Schmitz seeks UK agents
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• Schmitz Thermostar is looking for up to six UK bodybuilders and/or repair shops to act as sales and assembly agents for its range of imported rigid truck reefer units.
This will enable the County Durham-based company to get into the important 7.5-tonneand-above market quickly, says managing director Jim O'Connor. The relatively small volume and value of each unit compared to large trailers makes it un economical to have dedicated salesmen covering the country, he explains.
"We see the agents attracting the business and building the orders for two or three units," he says. "Larger orders would come into the factory." The Harelaw plant is about to be expanded to give sufficient capacity for volume sales in the future.
Schmitz Thermostar was created from York Thermostar, part of the York group that went into receivership last year. So far it has taken £3.5m worth of orders for all types of body.
Schmitz is investing M-ni in plant and equipment which is expected to double the UK factory's capacity by 1993.
Meanwhile sales director Keith Howard hopes to win significant orders from carriers of chocolate, biscuit and drugbased goods which often benefit from partially insulated, non-refrigerated bodywork capable of maintaining an even internal temperature by insulation only.
Schmitz Anhanger in Germany now offers a van body built from 25mm steel/foam Ferroplast panels which it claims maintains the same cool, dry condition required during the storage of these goods.
With the Dip looking at the possibility of allowing insulated bodywork the same 2.6m width limit currently enjoyed by refrigerated vehicles, it has obvious sales potential.