Making sure your CV stands out from the crowd

This is a van’s world
The latest new vans from some of the best‑known names in the light commercial vehicle industry are set to be a major draw at the 2016 CV Show, with key manufacturers such as Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Isuzu, Iveco, LDV, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Toyota and Volkswagen all taking high-profile stand space at the free-to-attend event.

Lex Autolease will be presenting a seminar on ‘The Changing World of Vans’, addressing the challenges that managing a commercial vehicle fleet represents, and why 2016 may be a year of change. Leading experts from the light commercial vehicle industry will discuss the road ahead for vans, giving attendees the chance to find out what impact changing legislation, technology, design and fuel could have on their fleets.

The seminar will cover the impact of legislation, leading the way responsibly, the changing role of drivers, a new era in alternative fuels, putting driver safety first and keeping operators’ fleets on track. It will also be a chance to meet the Lex Autolease dedicated commercial vehicle team, who will be on hand to talk about choice and custom conversions as well as in-life management, compliance and safety issues.

One of the biggest names to make a comeback is Volkswagen, which will be using the show to exhibit its latest Transporter and Caddy, designed to be a ‘creative hub’. The Transporter ‘Creative Hub’ is a mobile office and idea space, complete with grass carpet and woodland to give the perfect ambience for brainstorming and idea generation. A whiteboard, beanbags and funky accessories complete the experience.

The van, along with another high-roof ‘Power Office’, was developed off the back of research carried out by VW and the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR), highlighting the key role that commercial vehicles play in the growth of new and small businesses in the UK.

The German manufacturer will also be announcing a new Converter Recognition Programme, which builds on the company’s existing Engineered For You and Engineered To Go schemes and will ensure VW conversions meet operators’ needs and expectations while widening the range of approved conversions available on VWCV bodies.

Commenting on the research, Carl zu Dohna, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Commercial vehicles play a huge role in start-up and small businesses and we’re proud to supply the future drivers of British business with vehicles that help to deliver their goods and services.”

Picking up where they left off
Also making a welcome return is Toyota, who will use the show to unveil its new Proace panel van, signalling a returned interest in the world of light commercial vehicles. The new range, scheduled to go on sale later this year, will give Toyota comprehensive coverage of the medium duty van market. The line-up will include three body sizes, two wheelbase lengths and a variety of formats, including (for the first time) a platform cab for bespoke vehicle bodies.

The new Proace Van Compact will offer the load capacity of a medium duty model, within the footprint of a car-derived van. To deliver more flexible load-carrying, the Proace Van will be available with a new Smart Cargo system. The Proace Van will be available in panel van, crew cab and nine-seat combi versions and as a platform cab. It will also provide the basis for a new passenger vehicle, the Proace Verso large people-carrier, which was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March.

The show will also mark the first UK appearance of the all-new Hilux pick-up, reinforcing the brand’s unmatched reputation for hard-wearing quality with improvements in strength, performance and driveability.

Gareth Matthews, Toyota LCV manager, said: “We are looking forward to returning to the CV show in 2016. The venue will provide us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how we plan to increase Toyota presence and product line-up in the light commercial vehicle market.”

Other show highlights will be Mitsubishi, showcasing the very latest L200 pick-up, and the long anticipated return of the LDV name, with the new Chinese-built V80 panel van expected to make its UK debut.

Making a stand for LCVs
Renault is looking to build on recent sales success, after enjoying its 18th consecutive year as Europe’s best selling LCV brand. In 2015, Renault LCV sales in the UK reached their highest ever level, and the company will be marking this with a strong presence at the CV Show 2016.

Renault’s stand in Hall 5 will showcase 11 vehicles that illustrate the diversity and versatility of the manufacturer’s LCV offering with themes of design, technology and conversions. The stand will also provide an insight into the recently-introduced Pro+ specialist dealer network which is set to double in size in the UK by 2017.

On display will be everything from a Master LHL35 RWD with 17 cubic metres of load space, to the Kangoo Z.E electric van and Twizy Cargo. Official conversions will include the Master-based Welbus conversion and the public debut of the 3.5 tonne Master Passenger that can be driven on a normal driving licence. All Renault LCVs come with Renault’s four-year, 100,000‑mile warranty with roadside assistance.

Renault’s Euro-6 advancements will be demonstrated by several engine displays, and representatives from Financial Services, Renault Aftersales and Renault iCare will be available to speak to stand visitors about any finance or ownership queries.

