Few bodybuilders both build tippers and fit hydraulic loading equipment.
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Bryan Jarvis visits one that finds this go-ahead policy is strengthening its niche in the market
BUILDING tippers, loaders and other specialised vehicles for local authorities and public utilities might seem a hazardous business considering the Government's continuing calls for restraint on public expenditure.
One company which produces such vehicles and that has avoided any side effects from this policy ;s Welford Truck Bodies, a company which has successfully built a market niche for itself despite these constraints.
Many companies build and fit tipper bodies, while others fit hydraulic loading equipment, but few deliberately combine the two, let alone specialise in the work. One thing that the private and public sector has in rommon is a growing awareness of the need to combine the roles of different types of equipment.
Few companies today can afford the luxury of having tipper vehicles standing around while there is loading or unloading work to be done elsewhere, which is why they are opting to fit more specialised equipment.
An indication of this is that last year alone Welford fitted hydraulic loaders to one in five of all vehicles which passed through its Tividale, Warley plant.
This area of engineering has long been Welford's forte, regularly supplying vehicles for more than 30 different councils, gas and electricity boards as well as major private contractors.
Local authority work accounts for 30 per cent of the total throughput, while the largest single customer is Wimpey Transport, which last year alone accounted for around 20 per cent of the workload. It usually has around £100,000 worth of work going through the plant at any one time. Cross Rent-a-Tipper is another good customer, also with around 20 per cent of the total orders, while a further eight per cent comes from gas and electricity boards. The remaining work comes from private contractors.
Welford was founded in 1938 by the Powell and Stapleford families from which its name is derived, beginning by repairing hydraulic tipping gears, later building truck and semi-trailer bodies. In 1957 the company moved to its present site at Tividale building tipper and dropside bodies. When the company bought Byatts of Stoke, in 1971, the range broadened out to include boxvans and curtainsiders.
One of the most significant steps in its history had been earlier — in 1966 — when the business was sold to the Bristol Street group of companies. It began fitting Hiab cranes that year also.
Although Welford had been and still is perfectly satisfied with them lit claims to be one of the biggest sellers of Hiab apart from George Cohen of London), around 1970/71 it had been seeking a larger capacity crane.
At that time the Italian crane manufacturer, Peschi, was looking for a UK distributor to market its product so Welford took it on.
Since 1981, when BSG sold the ailing Stoke plant, Welford Truck Bodies has majored on the public utility, local authority and private contractor side of the market, especially as by then it had such a broad range of hydraulic loaders to offer.
Tividale had been virtually surrounded by steel plants, but these have gradually disappeared. Not that Welford was affected because over 80 per cent of its work comes from well outside the area and not less than 100 miles away. Although no steel is manufactured there now, the company buys its raw materials from several local suppliers.
Managing director Eric Hawkyard has been with Welford since 1969 and he believes