Proving that as well as versatility, the safety of Edstrom’s products is hard to beat, racking, shelving and roof mounted systems designed and produced by the company have achieved outstanding results in vehicle crash simulations.

The esteemed Millbrook vehicle test and development facility in Bedfordshire was the location for tests carried out on a new van body fitted with Edstrom vehicle racking systems including shelving, drawers, roof rails and accessories. Additionally, bulkhead safety and security internal partitions were also put through their paces.

Though currently there are no defined tests for internal fittings, Edstrom were not deterred. After extensive research undertaken by company personnel and advice sought from industry experts, a recognised EC test method simulating severe impact was considered to be the most appropriate.

The resulting test piece, in this case a van body and its fittings, was subjected to a severe test impact curve that peaked rapidly to a punishing 20 G-force. As a measure of intensity, the resultant 'pulse' was equivalent, in real terms, to a frightening head-on impact with a solid stationary object or two vehicles crashing at 30 mph. Now that is impressive!

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Millbrook engineers confirmed, "The test was performed using an acceleration pulse that conformed to the displacement of luggage test for ECE R17.07. The internal racking system and mobile workshop plus roof rack and associated accessories were successfully retained."

The Edstrom products proved their structural integrity with little evidence of failure. Overall, the system was intact and importantly, remained firmly fixed to original mountings on the floor, walls and most significantly, the gutters. Even though the racking system and roof rack were loaded with fixed weights to simulate the payload, they passed with flying colours. All drawers remained intact. None of the contents burst onto the floor that, when considering the magnitude of the impact, could have encroached into an unprotected driver's cab with the potential for injury.

Throughout the test, simulating the extreme conditions that might be encountered in an accident, the bulkhead partition retained the integrity required to restrain loose loads and prevent injury to driver and passengers in the cab area.

The tests were witnessed by representatives from the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA); the UK’s national approval authority for new road vehicles, agricultural tractors and off-road vehicles; a leading motor manufacturer and the full Millbrook test laboratory staff.

The successful test was one of many in an ongoing series to ensure the Edstrom range meets current and future safety and stability standards both within the United Kingdom and Europe. As such, the company has set a precedent being pioneers by the introduction of such a testing regime toward the creation of a new industry standard. Its now an integral part of the Edstrom culture with the objective of continually ensuring the highest standards in safety, with reliability and stability both for the company’s components but for the materials and products being carried in customers’ vehicles. Such a testing and development programme is being used so future legislation and the requirements of customers, concerned about the safety of personnel, are met in full.