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Fitter's are kept on course
Page 124
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• As trailers have become increasingly more complex, it has become increasingly difficult for workshop fitters to keep pace with developments in the fields of air suspension, air brakes and anti-skid braking systems.
In order to help fill this knowledge gap, Rubery OwenRockwell has started a service school. Courses are held over one or two days and deal in depth with all aspects of maintenance.
Many of the big fleet operators, such as Trailerent, CTR, TIP, BRS and Ferrymasters, are sending engineers and fitters from smaller and independent companies have attended, too. RO-R has commissioned a training vehicle, a skeletal trailer, to help with lectures. The trailer has a tandem axle with RO-R-Indair and RO-R-Flexair air suspension systems. Grau Girling anti-skid system, Anchorlok spring brakes, RO-R manual landing legs and slack adjusters and Wabco pneumatic load-sensing. The tutors are customer services chief Peter O'Connor and his team — Geoff Alman, Phil Booth, Stuart Lewis and Selwyn Parry.
Every fitter who attends the service school is registered with RO-R and receives a certificate of attendance; service bulletins are sent directly to their homes.
RO-R sees these courses as an integral part of its service to the transport industry. Says RO-R business planning manager Graham Ranger: "The reaction from fitters is very positive. We are now developing special courses that take them one stage further in the training."
A network of service stations is being developed in support. At least 20% of the workshop staff at any one time will have attended an RO-R course and they will have a range of facilities including a roller brake tester and a 24hour breakdown service. "These service stations are a natural development," says Ranger.
RO-R hopes to have more than 90 service stations in operation throughout Britain by the end of this year.
RO-R now offers a two-year parts and labour warranty. "We are the only manufacturer of running gear to give a warranty in excess of 12 months," says group sales and marketing director Robin Nunley.