Telma looks to market future
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CHANGES in the marketing network of Telma Retarders to cope with new developments, likely new legislation, and a push in the heavy goods vehicle market, in addition to its existing high proportion of the British coach market have been announced.
From April 1 all Telmas sold in Britain will be marketed through Tricentrol Chassis Developments at Dunstable which will also supply existing dealers and fitting agents. Telma and Tricentrol are actively seeking additional agents in areas strategically placed in relation to the heavy vehicle population.
Serving the coach industry, Telma's existing dealers located in the three primary bodybuilding areas will continue as before although they, too, will now draw their stock from TCD.
Telma is at present marketing a new CC range of electric retarders for heavy goods vehicles. These retarders are designed to cope with braking vehicles of up to 38 tons gross vehicle weight.
At the top end of the scale, the CC250 retarder weighs 330kg (7261b) and produces a maximum braking torque of 2,450 Nm (1,808 ibft). This can be used for coaches and fast vehicles up to 38 tons on mountain roads or lorries and slower vehicles in flat or hilly country of up to 50 tons gvw.
Telma's familiar "focal" type retarder for coaches is continuing although it is now often being fitted to the rear face of the gearbox as well as the more usual differential nose. Telma is at present negotiating with manufacturers in an effort to get them to fit retarders on the vehicle production line. Volvo is now offering a Telma Retarder as optional equipment on its B58 psv chassis. Telma also claims that 70 per cent of new Leyland Leopard coaches are now fitted with retarders.
With EEC legislation likely to demand the fitting of retarders to both psv and goods vehicles chassis, the day of the retarder as a "bolt-on goodie" has gone and advent as basic equipment is fast approaching.