French connections
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• Contrary to the generally depressed atmosphere in the trailer market, the York group is currently enjoying healthy sales thanks to major account orders maturing and some lively cross-Channel sales activity via its Titan factory in France.
Northallerton in particular, which is currently building Titan-badged trailers, is presently recruiting tradesmen to meet orders that extend well into the New Year and others that are about to be confirmed.
Major orders include another 300 lifting-roof Supercube curtainsiders via TIP for Ford's pan-European delivery fleet, 30 standard versions for Scotland's Intercity plus 80 Roadrailer intermodals for CTR.
The company is also believed to be about to begin working on yet another large order for Tesco and this is likely to include York's new roll cage restraint system which it is evaluating.
A series of cage retaining frames hinge downwards and secure to the floor or, when not needed, stow into the roof.
York has also completed a batch of 85 Dutch registered curtainsiders for P&O Ferrymasters.
Other orders include some which channel into the French rental market via York's Montchanin subsidiary Titan, Among these are 126 assorted trailers for CTR's rental fleet.
Resurgence
Titan's resurgence within its home market following its purchase by York last April has been boosted recently with new models based on York's System 2000 designs established earlier this year.
The new range, modified to suit French haulage requirements are aimed at challenging the Fruehauf/ Trailor/Benalu dominance of its home market.
It will also help Titan gain an early lead into the budding French rental market which, group managing director Jim Davies, believes has tremendous potential.
France has experienced a slight downturn in the trailer market but nothing like that in Britain.
Davies stresses Titan's geographical and political importance and pledges the group's full corporate weight behind the new model launch. This is expected to boost Titan's 2% share of its home market, to near 10% by 1992.
Last year the French trailer market peaked at around 25,000 units (including around 3,000 drawbars). According to Titan's managing director Mike Warriner, the figure would have been even higher if there had been more manufacturing capacity.
He predicts that it will stabilise there. at around 14,000 a year over the next three years. Five semi-trailers onshowillustratedthecombined effort from the group.
They comprised a drypowder tanker from Cremona, Italy-based Piacenza, Titanbuilt GRP boxvan, sliding roof and triple Freepost curtainsiders plus a fully refrigerated trailer with Thermostar bodywork.
Legislation
All have York Tecair-TEC axles and suspension and the latter will also have empty pallet containers ahead of the running gear. These become necessary from next year in France due to new hygiene legislation.
As well as supplying Piacenza with running gear, York has also provided around 600 body kits for the Italian market. This complements its manufacturing/assembly base in Dordrecht and a tipper body distributor in Portugal.