ERF goes for standard
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ERF IS preparing a radical change to its marketing and production strategy and offer a "standard" tractive unit in place of its current wide range of alternatives.
The Sandbach-based manufacturer, which describes itself as "Britain's only remaining independent heavy truck maker", will not yet reveal specification details of what will be come its standard vehicle in October, but the company intends to adopt only one major engine supplier, one gearbox supplier and one axle supplier.
It seems likely that Cummins will be the major engine supplier since currently more than half ERF's tractive unit production is equipped with power units from this manufacturer and that proportion is steadily increasing.
ERF insists however that even after October its customers will still be able to choose from Cummins, Gardner or RollsRoyce {Perkins Shrewsbury) engines.
But there will be a "price and production penalty" for operators choosing the nonstandard engines. It seems likely that the policy of single sourcing gearboxes and drive axles will be more rigidly applied.
ERF is aiming to increase its share of the 28 ton-plus gcw UK tractive unit market with its new policy, reasoning that the most successful importers in this sector, namely Volvo and Scania, do not offer alternative drivelines.