| Upon arrival the show immediately felt different to | | | | 250 NV200 registered in March alone". |
| previous years - the only outside exhibit was a lonely | | | | Bleasdale attributes the success to the broad appeal |
| Movano and the entry foyer was light on people | | | | of the vehicle to small local businesses. Many |
| queuing to get into the hall. | | | | companies have used recession time to evaluate the |
| The show was different - but not necessarily worse. | | | | optimum sized vehicle for their business, rather than |
| There was only one hall in play instead of the usual | | | | opting for the biggest available just in case. |
| three or four, but this meant that it was easy to | | | | The show was a good chance to se the Pathfinder |
| cover the show in a day, as the task ahead seemed | | | | Van launched last year alongside the revised Navara. |
| less daunting. | | | | The Pathfinder Van comes with either obscured glass |
| Philip Heine of T-Cards Direct told us, "This is a totally | | | | or a full panelled body and is available from £21,682. |
| different type of show - there are certainly less | | | | Perhaps more telling was the vans that were not on |
| people, but the people we have spoken to are more | | | | show. Although "The Interstar continues", according |
| serious buyers." | | | | to Bleasdale it was not on show and does not take |
| For the small exhibitor this is good news, as the | | | | the updated form of the Movano and Master. |
| visitors had more time to stop and discuss business | | | | Commenting on the growth of Nissan's dealer |
| with exhibitors that they would usually have to pass | | | | network, Bleasdale tells us, "With a growing product |
| by. For the visitor this was also good news as they | | | | line-up of class leading Commercial Vehicles, we need |
| had the chance to delve into the interesting small | | | | the widest possible dealer network to offer the |
| stands for useful aftermarket add-ons. Where are | | | | complete package to our customers across Britain. |
| the Trucks? | | | | We're delighted to introduce our four new centres to |
| Hartshorne Group wisely had a truck on show | | | | the fold, and especially proud of the Chatfields |
| Despite the publicity in advance of the show | | | | Birmingham site which offers the first dedicated |
| informing visitors that there would be no trucks and | | | | Nissan CV centre in the UK." Fiat Fiat's display |
| the focus is on the 'operational' side of the business | | | | focused heavily on their sitcom fleet management |
| our (admittedly unscientific) straw poll of visitors tells | | | | firm introduced in Fiat Professional's TV advertising |
| us that nearly half of the people we talked to | | | | campaign "The Fleet" and Lightfoot logistics. All six |
| believed there would be some trucks on show. | | | | vans on the stand were finished in white and feature |
| Dealers on Show There were just two local dealers | | | | the blue Lightfoot Logistics logo. The centrepiece |
| taking advantage of the show - Hartshornes and | | | | vehicles were two new Doblo Cargos, which were |
| Guests. Hartshornes really pushed the boat out with | | | | launched in the UK last month. |
| an impressive stand right at the entrance to the | | | | More than Just Vans.... The whole show was totally |
| show, next door to the new Movano. This may be | | | | focused on the add-ons to commercial vehicles that |
| clever thinking on the part of the organisers, as the | | | | make them more efficient, safer, prettier, cleaner |
| stand contained an FL Chassis cab - one of the few | | | | etc. etc. So what is of interest to the CV Dealer? |
| trucks at the show and the first vehicle seen by | | | | Back to Basics Phil Heine of T-Cards Direct tell us |
| everyone coming through the entrance. | | | | that 2009 was the best year they have had selling |
| Either way, it was a coup for Hartshorne's group | | | | their workshop management system. He accredits |
| marketing manager, Alan Southall. He tells us "We | | | | this to the fact that many workshop owners are |
| have had a lot of interest in the stand today and all | | | | cutting out unnecessary costs, such as software and |
| the staff have been rushed off their feet." The | | | | the associated support costs and switching back to |
| company is promoting all areas of their business, | | | | the manual T-cards system. Since his typical |
| from new Volvo sales to their Hy-Parts hydraulics | | | | customer are commercial workshops with between |
| operation under their 'Total Transport Solutions' | | | | three and fifteen technicians, this news should be |
| banner. | | | | right up the street of the average commercial vehicle |
| The other dealer on show was Guests - with an Eco | | | | dealer. |
| Daily CNG van on their stand. Again the focus was on | | | | Handistep have taken their passion for health and |
