possible is wise because it can result in corrosion and the invalidation of the van's paintwork and body warranty. If drilling has to take place, then the hole created should be treated thoroughly to prevent the onset of rust.

Not everybody needs such a robust storage package as the one outlined above of course, or wants to spend that sort of money. Racks featuring louvred panels with a selection of storage boxes attached to them that can be slid out through the rear doors of a panel van for easy access can be obtained for as little as £500 to £600.

Remember that a well-designed racking system should help ensure that the tools you require to do your job aren't left behind at the depot. If a drill isn't sitting in the place designated for it then you'll spot the fact before you set off, and take action.

That's far better than discovering its absence once you've reached your destination and having to drive all the way back to home base to collect it.