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FLEX
Page 64
Page 65
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FRI
BLE
ENDS
Some operators will always need custom made trucks. Brian Weatherley turns his eye
to Wheelbase Engineering's special service.
Behind the large band of "Joe Ordinary" hauliers who happily buy trucks and trailers off the peg there's a significant group of niche operators who need customtailored trucks. But specialised specs don't come cheap especially if you're buying from new.And anything out of the ordinary also tends to push back delivery times from the mainstream manufacturers.
Behind the large band of "Joe Ordinary" hauliers who happily buy trucks and trailers off the peg there's a significant group of niche operators who need customtailored trucks. But specialised specs don't come cheap especially if you're buying from new.And anything out of the ordinary also tends to push back delivery times from the mainstream manufacturers.
Behind the large band of "Joe Ordinary" hauliers who happily buy trucks and trailers off the peg there's a significant group of niche operators who need customtailored trucks. But specialised specs don't come cheap especially if you're buying from new.And anything out of the ordinary also tends to push back delivery times from the mainstream manufacturers. As a result, a handful of specialist converters and bodybuilders have long operated in the
UK offering cost-effective solutions on both new and used chassis.There's clearly business in this sector, as witnessed by the recent opening of Wheelbase Engineering's new £2m plant at Darwen, Lanes, just off the M65. Wheelbase moved to its current site after more than two decades at Rishton in nearby Blackburn.The firm handles an impressive variety of work from building specialised (mainly drawbar) trailers and fitting demount systems to manufacturing lifting decks,
stretching chassis and adding axles. "We've got a very flexible workforce," says MD Simon Pickles. "Right now we're very busy on all three sectors — that's chassis conversions, demounts and trailers. But if anyone of those goes quiet we can diversify into the
other two, and at least two out of those three will invariably be busy at any one time."
Chassis conversions and trailer construction each account for 40% of the company's business, with the remaining 20% coming from demounts. But that balance could change: "Our demount business is growing," Pickles reports. "We've taken some very good orders lately."
Wheelbase Engineering's drawbar work is also expanding driven in part by the waste industry; Pickles explains the advent of 44tonnes has made a drawbar waste container carrier "a more saleable item".
Healthy competition
Healthy competition
Not that WEL is without its rivals. With Ray Smith,Abel and Cartwrights on the drawbar and demount side and the likes of TVAC, Chassis Developments and Inter UK Engineering competing for chassis work there's no danger of resting on its laurels. Pickles takes a pragmatic view: "If you've got a problem WEL will solve it for you. Because of our products and services we'll have an answer.The only thing we don't do is bodies."
Being able to offer bodywork would certainly make WEL an attractive proposition to dealers looking for a one-stop shop. However, Pickles remarks: "We're the bodybuilders' friend. We work hand-in-hand with them."
That's not to say WEL wouldn't look seriously at providing bodywork in the future. As Pickles confirms: "If we did do bodies it would be a fantastic offer for a dealer. But the current poor margins in general bodybuilding are a strong deterrent right now."
All WE Lcome
WEL's relationship with dealers is clearly a critical one:" Commercial dealerships sell our products. The people we want to sell to are already selling it for us."To that end WEL is running a series of open days to showcase its capabilities (see panel right).
Pickles has ambitious plans for the 3,700m2 Darwen site, which boasts a 42-bay workshop: "The potential of this shop is to double our turnover — I wouldn't be surprised if we do it within five years."
Pickles has ambitious plans for the 3,700m2 Darwen site, which boasts a 42-bay workshop: "The potential of this shop is to double our turnover — I wouldn't be surprised if we do it within five years."
Pickles has ambitious plans for the 3,700m2 Darwen site, which boasts a 42-bay workshop: "The potential of this shop is to double our turnover — I wouldn't be surprised if we do it within five years."
WEL has a potential client base that looks to be more than capable of sustaining that growth, including big names like Eddie Stobart,Silentnight,Parceline and the MoD, for whom WEL has recently produced a batch of platform skeletals.
WEL has a potential client base that looks to be more than capable of sustaining that growth, including big names like Eddie Stobart,Silentnight,Parceline and the MoD, for whom WEL has recently produced a batch of platform skeletals.
But many of its customers are small operators who want a tailored vehicle at a competitive price.
On the chassis conversion side Pickles points out that stretching the wheelbase of a modestly powered used fleet tractor can turn it into a very attractive rigid, not least as most tractors come with a sleeper cab.
The reduced cost and delivery times against a new chassis can make this an extremely attractive proposition. Fleet Removals of Liverpool has recently
taken delivery of a smart Actros drawbar outfit based on an 1835 attic which was stretched to become the prime mover. WEL also built its centre-axle drawbar trailer and fitted truck and trailer with sub-frames for demountable boxes.
Looking at a WEL chassis extension during CM'S recent visit to Darwen it was virtually impossible to detect the welding joins until Pickles pointed them out to us.The corner radius of the extra chassis flitching matches the original rails and everything is Huck-bolted tightly into place.
As well as extending or reducing wheelbases WEL can fit leading, trailing or self-steering third-axle conversions, drawbar equipment and air suspension. WEL works closely with the original manufacturers to avoid any objections to its work. For operators looking for maximum use of body space WEL has also developed a raising deck system which uses an unusual combination of chains and sprockets to ensure the vertical movement of the second floor remains even, no matter how the load is
distributed.
distributed.