What are the main benefits of using Syncro Light for my fitout?

Less fuel, every kilometre A lighter van uses less fuel to cover the same distance. On our demo van, that’s an estimated $1,000 in fuel over five years, and it scales with every van in your fleet. *Estimate based on 25,000km a year at current (Sept 2026) diesel prices. Your saving will depend on your vehicles and routes. Further between charges On an electric van, every kilogram the battery doesn’t have to move is range you keep. A lighter fit-out means more kilometres between charges. Less wear from dead weight Less mass on board means less work for tyres, brakes and suspension over the life of the vehicle. Built to last The aluminium is corrosion-resistant and powder-coated in a textured grey finish that keeps the fitout looking professional over time.

How much lighter is Syncro Light than steel racking?

To find out, we fitted out a Ford Transit Custom in Syncro Light and weighed it against the same layout in steel. The aluminium fit-out came in at 172kg. The steel one weighed 232kg. 60kg difference: roughly 80 hammers, 40 hand drills, or 10,000 screws worth of weight your van no longer has to haul around! The Syncro Light components are up to 40% lighter than their steel equivalent (and Syncro is already optimised to be lighter than traditional shelving). Specific weight savings will vary by layout and vehicle, so we’ll give you the figure for your own build when we quote it.

Is aluminium racking as strong as steel?

Not in load rating, though it is crash-tested for safety like the steel range. Syncro Light is made from a high-strength aluminium-magnesium alloy, but its shelves and drawers carry slightly lower load ratings than steel, with each module rated to 120kg (rather than 160kg for Syncro Original). That suits most tool and parts storage. Where something heavier needs a home, we specify steel components for that part of the fit-out.

Can aluminium and steel Syncro racking be used in the same van?

Yes. Aluminium and steel Syncro components share the same dimensions, so they can be combined in one fit-out, with steel used where the load calls for it. If you already use Syncro Original steel racking, then Syncro Light can be added to those vans too. A small number of components, including vice benches and generator slide-outs, are only made in steel, and we’ll tell you upfront if anything in your layout falls into that group.

Call Us
Find Us
Home
Commercial
Passenger
Mobility
Your Vehicle
Service bodies
Our work
Resources
About
Vehicles for sale
Contact us
Client login
Configure your fitout

SYNCRO LIGHT ALUMINIUM RACKING

You don't need to carry 80 hammers (but you could!)

Home / Commercial vehicle fitout / Syncro Light

When every kilogram counts, Syncro Light is a modular aluminium racking that reduces fitout weight.

View the Syncro Light demo van

That's the weight our fitout saves (60kg!) vs steel.

If you manage a fleet of vans or utes, you’ll know that fitout weight is a big consideration especially when:

you’re running electric vans, where range matters every day
fuel is one of your most significant running costs
your vans cover long distances, so the wear that extra weight puts on tyres, brakes and suspension keeps adding up

Built for kilo-conscious fleets

Syncro Light is Auto Transform’s new modular van and ute racking made from aluminium. A range of fit for purpose shelves, drawers and storage, without the weight of a traditional steel fitout. Based on the same modular system as our Italian designed Syncro Original.

manufactured from high-strength aluminium-magnesium alloy
powder-coated
crash-tested (ECE R17)
fully compatible with the original Syncro range so we can mix and match aluminium and steel components
compatible with the full range of Syncro accessories

Not sure if Syncro Light is right for your fleet? We’ve been fitting Syncro racking into trade and service fleets long before Syncro Light arrived, and Auto Transform is Syncro System’s exclusive New Zealand partner. Our experts can guide you through picking the best option for your fleet.

View the Syncro Light demo van

How much lighter?

We fitted out a Ford Transit Custom in Syncro Light and compared it with the same layout in steel. The aluminium fitout came in at 172kg. The steel one weighed 232kg.

60 kilograms, that’s about 80 hammers or 40 hand drills worth of weight* your vehicle doesn’t have to haul around!
*Or if chocolate is more your thing then it’s a whopping 1200 peanut slabs.

Syncro Light is up to 40% lighter than Syncro Original.

Weight savings vary by layout and vehicle, so we’ll give you the figure for your own build when we quote it.

Syncro Light Aluminium Shelving Van Fitout

Where you save with a lighter fitout

Further between charges
On an electric vehicle, every kilogram the battery doesn’t have to move is range you keep. A lighter fitout means you can travel more kilometres between charges.

Less fuel, every kilometre
A lighter vehicle uses less fuel to cover the same distance. On our Syncro Light van, that’s an estimated $1,000 in fuel over five years, and it scales with every vehicle in your fleet.

