REPRESENTATIVES from Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and Scania Japan have given ‘highly positive’ feedback after recently visiting Volgren’s manufacturing headquarters in Dandenong, Victoria, for their first customer inspection of its low-floor bus order.
The delegation was on hand to inspect and finalise the first units for TMG, the first of a 29-strong, low-floor route bus order made in December, 2017.
Nick Carnie, product manager and industrial designer for Volgren says the low-floor bus product is completely different to Tokyo Metropolitan’s current fleet – making the inspection all the more important.
“The ability to review the finished product together in person, discuss elements of the body design and the specification was immensely valuable to both parties,” Carnie said.
“For our international customers it removes any ‘lost in translation’ situations and you get a much greater understanding of how the end user interacts with the bus and the transport system more broadly,” he added.
Carnie said the feedback from Scania Japan and TMG was “highly positive” with both parties signaling their excitement regarding the future of low-floor buses in Japan and the newly formed relationship.
“Since receiving the order in December, a huge amount of work has gone into refining the design and build process based on the findings from our first two units.”
“These refinements aim to address any small teething issues with the introduction of the new electrical components for what is a highly customised specification, as well as refining the design of the Volgren body when fitted to the Scania NUB Euro 6 chassis.
“The improvements aim to ensure a repeatable and high-quality outcome when it comes time to enter into the production run of the remaining 28 units,” Carnie said.
Wendy McMillan, CEO of The Rolling Stock Development Division in Victoria was also on hand to inspect the buses and meet the representatives.
Production of the remaining buses will commence later this month and aims to be completed by August, 2018.