Times may be tough, and set to get tougher, but there are still businesses out there willing to invest. Last April saw temperature-controlled vehicles specialist Paneltex buy Long Stratton, Norwich fridge van converter Somers Refrigeration. Since then the Hull-based business has pumped £500,000 into its new acquisition, increasing its production capacity by around 20 per cent to approximately 500 units annually. Staff levels have been boosted by roughly 30 per cent.

Things at Westbury, Wiltshire refrigerated bodybuilder Trumac aren't quite so rosy, however. It's gone into administration with an immediate loss of 30 jobs, but both administrator Harrisons and property agent Edward Symmons, the vendor, were making optimistic noises about finding a buyer at the time of writing. Acquired from GRP via a management buy-out in 2003, and subsequently rebranded as Trumac after the names of the two owners — Jarvis MacDonald and Heather Trueman, both former GRP directors — the firm apparently has a strong order book.

Ready to Run

Aside from its acquisition by Paneltex, one reason for Somers continued health is its link with Citroën. It produces conversions for the manufacturer's Ready to Run range as well as conversions based on other makes of vehicle, and the 4,000th fridge van it has recently turned out just happens to be based on the latest Berlingo.

Fitted with a new design of insulated bulkhead, plus newly-developed insulation mouldings for the rear doors now available across the entire refrigerated Ready to Run line-up, it's equipped with a GAH AF20 roof-mounted freezer.

ATP

The vehicle meets ATP standards. ATP is shorthand for the agreement that governs the cross-border carriage of chilled and frozen food and the equipment that operators should use to transport it. ATP will eventually be displaced by a new European standard to be produced by CEN, the European Committee for Standardisation. Fraser Hale, product development director at Hubbard, is one of the UK delegates to the CEN working group concerned.

Somers

Somers has recently extended its association with Citroën with the launch of a Nemo built to chilled specifications. A Nemo capable of carrying frozen goods is imminent. Thanks to its ownership by Paneltex, Somers has also been able to contribute a box-bodied refrigerated 3.5-tonner to the Ready to Run portfolio based on a Relay 35 L2 chassis cab.

With a 14.0m3 load area, a more-than respectable payload capacity of up to 1,100kg and an interior height of 1.9m, it can be equipped with internal racking with an eye to the needs of door-to-door delivery operations. It's available in both chilled and frozen guise, with GAH Javelin fridge units fitted in both cases. In addition Somers is now equipping all Ready to Run fully-frozen van conversions with longer-lipped door seals. The aim is to provide better insulation as well as making it easier to close the doors.

Accident Repair

One of the biggest challenges owners of refrigerated vans face is how best to get damage to their vehicles rectified after an accident. Somers has worked to improve the design of the rear doors it fits to make them easier to repair, and to make it simpler to sort out any glitches with the door-locking mechanism and the wiring. Its takeover by Paneltex means it can now offer repair facilities in Hull and Andover as well as in Norfolk, along with a mobile repair service.

RVL

All this area of its activities has been rebranded, logically enough, as The Repair Network. As well as dealing with accident damage The Repair Network refurbishes box bodies, chassis cabs and refrigeration systems of all makes and can handle dry freight as well as fridge vehicles.

RVL's list of customers reads rather like a who's-who of the temperature-controlled transport industry and encompasses small- and medium-sized businesses as well as large ones.

One client is Surrey-based Loseley Bakery, which may have the unusual distinction of being the first company to acquire an LDV Maxus 3.5-tonne chassis cab fitted with a fridge box. It arrived earlier this year. Equipped with a Hubbard twin-evaporator fridge unit, the 3,500mm dual compartment body can handle both chilled and frozen products. It's used to deliver cakes and quiches to tea rooms, delicatessens and other outlets within a 30-mile-or-thereabouts radius of Loseley's Guildford headquarters. It delivers ice cream and dairy products too.

Three-Way

Savona Provisions is another RVL customer. It uses triple-compartment bodies built by the company on 7.5-tonne chassis and fitted with twin evaporators. Accessible from the kerb, a nearside chilled compartment is divided from the offside frozen one by a fixed longitudinal bulkhead with a through door. Moveable bulkheads divide these pallet-width lanes from the ambient rear compartment.

RVL is not a company that ignores technical innovation. It's devised a vacuum-formed modular triple rear door assembly for insulated bodies destined for 3.5-tonne chassis. The slam-lock assembly is designed to cut weight, boost payload and enhance the vehicle's appearance and is set to offer a saving of up to 175kg over a standard rear frame and door assembly.

It's designed for chilled applications, but RVL intends to develop one for frozen use.