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HOT ON THE TRAI
Page 60
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TRAILER TRENDS
Fruehauf is building more tipping trailers than ever before.
Andy Salter reports on its plans.
One of the biggest stories from the first half of 2005 was the collapse of trailer giant Fruehauf with the closure of its Dereham.Norfolk, plant and the loss of almost 350 jobs. Fruehauf was subsequently bought by Wadsworth Holdings and production moved to the company's giant factory in Grantham, Lincs.
Since the takeover Fruehauf has focused its activities on building tipping semi-trailers — and according to MD Dave Tallent business is booming. "Our order book is strong and we're producing about 12 trailers a week," he told us when we visited the Grantham plant recently. "That's 50% more tippers than we ever did at Dereham.The capacity we've got here means we can now pitch for, and win. multiple orders of trailers, That's something We could never do before."
Back in July Fruehauf held an open day for press and customers.At that time Tallent said it was looking to increase its market share from approximately 30% to 50% -The early signs have been extremely positive, he says: "There's little doubt having Newton Commercials on board as an agent in the South has been a huge benefit. With a market estimated at 1,200 units per year and our current run rate somewhere around the 600 mark, I don't think we're far off plan."
But Fruehauf isn't stopping there, and any competitors expecting the company to ease itself back into the groove should think again because Fruehauf has some ambitious growth plans.A new sales manager will soon be appointed for the south of England. an agent for Ireland is actively being sought and in the spring the company will begin offering rigid bodies.
Designing a rigid
--We're currently at the design stage on the rigid project."Tal lent explained during our visit."By mid-January we'll have a rigid chassis equipped with the new body and we expect to make a significant impact on the market. Moving into rigids wasn't in the original plan for 2006 — I thought it more likely we'd add walking-floor or ejector trailers to the line-up next, though that's unlikely to happen in 2006."
Tallent says Fruehauf was encouraged to look at the rigid sector following a discussion with one of the truck manufacturers.After a positive reaction from customers the company has included the project in its strategic plan: "We'll start with aluminium," saysTallent. "then add a steel body to the line-up. I'd expect us to command a top-three position in the alumini urn tipper body sector within two years. It may take a little longer to establish our position in the steel body sector."
Fruehauf is also looking at the possibility of adding a steel tipping trailer to the line-up.
The company continues to develop the range with new features, and to build on the product strengths that made it the best-known trailer brand in the market.
For instance, a harder grade of aluminium, Herkel HK34, is now used on the floor of the trailers, allowing the floor thickness to be reduced by 2mm, thus saving weight. In addition, all trailers are now equipped with the Haldex roll-stability system and aluminium air tanks.
"The focus on quality is the reason Fruehauf has built its market-leading brand," says Tallent. "We'd be foolish to do anything else but continue to offer a high-quality range." •