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rental ITS
Page 51
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Steve Hardwick is MD of Integrated Tanker Services, a Walsall-based road tanker rental and sales business founded by his father a tanker driver.
With 30 years' experience in contract and spot hire, blue-chip customers such as Hoyer and 300 varied articulated tank and blower trailers from every manufacturer, Hardwick has a unique perspective on the business.
"Different sectors have peaks and troughsmilk peaks in late spring and early summer. fuels during the winter. Chemicals are fairly constant.
"We use Feldbinder, Magyar, Lohr, Clayton and the up and coming Crossland tank trailers among others. The quality of build is much the same; where the Germans score is with the bling factor they sparkle."
This is important in a sector where -especially for foodstuff carriers-a clean image is essential. The UK is German tanker manufacturers second biggest s mar et market. "Mild steel tanks are declining in popularity in favour of aluminium and stainless steel -the latter need less expensive painting and command a higher residual value."
Hardwick points out that tankers have a higher capital cost than curtain-sided trailers, but this can be written off over 20 years. "What outdates them is often not wear but legislation -for example the 44tonne GM-you can't usually modify tanks to increase capacity so they go for export."
Food tanks are often insulated and may have steam and/or electric heating. "A printing ink tanker costs £150,000. If the ink goes off you can walk on it and never empty the tank. if bitumen gets cold you've got a road," Hardwick explains.
"Food hygiene regulations are the customer's responsibility; they must bring [tanksi back cleaned and certificated.
"A big growth area over the last 10 years is vacuum and water tanks for waste and environmental concerns. Of late we've been getting fewer long-term three-to-fiveyear contracts and more short-term deals --for which we charge a premium."