UK sales drive for Montracon
Page 14
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• Ulster-based trailer manufacturer Montracon Trailers has invested over £300,000 in a new sales and marketing centre at Toddington, Bedfordshire, as part of its bid to capture 25% of the UK trailer market within the next 18 months.
The 1.2 hectare Redhills Estate site, located next to junction 12 on the MI, will be "the launch pad for a major UK sales drive", according to Montracon's newly-appointed head of sales and marketing Des O'Connor (see page 22).
During 1985/86 Montracon built 720 trailers and had a turnover of £8 million. Up until the end of its financial year in November Montracon was in profit, although the company is not saying by how much.
With the opening of the Redhills site, however, Montracon is predicting a rise in turnover during 1986/87 to £10.5 million, while trailer production will increase to between 1,150 and 1,200.
Montracon currently claims a share of between eight and 10% of the UK trailer market.
Although it will not be carrying out any trailer manufacturing at Toddington, Montracon is seeking further planning permission for the Redhills site which would enable it to offer trailer repairs and refurbishment — a field in which ,'many operators are realising tax advantages," says O'Connor.
The bulk of Montracon's trailer business is currently made up from platform and trailer chassis, although to help its sales drive the company has recently launched a new chassisless GRP dryfreight box van and for the first time has produced its own tri-axle tipping trailer with an aluminium chassis and George Neville bodywork.
O'Connor is keen to pick up more business from the trailer rental companies and contract hire market in 1987 — Montracon already supplies trailers to Trailerent and Dawson.
Montracon is also looking to take on extra representatives in the South and South-West of England and is talking to "one or two possible distributors," says O'Connor.