CPL

For over 10 years, CPL has been leading the way for the vehicle conversion market with new solutions for working at height challenges.

Founded in 2011 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, the company began with a single design, the pick-up mounted platform. Although other models were available, the CPLbuilt conversion soon became a firm favourite within the utilities sector, thanks to the knowledge and passion of the directors to develop UK manufacturing and the service provided post-sale – something that customers had struggled with historically.

As the company’s customer base evolved, it quickly became apparent that there was a gap in the market for other sectors working at height. This led to the partnership between CPL and the Klubb Group, European manufacturers of van-mounted platforms. Initially a dealer for the French group, CPL offered these new van-mounted designs into the UK market and found the UK customers hungry for a different product offering and were a great success. This was mainly due to alternative designs allowing for a more efficient deployment, increased payload, and therefore cost saving, solution.

CPL, with the backing of the Klubb Group, introduced both the cutaway van mounted platform and a design without outriggers. These key features saved on weight, adding additional payload, and kept the units compact, making them more manoeuvrable and therefore less likely to be damaged.

With these innovative changes to the historical norm found with a cherry picker came an interest from several industries including telecommunications and rental. These sectors not only craved efficiency with safety, but they also had challenges of their own – with one major element being the reduction of their carbon footprint.

An obvious result was to turn to fully electric base vehicles with a battery-powered boom.

Although theoretically this was the go-to option, this brought new challenges. For example, the range of electric commercial vehicles would not be suitable for a full day travelling from one

intervention to the next. The second large consideration was the cost of fully electric base vehicles; these were over double the retail price of a diesel model.

With these challenges in mind, CPL went to work on designing viable options and garnering customer feedback to ensure that the designs were both affordable and fit for purpose. This is where the hybrid range of access equipment was conceived.

CPL’s ‘Green pack’ is now compatible with the traditional diesel base vehicles. This allows the diesel vehicle to be driven to site, the engine is then switched off and the boom is operated from the battery pack, with options for either a plug-in recharge or the green pack will charge while the vehicle is being driven between interventions.

Providing the ‘Green Pack’ option across all models from 11m to 15m working heights on a Renault Master van has reassured the full customer base of CPL that they can cut emissions while increasing efficiency. From full charge the boom can be operated for 15 cycles before the need to recharge.

The most popular options across industries are the KL26 which has a working height of 11.8m and a working outreach of 6.5m. This option is manufactured with a cutaway back and no outriggers and is mounted on the 3.5t Renault Master. Also, a strong favourite is the KL32 which can be mounted on a 3.5t full van or a 4.5t cutaway version allowing for exceptional payload.

Some may say “Why change from traditional diesel engines powering the boom?’ Is there any real benefit from a hybrid commodity or is it just a fad?’’

Studies show that the cost to idle is approximately half a gallon of fuel per hour. With current fuel costs increasing daily, this equates to a saving of over £4,000 per unit per year. For those with a fleet of access equipment, this is detrimental to their business. This is, of course, not what engines were designed for. Sitting idle for long periods of time is harmful to the engine causing the DPF filters to clog leading to higher maintenance costs.

CPL now provides these hybrid solutions into all the largest telecoms and rental companies across the UK while the Klubb Group has market share across the whole of Europe. This has led subcontractors to consider the solution as the most affordable option, with the asset worth substantially more than traditional platforms in the second-hand market.

As the need for sustainable vehicles, with suitable range, within the commercial sector rises, so does the efforts from the vehicle manufacturers.

As one of the largest customers for commercial vehicles in the conversion market, CPL is pushing forward with their innovative designs and changing the landscape of the market for the consumer.

After all, customer feedback is what CPL is built on.