A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING A VAN WITH SYNCRO RACKING

Syncro System has always been committed to the safety of customers and products users. GS certification guarantees that Syncro products are safe under all conditions, even in the event of a potentially serious accident. Practical proof of the strength and safety of Syncro racking comes in the form of these photos of a Mercedes Vito that hit a tree at high speed. As you can see, the consequences for the van (and unfortunately for its passengers) were serious indeed, but the racking system sustained only minor damage. It’s best to drive carefully, of course, but if an accident does happen, Syncro racking will help to limit the damage!

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Here’s the damage caused by another type of accident, potentially even more serious. This unfortunate van belonged to a firm of refrigeration engineers. Gas leaking from a defective cylinder saturated the entire cargo compartment and caused an extremely violent explosion. As the photos show, the van suffered terrific damage. Seven people were injured in the blast. Pieces of the van’s body, walls, roof, windows and doors were found as far as a hundred metres away. Of the van itself, only the strong, box section parts of the body and the Syncro racking system remain. What more proof could you need of the amazing strength of Syncro products? Apart from the racking components, most of the material contained in them was effectively held in place, and this significantly reduced the damage and injury caused. It is easy to imagine the devastation that could have been caused by hand tools and small parts hurled for up to a hundred metres. The Syncro catalogue contains various ventilation systems for vans that can help reduce the severity of such explosions. Even in this case, it is pretty obvious that the Syncro racking dramatically reduced the negative consequences of a potentially fatal explosion. So, in addition to the well-known economic benefits derived from more efficient work and less time-wasting, Syncro products improve safety in the event of an accident. Another good reason for getting your van fitted out by us!

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This what happened to a van involved in another serious accident. The first three photos in the gallery show the outside and inside of the van, a Volkswagen Transporter, after it collided with a moving train. The accident occurred in Austria, at a level crossing without barriers. Luckily, the driver escaped unhurt, but as you can see, the van was seriously damaged. The racking on the inside once again demonstrated the quality of Syncro materials and the strength of Syncro installation methods as it managed to keep in place most of the materials and tools the van was carrying despite the violence of the impact. The vehicle, fitted with a complete Syncro racking system, was struck on the left side. The racking modules installed on that side were pushed into the centre of the cargo compartment but remained securely attached to the van body. The drill holder remained in place and saved its valuable contents from damage. The racking on the right side of the van emerged from the collision virtually unscathed, as did the potentially most hazardous item in the racking, the burner and gas cylinder on a slide at the side door. The drawers also remained closed, keeping everything safely inside. Thanks to Syncro System racking, the result of the accident was far less serious than it could have been. The strength of Syncro’s closing mechanisms and fixing points is your best insurance if the worst happens!

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Anybody who uses a van for their daily work knows that the time they spend on the road represents a major risk that affects all aspects of their life. It is of fundamental importance, therefore, that racking inside a van and cargo racks on the roof remain secure and safe in the event of a collision or fierce braking. The accidents described in this section show just how tough Syncro storage modules and accessories really are. The case illustrated here proves the point. The unfortunate vehicle this time was a Renault Trafic fitted with Syncro System racking on both side walls. The vehicle was struck violently on one side and tipped over on to the driver’s side. Luckily, the driver was rescued unharmed by the fire brigade. As you can see from the photos, the outside of the vehicle was badly damaged, but on the inside, the racking withstood the impact and remained securely fixed to the walls. The material carried on open shelving on the right side was thrown into the centre of the load compartment when the van tipped over, but everything remained safely inside the body. Nothing was thrown out to cause injury to the driver or to other road users. The material carried in closed storage modules on the left wall remained securely in place. This accident provides real-life confirmation of the results of the simulated crash test carried out by TÜV Rheinland: Syncro racking significantly reduces risk in the event of a serious accident.

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Incidents on the road do not always end in collisions: even emergency braking or abrupt steering can lead to damage if the load shifts and strikes the van’s bodywork.

If a van is used to transport heavy cargo and equipment, especially if little or no racking is installed, the risk of heavy items striking the bodywork is even greater. In cases like these, protective liners really do make all the difference. Luckily, the owner of the van shown in these photos had agreed, following the advice offered by Syncro System’s experts, to install a set of galvanised steel lining panels.

By doing so, he effectively saved his van from serious damage. The super-strong liners were scratched and partly detached by the shifting cargo, but successfully absorbed all the impact. Repairs were quick and cheap as a result: in next to no time the damaged panels were removed and replaced and the van was back on the road again.

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The Syncro System roof rack suffered no damage at all on this Fiat Scudo despite a dangerous adventure on a dirt road in the mountains. The driver was on his way to a construction site along a narrow dirt road when his van skidded off to the side, leaving the left wheels dangling over a 30-metre precipice. The Scudo was recovered by the local fire brigade, who attached ropes to the van, jacked it up and dragged it back on to the road using a manually operated cable winch. A great deal of traction and pressure was obviously applied to the roof bars by the ropes and slings. The result: zero damage. The situation is different but the results just the same: Syncro products really are tough!

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