Aebi Schmidt extends IVA test facilities to cover M1 specialist vehicles

Aebi Schmidt UK has extended the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test facilities at its Peterborough head office having gained a green light from the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to cover M1 specialist vehicles.

The first customer to benefit from the new classification is locally-based specialist ambulance convertor, Blue Light Services, which has been able to use Aebi Schmidt’s IVA lane to gain vehicle approval without having to take them further afield.

Blue Light Services Production Manager, Paul Duke, said the new move made perfect sense from an environmental point of view.

“Prior to this new initiative from Aebi Schmidt, we had to take our vehicles to different parts of the country, including Leighton Buzzard and London, to gain type approval, at extra cost to us and a greater impact on the environment from the additional miles driven.

“Now we have IVA test facilities on our doorstep covering the class of vehicles that we work with, which are typically ambulance conversions and special needs minibuses.”

Aebi Schmidt has been offering testing services at Peterborough for several categories of non-standard vehicle requiring IVA tests for around eight years. These include N1 vehicles, primarily light good vehicles up to 3,500kgs, and N2 and N3 vehicles which are typically heavy goods vehicles over 3,500 kgs.

However, this is the first time it has been able to cover M1 specialist vehicles, a new initiative that required a number of adaptations to its test lane at Peterborough.

Katherine Daunt, After Sales Services Manager at Aebi Schmidt, explained. “Following consultation with the DVSA, we had to carry out a number of adaptations to the IVA lane for it to be suitable, and then the Agency carried out an audit to ensure we met their approved standards.

“Having gained approval as a result, we are now able to offer testing services for a wider class of specialist vehicles, which customers like Blue Light Services will be able to take advantage of going forward,” she said.

The IVA tests, typically between five and seven a day, are carried out by a qualified DVSA inspector, so that customers can be assured that they are completed to the most stringent standards.

 Although the IVA facility is currently available for only one day per week, there is capacity for further expansion depending on demand. A fixed price offering, structured around volume, is available in addition to the DVSA fee. 

To find out more about the IVA test facility or to book a test slot, please contact Katherine Daunt at Aebi Schmidt UK on 01733 363 395 or email Katherine.daunt@aebi-schmidt.com.