PEN09/28: PENNY HYDRAULICS ACHIEVES VOLKSWAGEN ACCREDITED CONVERTER STATUS (12 November 2009)

Issue Date: 12 November 2009
Ref: PEN09/28

PENNY HYDRAULICS ACHIEVES VOLKSWAGEN ACCREDITED CONVERTER STATUS

Penny Hydraulics has achieved Accredited Converter status with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (UK) following a rigorous evaluation of its commercial and technical capabilities covering manufacturing, installation and after sales service. As an Accredited Converter within Volkswagen’s “Engineered for YouTM” programme Penny Hydraulics can now install its range of Swing Lift cranes and side and rear mounted platform lifts on the complete range of Volkswagen light commercial vehicles without using a separate bodybuilder or converter. Vehicles prepared by Penny Hydraulics will have the identical warranty and after sales support to that of the base vehicle.

“This enhances our ability to offer a complete one stop shop for our customers and provide them with specialist load handling solutions on their new Volkswagen light commercial vehicles,” says Richard Short, Sales Director at Penny Hydraulics. “The combination of Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles and Penny Hydraulics’ load handling equipment promotes performance and productivity while enabling businesses to eliminate manual handling from their operations and comply with health and safety regulations.”

To become an Accredited Converter Penny Hydraulics had to demonstrate compliance with Volkswagen's commercial and technical requirements. Criteria included relevant quality control processes, comprehensive after-sales facilities and suitably qualified engineers to work on the vehicles. An independent inspection by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) covered areas such as the company's systems, staff training records, production quality control, design control, and product quality.

The first vehicles prepared by Penny Hydraulics after the new Accredited Converter status was confirmed are being used by Trade Part Specialists (TPS), the network of centres that supply Volkswagen Group Original Parts® to the motor trade. Penny Hydraulics has installed its Load Lift platform lift in six Volkswagen Transporters and four Crafters and its Miniloader 500 cranes in five Volkswagen Crafters. The platform lifts and cranes will be used to handle a wide range of items including spare parts such as gear boxes, and accessories such as barrels of oil to help TPS delivery staff avoid manual handling.