Benchmarx trials first Bevan Icon Luton vans 17 August 2011

The kitchens and joinery brand of Travis Perkins has become the first to take the new breed of Luton van body combining environmental credentials with high payload capability.

Trade specialist Benchmarx has ordered 10 aerodynamic Bevan Icons, all mounted on Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDI chassis.

Adam Baillie, group fleet manager for Travis Perkins' Benchmarx and City Plumbing brands, says they will be run for three months, during which time their fuel consumption will be compared with that achieved by other Travis Perkins Sprinters with standard Luton bodies, also from Bevan.

"We have high hopes for the Icon," confirms Baillie. "It certainly looks radical, particularly from the front end, and if the trial proves successful then we're sure to invest in more."

And he continues: "As a business we seek to exploit every opportunity to increase fuel efficiency and thereby reduce our carbon footprint, and raise productivity by gaining extra payload."

The first of the new vehicles has entered service at the Benchmarx depot in Walsall, West Midlands. Despite having a DEL 'Slim Jim' 500kg column tail-lift complete, with safety gates for operatives, the unladen vehicle tips the scales at just 2,500kg, leaving an outstanding 1,000kg carrying capacity.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Bevan Group Bodies Ltd

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