Pat's the way to do it

Apr 16 2008 By Jon Griffin

BOSSES at Birmingham vanmaker LDV are turning to Postman Pat to capture a share of the UK Post Office market.

Mobile post offices made by the city firm will soon be serving rural communities just like the fictional Greendale.

A three-year joint project between the Post Office and the Washwood Heath manufacturer has resulted in the company designing a dedicated rural mobile van.

The MAXUS vehicle comes fully equipped with everything customers could expect in their local high street post office - and 40 vehicles will soon be in service across the UK.

John Ball, LDV's direct supply fleet manager, said: "Our brief was to accommodate all Post Office equipment and electronic services into a compact secure counter within our 3.5 tonne MAXUS van.

"Prototypes were designed, built and then tried and tested before the finished model was produced."

Customers enter the mobile unit via the rear door. The unit can house up to six adults and includes provisions for wheelchair access. The interior is fully insulated and includes heating and ventilation.

The Post Office project was unveiled at the 2008 Commercial Vehicle Show, where LDV said it was aiming for 5,000 export sales this year - with a major drive in Malaysia.

Bosses of the Washwood Heath manufacturer say the firm is on course for a successful year following its purchase by Russian group GAZ in the summer of 2006.

Speaking at the NEC show, new LDV chief executive Evgeniy Vereshchagin said the vanmaker had made "solid progress" since the acquisition by the Russians.

"Our manufacturing volumes have doubled, with productivity increasing by 38 per cent and we have created 200 new jobs.

"2008 will see us introduce more new models and we are also extending our bespoke product offering through our dedicated special vehicle operations department."