MAN Truck & Bus Ltd.’s unique Modification Centre based in Manchester has completed a substantial yet successful vehicle modification for the British Military’s Logistic Corps.
The contract required MAN to integrate a new pallet and container loading system (Enhanced Palletised Load System, or EPLS) onto the already proven HX trucks of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, vehicles that MAN delivered to the MoD under a separate contract signed in 2005.
To help ensure that quality control and timescale were both met, MAN Truck & Bus UK recruited an new team of +40 skilled technicians for the contract period of 32 months. Full product training across the team had to be completed within 8 weeks for production to begin. This project was and remains, the first of its kind to be commissioned by the UK MoD.

Once stripped down each of the 382 vehicles was re-engineered and fitted with a 2,500 component ‘retrofit’ kit, including the top hamper ILHS System. The vehicles now meet the UK MoD’s requirement to efficiently load both standardised 20-foot containers and their pallet loading system.
Thomas Hemmerich (CEO MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd) has stated “The EPLS re-engineering project has been a huge success for MAN Truck & Bus UK. Throughout the process and the constantly changing uncertainties of Covid-19 pandemic, the entire team has remained professional and focussed and their commitment is a testament to the capabilities we have and can offer our customers”.
“The final vehicle, EPLS 382, was delivered back to the MoD on the 18th March 2021 meeting the contract completion date, which in the current climate is a huge achievement for all parties involved and something we should all be proud of.”