51
PRO INSTALLER JUNE 2015
PRO MOTORING
@proinstaller1
Innovation ‘toolbox-style’
Northern based, PVC building and
insulated glazing products supplier
Magden is hoping to boost delivery
times by adding two innovative
‘toolbox-style’ vans to its fleet.
Magden operations
manager Carl Dent masterminded the bespoke
interior in order to
improve the company’s
efficiency when delivering products to its
growing customer base.
Like a toolbox, the two
3.5 tonne Mercedes-Benz
Sprinter box vans have
individual layers to store
different products and
improve accessibility. The
layering method allows
staff to take items off each
section easily, boosting both
the capacity and the speed
of deliveries.
Carl explained: “This
method of storing products
on individual decks makes
them easy to get at. We have
three points of accessibility
on the side of the vehicle
and have fully utilised the
space in the bulkhead above
the driver’s cabin.
‘It’s almost like a miniature tool kit with all
of the different layers, blocks and spaces’
“It’s almost like a miniature tool kit with all of the
different layers, blocks and
spaces. The design gives us
greater flexibility and allows
us to deliver more items in
one run in order to improve
our delivery times and service to customers.”
The methodical design
means that if a route is
changed after the van is
loaded, the driver can take
products off each layer
when making a delivery
without the need to potentially empty the van to reach
the items required.
Carl added: “To my
knowledge, nobody has
built a van in this way
before and we’ll be trialing
the first two vehicles before
we consider adding more
to the fleet.”
The vans have joined
16 other vehicles in the
Magden fleet and will be
based at the Cleckheaton
and Rotherham sites.
The focus on deliveries is
part of a period of significant investment and innovation for the fast-growing
company.
www.magdenltd.co.uk
Partnership to create world-class
roads for Greater Manchester
Two of the North West’s key transport organisations are joining forces to create a world-class road network
for Greater Manchester, which could improve work travel for tradesmen working across the area.
Highways England and Transport for Greater Manchester
(TfGM) have signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’
which will see the two bodies work in partnership to
develop shared priorities and
a long-term vision for motorways and key roads across
the city-region.
The move follows the formation
of Highways England earlier this
year, a government-owned company with a five-year budget of over
£11 billion to invest in England’s
motorways and major A roads.
The new joint document aims to
support economic growth in the
region over the next 20 years.
Graham Dalton, Chief Executive
of Highways England, and Jon
Lamonte, Chief Executive of TfGM,
put pen to paper at an official
signing in London on Thursday
14th May.
Graham Dalton said:
“Greater Manchester is one of
the biggest metropolitan areas in
the country so it’s vital that we
work together to ensure it has a
world-class road network to support the economy.
“Over £200 million is already
being invested on creating a smart
motorway on a section on the M60
and M62, and we need to make
sure that the work taking place
there complements other improvements on local roads.
“Our research shows that for
every pound we spend on England’s roads, it generates four
pounds in long-term economic
benefits. I’m therefore delighted
we’ve been able to agree this new
partnership with Transport for
Greater Manchester to develop the
region’s road network and help
support its future success.”
‘strategic approach’
Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive
of TfGM, said:
“Having a clear, strategic approach to the management of
highways across a city-region as
large and complex as Greater
Manchester – and making sure it
works in tandem with tram, train
and bus services – is absolutely
essential to keep it growing and
moving.
“As such, it is excellent news
that we have been able to agree
this new partnership with Highways England, which represents
a key piece of the jigsaw in
terms of making travel easier in
Greater Manchester and allowing
the region to fulfill its economic
potential.”
Source: www.gov.uk
Pick up the PRO Installer, FREE, from one of over 600 trade counters.