Oakleaf European are leading importers, exporters and distributors of high quality fresh produce, poultry, speciality meats, dairy produce, charcuterie and fine foods. The company runs a 10 strong fleet of refrigerated vehicles and the latest truck to join their fleet is an MAN 4x 2 12tonne rigid that has been specified with a Paneltex 5.8m refrigerated box body manufactured to full ATP certification.
This is the first time that the Bournemouth-based company has specified Paneltex refrigerated body work for its vehicles and according to Patrick Mulhall from Oakleaf European, "We chose Paneltex because of their reputation for high standards of workmanship as well as their ability to supply the bodywork to ATP specification, which is now standard across all our fleet. The vehicle has gone into service already and we are extremely pleased with its performance so far."
Oakleaf European supplies its customers with high quality fresh produce from Rungis Market, the world's largest food market just outside Paris in France. This latest addition to their fleet is now distributing the company's product range to chefs throughout the UK, and is also acting as a backup vehicle for delivery routes between Paris and Bournemouth.
The single compartment Paneltex bodywork features a Carrier Supra 550 diesel over-cab refrigeration system which enables the bodywork to have an internal constant temperature of +5° C. With the MAN rigid being specified with a XL sleeper cab for driver comfort on overnight journeys, Paneltex had to revise the body specification by designing a special recess for the refrigeration unit to ensure that full European height restrictions were correctly adhered to. The body also has triple rear doors as well as a personnel access side door to the nearside of the truck.
The vehicle also has a Ratcliff RPT 1007F tuckaway taillift fitted, to facilitate urban deliveries and palletised drops, as well as a CCI Transcan logger. Oakleaf are now expecting to operate this vehicle over a six-year working life.
"As a new customer for Paneltex, Oakleaf has experienced our extensive manufacturing expertise where we have been able to adapt our body specification to their specific European requirement at short notice. We were able to turn round the manufacturing schedule within their short timeframe and we now look forward to Oakleaf becoming a regular customer of ours for many years to come," said Chris Berridge, managing director, Paneltex Ltd.