*Estimate based on 25,000km a year at current diesel prices. Your saving will depend on your vehicles and routes.

Less wear from dead weight
Less mass on board means less work for tyres, brakes and suspension over the life of the vehicle.

Built to last
The aluminium is corrosion-resistant and powder-coated in a textured grey finish that keeps the fitout looking professional over time.

Sustainable material
Aluminium is one of the most recyclable materials in the metal-working supply chain. Recycled aluminium requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminium.

Lighter, not stronger. Here's what that means.

Aluminium is lighter than steel, and it isn’t as strong. That doesn’t make it less safe: Syncro Light is crash-tested to ECE R17, just like the steel Syncro range. What changes is how much each part can hold. Syncro Light shelves and drawers are rated to 120kg (versus 160kg for Syncro Original).

For most service and trade work that’s plenty. Where it isn’t, we plan around it:

we design your layout around what you carry, and match each component to its load
because aluminium and steel Syncro components share the same dimensions, we can use steel where you need the extra strength and aluminium everywhere else
a few heavy-duty components, such as pull-out vice benches and generator slide-outs, stay in steel

Syncro Light and Syncro Priginal mix and match components to suit

Is Syncro Light right for your fleet?

Syncro Light is a strong fit if:

your vans and utes cover high kilometres, day in, day out
you run, or are moving to, electric vehicles
your team carries tools and parts rather than heavy bulk stock
you’re fitting out several vehicles and want every one of them lighter from day one

Syncro Original may suit you better if:

your shelves routinely carry heavy stock, bulk materials or large equipment
your vehicles spend more time parked on site than on the road
keeping the upfront cost down is your main priority

Not sure which works for you? That’s where we can help – chat to our team.

Talk to our team about Syncro Light

Talk to us about Syncro Light

Specifying new vans or utes, or wondering what a lighter fitout would mean for your fleet? We’ll show you the weight difference for your own vehicles and layouts. If you’d like to view the product in person we can arrange for you to see inside the Syncro Light van.

Years of Syncro experience
We’ve been using Syncro Original in our fitouts long before the aluminium range arrived, so we know how the system goes together, where each component works best, and which product will suit your fitout best.

See inside the Syncro Light van

Syncro Light: FAQ

Fleet managers that we talk to commonly ask these questions about Syncro Light. If there's anything we haven't covered feel free to contact us.

What are the main benefits of using Syncro Light for my fitout?

Less fuel, every kilometre
A lighter van uses less fuel to cover the same distance. On our demo van, that’s an estimated $1,000 in fuel over five years, and it scales with every van in your fleet.

*Estimate based on 25,000km a year at current (Sept 2026) diesel prices. Your saving will depend on your vehicles and routes.

Further between charges
On an electric van, every kilogram the battery doesn’t have to move is range you keep. A lighter fit-out means more kilometres between charges.

Less wear from dead weight
Less mass on board means less work for tyres, brakes and suspension over the life of the vehicle.

Built to last
The aluminium is corrosion-resistant and powder-coated in a textured grey finish that keeps the fitout looking professional over time.
How much lighter is Syncro Light than steel racking?

To find out, we fitted out a Ford Transit Custom in Syncro Light and weighed it against the same layout in steel. The aluminium fit-out came in at 172kg. The steel one weighed 232kg.

60kg difference: roughly 80 hammers, 40 hand drills, or 10,000 screws worth of weight your van no longer has to haul around!

The Syncro Light components are up to 40% lighter than their steel equivalent (and Syncro is already optimised to be lighter than traditional shelving).

Specific weight savings will vary by layout and vehicle, so we’ll give you the figure for your own build when we quote it.
Is aluminium racking as strong as steel?

Not in load rating, though it is crash-tested for safety like the steel range. Syncro Light is made from a high-strength aluminium-magnesium alloy, but its shelves and drawers carry slightly lower load ratings than steel, with each module rated to 120kg (rather than 160kg for Syncro Original). That suits most tool and parts storage. Where something heavier needs a home, we specify steel components for that part of the fit-out.
Can aluminium and steel Syncro racking be used in the same van?

Yes. Aluminium and steel Syncro components share the same dimensions, so they can be combined in one fit-out, with steel used where the load calls for it. If you already use Syncro Original steel racking, then Syncro Light can be added to those vans too. A small number of components, including vice benches and generator slide-outs, are only made in steel, and we’ll tell you upfront if anything in your layout falls into that group.

Safe

Our products are crash tested to keep you safe.

Modular

We offer the smartest modules in the market.

Advanced

We're a team of forward thinkers with the latest tech.

Reliable

We're there for you every step of the way.

Transformational

We don’t just fit out vehicles, we fully transform them.