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THE FRAY
Hino is preparing for a major assault on the UK market. Andy Salter has the details...
CM EXCLUSIVE The rumour mill has been grinding hard of late. Ever since Paccar put the Foden dealer network on notice that it was 'retiring' the marque. it was clear plans were afoot.The Foden network, with its undoubted customer loyalty and dedication to service, was a tempting target for any ambitious truck manufacturer planning to increase its UK presence. But who?
Enter stage right Hino Motors, which is owned by "royota (a company with serious CV ambitions on the world stage) and imported into the UK and Ireland by J Harris Assemblers. Here's another firm that has been looking for the right opportunity to make its mark in the UK.And Harris is a company to take seriously, having built up Hino to dominate the Irish market for eight-leggers.
For the past six months Hino's management, led by director for dealer development Liam O'Neill, has been talking to UK dealers, focusing on the Foden network. He plans to reveal Hino's strategy for the UK at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April.
O'Neill is clearly excited about limo's prospects: "There's a definite buzz about the place," he says."It's true we've targeted the Foden dealers with our negotiations. though we've always had ambitions to increase our UK presence.The availability of these highquality dealers has allowed us to pull forward our plans by approximately three years.
"The new members of the Hino network bring with them unrivalled service and backup, a focus and energy on the market, and modern premises giving round-the-clock back-up.These dealers had previously been selling trucks that were £7,000 more expensive than their nearest rival and had been successful.They clearly know a thing or two about selling trucks" A strong dealer network is the key to success in the ultra-competitive UK arena; O'Neill and his team have an initial target of 15 dealers to cover the whole of the UK. "We're completely re-organising our UK network," he says.
A number of dealers have been signed up, and the network is growing by the day. O'Neill believes there will be some raised eyebrows when the full list is revealed.The four who have already joined the Hino network certainly have the right credentials: • Acorn Trucks, based in Crayford, Kent, will look after the South-East • MTC will serve Liverpool and Manchester O Cumbria Truck Centre will look after Cumbria and the Borders • Banc Brothers will cover the north of Scotland In addition, former Foden dealer Pelican Engineering is in the process of purchasing the existing Leeds-based Hino dealership, Trucks Morley.
"We have a significant player in the West Country too who we hope to have on board by the CV Show," O'Neill reports,"along with representation in the Midlands, East and West; Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen."
Proven success
In Ireland,Hino's success has been based on the 700 Series eight-wheeler range, predominantly in tipper guise.The 8x4 chassis is likely to spearhead its UK campaign — Hino project manager John Davitt believes that it's light enough for aggregates yet tough enough for muckaway work. Building on the proven success of the eight-legger, the company is also offering a 6x4 rigid and a 4x2/6x2 tractor unit — and at the CV Show, it will unveil a new 6x4 tractor unit.
Over the next couple of years the Hino line-up will be extended further down the weight range.
The 7(X) Series, which is assembled in Dublin, replaced the FY Series last year; improvements included a new cab, engine and transmission.
Power for the range comes from Hino's 13.0litre,six-pot turbo-diesel featuring a variable-nozzle turbocharger and highpressure common-rail fuel-injection system and an engine brake as standard.The 6x4 tigid gets a 380hp/1,814Nm version; the eight-wheeler has 410hp/1,863Nrn; and the tractors get the top-of-the-range 450hp/ 1,912Nm application. Peak power is on tap at 1,800rpm with peak torque at 1,100rpm.
The first versions are Euro-3 compliant hut Hino will unveil its Euro-4 motor at the CV ShowThis is expected to use EGR technology, which Hino says will not require a particulate Idler.
All models employ a manual ZF 16-speed synchromesh transmission and single-plate 430mm-diameter clutch (semi-auto boxes will come la ter), with the Servoshift assistedshift system.
Braking relies on drums all round, and while the tractor rides on rear air suspension, the rigids all use multi-leaf springs at the rear. All models feature semi-elliptic springs with shock absorbers and stabilisers at the front.
The 4x2 tractor will initially be offered on a 3.83m wheelbase; Hino is claiming an unladen weight of 6,805kg.The 8x4 chassiscab for tipper applications comes in at 9,305kg according to the spec sheet.
The cab rides on four-hag air suspension and is well equipped.The launch model comes with a rest bunk, though we understand a fulllength sleeper cab will be available later. Hatcher will he offering a high-roof cab conversion through the Hino network.
Hinos are built for stock at the Harris assembly plant on the outskirts of Dublin. They arrive from Japan in semi-knockeddown form and can be specified with tipper, grab, hook-loader or mixer bodywork. Harris also has the exclusive UK rights to import the German-built Stetter concrete mixers: it will be offering the full Stetter range on 1 lino chassis in the UK. •