The Citroën Dispatch van, featuring new technologies, design features and architecture, as well as functions that are new to the segment, will be on show at the Citroën stand. The new vehicle will be available in van, Combi and Crew Van versions, as well as being specified in three lengths (XS: 4.60m, M: 4.95m and XL: 5.30m).

The van will also feature Park Assist 180°, colour head-up display and Citroën Connect Nav with voice-operated connected 3D navigation and a touchscreen. The New Dispatch’s adjustable writing panel and tablet, and smartphone compatibility turn it into a real mobile office. There is also enhanced safety through technology including adaptive cruise control and speed limiter, road sign recognition, Driver Attention Alert and Active Safety Brake.

The New Citroën Dispatch is available with six powertrains, with all models featuring diesel engines from the BlueHDi family. This new generation of engines, launched by Citroën in late 2013, considerably cuts nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions while reducing CO2 emissions. This is thanks in part to an innovative exhaust system comprising of: an oxidation catalyst located at the engine exit to eliminate the hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) produced by combustion; a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) module, positioned ahead of the particulate filter to transform up to 90 per cent of nitrogen oxide (NOx) into water vapour (H2O) and nitrogen (N2); and a particulate filter, launched in a world first by PSA Peugeot Citroën in 2000, to eliminate 99.9 per cent of particulates.

Spend some time in the Workshop
To ensure your vehicles are kept running at maximum efficiency, the Workshop sector in Hall 4 will contain hundreds of exhibitors, showcasing everything from original equipment components and replacement parts to maintenance management systems, garage, workshop and bodyshop equipment.

Workshop is an integral and essential part of the renowned CV Show and underlines the need for regular vehicle maintenance, whether it is for passenger cars, vans, light or heavy trucks. It aims to be an all‑encompassing shop window spanning the whole automotive aftermarket and CV maintenance sector. Wholesalers will be looking for ideas and solutions often critical to the success or failure of their businesses – which can be anything from small car components to a 44-tonne vehicle lift.

Leading exhibitors in the Workshop Zone include AC Hydraulic, Blitz Rotary, Bowmonk, CGE, Cormach, DEA-Worky, Eclipse, Gemco, Maha, National Windscreens, Pichler Tools, Pro-Align, Somers Totalkare, Serenco, Sykes-Pickavant, Tecalemit, Thermobile, Turnkey Instruments, Valeo and V-Tec.

There’ll also be impressive stands from vehicle wash equipment suppliers, such as Istobal, Karcher, Washtec and Wilcomatic.

Many of the visitors run fleets of cars, vans and trucks. Companies like Centrica, BT and RAC operate huge numbers of vehicles and spend serious sums on replacement parts and garage equipment.

The future of the CV industry will also play a major part in this year’s show, which once again plays host to the Manufacturing Institute’s ‘Make It’ Challenge. This year’s challenge will run on each day of the show, and will give 140 12-14 year‑old students the opportunity to see what makes the industry move, including areas such as safety, efficiency and telematics. The students will be tasked with designing, building and ultimately presenting their idea to a team of industry ‘dragons’.

Workshop is supported by both the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) and the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).

Time to test the tyres
Another area of the CV business that will be well represented this year is the tyre industry. The right choice of tyre is critical to efficient commercial vehicle operation at all ends of the market, with running costs and safety being the key considerations for most operators.

Visitors will be able to see the latest ranges from manufacturers Aeolus, Bridgestone, Continental, Double Coin, Goodyear, Hankook, GITI, Pirelli and Sailun.

Tyre pressure automation specialist WheelRight will be demonstrating a tyre pressure monitoring system developed in conjunction with Highways England. The award-winning technology has recently undergone a year-long trial at Welcome Break’s Keele services on the southbound M6. As part of the study, WheelRight’s system measured more than 150,000 tyres – 50,000 of which were from HGVs.

The need for regular tyre pressure checks in the CV sector has never been greater. A recent study, conducted by the Road Safety Observatory, found that the UK sees approximately 25 deaths and nearly 1,500 serious accidents every year as a direct result of defective or poorly inflated tyres.

John Catling, WheelRight’s chief executive, said: “We’re looking forward to showing our monitoring technology at the Show. The impressive take-up of our system at Keele demonstrates that there is a real appetite in the CV industry for a quick and easy means of monitoring tyre condition.”

