An Otahuhu-based company has joined forces with an Australian partner to provide corrosion-free heavy-duty copolymer service bodies targeting not only the emergency services but also tradespeople and commercial fleets.
A service contractor to the New Zealand Fire Service, Prestige Diesel and Marine Ltd (PDM) is partnering with PT Hydraulics Australia to source the polypropylene service bodies from the specialist UK manufacturer Pickup Systems Ltd.
Only six bolts are required to secure a copolymer service body to a cab/chassis pickup such as an Isuzu D-Max or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which PDM managing director Jeff Edwards says provides an opportunity for fleets to own the body and lease the vehicle.
“These service bodies offer a turnkey solution not just for emergency services such as fire and ambulance operators, but also tradespeople, lines companies, and local authority users,” Edwards says.
Furthermore: “You can run a four-wheel-drive vehicle down a beach with this type of service body, and not have any concerns about future corrosion issues.”
Edwards says the copolymer service bodies won’t conduct electricity, and they are also chemically resistant, so A-Class foam as used by the fire service won’t present any issues.
An Isuzu D-Max with a copolymer service body supplied by PDM has entered service with the Thames Valley Rural Fire Authority, while the company is also outfitting two such bodies for the Auckland Rural Fire Authority.
The copolymer service bodies have a 10-year warranty, which would allow an owner to transfer the body up to three times within that period, depending on the vehicle and its application.
To showcase the product to emergency services, PDM recently imported a new double-cab Mercedes-Benz Sprinter light pumping appliance, with a bespoke body encompassing the pull-out drawer, tilt and slide racks, a ladder and other equipment.
Edwards says the New Zealand Fire Service has shown significant interest in the Sprinter, as has Rural Fire Services, which is investigating the option of a 6×6 vehicle.
The Pickup Systems service bodies use copolymers instead of aluminium and fibreglass, and therefore offer better lightweight solutions for the commercial/utility companies as well as fire and other emergency services.
The manufacturer will design bespoke units from copolymers to suit individual needs such as water suppliers needing to carry highly corrosive chemicals, and electricity providers needing to carry ladders and insulation poles.
The copolymer service bodies offer durable and long-term storage solutions to meet the individual requirement of a customer.
Copolymer bodies can easily carry heavy loads on the roof without the need to add internal supports. If the need arises, the service body can be removed and placed on another chassis within a few hours.
A body fabricated in polypropylene offers advantages over traditional body-building methods, because it may be tailored to suit an individual’s requirement for carrying equipment, and it may have integral water tanks if required.
The lightweight, durable copolymer bodies are resistant to heat and corrosion, and will easily withstand a variety of aggressive chemicals.
The service bodies will not crack like GRP, and they can be hit with a sledgehammer with no damage, but may be welded in the event of accident damage, and better yet, they are 100% recyclable at the end of their economic lifespan.
