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Modul-System, the vehicle racking system company owned by Carl Bennet, is the first in the Nordic market to crash test a vehicle racking and roof rack system publicly for automotive manufacturers, dealers, customers and the press. The crash tests have also been certified by the German authority TÜV. Modul-System is Europe’s leading manufacturer and supplier of racking systems for service vehicles.
There are more than 20 million vans in use in Europe, most of which are fitted out as service or distribution vehicles. In Sweden alone there are over 400,000 vans on the road that are used to carry a variety of loads. The only regulations that govern interior racking and roof racks refer to the restraint of cargo while driving, not during an accident.
“In our view there is a lack of satisfactory legislation covering traffic safety and the working environment, and this can naturally lead to high risks,” says Thomas Johansson, Vice President of Modul-System.
Modul-System conducts its safety work in close collaboration with researchers all over Europe, including Chalmers University of Technology and the Technical Research Institute of Sweden. On Friday last week, Modul-System showed a crash test of its new vehicle racking system and Thule Professional roof rack range at Volvo Car Safety Centre in Gothenburg to the trade press and specially invited guests from dealership networks.
“Our goal is to show what happens to a racking system and roof rack in a collision, partly to illustrate the importance of using racking systems and roof racks that can cope with a crash or severe braking without harming the passengers of the vehicle or other road users,” explains Thomas Johansson.
According to Jenny Segergren, Product and Marketing Manager, Modul-System’s new racking system uses profiles with an integrated T-track that provide a secure basis for traffic safety, as demonstrated in field trials and, more recently, crash tests.
Modul-System began a comprehensive programme to develop its products and improve safety 10 years ago. The company has devoted considerable effort to saving weight and improving traffic safety through careful design and choice of materials.
Anders Carlsson, R&D Manager at Modul-System, expects that customers will place increasing demands on racking systems, and on environmental performance and traffic safety in particular.
“Good design is no use until you can manufacture it to the right quality. In the case of racking systems, installation is critical. Unfortunately there are no unified regulations in the EU. There is a DIN standard in Germany, while in Sweden the requirement is for 1g in the forward direction and 0.5 g sideways,” explains Anders Carlsson. In most European countries it’s not even mandatory to have a bulkhead between the passenger space and the cargo space when a racking system is installed.”
Anders Carlsson explains that the lack of regulations for vans means that you have to look to the regulations for passenger cars for guidance in testing. The collision tests that Modul-System has carried out so far have always used the same shock load as used in collision tests on cargo restraint protection in cars.
Automotive dealers see the crash tests as a further argument for choosing Modul-System racking systems over other makes.
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