With 9,200 vans already converted to date in 2015, this has got to be proof that bringing this business in-house was the right idea.

THE idea of having your new van exactly the way you want it and ready for work has really caught on. You only have to look at the success of both Hitachi Trade Ready Solutions and the Renault Pro + network to see that.

On top of helping you choosing the right van for your needs, Hitachi and Renault will go as far as help you to choose the correct racking solution and have that fitted in time for delivery. The Hitachi solution even includes the power tools to go in that racking!

In reaction to these offerings, Vauxhall came up with its solution in the form of its own Vauxhall Conversion centre, which opened last year and Business Vans got a look inside this exclusive part of the Luton plant.

With 9,200 vans already converted to date in 2015, this has got to be proof that bringing this business in-house was the right idea.

So, what does the bulk of their work on Vivaro vans contain? The first van we come to on the floor of the Conversion centre is Vauxhall’s own lairy metallic red-wrapped Vivaro, which is here as an example of what the centre will be doing in the future.

On top of the special wrap, the inside of this van also has one of the racking systems that could be fitted if the customer desires, although they admit they’ve yet to decide on an approved supplier for the racking.

Heating systems for vans bound for Nordic countries

Pre-heater fitted to a Vivaro bound for a Nordic country

Pre-heater being fitted to an Opel-badged Vivaro bound for a Nordic country

Next up, a couple of left-hook Opel-badged Vivaros are in the air, being worked on underneath, with wires dangling from the chassis. Apparently, these are just two of 3,000 converted vans bound for Nordic countries that have been fitted with pre-heaters to deal with the extreme cold.

More impressive, is that we’re told there are no wires cut to fit the system, as the Conversion centre works on the same rigorous pre-delivery inspection system as the factory. In fact, any van receiving any conversion work at the centre will receive a second inspection before being released to the dealer.

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