Press Information

Release Immediate
6th January 2009
No. 1404

UNIQUE VOLVO FM RIGID IMPROVES PRIMA FLEET EFFICIENCY

Fashion logistics and garment processing specialists Prima Distribution have taken delivery of a unique Volvo FM rigid truck, which offers seamless transition between pallet, carton and hanging garment transport. The FM-300 4x2 vehicle features bespoke bodywork by Ekeri of Finland and will act as proof of concept for the Crewe-based operator, whose customers include New Look, Arcadia, Tesco, Asda and Debenhams.

The truck is the brainchild of Prima’s owner and Managing Director, Ray Halford. “All our customers have different delivery requirements,” he explains. “Some want pallet, some want carton, some want hanging garments – so, effectively, you have to run two fleets to handle it all. It occurred to me that, by adapting some of the features used in refrigerated bodies, you could combine it all in one vehicle. You’d have a moisture-proof, insulated floor for carton work and rigid sides to allow for instant installation of garment rails – but you could also have fully folding sides to allow for pallet loading with more security than a traditional curtainsider.”

At the 2007 Commercial Vehicle Show, he assembled a team from Volvo, Ekeri and a finance provider and work began. “This will allow us to cover more routes with one vehicle,” says Ray, “and ultimately to provide the same excellent service to our clients with a smaller fleet.”

The Globetrotter-cabbed truck’s specification also includes a specially-designed DHollandia tuckaway tail-lift whose emergence angle has been tailored to the unique bodywork.

In such a complex project, support from Volvo was crucial. “Volvo were great,” says Ray. “They were happy to ship the chassis to Finland for bodybuilding, they offer good prices and they work with their customers. And you can’t fault the service you get from our local Dealer, Hartshorne Motor Services in Newcastle-under-Lyme.  They bend over backwards for us – they’re just fantastic people. We’ve tried plenty of marques over the 20 years we’ve been going and some have had good trucks – but you’re only as good as your local presence and that’s where Volvo and Hartshorne really score. I wish to God I’d gone with Volvo 20 years ago!”

- ENDS -

Notes for Editors :

1. Prima has been providing quality transport and delivery services for 25 years and its current customer portfolio boasts many of the UK’s leading high street retailers.
2. The company specialises in services for clothing manufacturers, importers and retailers - from transportation and storage to full garment processing and quality control.
3. Prima currently operates from two sites. The Offices in Mitcham, Surrey handle the administration and finances of the business under the stewardship of Sally Halford. Transport, warehousing and processing, managed by Ray Halford, all take place at Prima's 8.5 acre site just outside Crewe, Cheshire.
4. Specialist hanging garment distribution has always been Prima's traditional strength but a recent programme of investment into the company's infrastructure has allowed Prima to offer a much wider range of services.

For more information, please contact :
Nigel Hanwell, Press Officer, Volvo Trucks
Tel :                 +44 (0) 1926 414210
Mobile :           +44 (0) 7831 817083
Fax :                +44 (0) 1926 414386
E-mail :           nigel.hanwell@volvo.com  

This unique Volvo FM-300 with Ekeri bodywork is set to transform fleet utilisation for fashion logistics specialist Prima Distribution

This unique Volvo FM-300 with Ekeri bodywork is set to transform fleet utilisation for fashion logistics specialist Prima Distribution

This unique Volvo FM-300 with Ekeri bodywork is set to transform fleet utilisation for fashion logistics specialist Prima Distribution