Webasto North America has announced its new a La carte aftermarket van HVAC kit-building system. Webasto says its menu-driven approach allows customers to upfit Ford Transit, RAM ProMaster or Mercedes Sprinter vans with auxiliary HVAC systems faster, while carrying less inventory and all at a lower cost. According to Webasto, the problem that this system aims to solve is that those in the market for auxiliary, tie-in heating/cooling or stand-alone HVAC kits for today’s most popular commercial van makes and models would have to first obtain a model-specific kit designed to fit that particular vehicle, with the chance that the right one might not be available.
“Webasto has been making aftermarket van HVAC kits for years, and we alone made 22 separate systems, each designed to fit the leading van makes and models,” said Mike Cicioni, HVAC application manager.
Webasto says its new approach of unbundling the components enables it to cover 90% of the van market with approximately 30 a la carte HVAC components. With Webasto’s system, its customers carry less inventory, while increasing their ability to be more responsive to fluctuating demand. The system also puts its customers in a more favorable position to capture a wider variety of work truck applications beyond Webasto’s existing van-specific HVAC kits.
Customers answer eight questions on Webasto’s product brochure that will enable them to choose the correct HVAC system for their application. The company says an online configurator is also in the works and it will be compatible with both desktop and mobile devices.
