Healthy boost with cool 300 Renault Master vans order

ONE of the UK’s leading distributors of pharmaceutical, medical, health and beauty products has enhanced its fleet with the addition of over 300 Renault Master panel vans converted by the manufacturer to offer full ambient temperature control.

Alliance Healthcare UK, which is part of the pharmaceutical wholesale division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, will use the specialised Renault Masters to assist in the twice-daily delivery of its products to nationwide pharmacies. The ambient temperature control conversions ensure the medical supplies are transported at a constant and correct temperature.

The new vans replace existing Renault Masters on the Alliance Healthcare fleet and also a number of vehicles from other manufacturers.

Constructed to Alliance Healthcare’s exacting specifications, the Renault Masters have been built entirely ‘in-house’ to offer the firm the convenience of a product that is instantly ready for work, the vans being manufactured, converted and prepared for delivery by Renault facilities.

The initial conversion was undertaken by Renault Tech – the manufacturer’s specialist division that designs and produces converted vehicles in accordance with Groupe Renault’s quality standards.

Alliance Healthcare opted to equip all of its Renault Master Panel Vans with the ENERGY 2.3-litre turbodiesel engine, the firm switching to the advanced Twin Turbo power unit after initial trials showed significant gains in efficiency and performance.

Notably, the fitment of the engine, which utilises Stop & Start technology, an ECO function and regenerative braking system (Energy Smart Management), will make a significant contribution to Alliance Healthcare’s commitment to reducing its carbon emissions.

Ordered in ‘Business’ level of trim, the Renault Masters offer Alliance Healthcare’s operatives an extensive specification that incorporates a host of safety, comfort and convenience-enhancing features.

Standard equipment includes a DAB radio with Bluetooth, electric front windows, remote central locking, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with HSA (Hill Start Assist) and Grip Xtend; which over loose surfaces such as gravel, light snow and mud, allows one wheel to spin to help aid traction.

In addition to the bespoke ambient temperature conversion, which also included extra lighting and side and rear door curtains, Alliance Healthcare has equipped its Renault Masters with a host of factory-fitted options. These include air conditioning, 270-degree opening rear doors, uprated alternator, all-weather tyres and, in the interests of safety, a 68mph speed limiter and a reversing camera.

All of the Renault Masters have been supplied through Renault Manchester, the dealership adding to the convenience of the order by arranging for the application of Alliance Healthcare’s striking livery to each van. As a Renault Pro+ specialist fleet dealer, the dealership is able to offer services and vehicles that are tailored to the complex needs of business customers.

Alliance Healthcare group fleet manager Frank Stanley said: “To ensure that we meet the latest changes to the regulatory requirements to the delivery and control of pharmaceutical products, Alliance Healthcare commissioned work to purchase climate control vehicles to replace some of our ageing fleet.

“After extensive trials and testing by Fleet and the Operations team, working with the wider group (Walgreens Boots Alliance Procurement team), and a competitive tender process, we are delighted to have selected Renault as our supplier.

“This solution incorporates fully insulated load compartments in the vehicles, combined with a climate control and temperature monitoring system – making the new generation of vehicles fully compliant with the regulations. It’s fantastic to be able to obtain a complete purchase and build of the new Alliance Healthcare climate control vehicle under one supplier.”

Alliance Healthcare’s national logistics manager Andy Blythe said: “We recognise that our service has an impact on the environment and this was a key factor on our decision to make such an impressive investment in the Renault Master, the vehicle’s advanced technology set to assist us considerably in lowering our carbon emissions.

“We will continue to work with our established partner Renault on future upgrades to our temperature-controlled vehicles, as and when they appear on the market, to ensure that Alliance Healthcare can provide the very best delivery solutions to all our customers now, and in the future.”

Nick Tame, Groupe Renault UK’s sales director, said: “We are delighted that Alliance Healthcare has once again identified the Renault Master to be its ideal delivery vehicle and that these new additions will help them significantly in their drive to be increasingly environmentally-compatible.

“As a leader in its industry, Alliance Healthcare has built its success on quality and value, and its confidence in our product and our ability to deliver that vehicle to the highest standards is a great testimony as to why Renault is Europe’s leading LCV brand for 18 consecutive years.”

The Renault Master range is available from £21,420 ex. VAT. Customers can choose from five different engines, front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive; and several bodystyles, including panel van, crew van and passenger.

In addition, many Renault Master conversions are available through the company’s entire dealer network and also its specialised, business-focused Renault Pro+ dealers. These include ‘off-the-shelf’ dropside, box van, Luton Loloader and tipper variants. Renault also works in conjunction with 30 UK-based Approved Converters who are able to build bespoke vehicles on demand to Renault’s high standards.

The Renault Master is a core vehicle in the LCV product offering from the manufacturer’s specialised Renault Pro+ brand, which comprises of a vehicle range, services and a network dedicated to business customers. As part of its commitment to business customers and in line with the ever-increasing demand for its LCV vehicles, the number of Renault Pro+ specialist dealerships in the UK will double by the start of 2017 to nearly 80.

Renault van sales in the UK grew by over 20 per cent to 13,435 vehicles in the first half of 2016, significantly outpacing the van market that grew by 2.5 per cent, according to official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.