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Raven will not be a phoenix

24th June 1999, Page 11
24th June 1999
Page 11
Page 11, 24th June 1999 — Raven will not be a phoenix
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Bryan Jarvis Ipswich-based Raven Trailers, renowned for its innovative chassis designs, has gone into voluntary liquidation.

In closing its factory Raven has shed 70 staff, who director and co-owner Paul Raven says have been "fantastic". He blames the collapse on a number of factors, not least the under-pricing of highly innovative products which eroded the company's financial reserves.

Raven is sure that his customers still want the products and points to a full order book of more than 100 trailers—one client wants 15 of the new Genesis design and there have been enquiries for the standard 40ft semi-trailers and curtainsiders. There are other designs in the pipeline so it is unlikely that the range will disappear entirely. But the owners, brothers Paul and Kevin, have no intention of launching a phoenix company.

The hope is that another manufacturer or business will take an interest.

Paul Raven says: "This is a very bitter pill for us all to swallow, especially having ploughed everything back into the business."

• Raven Trailers was established by brothers Paul and Kevin Raven in 1994, building Lock & Go sliding skeletal trailers with the Double-C frame locking system; Fruehauf is licensed to fit this to its skeletal slider.

Raven—with Top Block and Hiab—then developed the Drop & Go semi-trailer with retracting rear floor section, which has proved popular among brick and block hauliers.

Perhaps its most innovative trailer design is the retracting Genesis curtainsider which, with Transamerica Leasing's sponsorship, made its IRTE debut last month and was due to be shown to the press this week at Bruntingthorpe.

Genesis operates as a conventional 13.6m curtainsider, but with the curtains released 3.7m of the floor length slides under the main deck to turn the vehicle into a rnanoeuvrabie 10m urban city delivery trailer. Research has shown that 90 of these dualrole trailers could do the work of 120 conventional vehicles.


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