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Super steel Space Bus;
Page 104
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• Coachwork Walker of • Coachwork Walker of Colne, Lanes is the latest bodybuilder to use Cromweld's 3RC12 stainless steel, in the spaceframe of its ambulance and Space Bus welfare vehicles. They are based on the Al-Ko dropframe Peugeot Talbot Express with petrol or diesel engine options and all models carry a full warranty.
With its 1L5% chromium content, relative lightness and low cost, 3RC12 was chosen for the structural work in place of mild steel or conventional stainless steel. Managing director John Muschamp says: "Its resistance to corrosion (250 times that of mild steel) means that we can be confident of its performance, so very important in a vehicle that is covered for life by GRP panels."
By adopting 3RC12 Coachwork Walker's structural designer, Capoco Design, has been able to use smaller section steel without compromising on strength, cutting the chassis weight by 30%. Since it began the design work in February, Coachwork Walker has won orders for 30 ambulance versions; 10 for Dorset and 16 for Gwent. Final design varies from service to service, but they can be built to a full front-line specification.
With the Express's frontwheel-drive cab module married to the Al-Ko chassis with its 520mm floor height, the vehicle rides easily on front independent suspension and rear trailing arms with laminated torsion bars.
Coachworks' spaceframe is a welded structure of 40x 40mm and 40x 20mm 3CR12 box section, clad in GRP paneling backed with flame-retardant insulation. Vulnerable lower external panels with toughened rubbing strips are easily replaced, and the wide flat floor is covered by phenol-faced birch ply with a non-slip coating.
The cab roof and rear panels have high-level light clusters; the side fairings link the cab and body stylishly.
The Caine manufacturer's new Space Bus, built in the same way as its ambulance stablemate, is designed to meet standards laid down by D1PTAC (Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee) and the DTp, and is well suited for both PSV and welfare work. Its 850mm-wide side doors and 1,165mm rear doors, 285mm step height, and highly conspicuous rails and step edges are designed to help those with mobility and sight problems. Provision is also made for a rear-mounted wheelchair lift.
Cromweld's 3RC12 stainless steel has also been used in the spaceframe of Duple's Integral 425 coach, Neville Charrold's Bulkveyor moving floor semi, and Johnson Engineering's road sweepers.