The world’s first 3D handheld tyre measurement scanner will be the main feature of Sigmavision’s stand at the show.

The TreadReader handheld scanner is a compact and lightweight device, which is quick and easy to use and eliminates the errors associated with manual depth gauges. The scanner is positioned on one edge of a tyre and operated by sliding it across the tread face.

Accurate tread depth readings for tyres of all vehicle types, from LCVs to HGV, buses, trailers and passenger cars, can reveal badly worn or unevenly worn tyres symptomatic of problems such as wheel misalignment or worn suspension. Colour-coded 3D scans enable tyre replacement at the best time to maximise tyre safety and present Erevenue opportunities to the trade from increased tyre sales or service hours.

TreadReader is suitable for wet or dirty tyres and is ideal for all tyre inspection applications such as workshops, service centres, inspection lanes, commercial vehicle yards and at the roadside. The calculated data can be imported into any fleet management system to log tyre scans and produce wear analysis or tyre lifetime modelling.

Time to cool down
For those moving goods that require a constantly controlled temperature the Cool sector is a must visit. Here visitors will come face-to-face with a huge range of refrigerated vehicles and bodywork, side by side with the latest fridge units, monitoring equipment and other products specific to cold chain operations.

For transport operators moving goods that need to be kept at a constantly controlled temperature the Cool zone at the CV Show is top of the visit list. A massive range of refrigerated vehicles and bodywork will be showcased, with the latest fridge units and systems, monitoring equipment and many other products and services specific to cold chain operations on display.

Thermo King and FRIGOBLOCK will be at the show to present their widest ever range of products and services for refrigerated transport operators, from short – and long‑haul truck and trailer applications to inner city and last mile deliveries in small trucks and vans. Show visitors will be able to see how the companies’ services can address the sometimes conflicting demands of the refrigerated transport sector in terms of cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, performance, environmental sustainability and compliance with ever more stringent regulations.

The range includes the SLXe trailer units for sustainable transport and quiet deliveries, the T-Series range of Thermo King self-powered refrigeration units for rigid trucks, FRIGOBLOCK electric powered refrigeration units from the truck FK range and EK-Series, plus the HK-Series for drawbar systems and semi-trailers.

Other show highlights will be FRIGOBLOCK’s ultra slim-line evaporators for single and multiple temperature applications and Thermo King V-Series and B-Series vehicle‑powered units for small trucks and vans, which provide optimal refrigeration capacity without requiring a separate engine, resulting in significantly reduced emissions.

Meanwhile, French refrigerated trailer builder Chereau will have a busy stand in the Cool Zone, following news that the Normandy-based company has recently merged with Spanish builder SOR to form a new reefer giant. 

Chereau’s Christophe Danton said: “Our aim is to become the biggest reefer manufacturer on the market. As well as celebrating that, we will also be showing our new Smart Open-C trailer – unlike most refrigerated units, the roller shutter opens on the outside of the container, allowing it to be open and closed quickly, which is a huge benefit to temperature controlled distribution.”

Chereau has also just celebrated a major milestone, with over 100,000 of its units sold. The Chereau 100,000-Series special edition trailer will be the highlight of the company’s stand, with 50 of them destined for the UK market.

The Eberspächer UK stand will feature a wide selection of new and existing products, alongside vehicles fitted with the company’s latest climate control and air conditioning technologies. Among the Eberspächer products on show, the Breezeonic 3000, a streamlined 240v roof-mounted heating and air conditioning unit specifically designed for generator-driven mobile applications, stands out. There will also be the Cooltronic G2 range of three 24v models for truck roof hatch-mounted air conditioning applications, designed as a parking cooler to allow air conditioning with the engine off.

With Anti-idle zones being introduced, this new range from Eberspächer will not only save money but will greatly reduce emissions. The new units are: Cooltronic 1000 G2, Cooltronic 1400 G2 and the Cooltronic 1400 G2 Slim (for high cabs).

Vince Lee, managing director of Eberspächer UK, said: “We are delighted to display such a varied selection of vehicles and are very grateful to our customers for making this happen.”

Time for a pick-up?
Fiat Professional’s all-new Fullback pick-up truck will make its UK debut on the Fiat Professional stand having debuted at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show.

The new Fullback will join the Fiat Professional range in June 2016, along with the new Talento and Fiorino, and will be available with a practical double cab body style configuration in the UK making it an ideal vehicle for both commercial and leisure time activities.

