• Schmitz has been established for 106 years.
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• It is the second largest trailer manufacturer in Europe—and the largest manufacturer of refrigerated trailers.
• Exports to the UK started in 1980.
• Schmitz UK was set up in 1988, initially selling primarily to the rental companies.
• York Thermostar was bought in 1991, and reformed as Schmitz Thermostar.
• The name was changed to Schmitz Cargobull UK 1993. A new management team was brought in under Rainer Muhlschlegel and production switched From hand-laid GRP panels to machine-made Ferroplast steel panels.
• A £2.5m investment programme equipped the factory to build identical trailers to German models.
• The "flow line" build system came on line in November 1998.
• Over the past five years Schmitz Cargobull UK has boosted its annual turnover from £20m to £50m.
Case adjourned
• I hidley Magistrates have adjourned the hearing of 43 charges of overloading brought by the VI against Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council for three weeks. The council denies the allegations.
Holden warning
• Scottish TC Michael Betts took no action against Perthbased Doug Holden (Enterprises) except for warning the company about its maintenance standards when it appeared before him at an Edinburgh disciplinary inquiry.
WW Wales warning
• WW Wales (Bakery), of Kilmarnock, has been given a formal warning about its maintenance standards at a Glasgow disciplinary inquiry.
No certificate
• Using a trailer without a test certificate cost George Jones, trading as Haven Auto Traders, of Pembroke Dock, £505 in fines and costs. Jones admitted the offence before the Llanelli Magistrates.
Bid rejected • A bid for a new four-vehicle restricted licence by Cowbridge, South Glamorganbased Vale Contractors (South Wales) has been turned down at a Cardiff Public inquiry.