Wagons roll as commercial vehicle suppliers look to boost business
Two firms in the Black Country are hoping to boost their respective businesses after showcasing their work at a major trade show.
Guest Truck and Van, the UK’s largest IVECO dealership, used the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC to promote the manufacturer’s new environmentally friendly electric van.
The Iveco Daily Electric is a 100% electric vehicle with zero emissions, a market growing in popularity.
Robert Spittle, managing director of Guest Truck and Van, said: “Air quality is one of the most important issues facing the industry, with low emission zones already operating in five cities in England and increasingly being introduced across Europe.
“Offering a sustainable, electric vehicle alternative is essential for the heavy goods vehicle sector – for both sustainable and economic reasons.”
He said the CV Show had proved the ideal platform for showcasing the van and interest in the vehicle was already proving strong.
“Innovative alternatives to older diesel vehicles are absolutely essential as we play our part in reducing nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide levels in our towns and cities,” he added.
The West Midlands is one of 38 out of 43 areas in the UK that fails to meet legal air pollution targets, which were set by the European Union and should have been met by 2010.
Four Ashes-based Spillard Safety Systems was another to use the event to showcase its innovative work.
The company, which celebrates 25 years in business this year, exhibited its new Optronics HD range of safety systems, including Optronics Foresight systems.
The cameras enable drivers to navigate hard to see angles when driving around sites and difficult roads.
“We have been at the forefront of eliminating blind spots for more than two decades now and reinforced that last year with the launch of the Optronics Wide Eye camera system, which provides an 180° view of the nearside of a vehicle, something that had not been done before,” said managing director Pete Spillard.
“The natural next step was to launch Optronics systems with HD capabilities, so that the driver can have clear vision and never lose sight of the dangers again. This prevents injuries and protects life in the process.”
He said the firm had noticed that its technology was increasingly being used to prove responsibility when accidents occurred.
“The fact that the recording is now in HD means vehicle number plates are visible so there will never be any question of who is responsible,” he added.
The firm mounted its largest ever display at this year’s event.
“The Commercial Vehicle sector is worth about 35% of our £4m sales and that represents a 126% increase in the last twelve months,” said Craig Spillard, director.
