In a relationship that spans nearly 15 years, AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of vehicle chassis systems for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has been working in partnership with AKFS to develop chassis for a range of vehicles, from recovery vehicles and car transporters, to commercial vehicle solutions for grounds maintenance, tool hire and traffic management vehicles.
Commenting for AKFS, managing director Ian Knight says: “The collaboration started in 2003 when we approached AL-KO Kober to buy a chassis conversion for our Ultra Car Transporter, and things have evolved since.
“That vehicle is still very much part of our portfolio, but the chassis has evolved and is now tailored to our requirements. Our vehicles are also approved exclusively in the UK by AL-KO Kober and PSA for the conversion of low-floor traffic management, car transporter and lawn mower carrying vehicles.”
Design to optimise carry capacity and offer the ultimate payload, the Ultra Car Transporter is a 3.5-ton gross weight vehicle that, thanks to its ultra-lightweight but integrally strong Type-approved chassis conversion, offers 1,660kg of payload.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a company spokesperson says: “Typical company/fleet cars such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Ford Mondeo all fit on the AKFS Ultra Car Transporter, so it’s a popular choice as a dealer-transfer, bodyshop or light-recovery vehicle, where operators can be assured that they are transporting vehicles legally on a chassis conversion, rather than a chassis cab from the manufacturer.”
AL-KO Kober’s low-profile chassis solution also means AKFS has been able to reduce the overall deck height, enabling vehicles with lower front and rear spoilers to be easily loaded. Additionally, an extended wheelbase provides better weight distribution over the front and rear axles; and rear torsion bar suspension improves driving characteristics when loaded.
Depending on a customer’s specification, Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot or Volkswagen cab units are delivered to AL-KO Kober’s facility in Warwickshire where the lightweight, ultra-low chassis conversion is installed. These Type-approved vehicles are then delivered to AKFS where the specified bodywork is fitted, tailored to customer’s requirements and built without compromise.
“The partnership with AL-KO Kober has meant that we can concentrate our design resources on producing solutions that are built without compromise and fit our customers’ requirements. We simply couldn’t manufacture a chassis solution that is as well-engineered, cost-effective or lightweight a solution ourselves.”
For further information on its vehicle chassis solution visit www.alko-tech.com/en, email info@alko-tech.com or call 01926 818500.
Commercial Vehicle Show, NEC Birmingham, 24-26 April 2018, Stand 5C40
AL-KO Kober Limited - the leading manufacturer of premium components for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries - will be using the CV Show to showcase its range of LCV Chassis solutions and complementary products, with its stand featuring commercial vehicle conversions from companies including Mark Harris and Advanced KFS Special Vehicles.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, David Kirkley says: "2018 is looking like a bumper year for AL-KO and we go to the CV Show having just signed a high-value contract with Mark Harris for the exclusive supply of chassis conversions for its low-floor, Luton box body vehicles. This will see us partner with the UK's leading manufacturer of this style of box body; and allow us to engineer bespoke LCV Chassis solutions that are designed and tested specifically for their range of vehicles.
The contract will see AL-KO Kober deliver over 200 chassis conversions on back-2-back cabs in 2018, with the expectation for the AL-KO and Mark Harris partnership to build and supply an increased number of units in 2019.
The AL-KO Kober stand will also feature a traffic management vehicle from Advanced KFS Special Vehicles, a company that has a long relationship with AL-KO having partnered on numerous commercial vehicle solutions since the launch of its Ultra Car Transporter in 2003.
Commenting for Advanced KFS, managing director Ian Knight says: "The partnership with AL-KO Kober has enabled us to concentrate our design resources on producing solutions that fit our customers' requirement. We simply couldn't manufacture a lightweight chassis solution that is as well-engineered, tested and as cost-effective a solution ourselves."
AL-KO Kober's experience in lightweight vehicle chassis design and development ensures that by using lighter materials and engineering techniques to strengthen individual chassis components, the company delivers improvements to the overall efficiency of the vehicle, with its Light Commercial Vehicle chassis solutions being designed to replace those shipped as standard by commercial vehicle OEMs.
"Our LCV Chassis conversions are already proven in reducing whole-life operating costs by increasing output and productivity, thus enabling fleet managers to increase profits over the lifetime of their fleet." says David.
From box body low floor luton vans and low-profile car transporters, to larger plant-carrying vehicles, AL-KO Kober's chassis conversions deliver distinct advantages over standard vehicle options by offering increased load space and payload levels, while retaining a high torsional strength. AL-KO's new LCV chassis conversions are available for Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën and Volkswagen units; and can be up to 145kg lighter than some of the OEM-built vehicles.
With innovative low-frame designs, tandem-axle assemblies and wide-gauge chassis, the extensive LCV Chassis range allows customers to adapt fleets to suit almost any application and significantly improve vehicle performance, road handling and driver safety. Hot-dip galvanised frame parts guarantee optimal corrosion protection, while bolted frame parts offer a service-friendly solution and ensure shorter downtimes for repairs and maintenance.
