It designed the rack in response to the rapid growth in popularity of bigger, heavier products, such as bi-fold doors and windows, and orangeries.
The first example has been fitted to a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van supplied by East Midlands Dealer Mertrux Truck & Van, with which its parent company, the multi-faceted Bevan Group, enjoys a close relationship. Mertrux is now offering this vehicle for trial by prospective customers.
Fabricated from lightweight aluminium, Supertrucks’ Multi-Purpose Rack is secured to the exterior of the vehicle without requiring sidewall drilling, helping to protect the value of the vehicle.
Instead, the new rails are fixed at the top to a roof rack, and at the bottom, depending on the base vehicle, either by making use of pre-existing holes or by drilling one or two new ones on the underside, where they cannot be seen.
The racks feature a choice of folding ledges capable of carrying products with a depth of either 150mm or 225mm, compared to an industry standard of 90mm. They are also fitted with protective strips in grey, rather than the traditional black, rubber, to prevent marking of aluminium or plastic fixtures. New front and rear pillars having leading edges with a re-profiled radius designed to reduce wind resistance and thereby improve fuel efficiency.
Bevan Group engineering & production director Ian Roberts says: “The window industry has witnessed massive change over the last couple of years. There is a lot more architectural work, with bi-folds and orangeries becoming more affordable and popular. The upshot is that products are getting bigger, heavier and more difficult to transport. Our Multi-Purpose Rack addresses this issue head on, by enabling customers safely and securely to transport larger products than was previously possible on a standard van.”