Billows changes tack
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by Steve Banner • When Kettering-based truck dealer John R Billows and Volvo parted company a few months back after a 30-year association, haulier customers probably assumed the Northamptonshirebased firm would take on another franchise, or fade away.
Instead, it's bouncing back with a selection of equipment aimed at a wide cross-section of transport companies.
For example, Billows has started to distribute Mitsubishi CV refrigeration equipment in the UK and Ireland. In August it began to distribute the Wilson Hitchfork truck-mounted forklift in Britain; it's also taken on a Finnish-made pallet loading device called the Innolift; and it's still handling French-made ACGB aluminium fuel tanks. Billows also runs its own repair and fabrication workshops.
Hugh Robertson Smith, who remains managing director, says: "The Mitsubishi range is unusual in that it includes direct-drive units suitable for rigids from 3.5 tonnes to 24 tonnes. The company is also producing self-powered diesel units, and that will put it in competition with some Thermo King and Carrier products."
The first self-powered product to appear in Britain will be the TNW45D, which will pull the load-area temperature down to -29°C. Designed with rigids in mind, it's suitable for payloads from 4 to 8 tonnes, and a display shows load temperature, the reefer unit's engine running speed, and fault location.
Operations manager Nigel Brook adds: "They don't need their own diesel engine, tank, or fuel. As for aftersales back-up, we're appointing service agents and we've got eight of our own mobile engineers around the country."
In the past Billows looked after underslung reefer units for another manufacturer, and this helped it build up refrigeration expertise.
At present Mitsubishi cannot cater for multi-compartment bodies, but it should have the necessary direct-drive equipment available in the UK by mid-1999.
Billows began distributing ACGB aluminium fuel tanks three years ago. Many operators have realised it is cheaper to fill up with diesel on the Continent, and Smith says they are opting for 800-litre tanks. Billows recently equipped two MAN tractors with an 835-litre tank apiece, leaving the factory-fitted 400-litre tank in place on the other side of the chassis.
"ACGB tanks are space effi cient because the company specialises in finding that last bit of capacity around a chassis member," he says. Marc Stanford, who looks after ACGB activities at Billows, adds: "If you compare the prices of certain stainless-steel Volvo tanks with ACGB aluminium tanks, you'll find that the ACGB products either cost the same or are cheaper. What's more, they're around half the weight."
• When it comes to truck-mounted forklifts, Billows has no qualms about taking on established players like Moffett. "Unlike some of the competition, Hitchfork has four wheels rather than three, which gives it considerable sta bility, and all four wheels are driven, which gives you good traction," says Hugh Robertson Smith. "And it has an accelerator and a brake rather than
oscillating controls—which makes it easy to get used to." Lifting capacity is 2.0 or ZS tonnes, and it can be mounted/demounted within 90 seconds, weight is 2.0 or 2.3 tonnes. Billows can attach the mounting kit to the vehicle, making any alterations to the bodywork or chassis in its workshop. The Innolift pallet loader is capable of loading itself into the back of a or onto the bed of a truck. All the operator has to do is lower a pallet onto the vehicle's cargo floor, and keep using the lowering mechanism to make Innolift rise off the ground until it can be pushed into the cargo area. It will lift either 500kg or 1,000kg depending on the version choosen and it's available with manual or battery power. It weighs from 1 95kg to 325kg and costs from £1,600 to £3,000.