Talking tank technology
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TankCon, the Road Haulage Association's biennial tanker show, moved to the Donington Park, Leics, exhibition centre this year. The change of venue coincided with a change of mood because operators and exhibitors alike were optimistic about this sector's recovery.
"Profits have been difficult to come by over the past three years but we're over the worst, and things are getting better across Europe," says Otto Feldbinder, joint owner of German tanker maker Feldbinder. However, many bodybuilders were worried about component and material shortages leading to escalating raw material prices: "Business is good, and we're very busy," says Ken Fisher, sales director of MetalairFilliat. "But aluminium is going up in price by leaps and bounds and there seems to be a shortage of tyres."
"Getting hold of steel and componentry is the industry's biggest problem," says Maxilode managing director Colin Ess. He suspects that the difficulty has been exacerbated by some trailer makers panicking at the prospect of shortages and needlessly stockpiling supplies.
However stronger demand and lengthening delivery times has not necessarily resulted in prices hardening. Fisher reckons that some European manufacturers are attempting to build up their share of the UK tanker market by selling at unrealistically low prices.
If he is right it spells bad news for the profit margins of the established players.