For further information on its range of LCV Chassis conversion, visit AL-KO Kober on stand 5C40, visit www.alko-tech.com/en, email marketing@alko-tech.com or call 01926 818500.
AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of premium components for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has appointed David Kirkley as Commercial AMC Sales Manager.
David’s responsibilities will include supporting existing and generating new Commercial AMC (commercial vehicle chassis systems) customers and generating, supporting and developing customers and wholesalers in AL-KO’s towing and trailer components sector.
No newcomer to the company, David was appointed as sales manager for Bradley Doublelock (an AL-KO Kober company) in 2014 and played an important role in the recent relocation and integration of the company into AL-KO Kober’s UK headquarters in Warwickshire.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesperson says: “As an internal appointment, we can be sure that David hits the ground running in his new role. He brings experience and a proven track record to his new role; and I am sure he will continue to consistently deliver growth in this business development role.”
David has a degree in mechanical engineering, is a Chartered Engineer and member of the IMechE. His work experience has also seen him work for Tier 1 suppliers to commercial vehicle OEMs, including responsibilities for design phases on Ford Transits and project management for turbo systems for Mercedes-Benz models.
AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of premium components for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has launched the AL-KO Ranger, a new manoeuvring system for single-axle touring caravans up to 1,800kg.
Designed as a lower-cost, entry-level alternative to the company’s premium Mammut mover, the AL-KO Ranger features manual engagement onto the wheels when required and can be quickly disengaged once the caravan is in position. The motor units, situated in front of the axle to prevent damage from road debris, provide effortless and accurate manoeuvring control in even the narrowest of spaces, as well as on steep terrains up to 18% and for getting over obstacles up to two centimetres in height. The unit’s soft start and soft stop technology also provides enhanced, controlled and precise bump-free manoeuvring.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesman says: “The new AL-KO Ranger motor-mover is an attractively-priced alternative for those people who want the combination of the trusted AL-KO brand name with a cost-effective price point, coupled with the benefit of easier manoeuvring of their caravan. Thanks to its easy-to-operate remote control, the mover provides millimetre-precise accuracy and completely effortless manoeuvrability. With the ability to complete a 360-degree rotation of single-axle touring caravans on the spot, the AL-KO Ranger puts the caravan in the right place, whether at home or on site.”
The AL-KO Ranger’s mechanics – including its aluminium rollers and motor units – are protected within a plastic housing mounted via a clamp mechanism to the underside of the caravan’s chassis. The electronics can be installed inside one of the caravan’s storage spaces; and an LED display on the controller and push-button remote control alerts users to various working limits of the motor mover.
Like AL-KO Mammut, the new Ranger is provided with a five-year warranty according to AL-KO Warranty Terms.
The AL-KO Ranger mover can be retrofitted to most caravans, including non AL-KO chassis caravans, and can be purchased from most caravan dealers, mobile fitting companies and caravan accessory outlets.
Stocks of the motor-mover – which has a suggested retail price of £1,099.00 including installation – are available from caravan industry wholesaler, Leisure Plus, based in Hixon, Staffordshire.
For further information on the AL-KO Ranger or the company’s range of leisure-sector solutions, visit www.al-ko.co.uk, email ranger@al-ko.co.uk or call 01926 818500.
AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of vehicle chassis systems for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has been working in partnership with Manchester-based commercial vehicle bodybuilders Alloy Bodies to create the HiLo, an all-new, low-floor ‘Aero Luton’ conversion based on the Citroen Relay ‘back-to-back’ cab.
The Citroen Relay HiLo is the latest addition to the Alloy Bodies range and is an ideal solution for manually-handled loads in a multi-drop environment. By adopting a low-floor AL-KO Kober chassis conversion to create a Luton-style commercial vehicle, the HiLo offers a range-topping 1,335Kg payload, increases volume by approximately 1.5 cubic meters, provides easy access and offers a low centre of gravity to improve on-road stability.
Commenting for Alloy Bodies, business development manager Anthony Clayton says: “Our first partnership with AL-KO Kober was in 2009 when a commercial vehicle OEM asked us to create a concept using its AL-KO converted chassis. Unfortunately, the concept was eventually shelved by the OEM as it was deemed that demand wasn’t significant enough at that time.
“However, when a UK-based Citroen dealer and customer approached Alloy Bodies and asked that a solution be developed for the ‘back-to-back’ Relay cab, we knew that AL-KO had the best and only solution for the project in the UK.”
As trends in the market have progressed, AL-KO Kober’s chassis systems have become more attractive because they offer a low-frame which, when coupled to the right build solution, is better suited to carrying freight thanks to its ease of loading and potential for increased payloads and volumes.
The order potential from the Citroen dealer was significant, so Alloy Bodies knew from the outset that they needed to work closely with AL-KO Kober’s engineering department as this wasn’t simply a case of building a box frame on a chassis. It instead required a design partnership where Alloy Bodies were building the bodywork to suit the chassis and AL-KO Kober were building the chassis to suit the bodywork.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesperson says: “It became apparent after some very early conversations that we needed to get our design teams working together to provide the right solution. The partnership worked very well and was quite refreshing for both Alloy Bodies and the Citroen dealer who, historically, were used to chassis manufacturers telling them that they can have anything they want, as long as it’s one of five or six chassis styles!”
