Posted: February 2021
Famous for its caramel wafers and teacakes, family-run business Tunnock’s produces 14 million biscuits a week, delivering to supermarkets across the UK. It operates a large fleet of vehicles, including one 18-tonne and five 26-tonne Scania rigid lorries with box bodies that transport a third of the biscuits Tunnock’s makes.
With each truck travelling more than 62,000 miles a year, Stuart Loudon, Tunnock’s Transport Manager, recognised the need for ensuring the company’s vehicles were equipped with trusted and reliable safety products. He called upon Brigade’s service partner, Banlaw – a vehicle safety system specialist based in Blantyre – to assist him with fitting a range of first class safety devices.
Tunnock’s entire fleet of Scania lorries has been fitted with Brigade’s market leading camera monitor system. This includes a forward-facing camera, positioned on each side of the vehicle, along with a camera to the rear. Designed to eliminate vehicle blind spots, each camera provides an ultra-wide angle view via a single monitor positioned in the driver cab, enabling drivers to manoeuvre safely and monitor blind spot areas in real time.
Additionally, its newest vehicle, an 18-tonne Scania truck, has been installed with Brigade’s Ultransonic Obstacle Detection Sidescan Sensor System. These ultrasonic proximity sensors eliminate blind spots, minimise vehicle damage and prevent collisions with pedestrians, cyclists or objects by alerting drivers of obstacles close to the vehicle, whether moving or stationary. An audible and/or visual in-cab warning informs of an object’s distance, while an optional external speaking alarm can be added to alert cyclists and pedestrians that the vehicle is turning. This makes the system ideal for assisting road-going vehicles with driving and manoeuvring at low speeds in confined spaces, such as busy city centres.
Stuart said: “Our rigids are so big having the cameras is a huge help. Our 18-tonner travels into Edinburgh and Glasgow city centres, so I thought adding this system was the best and safest thing to do. It was a bit of a leap into the unknown, but the drivers are happy with the way it works. It also has an audible alarm for turning left when the driver indicates.”
Going above and beyond to assist its customer, Banlaw even created a bespoke casing for each camera, emulating Tunnock’s famous cameral wafer and teacake design that blends in perfectly with the vehicle’s eye-catching graphics. The result is a fun and quirky addition that plays homage to the company’s iconic teatime treat.
Stuart was ecstatic with how the wrapped cameras turned out, saying: “It has been done so well, I am really pleased with them.”
Brigade’s Service Partners (BSP) is a nationwide network of carefully selected specialists who supply and install Brigade’s range of safety products and offer after-sales support to customers. The BSPs are chosen for their high standards of technical knowledge, excellent installation capabilities and exceptional customer service. For help with locating a BSP in your area, please get in touch with the team at Brigade, who will be happy to assist you.
