Dorset funeral directors finalise Binz fleet renewal

The Dorset-based family of funeral directors FC Douch, including James Smith (Funeral Directors Swanage) Ltd: Lesley Shand Funeral Service, Poole, Albert Marsh, Wareham, AE Jolliffe and Son, Ferndown, and now Ives & Shand Funeral Service of Parkstone, Poole has now finalised its fleet renewal programme with the delivery of eight cars from Binz (UK) Ltd.

The four sleek Binz E-class based limousines and matching extended chassis hearses represents a large investment for the firm and by opting for the iF Design award winning Binz hearses and the timeless lines of the E-class Binz limousines provides the group with an element of fleet 'fashion-proofing' for the foreseeable future.

Nick Douch, assistant to FC Douch's managing director highlights the group's reasoning behind the purchase of a Binz fleet. "It is critical that we offer the highest standards possible. In today's market people expect perfection in everything. As service providers we need to be sure that our
vehicles are properly equipped to meet both market demands and safety legislation. The Binz is the only authorised extended chassis limousine and hearse approved by Mercedes; it is the only package that has full European type approval and Euro NCAP crash test results to verify its integrity."

He continues, "When we look at the overall quality of the workmanship in the Binz vehicles it is second to none. Everything fits properly, there are no rough edges and everything works exactly as it should do. When it comes to the hearse, Binz recognises that this is a load carrying vehicle and attention to detail and proper load restraints makes this one of the safest hearses on the road - yet it attains this goal while making the casket deck look an integral part of the design.

"There was some slight concern that the local market would be intimidated by the contemporary lines of the Binz hearses, but the market has reacted positively to this more modern look with its blend of subtle curves and curved glass lending a softer and airier view of the coffin and accompanying floral tributes."


Peter Smith, managing director of Binz (UK)Ltd. added, "We have been privileged to be able to supply such a solution to a prestige operation as the FC Douch group. We have invested heavily in researching and designing a hearse and limousine that specifically meets the needs of the UK and Irish funeral market. Seeing that investment resulting in supply contracts such as this one with FC Douch is justification of the time and effort put into developing the product and building the client relationships within the market."