Allpark racks up the miles with new FUSO Canter
Cycling’s soaring popularity is great news for bike stand and rack manufacturer Allpark, which has just invested in its first FUSO Canter to help it meet increased demand for its products.
Allpark is based in Northfleet, Kent, and recently won a prestigious export contract to supply stands for more than 3,000 cycles at the giant King Abdullah Financial District development project in Saudi Arabia. It also installed over 250 two-tier racks at the Houses of Parliament earlier this year.
The company’s 3.5-tonne Canter 3C15 arrived via Mercedes-Benz Dealer Sparshatts of Kent – the German manufacturer’s franchised UK network is also responsible for sales and support of the popular Japanese light truck range.
The vehicle is the subject of a competitively priced CharterWay contract hire package from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and fitted with a 16ft dropside body by JC Payne, of Aldridge, West Midlands.
The Canter’s fuel-efficient 110 kW (150 hp) engine is mated to a DUONIC gearbox – the first twin-plate, dual-clutch automated transmission to be fitted to a light truck, DUONIC provides smooth shifting and economical performance with none of the frictional losses found in traditional automatics. Features include an Eco Mode for even more fuel-efficient cruising, as well as parking and ‘creep’ functions for low-speed manoeuvring.
Allpark also runs two more 3.5-tonners, a Luton van and a flat-bed, by other manufacturers. But it now assigns most tasks to the Canter, which is on the road constantly. The vehicle typically delivers finished racks and stands, as well as bollards and other street furniture, to customers located in and around London, and transports steel to and from the suppliers in Sittingbourne, half an hour’s drive from Northfleet, which galvanise and powder coat Allpark’s products.
“The Canter is able to carry more product than our flat-bed,” says Allpark Sales Director Adam Barlow. “It’s demanding work but we’re confident our new vehicle is up to the job because unlike most 3.5-tonners, which are van-based, it has a strong, ladder-frame chassis and is built like a proper truck.”
The Canter has won a resounding ‘thumbs up’ from Allpark driver Tony Andrews, who finds it comfortable and manoeuvrable. “He particularly likes the auto ’box,” continues Mr Barlow. “The two-pedal set-up make life easier for Tony and improves safety too, because it leaves him free to concentrate fully on what’s going on around him without having to worry about which gear he’s in.”
A leader in its field, Allpark supplies and installs a comprehensive range of standard and bespoke steel, stainless steel and aluminium products, which come in a variety of finishes. Already very busy, the company has been further buoyed by the Government’s recent announcement of a £94 million funding package to promote cycling in English cities and National Parks.
Mr Barlow adds: “Sparshatts dealt with our enquiry very efficiently, responding to our request for a quote more quickly than the couple of other dealers we approached. It committed to meet our tight delivery schedule and the vehicle duly arrived on time and to the correct specification.”
For more information, visit allpark.co.uk.
