Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Since the pandemic, some of those businesses have turned mobile. We’ve seen the evolution of bringing services and goods to customers, and those businesses need mobile power. For those that have always been mobile, there has been a shift in equipment used. Enter the cargo van. Jeff Wright of Samlex America shares his insight on ways to power your business from your van.
MWS: WHAT IS SAMLEX AMERICA, AND WHY SHOULD IT BE ON THE RADAR OF WORK VAN OWNERS?
WRIGHT: Samlex America is a global manufacturer of power conversion products with a market footprint covering over 90 countries. We have one of the largest selections of power inverters in the industry, meaning no matter what your power needs are, we will have something to fit. Power your tools and equipment with ease, and keep batteries charged without plugging into the grid. Samlex serves public safety, government, utilities, telecom, oil and gas, plus many custom applications through our OEM programs.
This year marks our 30th anniversary as a manufacturer of power conversion products. We pride ourselves on providing the best customer service in the industry with our exceptional warranty coverage, tech support, and product expertise to ensure our customers get the best product to meet their electrical needs.
MWS: THE PANDEMIC CREATED A MARKET THAT DEMANDS SERVICES COME TO CUSTOMERS. DOES SAMLEX AMERICA HAVE POWER SOLUTIONS FOR THESE VARIED APPLICATIONS?
WRIGHT: One of the positive things to come out of this pandemic is the new and existing businesses that adapted their business model to deliver on-site service to their customers. We have seen some very creative business ideas emerge from this. A mobile bike repair company installed our EVO-2212 Inverter/Charger into its van to allow employees to run power tools and an air compressor off the inverter, as well as charge batteries when connected to grid power at night.
Herm’s Barbershop in Bakersfield, California, expanded its brick and mortar location to add a mobile van barbershop that could deliver VIP service to its customers. The barbershop installed a Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger and a SRV 150 Watt Solar Panel Kit into a Mercedes Sprinter Van to provide reliable power for a TV and stereo system, payment system, and tools of the trade. Now the owners and barbers can drive to their customers and provide all the luxuries their customers expect while getting a fresh cut.
We’ve worked with customers to install Samlex EVO Inverter/Chargers into Mobile Power Washing Vehicles to deliver cleaning services for heavy-duty machinery, Mobile RV Repair Service Vehicles, as well as in food trucks and catering vehicles. Samlex Inverters provide robust power to all the electrical tools and equipment so that the van operator can focus on the job at hand knowing they have all the power they need.
MWS: THE AMOUNT OF WORK VANS ON THE MARKET IS JUST AS VARIED AS THE AMOUNT OF APPLICATIONS. HAVE YOU NOTICED A TREND IN THE VANS USED BY SAMLEX CUSTOMERS?
WRIGHT: We see a diverse range of van types and requirements, and with our wide selection of inverters we can recommend a suitable product to meet each customer’s needs. Recently, we’ve noticed a surge in demand for power solutions that fit into cargo vans. The cargo van is very versatile and can be used in a large number of markets. The cargo van can be fit with a multitude of racks or shelves to help with any need. Both our PST and NTX line of inverters are a compact power solution and fit well in the small storage spaces in cargo vans. They give off the robust power needed in cargo vans to help support the many applications these types of vans can produce.
MWS: ALTHOUGH SAMLEX AMERICA HAS SOLUTIONS FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS, WHERE HAVE YOU SEEN THESE SOLUTIONS PERFORM THE BEST?
WRIGHT: Our strength is our diverse product offering of inverters and inverter/chargers. If you tell us what you want to power and for how long, we will have a robust power solution to meet your off-grid and mobile power needs.
Our SAM Series is our modified sine wave inverter for basic applications and non-complicated loads. The PST Series is our flagship line of pure sine wave inverters designed for heavy-duty, commercial use. The PST is available in both 12V and 24V models and comes with one-wire remote start and hardwire options. The NTX Series is the newest addition to our inverter lineup and offers the same robust power of our PST Series in a simple, no-frills design.
Our EVO Inverter/Chargers are an all-in-one solution—pure sine wave inverter, adaptive battery charger, and transfer switch with two AC inputs for grid and generator. These are a great choice for work vans with heavy loads that require continuous operation. One of the biggest differentiators with our EVO Series is the removable SD card in the EVO-RC remote. The advantage to the installer is that the SD card can be programmed and then duplicated across an entire fleet, making the install process quick and easy.
MWS: WHAT’S COMING FROM SAMLEX AMERICA IN THE FUTURE?
WRIGHT: We’re excited for the newest addition to our inverter lineup, the NTX Series. Many customers want clean, robust power for their tools and electronics but don’t need the extra expense that comes with features such as hardwiring or one-wire remote start. The NTX Series was created to deliver the same reliable, high-power performance of our flagship PST Series but with a simplified design, making pure sine power more affordable. We are also introducing a new 200W Solar Charging Kit to add to our lineup of solar power solutions.
Our EVO Series of Inverter/Chargers comes with two options for remote control, the EVO-RC and the EVO-RC-PLUS. These both come with removable SD cards for easy programming and data-logging and offer continuous enhancements with regular software updates to keep up with technology advancements.
MWS: WHAT DOES SAMLEX AMERICA OFFER FOR OUR READERS THAT DON’T OWN VANS?
WRIGHT: We dive into all fleet, long-haul, and utility truck upfits. Our PST line of inverters is commercial grade to handle industrial applications for all work and utility trucks. Samlex has the largest offering of inverters in the industry, so no matter what application is needed, we will be able to find the right fit for your fleet.
We also carry the MSK Series of portable solar charging kits for easy charging. These come in a 90W or 135W option and come with all the parts you need, as well as a convenient carrying case for a plug and play solar charging system.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jeff Wright is the channel account manager for the fleet market at Samlex America. He focuses on providing commercial power solutions to fleets, OEMs, and upfitters across North America. In his role he has become familiar with the power needs of fleet operators and can recommend a solution to fit each application. Find out more, visit www.samlexamerica.com.
