Showmobile Services Ltd. was formed over 23 years ago to design, build, hire and operate specialist vehicles and trailers, mainly for the Exhibition, Events and Hospitality Industry.

Over the years they have accommodated a wide variety of clients for whom they have hired or manufactured anything from simple 3.0m or 4.0m mobile outdoor stands and up to large 13.0m. double and triple expanding units and have attended events all over the UK, Europe and beyond on their behalf.

Specialist builds have included all sorts of units; From a large fleet of mobile demountable shops for a convenience store chain that are used during shop refurbishments, to an oversized, vehicle mounted, paint pot used by a builders merchant chain to promote store launches following their refurbishment on a national scale.

“I am constantly being surprised by new areas that our vehicles can be used in” says Jim Copeland, Showmobile’s founder and MD “our latest project is a quad pod 13.9m trailer which will used, all over Europe (and maybe the world), for digitally scanning actors and characters into 3D images for the film and gaming Industries.”

At Agricultural Shows, however, exhibitors often find that a simpler approach can be more effective. Many people prefer to hire as they know that they will then have a clean, correctly set up trailer with their graphics fitted awaiting their arrival. Whereas owning and operating their own unit can regularly distract them from concentrating on their primary function of promoting their own product or service.

The car industry invests heavily into outdoor shows, where they can achieve great visibility by getting their products in front of the public at either major footfall events or with their own ride & drive events. Showmobiles have built units for 2 top marques including manufacturers of the “James Bond” vehicle and the leading electrical vehicle manufacturer.

Showmobile Services Ltd. hold a full International DVSA operator’s licence. As part of this, all their equipment has to be and is checked at strict 12 week intervals to maintain roadworthiness standards.

The change of licencing requirements in Jan 1997 means that drivers now need to be over 40 to have a licence to tow a trailer or drive anything over 3500kgs laden weight unless they take additional tests. This has posed particular problems for the sampling and experiential industry, which historically would have used their Brand Manager to drive and tow in order to achieve their clients financial limitations.

This is further complicated by the need for operator’s licence & tachographs on combinations of van & trailer over 3500kgs. Some operators, rather recklessly avoid complying with this area of the law which has come out of the necessity for safety in operation.

To combat this, Showmobiles have expanded into the 3500kgs promotional vehicle hire market which now allows them to hire appropriate vehicles to the agencies on a self-drive basis without the need for upgraded driving licence.

As a supplier Showmobiles have a “can do” approach…  “Yes is the answer, now what’s the question” as the famous old advertising line goes.

In short, if it is Outdoors and mobile or static, Showmobiles are there to help.

Give them a try www.showmobiles.co.uk

 

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.