| the additional aftermarket services that Guests can | | | | safety to the next level with their new product, |
| provide - including their Speedliner lining application | | | | launched at the show - a yellow version of their |
| service. What about the Vans? Vauxhall It was | | | | successful Handistep. All Handistep products feature |
| Vauxhall that stole the show with their 'reveal' of the | | | | reflective tape as standard, but the new yellow step |
| New Movano, (which everyone has already seen | | | | gives increased visibility for safe loading and unloading |
| plenty of photos of). Vauxhall Chairman and | | | | - plus whilst the vehicle is on the move. Fire! |
| commercial vehicle lover, Bill Parfait told journalists | | | | Strong Plastics, the company behind many of the fire |
| that the company has a goal to be the number one | | | | engine bodies in the UK was showing off its skills in |
| in van sales, since they are already number one in | | | | specialist bodybuilding. Their unique products are all |
| van manufacture in the UK with 600,000 Vivaros | | | | fabricated from engineering grade polypropylene |
| made in Luton since 2002. | | | | plastic, which makes them last a long time and render |
| He feels that the new Movano will help to get | | | | them 100% recyclable. Perfect for local authority use. |
| Vauxhall above Ford in the UK's top sales spot as the | | | | They were showing off their pod for a Ranger |
| outgoing model performed particularly poorly last year | | | | pickup - the Hilux version is on the way. A pickup |
| with sales of just 2,000 units. Steve Bryant, | | | | canopy is cheaper, but the strength of the |
| Commercial Vehicle Brand Manager at Vauxhall said | | | | self-contained unit could make the ideal solution for |
| that Vauxhall would want to double that next year. | | | | an authority or utility client. Plenty up top |
| He believes that pushing the Movano up the weight | | | | Rhino's new Ladder Clamp Top roofrack |
| range and adding rear wheel drive capability will give | | | | manufacturer Rhino had an impressive showing - |
| the vehicle more 'heritage'. | | | | interest was centred around their new lockable ladder |
| The target for this year is to move 30,000 vans - | | | | clamp system which, as was demonstrated hundreds |
| against the backdrop of 25,000 last year - although | | | | of times a day, is much faster to use than a |
| the targets will need to go up in subsequent years to | | | | traditional ladder clamp, plus it has been crash tested |
| get to their target of a number one spot. | | | | at Millbrook. More expensive that the £25 clamp it |
| To help Vauxhall in achieving their lofty goals, they | | | | replaces, retailing at £38.50+VAT, Rhino claim that |
| are set to improve the heavy van network. Under | | | | the added expense is worthwhile. |
| the banner of 'Premier Service Network' the existing | | | | Primedesign's side loading ladder system Primedesign, |
| 35 'Premier' dealer points will be expanded to 98. | | | | a Belgium operation was showing a US-designed |
| Chairman, Parfait explained, "we have received more | | | | side-mounted ladder loading/unloading system. Called |
| applications from dealers wishing to cover heavy | | | | the Ergorack, the makers claim that it is easier to use |
| vans than the business model can support. Renault | | | | than traditional rear-loading systems as you can park |
| Renault used the show as a launch pad for their new | | | | in a tight spot and still unload. Primedesign also |
| UK ad strap line, 'Trust Europe's No.1 Van | | | | demonstrated their Alurack - a lightweight roofrack |
| Manufacturer'. | | | | suitable for all vans that, the makers claim, is priced |
| Renault's impressive stand held no fewer than nine | | | | extremely competitively. The Show is the Belgian |
| models - including the phase III Trafic resplendent in | | | | firm's first foray into the UK market. "We've had |
| the AA livery. | | | | some very good leads and this is a very encouraging |
| There were plenty of Kangoos on show, including the | | | | start," said Koen Bessmans, managing director. "Some |
| new long wheelbase version, the Kangoo Van Maxi, | | | | of the sales leads involve firms with large fleets and |
| one of which was shown as a five-seat crew van. | | | | we've had strong interest from several potential |
| The all-new versions of the French brand's new | | | | business partners." Proppa People |
| challenger in the large van sector are expected to be | | | | Sensible loading height - £895+VAT +del Trade |
| the star attractions, included the twin rear wheel | | | | price A smart trio of pickups graced the stand |
| rear-wheel drive version. | | | | demonstrating some of the range of van accessories |
| Twin Rear Wheel Drive ad 15m3 for Master Peugeot | | | | available from the website. New for the show is the |
