This year’s Regent Street Christmas lights were transported in Schmitz Cargobull trailers after a new order from Southern Van Lines, a company also responsible for festive displays in the City of London and towns across the Home Counties.
The two new box trailers are now in service delivering lighting, sound and set equipment for theatre, pantomimes and event companies in the UK and across Europe.
Southern Van Lines chose Schmitz Cargobull equipment after recommendations from other operators working in entertainment logistics who transport delicate bulky freight.
The trailers have an integrated loading ramp built into the back, which makes it safer and easier to unload heavy and time-critical deliveries.
Director at Southern Van Lines, Charles Colley, says: “Nearly every company in our sector uses Schmitz Cargobull trailers and they all rave about the build quality. They’re perfect for everything we do from moving heavy sound systems to delicate lights or stage props.
“They also make the job quicker because we don’t have to spend time getting a ramp out of a side storage box when unloading. The Schmitz Cargobull ramp can be down within a minute of arriving on site.”
Constructed on a MODULUS bolted chassis for extra strength and durability, the new arrivals join a 40-strong fleet and will remain in service for at least 15 years, clocking up 100,000 km annually.
They offer greater protection than a standard trailer thanks to Schmitz Cargobull’s FERROPLAST® panels, which are stronger than glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and more resilient to any damage that could potentially harm fragile cargo.
The panels are also thinner, increasing the trailer’s maximum internal volume and allowing Southern Van Lines to carry bigger payloads, reducing the need to use additional assets.
For the company’s European work, Schmitz Cargobull’s 24-hour EuroService will also provide 24/7 maintenance support 365 days a year.
The team can access support from expert technicians based at more than 1,700 authorised workshops across the Continent, who specialise in services such as axles, electronics and tyres.
Southern Van Lines has been providing transportation and logistics services to the entertainment industry for more than 25 years. Based in Belvedere, Kent, its portfolio of work also includes concerts, exhibitions and festivals.