The photos on this page present a unique and very special racking configuration devised by Syncro System New Zealand for a company that specialises in supplying and fitting high-tech medical devices, prostheses and orthoses in particular. In new Zealand, this service is personally tailored and includes rehabilitation and peer support. In remote areas, services are delivered at the patient's home. This explains the purpose of this mobile workshop in a spacious Mercedes Sprinter L4 H2 with windows, consisting of a large work area at the front and a small storage space at the rear.

Let’s examine this solution in greater detail.

Every Syncro van racking solution, wherever it is installed in the world, starts with liners. These fulfil a series of essential functions: they protect the bodywork against dents and scratches, make cleaning a whole lot easier and give the van’s interior a far more attractive appearance.

In this Sprinter for a prosthetic and orthotic fitting service, the floor is protected by a sturdy plywood floor liner with a resin surface. The partition between the work area and the rear storage area is made from the same material. The doors and walls are lined with robust, washable steel panelling.

Fitting out this Mercedes Sprinter L4 H2 was an excellent test for the Syncro technicians who had to come up with a unique solution for an unusually spacious cargo compartment.

• A strategic choice was made to divide the body into two parts. The first, and by far the larger, is occupied by a mobile workshop. The second, a narrow storage area right at the back of the van, was obtained by installing a full-height partition. This area can be accessed without having to climb on board.
• The customer and Syncro’s technicians decided to take full advantage of the natural light inside the large cargo compartment and not to cover up any of the windows. The racking therefore reaches only up to window level and an extensive work surface has been installed on top, running along all sides of the van.
• The “technical compartment” is located at the bulkhead behind the cab and consists of a bottom cabinet that contains and hides all the wiring and cables. A workbench on top serves as control centre for the workshop’s high-tech equipment.

The racking configuration in this Sprinter for fitting prostheses and orthoses is ideal for a mobile workshop. It includes a work space in the form of an extended, highly functional work bench and space for storage consisting of drawers, lockers and floor-level compartments with doors for keeping tools, spares, fasteners, small parts and consumables within easy reach. This kind of configuration optimises the efficiency of work and drastically reduces the risks associated with materials moving and falling during transport.

Each type of storage element has its own unique characteristics.

• The metal drawers are all equipped with non-slip mats to stop contents sliding around. Some are also fitted with metal space dividers to form different components.
• The lockers, located at the bottom of the racking, have lockable handles and are therefore ideal for storing personal and valuable items.
• The floor-level compartments are particularly versatile and allow floor space to be utilised most effectively.

Storage alone is not enough to allow a mobile workshop to operate effectively in remote areas. More advanced technology is needed to give users real autonomy.

The following items are installed in this Sprinter and carefully secured for safe transport:

• a mobile extraction and filtration system for removing the dust generated by grinding, sanding and smoothing prostheses
• an inverter with a battery to provide the electrical current needed to operate the various devices
• a vice with grinder and sander
• a large steel sink with a tap and with tanks for clean and dirty water underneath.

This Sprinter L4 H2 is equipped with:

• LED spotlights to ensure excellent illumination of the work benches and side door and LED tube lights to ensure uniform lighting throughout the interior
• a pipe carrier of 150 mm in diameter at the top of one side wall, accessible from the rear storage area
• a portable compressor to ensure a constant supply of compressed air
• a mechanical ventilation system on the roof to ensure a continuous exchange of air inside the van and prevent the build-up of fumes

Space is the most important feature of this Sprinter for a prosthetic and orthotic service, and it has been exploited to the full both inside and outside the van. A veranda with telescopic legs has been added to create an additional work area outside the van’s side door and to protect the door area against rain and sun.

The racking solution seen here illustrates the endless possibilities offered by Syncro racking. More than a mere catalogue of racking and accessories, Syncro System offers a complete racking design service that starts from your needs and arrives at a fully personalised and original solution selected from an endless combination of elements.

Is your van very big or very small? Syncro can use every inch of space in either case! Take a look at these examples on our website.

Is your job an unusual one? Get inspiration from Syncro’s special racking solutions.

Don’t delay. Get in touch now and arrange a no-obligation chat with a Syncro racking expert to find how the right racking system can make you more professional and save you time and money!