Maximum payload and reliability of operation are critical factors for ice supplier Eskimo Ice, and the London based company has recently switched its complete vehicle acquisition policy from running panel vans to specifying 3.5t chassis cabs that are all fitted with Paneltex box bodies.
According to the company's managing partner, Gavin Marks, "Ice products are traditionally quite heavy products and we felt that the switch to a box bodied vehicle would not only increase the payload possible but also give us a longer working life for our vehicles. Paneltex has a superb name in the industry and their box body solution was ideal as it gives us a massive 1160 kgs payload."
Eskimo Ice runs a 16 strong vehicle fleet, concentrating on customers purely in the London area and has just replaced seven of its existing vehicles as well as adding an extra new vehicle. Six of the vehicles are Nissan Cabstar 3.5t chassis cabs, with the remaining two vehicles being Toyota Dynas 3.5t chassis cabs. All seven trucks are fitted with 2.8m Paneltex refrigerated box bodies compliant with ATP Class C standards.
Designed to operate at -18° C, the Paneltex insulated box body is fitted with a GAH AF20T direct drive refrigeration system, full aperture double rear barn doors with emergency release button and pull out rear access step, and a single nearside door for roadside access.
"When we were approached by Eskimo Ice, maximising the potential payload was a key issue for them. The Paneltex body manufacturing process allows them to do this, whilst the proven build quality ensure that the vehicle bodies are more durable and reliable in operation," said Chris Berridge, managing director, Paneltex Ltd.
Eskimo Ice is the largest ice manufacturer in central London, capable of producing up to 350 tons of pure UV filtered ice cubes every week. Their product range covers quality packaged ice cubes, crystal clear ice blocks for ice sculptures, vodka luges and ice bars as well as crushed ice, flake ice and dry ice.