| In their 200th year, Peugeot used the show to great | | | | high roof, side opening canopy for the Ranger, Hi-lux, |
| effect to demonstrate their new logo and their sales | | | | long bed L200 and the Rodeo. With the extra height |
| performance in the first quarter of 2010. Taking pride | | | | it makes the load bed of these pickups almost |
| of place alongside the innovative U-Tail demount | | | | useable - demonstrated by transporting one of |
| concept was the diminutive Bipper in full royal Mail | | | | Proppa's other products a smart-looking quadbike. |
| livery. The 2,000-vehicle Royal Mail deal goes some | | | | Also on show on the Proppa stand was the SMM |
| way to explaining Peugeot's sterling performance in | | | | hardtop, the only pickup canopy made from steel |
| the new vehicle registrations league for the first | | | | instead of the usual fibreglass. Boss, Adam Weaver |
| quarter of this year with the Bipper accounting for | | | | told us that despite the weight penalty there were |
| nearly half of Peugeot's registrations with 2,334 units | | | | advantages in terms of the quality of construction |
| of Peugeots total of 4,885. | | | | and the fit onto the vehicle. The SMM retails at |
| A Peugeot spokesperson informed us that the | | | | £1259 including VAT & delivery. |
| business is not simply being bought by offering cheap | | | | Bright working conditions Bright Lights Labcraft's |
| deals or easy finance - "the business is all merit | | | | lighting display showed what can be done to improve |
| business, not bought business". | | | | working conditions in the average panel van. Too |
| A stunning display of Peugeot's quirky do-it-all | | | | many conversions give little thought to the lighting in |
| Roadload U-tail Boxer van concept was impressive. | | | | the rear, but it really can help the operator when |
| Based on the Boxer chassis, the U-shaped chassis | | | | working. From a maintenance point of view, their LED |
| gives the vehicle the ability to lower the load bed to | | | | lighting range can run for over 60,000 hours (or |
| the floor. The converters, Roadload, have designed a | | | | nearly seven years non-stop) - this makes them a fit |
| series of demountable bodies to fit the chassis to | | | | and forget solution to seeing what you are doing in |
| turn it into a dropside, caged tipper or box van - | | | | the back of a van! Speed Merchants On the |
| giving flexibility to operators such as local authorities. | | | | Speedliner stand, the company has broadened their |
| It is likely that only local authorities could justify the | | | | targeting away from simply pick up load beds to |
| £32,000 upwards price tag, mainly for the benefit | | | | more specialist applications - in particular the food |
| of a ground load height. | | | | industry with their Speedliner HC active anti bacterial |
| Using the impact of the U-Tail, Peugeot launched their | | | | product. This widened appeal could make it |
| conversion programme for the Boxer Van at the | | | | worthwhile taking on a Speedliner dealer/application |
| show. Although limited when compared to Citroen's | | | | centre. One to Watch... Peter Dallas of Dal-Tec has |
| offerings, Peugeot's new conversion programme will | | | | got his sights firmly set on the commercial vehicle |
| offer a single point of contact from the point of | | | | sector. The company specialises in aftermarket |
| order to customer delivery. There will be a range of | | | | electronics - reversing aids, handsfree kits etc. but |
| popular accessories including mesh cages, tail lifts, | | | | has seen the opportunity for a focused approach to |
| towing hitches and warning beacons to the two | | | | sales in the truck and van industry. Increasing their |
| standard conversions, the Boxer 335 L2 120 Tipper | | | | product portfolio in this area, the company now |
| and the Boxer 335 L3 120 Dropside. Nissan Nissan's | | | | offers rear safety steps and towbars. The Bury |
| display focused around their new baby, the NV200 - | | | | Handsfree kit was impressive - you can Bluetooth |
| on show in van and combi variants. With a retail price | | | | connect two phones at the same time - great news |
| from £12,205 and CO2 emissions of only 137g/km, | | | | if you have a work and a personal mobile. It can |
| Nissan's new van could prove a success. Nissan's LCV | | | | even play your iPod/iPhone - all controlled by your |
| sales and marketing director, Francis Bleasdale | | | | voice. I'm buying one. Verdict Although the show was |
| comments that the dealer network now have | | | | definitely smaller, there were definitely fewer people |
| sufficient stock to sell with a 4-6 week lead time to | | | | we believe it was worthwhile for serious visitors and |
| get the vans in from the Barcelona factory. "We are | | | | exhibitors alike. |
| 35% ahead of our business plan for the NV200 with | | | | |