Courier company Eskimo Express has added two Citroen Relay vans to its fleet of 20 temperature-controlled vehicles.

The Relay L3H2 diesel vans have been converted by Norwich-based refrigerated body manufacturer Paneltex Somers and  feature dual compartment bodies, one operating at -25°C and the other at +25°C.This means that Eskimo Express can utilise one vehicle on jobs where previously it would have had to have used two vehicles.

The company anticipates both these vehicles will have a working life of up to six years, and that it will be ordering more of this type of vehicle from Paneltex Somers later this year.

Tony Colato from Eskimo Express said: “Much of our courier work is specifically for the pharmaceutical industry and we have found that, apart from Paneltex Somers, no other vehicle body manufacturer can manufacture such a high level of refrigerated conversion that is ideally suited to this industry.

“Our vehicles work extremely hard, on deliveries and collections all over Europe, so the reliability and consistent performance achieved by our refrigerated vehicles is vital to the success of the business.”

During 2013 Eskimo Express purchased two ATP Certified Citroen Berlingos from Paneltex Somers that were converted at the company’s Norwich based manufacturing site.

The success of these two vehicles resulted in this latest order for two Citroen Relays.

Colato said: “Because of the nature of the delivery work they are involved in, the refrigerated body conversion is, by design, quite complex and detailed.

"In addition to the capability of a 50°C differential between the two compartments, the vehicle also has twin temperature recorders, to ensure that load integrity is never compromised at any time, and full European coverage satellite tracking. "

The high temperature differential on these two vehicles is achieved by Paneltex’s ‘ Flexi-Temp’ bulkhead system with double seals and high impact finish.

This provides a fully sealed, thermally efficient, partition wall between the two compartments. In addition, the vehicles are specified with two apertures in which to fit the bulkhead, giving full multi-compartment flexibility.

Refrigeration is provided by a Thermoking V300 Max Spectrum dual evaporator refrigeration unit.