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A trailer manufacturer in Finland has developed a product so
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pracical it's a wonder that it hasn't been taken up by more operators — but is Eked about to receive the exposure it needs? Julian Millnes reports.
Avisit to the Ekeri factory in Finland left us wondering one thing— why aren't more people buying these trailers? Such is the degree of practicality these side-opening units offer, complete with strong build quality and first-rate residuals.
What's more, unlike most trailer manufacturers. Eked is a family-owned company and is probably on first-name terms wit h all its customers, making you feel it deserYes success all the more.
Established back in 1945 by Hag Eklund, Eked initially produced doors and furniture, along with boxes for trucks and covered trailers, it was only in the 1970s that the company dedicated itself to transport products; by the 1990s it had started to specialise in truck . bodies offering exceptional access.
Nowadays the company is firmly established as one of the main players in the Nordic countries. ft makes 600 units a year, equally split between trailers/drawbars and dry-freight bodies, of which 80% are exported mainly to Sweden and Norway.As a result Ekeri claims 40% of the market for sideopening trailers and bodies in Sweden, and 12% in Europe as a whole.
UK presence
The company has had a presence in the UK since 2002 — albeit a small one, and only by chance. Having seen a picture of one of the company's trailers in a magazine, an English operator felt it was the ideal product for his business and got in touch.To date 35 units have gone into service in the UK (live with Dawson Truck &Trailer), but managing director Mikael Eklund feels that the true potential of its product has not been realised by operators over here.
Eklund says:"Our product may be specific in certain ways but it's also incredibly flexible. For instance it's ideal for transporting perishable goods to markets where different sections can be accessed at any time, instead of having to drag all the goods out to get to the front of the trailer.
"We have one guy who sells direct from his trailer and another who drops food at one end and picks up rocks on the return leg, showing the versatility these trailers have." Customisation is a watchword for Ekeri: it seems no two trailers are the same after they have rolled off the line. Eklund explains:"We love customisation. Every trailer is different,with a new set of problems to solve, but that also allows us to innovate.
-For instance, a refrigerated trailer needs a high standard of insulation to maintain its temperature while also retaining a usable volume.These factors demand more from the actual construction, including the appropriate rubber sealings and insulation materials."
And the UK market holds its own set of challenges when it comes to trailer design. "As many UK customers operate smaller forklift trucks, we've had to manufacture certain products with retractable doors on both sides the increased strengthening requirements demanded a rethink of the design from the ground up," he says.
"We even produced one trailer for a customer that also incorporated a retractable roof."
Initial meeting
Unlike other manufacturers where you order 'off the peg', the initial stages of buying a trailer or body from Ekeri involve a representative meeting the customer to establish his needs. This information is sent to the company's base in Kolppi,Finland, and a quote is returned within a few days if the design isn't too complicated. With such a degree of individuality involved with each trailer, there's an equally individual approach to dealing with the customer. Eklund says: "Customers can come over to see the product once it's finished, and many do. Furthermore, some will visit right at the start of the manufacturing process if certain elements or details are specific."
Inevitably, this doesn't come cheap. But in return, the product is easy to use and expertly constructed leading to strong residuals. For example, a three-year-old trailer recently fetched £40,000. Eklund is proud of his products' longevity: "We call them 12-year trailers," he smiles.
Quality not quantity After walking round the factory, we can see why. The trailers may not be rolling off the production lines in droves but at each stage (chassis, body building, door, paint and inspection), the level of detail and input seems exceptionally thorough.
Out of curiosity we had a go at opening the side doors to see just what a driver or loader will face on a daily basis.A simple pull-and-push action on the chest-height handle located on each section allowed us to open and concertina the doors one by one. Qnce this was done they could be locked in the open position with a metal brace, giving direct access to all but 300mm of the trailer.
Removing the central beam, where the two door sections meet, is just as simple, entailing only an unlocking of two catches and sliding it along until it pops out.
As for the future, Ekeri is testing a 'black box' that can monitor a number of areas such as the alarm system, UPS, temperature and axle load. Mounted on the trailer, it will enable companies to constantly monitor their loads.They can even communicate with the box, and thus the trailer, by remote control to change any settings.
But for the moment the company hopes its presence at this year's CV Show will do enough to spread the word amon those non-believers who haven't yet cottoned on to the benefits of an 'acce all-areas' trailer that is built to last.We: wish thern well. a FACT FILE Ekeri claims 40% the market for sideopening trailers an bodies in Swede and 12% in Europe