Wind-cheating Gray & Adams body ideal for Wellocks 21 November 2012

Fresh and dry foods supplier Wellocks has invested in its first aerodynamic box-bodied refrigerated distribution vehicle.

Among fuel-saving measures implemented on its insulated Gray & Adams Eco-Aer body are large radius cappings on its leading edges, and a roof-mounted vortex generator to smooth the airflow over the back of the vehicle.

A single-temperature Hubbard 720 AEL refrigeration unit maintains a constant temperature of 5—8°C, and the 7.5m body has pallet-width doors on both sides, as well as triple rear doors.

Wellocks' new 13-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego 1324 chassis arrived via local dealer Ciceley Commercials. The body, meanwhile, was manufactured and fitted at Gray & Adams' Doncaster production facility.

"Temperature control has become more important to the company," says managing director James Wellock, explaining that the business has moved beyond fresh fruit and vegetables to include cheese, dairy, poultry and game.

"A box body is the most efficient solution, because there will always be gaps in a curtainsider, not least because the curtains can get torn, so the fridge has to work that much harder," he adds.

"We talked through the operation and what we needed to carry," says James Wellock's wife Jo, who is the company's general manager.

"Gray & Adams' Doncaster team then came up with a design that accommodates 14 pallets, but is no taller than it needs to be. So we're not wasting energy on cooling space immediately beneath the roof that we don't need anyway."

Author
John Challen

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