PRESS INFORMATION FROM BINZ UK

Vito Fills Vital Need

Several months down the line from the National Funeral Exhibition, and still there's no sign of interest in Binz's Mercedes-Benz Vito private ambulance tapering off. With the first examples of these vehicles already earning their keep with UK funeral directors, and an order book now stretching into the high teens, there has to be more to the model's take-up than the company's legendary build quality and attention to detail.

Kevin Smith, sales director at Binz UK puts it down to a combination of health and safety issues on the one hand, and a dearth of medium-sized estate cars on the other. "Where possible one-man collapsible stretchers are becoming the preferred solution when undertaking removals from hospitals and care homes. Unfortunately their method of operation does not fit well with the low sills and limited tailgate heights of many modern estates. Plus, as carmakers try to satisfy an ever-increasing variety of market segments, the Mondeo-class estate car with anything like a decent length of load space is fast becoming an endangered species.

"Then there is the question of occupant protection. A motor manufacturer can give guidance as to how best to secure a load, but at the end of the day has no control over what a private individual will do after that vehicle leaves its showrooms. A business on the other hand has a duty of care to its staff - and perhaps people are now seeing in a solid bulkhead as on our Vito, a more effective load restraint in a collision than a pair of yielding seat backs".

Inside, the twin decks themselves can be accessed through sliding side doors, making it easier to ensure that a coffin or stretcher is properly secured for travel - whether with stops or straps. Binz's decision to base its standard private ambulance upon the Mercedes-Benz Vito 109 CDI long chassis means that vehicle-specific safety issues get the same high priority. So electronic stability control, brake assist and ABS are standard, as is a driver's airbag - all measures that mirror the attention paid to passenger welfare elsewhere within the company's hearse and limousine line up.

Ends

Image caption: "Binz private ambulance plugs gap left by shrinking estates"

More images and further information at: http://www.aardvarkpr.co.uk/downloads.htm

Editors contact:	Ewan Scott 	Aardvark Associates tel. 01484 864 520 
(mob. 07951 963 433) or 01308 897 911
Company contact:			Binz UK  tel. 0118 975 8999

Please note that this document is for information only and is non-contractual;
both Aardvark Associates and Binz UK - Nilsson Ltd. decline all liability in the case of omissions or errors.