Armaton XF for every penny
The history of the latest generation of the dropside pillar systems for light vehicles, Armaton XF,
actually has its origin in the little Swedish village of Floby – it was in fact an inquiry from Autokaross that speeded up the development.

‘In the last few years the design has become an increasingly important competitive factor for us bodybuilders. End users not only want durability and first-rate functionality, they also want to have attractive and representative vehicles as well. Because the vehicle is an important part of the company’s public image,’ explains Bror Jonsson, managing director of Autokaross.

Volkswagen in Sweden is the Floby company’s largest buyer of platforms. In association with the
launch of the T5 generation they wanted an elegant platform concept that matched the more modern design of the new vehicle.

‘VBG understood exactly what we were talking about when we said we wanted a pillar with a bit more
of a ‘streamlined’ design to suit our new platform profiles, and VW is just as pleased as we are with the
result’ continues Bror Jonsson.

Another improvement after the bodywork criteria was the enlarged opening angle for the handle,
which radically reduces the risk of damage when reversing. Handles for the platform pillars were a best seller in the Autokaross range of spare parts before the transition to the XF series, but ‘what is good for the customer is also good for our sales in the long run’, says Bror Jonsson, who appreciates the ongoing dialogue with VBG. Changing over to a new platform pillar may sound easy, but the whole process with prototype tests and evaluations with the end customers has actually taken two years.

‘We got a very good response from Ragnvald Andersson and his development team at VBG. They
really listen to our needs and get back to us with smart solutions. When we get together to jostle with ideas it often happens that one plus one turns out to be a good bit more than two.

Aramaton XF is what it’s all about now along the entire line at Autokaross, after an extensive readjustment process. The pace of developments is fast and the industry is exposed to severe competition, so innovations need to be launched quickly. Bror and his staff are apparently
working at top speed and with over 2,000 platforms a year they are the largest outfit in Scandinavia, despite the fact that there are a good many cheaper alternatives on the market.

‘Our solution means a higher initial outlay when purchasing, but an increasing number of people are
realising the value of a well-conceived and maintenancefree system that can be expanded as the
need arises. It gives you a completely different functionality, while at the same time high-tech
lightweight alloys contribute towards a higher load bearing capacity and a service-life that
ensures excellent overall economy,’ says Bror Jonsson to finish off.