Millbrook Proving Ground

Moving heavy batteries around their facility

Millbrook Proving Ground, based in Bedfordshire, UK, is a specialist testing facility where vehicle and tire manufacturers come to put brand-new products through their paces.

The facility has welcomed hundreds of customers since its opening, some testing full vehicles on the tracks outside for speed and traction and others testing individual vehicle componentry in one of their indoor areas – including e-motors, emissions, crash response systems and more. The testing equipment used at Millbrook is sensitive and requires the utmost care to prevent it from failing – which is not an option in an environment where accuracy is critical.

The team at Millbrook approached us when they began experiencing difficulty moving equipment batteries around their expansive facility. Even on trolleys, the batteries – some weighing 1,000kgs each – were becoming a challenge to their staff and risked compromising their health. They wanted to see our V-Move XL-HD electric tow tug in action and requested a demonstration.

There are so many reasons to like the V-Move XL-HD model, one of Verhagen Leiden’s most popular electric tow tugs. While this hard-working, heavy-duty tug can easily tow loads up to 5,000kg, it is still classed as a medium-sized unit, compact enough to store away easily after use and simple to manoeuvre. An overnight charge ensures the battery power remains on all day long, sometimes up to two days at a time, depending on its workload.

Due to the nature of their customer’s work, much of it highly confidential because of the many prototypes undergoing testing, our team was not allowed into the main facility. Instead, we conducted a product demo using their car park – which was no issue to our flexible and accommodating team.

Millbrook liked what they saw and purchased a V-Move XL-HD unit immediately. While it didn’t need much modification before shipping, our team applied counterweights to help keep it stable when moving around the facility, plus standard hitch points and some pin and A-frame couplings to accommodate their various trolleys.

The team at Millbrook has confirmed complete satisfaction with their V-Move XL-HD unit, which continues to support their staff in moving batteries on trailers on repeat, simply and safely.