Doors of success?
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LAWRENCE David Ltd, the Peterborough based body builder, has announced its Max-cess van body suitable for both rigid vehicles and semi trailers.
The chief difference with the Max-cess lies in the operation of its side doors.
Each of the doors can be opened from either left hand or right hand edge, providing access down the side of the body at any point. It also allows for single or double door openings and the doors can be removed completely giving complete side access.
There are no pillars to obstruct loading because the doors are hinged by their locking mechanisms.
At the top, a cam type of lug locates in a special socket in the cant rail, while at the lower edge of the doors a release and close handle is swung thrOugh 90° to open or close the door. When locked, the other side of the door can be released, and the door hinged on the locked side.
Each of the doors of the Max-cess is manufactured from square sectioned steel tubes panelled on the outside with aluminium.
If required, the inside of the doors can be insulated for refrigerated operation, although there is some temperature loss through the rubber sealed door joints.
In normal circumstances the rubber sealing is more than adequate for all weather conditions.
For TIR operation the body can be sealed by passing a cord through rings around the body sides which prevents the release handles from being opened.
To allow top loading, a detachable canvas roof section can be used in place of a fixed roof. Various combinations of door width are available for the Max-cess which can be tailored to suit individual operators requirements.
The maker says that the body is very strong even when the doors and roof are removed.
An additional benefit, claims the maker, is that the loading is tailored for metric width pallets.
Further advantage it says is the easy replacement oi damaged doors if required an easier unloading without thE need for specialised fork HI equipment.
The extra cost over a stan. dard body of say 6.25m (20f1 6in) length is around £800.