They go on to say that the downside for the off-the-shelf approach to chassis supply is that commercial vehicle OEMs or bodybuilders often have to add components to a chassis, or remove parts from it, to suit the final build.
For Alloy Bodies, the ultimate goal was for AL-KO Kober to deliver the Citroen cab to them with its chassis ready for the Luton conversion. Says Anthony Clayton: “It’s preferable to avoid any substantial remedial works to factory chassis as it affects throughput, so it was a considerable advantage for us when AL-KO Kober happily designed-in and integrated some of our own designs to its chassis to reduce our build process.
“The partnership has been a real benefit to us. Improving efficiencies and adopting a pre-engineered approach on a new product shows how technology is continually shaping our industry. Commercial vehicle body building in the UK has been somewhat of a ‘cottage industry’, historically using people skills to design and develop bodywork instead of opting for a wholly-engineered approach from concept to creation. To maximise our considerable investment, most of our new products are now designed and modelled with 3D Solidworks.”
As AL-KO Kober’s spokesperson explains, by creating an engineering partnership during the vehicle’s design and build, the benefits are clear. Alloy Bodies and AL-KO created systems and components that were as light as was structurally possible which, in turn, created a vehicle that was Alloy Bodies’ easiest to assemble and lightest yet.
“Because AL-KO Kober ensured that the chassis was delivered to Alloy Bodies as specified and ready for conversion, the concept HiLo was assembled in no time and with no issues during the build cycle.” they say.
What’s more, having invested over £500,000 with COP and Type Approval; introducing ISO management and manufacturing systems; and introducing 3D systems in 2012, Alloy Bodies now has EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval of the Citroen Relay, AL-KO chassis system and its HiLo conversion to add to its comprehensive list of Type Approvals.
The partnership between the two companies also provides a flexible approach to the ordering and build processes, with Alloy Bodies offering the AL-KO chassis within its costs, or AL-KO offering the HiLo solution within its conversion costs. Either way, the UK-based Citroen dealer can arrange for the ‘back-to-back’ cabs to be delivered direct to AL-KO Kober’s manufacturing facility in Warwickshire, which helps to reduce the overall build time.
And, far from seeing a reduction in the number of standard Luton-based conversions the company builds, the HiLo conversion on the AL-KO Kober chassis has enhanced sales for the company and now accounts for about 25% of all conversions for Alloy Bodies.
Summarising for Alloy Bodies, Anthony Clayton says “The low-floor ‘Luton’ sector, and our share of it, has seen significant growth over the past decade and we are certainly manufacturing more HiLo conversions year on year.
“Even as market leader, we’re not the only company offering a low-floor solution in the UK. But, with almost 50 years of body building heritage and experience, we know we have brought to market a solution that innovates and will stand the test of time.”
Following the merger between AL-KO Kober Vehicle Technology Division and Dexter Axle at the beginning of 2016 – and in a move that consolidates the UK businesses – AL-KO Kober Limited has announced the relocation and integration of the recently-acquired Bradley Doublelock business into the company’s UK headquarters in Southam, Warwickshire. The relocation is part of a group-wide review of the Yorkshire-based business and includes all sales and manufacturing departments.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesman says: “A significant amount of work has already been done to re-energise the Bradley and Dixon Bate brands and product ranges since AL-KO Kober acquired the company in 2014 and this move has been designed to further strengthen the organisation. It will ensure that both AL-KO Kober and Bradley Doublelock provide the best range of heavy-duty towing and trailer equipment and vehicle chassis solutions available in the market; and the restructuring within the business also ensures that both brands continues to lead the industry.”
The move to integrate the Bradley business and the manufacture of the diverse product range into the plant in Southam will enable long standing customer relationships to continue, whilst improving the efficiency of supply of products that have led the trailer and towing components market for decades.
The company has also completed a product rationalisation program that identifies similar products across the ranges from both companies. Where possible, this has led to a refinement in the products being offered and opened up the wider availability of components to both Bradley and AL-KO customers.
“Meeting buyers expectations for service, deliveries and ensuring our customers get what they need, when they need it has been a major objective throughout the project. To meet this, we have put in place supplier relationships with wholesalers to hold stocks of the frequently ordered ranges to improve and maintain consistent delivery lead times to original equipment manufacturers, trailer and towing components outlets and end users.”
The Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland territories will continue to be supported by the sales and distribution office based in Athlone, County Westmeath. This facility will continue to stock, supply and support both AL-KO and Bradley ranges of trailer and towing components and assume responsibility for customers in Ireland.
Order and logistics management have already been relocated to AL-KO Kober’s Warwickshire headquarters and, whilst manufacturing of numerous of Bradley Doublelock products is still ongoing and supplied from Bingley in West Yorkshire, the relocation of machinery and production to Southam is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
“This is a great opportunity to reinforce both brands to customers of Bradley and AL-KO products alike. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate that the UK’s market-leading towing and trailer components will be more widely available and the ranges being delivered more efficiently and with greater manufacturer support.”
