Staged at London's ExCel centre, the Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety initiative event, included displays of several enhanced-safety construction trucks, but SIG's is specifically aimed at urban delivery transport.
SIG's new truck has the advantage of the Econic chassis' panoramic cab window and low-level cab, with its nearside vision via the floor-to-ceiling window for seeing vulnerable road users.
To further reduce blindspots, the vehicle has also been fitted with SIG's standard safety features, including nearside VUE proximity sensors, and VUE side-, rear- and forward-facing cameras displaying to a dash-mounted monitor.
The in-cab display also shows a directional view when the indicator or reverse gear is selected. And an additional blind spot indicator light – which illuminates the ground close to the near side front step when turning left – has also been fitted.
The truck uses Mercedes' 299bhp engine mated to the Econic standard Allison automatic transmission. The body was built by Lawrence David.
SIG CEO Stuart Mitchell says this new advanced vehicle, which is entering service in the operator's main fleet in the next few months, takes the safety of urban delivery vehicles (UDV) to a whole new level.
"We're very proud to introduce this new vehicle into our fleet. As a responsible leading market supplier of materials to the construction industry, our commitment to health and safety is always our top priority," he says.
Mitchell says SIG has been specifying vehicles with vulnerable road users in mind for more than three years, focusing initially on secondary vision aids, proximity sensors and warning signage.
"But in a bid to overcome the issue of primary vision for the driver, we have taken these innovative steps to design and build an urban delivery vehicle that provides the ultimate in visibility."
SIG's fleet comprises around 1,000 vehicles, and the prototype replicates its mainstay 26 tonne rigid curtainside with a truck-mounted forklift – but with the Mercedes Benz Econic 6x2 chassis.
For Mitchell, this latest independent development, working with Mercedes-Benz and bodybuilder Lawrence David, is another important step further for the operator in demonstrating its commitment to a zero-harm policy.