Measuring 1,780mm in height, 1,815 mm in width and 5,285mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3,000mm, it offers a competitive payload up to 1,045kg and will be powered by a 2.4-litre, aluminium, turbo‑diesel engine with a power output of either 150bhp or 180bhp. Two transmissions will be available, a new six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission with sports mode, and both will be combined with full four-wheel drive systems.

The Fullback will be available in the UK in two trim levels with pricing and specifications to be announced closer to the vehicle’s final launch.

The Fullback is Fiat Professional’s first contender in the medium-duty pick-up truck segment. In the UK, 2015 sales in the pick-up segment were up 18 per cent with full year registrations totalling almost 40,000 units.  

Ricky McFarland, country manager for Fiat Professional UK, said: “The new Fullback provides us with an exciting opportunity in the growing pick-up truck segment and together with the arrival of the new Talento and new Fiorino models in June, joining the rest of the award-winning Fiat Professional range, we are confident of attracting new fleets and retail customers by providing them with one of the strongest product line-ups in the market today.”

With Isuzu celebrating its centenary year in 2016, the Japanese manufacturer will be pulling the wraps off a special edition pick-up at the CV Show to mark the 100‑year anniversary. The new D-Max Centurion, an extension of the award-winning D-Max range, is the brand’s ultimate pick-up.

The rugged Centurion is the highest-spec D-Max yet and, fittingly, will be made in a limited run of 100 vehicles. With striking exterior enhancements that are unique to the model, plus some all-new in-car entertainment features, the model is finished in Fjord Blue only. Under the bonnet is Isuzu’s proven 2.5-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, producing 161bhp and 400Nm of torque. Full details of specification and pricing will be announced at the Show.

Tankers and trailers
Some of the best known trailer and tanker builders in the world will use the Commercial Vehicle Show as their shop window. Among the high profile exhibitors in this sector are Cartwright Group, Doll Fahrzeugbau, Don-Bur, Feldbinder UK, Fuller Tankers, Kässbohrer, Maisonneuve, Magyar, Montracon, SDC Trailers, Tiger Trailers and Whale Tankers. With Reefer specialists Chereau and Gray & Adams also exhibiting, the show promises an impressive display at the business end of road transport.

Making its CV Show debut will be Kässbohrer, which has manufacturing facilities in Germany, Turkey and Russia and is looking forward to expanding its market presence in the UK after returning to the British market very recently.

Iffet Turken, Kässbohrer CEO, said: “The CV Show is the ideal place for us to learn more about the UK market and to meet our customers and our suppliers, as well as to develop new business relationships. It’s a very cost-effective way for us to meet a lot of people in the road haulage industry, many of whom may not have seen our products before.”

UK-based manufacturer SDC were the first to return to the CV Show after the dark days of the recession and have been ever present since. For 2016, they will be exhibiting their latest Aeroliner, along with other high volume trailers.

Cheshire-based Tiger Trailers now has well over 1,200 trailers and products of various types operating on UK and European roads, with the company looking to forge more relationships with new clients at the CV Show 2016.

To demonstrate the diversity of its product range, Tiger is exhibiting its Mega Straight Frame Chassis with a curtainside body. The trailer has a full length lifting deck with a lifting roof, which allows it to be 100 per cent loaded on both the top and bottom decks.

Compared to traditional UK step frame design lifting decks, the Tiger offering claims a load fill increase of 20 per cent.

In addition, the chassis is fully galvanised, and comes with an eight-year anti-corrosion warranty. SAF axles with high lift air bags and a Knorr Bremse braking system are also fitted. All of Tiger’s bodies, from rigid and urban semitrailers, through to double deck van or curtain combinations are manufactured at the company’s new state‑of‑the-art facility in Winsford, Cheshire.

On the tanker side, regular CV Show exhibitor G Magyar will be showing a range of its tankers, semi-trailers and swap tanks, suitable for all purposes from chemicals and petroleum to liquids and foodstuffs.

CV Show director, Rob Skelton, said: “Trailers and tankers really are the backbone of the road transport and logistics industry – what’s on the back of the truck is as important as the truck itself when it comes to transporting goods in a controlled and safe manner. The wealth of exhibitors in this sector that are using the CV Show to demonstrate the diversity of their products shows just how significant this sector of the industry is.”

Further Information
www.cvshow.com