Citroen makes it fridge van 4,000 for Somers

Leading Citroen Ready to Run converter Somers Refrigeration has just produced its 4,000th temperature controlled van – a new Berlingo. The Norfolk-based fridge vehicle specialist has also just expanded its range of Ready to Run conversions and increased its production capacity by 20% thanks to a £500,000 investment since its April acquisition by the Paneltex Group.

Somers 4,000th conversion is an ATP type approved freezer for the latest, larger Berlingo. This milestone vehicle is in a special livery to mark the occasion and is now available as a customer demonstrator. The new Somers temperature controlled conversion for the latest Berlingo van includes a GAH AF20 roof-mounted freezer unit and a newly designed insulated bulkhead – which optimises both load and cab space.

The new Berlingo conversion also features Somers’ newly developed rear insulated door mouldings. These are now available across the entire Somers Citroen Ready to Run range. Somers’ latest rear door design has been developed to improve repairability in the event of an accident and also to make any door locking mechanism/wiring maintenance easier.

In addition, Somers has increased its range of temperature controlled Citroen Ready to Run product with a new Nemo chiller van – which will soon be complemented with a Nemo freezer van model. Somers has also added a new larger Ready to Run temperature controlled van with the addition of an insulated box van model based on the 3.5 tonne gvw Relay 35 L2 chassis cab.

This large new Ready to Run temperature controlled box van offers a 14cu.m load capacity and, at 1100kg, one of the best payloads in its class. The Paneltex box body fitted by Somers has an internal height of 1.9m and it can be optionally racked, making it ideal for applications such as door-to-door deliveries. The box van body can be supplied in chiller or freezer configurations. Both are fitted with GAH Javelin units and dependent on configuration can maintain body temperatures from 0 to -18 degrees Centigrade. Somers will be offering a freezer version of the box van bodied Ready to Run Relay as a customer demonstrator in the near future.

Other Somers improvements to its 2008/9 range of Citroen Ready to Run temperature controlled conversions include new door seals for all its freezer van models. These new longer-lipped door seals provide even better insulation performance and greater durability, along with much easier door closing.

Somers offers some 50 Citroen Ready to Run chiller and freezer temperature controlled conversions based on the Nemo, Berlingo First, new Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay ranges. All Somers’ chilled van conversions operate in the 0 to +5 degrees Centigrade range, while freezer models, dependent on specification, can operate down to -25 degrees Centigrade.

Robert Handyside, Citroen’s commercial vehicle operations manager, comments, “Citroen selected Somers for its Ready to Run programme as it has a reputation for producing the highest quality temperature controlled conversions, which combine exceptional, ATP tested thermal performance with industry leading levels of reliability and durability. We are pleased to see that Somers is continuing to develop, improve and expand its Citroen Ready to Run range of temperature controlled conversions to maintain their technological and operational lead over competition.”

Since taking over Somers in April the Paneltex Group has invested heavily in the company, increasing production capacity by 20 per cent to around 500 units a year. Staff levels have been increased by a third, enabling better customer service and improved delivery lead times. Also, with the takeover Somers can now offer local repair facilities in Norfolk, Hull and Andover, as well as a mobile repair service.