Reinforcing its position as the UK’s leading tipper and specialist truck bodybuilder, Thompsons has just achieved certification to the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 quality standard. This new accreditation was considered necessary by Thompsons to enable it to comply with forthcoming Whole Vehicle Type Approval legislation.

"Achieving these quality levels today in 2007 gives Thompsons a key market advantage" says Sales Director Scott Burton, who also adds that "more and more, we are also working with truck manufacturers in building vehicles for stock, where only a coat of paint and a tax disc are required before putting them into service.

Truck manufacturers and end users alike therefore need to know that our body and their chassis will offer a properly engineered, fully integrated and future-proof package - one that will deliver high performance today as well as the best possible residual value in the future."

Of particular note, the ISO 9001 quality rating covers all Thompsons Group internal systems and procedures, including design, manufacture and sales administration.

In practice, ISO 9001 means that a customer choosing a Thompsons product will know that their order will be dealt with by structured, formalised procedures covering all stages from the initial placing of the order right through to final delivery. Similarly, the design and building of any Thompsons body will always be to strict standards of conformity.

Bernard Mullaney, Thompsons General Works Manager comments that "Achieving the full ISO 9001:2000 rating confirms the Thompsons as having the premier position among today’s tipper bodybuilders. Customers choosing a Thompsons Group product can do so in the full knowledge of our proven expertise and quality in every aspect of delivering their order.

Whatever chassis and body combination they choose, they know their tipper will be have been designed, built and delivered as a complete package to the highest possible quality. Both ISO 9001 and Whole Vehicle Type Approval will bring real benefits to truck manufacturer, bodybuilder and tipper operator alike."

Thompsons also fully embraces Whole Vehicle Type Approval legislation as it will inevitably drive out the low quality, back street bodybuilder whose only marketing position is lower initial price.

"Like any forward-looking engineering business today, we have to make huge investments into our factories and systems to deliver the ever higher quality products that will secure our future" adds Scott Burton.

Employing some 200 people across two factories in Croydon, one in Dover and another two in Blackburn, the Thompsons Group provides truck operators with a full range of tipper and specialist bodywork solutions suitable for many transport sectors, including construction, plant and waste.

Additionally, Thompsons Group products now cover the whole commercial vehicle market from 3.5 to 44 tonnes gcw.