vehicle model, transmission, axle confi gura-
tion, interior design, equipment or furniture
selection, and so forth. For volume business-
es, we manufacture prototypes for customer
approval before production.”
After design approval, the lead time for a
vehicle can range from 3 to 4 months. BAUS
ETT places orders with the OEMs for their
ambulance kits which include special wiring
harnesses and additional batteries. Mean-
while, vehicles delivered to the BAUS ETT
factory are stripped down, front seats are
removed and work begins on the internal
structure, fl ooring, wiring, and installation of
lights and sirens.
“All our vehicles have their own electronic
control systems, a CPU that controls the
lights and sirens, programmed and tested at
our Dubai facility. We integrate our control
systems with the OEM control systems via
the CAN bus protocol,” says Hill.
Irrespective of where the vehicles are con-
verted, the ambulance restraint systems are
tested in accordance with the EN 1789 stan-
dard, which specifi es requirements for the
design, testing, performance and equipping
of road ambulances used for the transport
and care of patients. The standard, specifi -
cally, contains requirements for the patient’s
compartment.
“We do not compromise on the safety of
our vehicles, but take into consideration the
experience of local paramedics and their
familiarity with equipment to improve the
vehicle ergonomics. Every fi xture or furniture
installed in the ambulances are tested accord-
ing to the EN 1789 standard. To maintain the
quality of our European testing in the UAE,
we utilize a third-party inspection company
to certify vehicles assembled in our Dubai
factory as compliant with the EN 1789 stan-
dard,” says Hill.BAUS ETT also provides warranty for its
ambulance furniture or fi t-out equipment in
addition to the OEM warranty. The company
maintains service vans for mobile repair and
maintenance.
“Service requests may come through the
dealer or directly to us, depending on the type
of aftersales contract we sign with customers.
However, we prefer the customers deal with
only one service provider. If we are involved
in procurement of vehicles from the OEM or
dealer, we become the primary contact for
the customer. If the OEM or dealer gives us
the contract for bodybuilding, then custom-
ers need to contact them. We can assign our
technicians at the dealer workshops so that
both teams can service vehicles simultane-
ously. In such cases, the dealer would be the
fi rst point of contact. Alternatively, we can
train technicians at the dealer workshops to
service our equipment,” explains Hill.
BAUS ETT is using its ambulance con-
version expertise to expand into related
applications such as wheelchair accessible
vehicles and non-emergency patient trans-
port vehicles. Other specialised conversions
include mobile workshops, X-ray screening
vehicles, outside broadcasting vans, welfare
buses, mobile clinics, mortuary vehicles, and
luxury minibuses.
“BAUS AT is also a leading manufacturer
of box body modules and the company adopts
the best material and technology to produce
the lightest box modules in the market. We
see new growth opportunities in this seg-
ment,” says Hill.
Another emerging market for the company
is 4x4 conversion of minibuses to enable
off -road transportation of people, particularly
tourists. BAUS ETT handles such projects as
the regional distributor of Australia-based
Bus 4x4 Group, a second stage manufacturer
specialised in 4x4 bus conversion.
“4x4 converted minibuses are becoming
popular among tour operators in this region.
We cater to this market with the help of Bus
4X4, which is a leading converter of 4WD
vehicles in Australia that supplies custom
built vehicles for mining, school transporta-
tion, and motorhomes. We procure the 4X4
conversion kits from Bus 4X4,” says Hill.
“We would do 4X4 conversions for specifi c
business applications in the Middle East;
however, we refrain from converting vehicles
for personal adventure or outdoor enthusi-
asts. We take pride in the fact that we build
vehicles that save lives or maintain law and
order. Our core business will always be emer-
gency service vehicles,” says Hill.4x4 converstion of a minibus for off -road transportation.EMERGENCY VEHICLES
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PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLES AUGUST 2019 http://www.pmvmiddleeast.com