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REAR STEERING
Page 56
Page 57
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ON THE FRONT LINE
Muldoon will be at SED next week to launch its range of trailer products onto the British market.
Andy Salter visited the firm's Northern Ireland base to find out what's on offer.
Talk to any of the umpteen operators working the highways and byways of Ireland — either Northern Ireland or the Republic— about Muldoon and the main talking point will be the company's innovative steered-trailer-axle system. Irish operators have had the benefit of this simple aid to manoeuvrability and reduced tyre wear for 10 years or more; now MuldoonTransport Systems is about to share this valuable secret with the rest of the UK.
Muldoon will be out in force at the SED show next week, and alongside its steering system will be a range of brick carriers and tippers which will appeal to many operators in the market.The focus is on the construction sector, but we see plenty of applications for this technology outside its traditional arena.
It is no coincidence that Northern Ireland has become a huh for trailer engineering and manufacturing; the once world-renowned Belfast shipbuilders have left an engineering legacy in the province, while Belfast's Queens University is a leader in design and engineering.
Just up the road from Muldoon you'll find Chieftain Trailers and BMITrailers.SDC and Montracon, names more familiar to UK operators, are also within striking distance: they have thrived by focusing on volume products and driving out inefficiencies in the production process.
The smaller manufacturers have responded by focusing on niche markets — Muldoon, for instance, produces 95% of all the bulk blowing trailers sold in Ireland. Now it is extending its reach with the brick carriers, tippers and cement mixers which, like the steering system, are being launched in the UK.
This isn't unknown territory for the Irish firm; Wisbech-based Priden Engineering already uses Muldoon chassis for its UK fleet of hulk blowing trailers.
"We'll be focusing on the brick carrier and the tipping trailers initially," says Muldoon director Justin Muldoon. "The tipper is extremely light, at 5.800kg, and we're expecting it to be a very popular choice with UK operators."
Steering system
However, the jewel in the Muldoon crown is its patented positive-steer trailer system, which is said to give better manoeuvrability for artics with the promise of reduced Lyre wear.
Extended tyre life is always welcome but Justin Muldoon believes the main benefit of the steering system is that it allows the attic tipper to finally become a serious challenger to the traditional eight-wheeler: "An artier combination equipped with the steer system will get in places you wouldn't attempt with an eight-wheeler," he says, and you get 33% more payload as a result. I don't really understand why anyone would want to go for an eight-wheeler."
The steering system was designed and developed by Justin 's father Gerald, who founded the company in 1971. It incorporates a cam and roller system mounted around the trailer kingpin. Movement of the fifth wheel as the tractor unit corners causes the cam to roll and actuate two hydraulic rams at the front of the trailer.This activates two rams at the rear of the trailer which turn the rear steer bogie.
The command-steer' system is equally effective in forward or reverse; a mechanical version is available which relies on steering rods running the length of the trailer.
The geometry of the cam and roller puts the trailer axle on full lock when the tractor unit is turning at just 40°.This ensures the quick steering response which is essential for tight manoeuvres—but not so quick as to cause snaking of the trailer if the driver is on the motorway and needs to correct the steering regularly.
The self-pressurised hydraulic system is charged and controlled using an accumulator and a patented manifold valve which ensures a smooth and efficient steering action. It even aligns the steering automatically in the event of any slippage due to collision or kerbing.
Carrying forklifts
The steer system is also ideal for carrying rear-mounted forklifts. Muldoon explains: "Because the rear axle steers, we can place it further back on the trailer chassis.This means less trailer overhang and more support for the forklift at the rear. It will also lead to better weight distribution and you won't need to add hefty ballast to the front of the trailer to counterbalance the weight of the forklift."
There is no doubt that the Muldoon line-up has enormous potential. Justin Muldoon says: "SE D should be the perfect platform for us to launch our UK market— we're expecting good interest from UK customers at the show. I'm also hoping to find agents who will be interested in stocking the products for sale to the market." • • SED will run from 22 to 24 May at Rockingham, near Corby. For more details go to ww-w.sed.co.uk