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tting to precision vehicle manufacturing be another success at home and abroad as did the low floor commuter bus concept. A year later, Van Hool introduced its very first tank container.
Bernard Van Hool
be built for the Irish and British markets. In 1978, the Van Hool-McArdle activities were terminated. At a time when further expansion plans for its facility were on the table, Bernard Van Hool died suddenly in 1974. The new factory for trailers opened later that year but 24 months later the company was in crisis due to an economic downturn with bus production having slumped. New horizons emerged by investing and developing individual engineering projects in the field of water purification and fi lter units. Towards the end of that decade the T8, an integral luxury coach with Alizée styling was launched and well received. The Acron followed and soon became the most successful Van Hool badged vehicle ever. It is still popular, thanks to its reliability, superb driving qualities and economical operating costs. Into 1980 and the AG280 articulated bus proved to
500TH Van Hool Fiat Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie
Double Deck coaches were then developed with Asian markets in mind. From 19831990, further changes took place as another recession seriously affected the bus and coach industry. A fleet of Van Hool airport apron shuttle buses were sold to Sabena airlines while an aborted partnership with Volvo to produce 300 units to Bangkok took its toll. Exports to the USA, UK and Canada helped stem the tide. A move to CAD/CAM technology (computeraided design, linked to computer-aided manufacturing) became essential, ensuring that the design and manufacture process would be quicker. As take-overs and mergers were prevalent, Van Hool got involved by buying out ‘LAG’ Bus in Bree, in its home country. Further light shone at the end of the tunnel with the formation of the European single market. New business across Europe was conducted alongside additional research and development of new buses and coaches. The T815 Acron proved to be an award winner followed by the premiere of the T9 model at the Kortrijk show. Dovetailing its bus/coach and trailer developments, Van Hool pioneered weight reduction in its tilt and curtainsider trailers, together with modifying inter-modal transport. 1998 witnessed Van Hool acquire a stake in ABC Bus Company Inc., reinforcing its presence in North America. The brand’s high quality reputation had a growing following across global markets and at the turn of the millennium its new public
transport range excelled. In 2005, the world debut of its first fuel cell powered bus happened in Dallas as awards for its expanding selection of passenger vehicles came flooding in from various markets worldwide. Yet another economic decline in 2009/2010 had a significant impact but Van Hool continued to develop, with the new TX range and Exqui.City trambus shaping its future. The trailer and box-body subsidiary was ever increasing its profi le with numerous blue chip transport companies investing in its products across Europe. Award winning too! Bus and coach models were developed and built especially for the North American market. Concurrently, a new factory in Skopje, Macedonia was constructed with the first vehicle produced in 2013. Upwards and onwards from then on with the TDX27 Astromega doubledecker coach, TX Touring Euro 6 and its latest model the EX, which premiered at the IAA in 2014. Today, Van Hool of Belgium manufactures approximately 1,300 buses and coaches and over 3,000 commercial trailers, 80 percent of which are exported worldwide. With a workforce of more than 4,000 employees, its bus and coach offerings stretch from a 9m midi-bus to a 25m double deck low floor bus. The Irish link with Van Hool has remained strong, with many fleet and individual sales. The announcement of 30 single deck - articulated Exqui.City hybrid trambuses to the Belfast Rapid Transit (BFT) set for delivery next year, further strengthens this relationship.
Van Hool USA www.fleet.ie