CONVERSIONS M Group first with Transporter conversion Infrastructure specialist M Group Plant & Fleet Services has taken delivery of 40 Volkswagen Transporters with a UK-first conversion from Bott. The 4Motion vans have been equipped with a bespoke Bott design that includes underfloor drawers and three Euro boxes for storing tools and equipment. The vans also come with a high-power inverter kit, a non-slip plywood deck and a ladder storage pocket.
Ford pilots COVID-19 vaccination Transit The NHS and local community health leaders have teamed up with Ford to roll out a mobile vaccine initiative across Mid and South Essex. Based on a Ford Transit, the van has been converted by Yorkshire firm Venari Group. It includes medical grade refrigeration with WiFi monitoring capability, vaccine transport coolers, a collapsible chair for administering vaccines and an integrated tablet for accessing and updating health records.
“Our goal of giving everyone an equal opportunity to receive this essential vaccine is now in closer reach, owing to the additional support from our valued network of community leaders, Ford and Venari Group,” said Dr Smitesh Patel, clinical director at Benfleet Primary Care Network, Essex. “This added mobility has meant the gap will be bridged for so many facing a struggle to visit their local vaccination centre.”
VCS to build Dual Crewed Ambulance West Yorkshire emergency services bodybuilder VCS has developed its first Dual Crewed Ambulance (DCA), based on a Volkswagen Crafter panel van. Designed to meet the specification of the Lord Carter review, the DCA uses VCS’s ultra-lightweight Core Capture technology, delivering an operational weight of less than 4.0 tonnes.
Scammell Commercial adds to municipal leasing fleet Specialist municipal leasing firm Scammell Commercial has added six Isuzu trucks to its fleet with specialist bodywork to suit its customer needs. There are two Grafter 3.5-tonne models with caged tipper conversions, a 7.5-tonne caged tipper and a 13.5-tonne truck equipped with a Hiab Multi-Lift hook loader. The company has also ordered two 7.5-tonne models with NTM refuse bodies. “Most of our leasing trucks operate in and around the London area and a significant benefit of the Isuzu range is its compact footprint, not just at 3.5-tonnes, but all the way up to 13.5-tonnes,” said Neil Livermore, operations manager at Scammell Commercial. “We did our research across various manufacturers and by far the Isu24 VANUSER • JUNE 2021
zu came out on top with regard to its payload, which is one of the most important features in running a municipal fleet.”
The trucks will operate on the Scammell fleet for a minimum of five years, with the refuse trucks having a much longer working life.
