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Could this be the perfect couple?
Page 18
Page 19
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If there's a trailer behind it, Jost wants to make the connection. CM takes a look at the German fifthwheel manufacturer's strategy—and its plans for the recently acquired drawbar-coupling specialist Rockinger. They have designs for British hauliers...
• At the NEC Show back in May. Jost unveiled a number of new products including its latest PIG (New Generation) sliding fifth wheel, which is designed to save precious weight over the old SV Slider thanks to a new lightweight cast carriage, and the JSKe1.0—a fifth wheel designed 'to make UK operators think again about cast fifth wheels".
Time will tell. After all, the UK continues to be a solitary outpost for pressed fifth-wheel couplings. However, according to Peter Ormond, Jest's area export manager: 'Although the Continental market is primarily cast, with the product historically split BO% cast 20% pressed, and while cast couplings have traditionally been stronger and heavier, I wouldn't say that forever The ribs are now thinner, and with finite element analysis and lightweight pedestals which cat out the mounting frame the weight disadvantage is coming down all the time."
In addition to those two new models Jost has adopted an e-coat' paint finish on its couplings that wouldn't be out of place in a mainstream chassis manufacturer. Indeed, its desire to mirror the build quality of its OEM customers is no accident. As cl executive officer Lars firer reports, Jost's relationship v Europe's truck manufacturers a major component supplier is alre moving onto a higher plane.
Under previous supply arrar ments, Jost would deliver a load of f wheels to a truck maker who wi then match the right fifth wheel to right truck as and when requi, However, for the future Jost is lool at supplying what Bremen describe: "coupling modules that will be supp complete to the OEM, delivering ther the exact build sequence.
And not just Jost products eith he adds. We could got parts from at component manufacturers and ma them together in sequence and sp
While it might seem a rad departure for some, Brorsen ins there's nothing new about it: "I ci from the car manufacturing indur and what I'm doing has been d there for years. It's a further ext sion to the 'shrink-wrapped' c cept—but you've got to have the ex knowledge of the product."
Hauliers wary of buzz words "shrink-wrapped" can relax. phrase simply means having all the r
essary components needed to make a truck road-ready—like fifth wheels, mud wings and even paint—on-line so there's no further delay when the vehicle rolls off the end of the assembly line. And as far of Brorsen is concerned this practice would be a natural extension of Jest's supply chain activities.
While Jost has an enviable market share throughout Europe. Brorsen reckons it can do better—not least in Britain:
''We believe increases in UK market share are possible because we think we have a much better product and support operations. We can grow to more than 50% by looking beyond lust the basic product." That includes one-handed. easier to operate, 'sate' fifth-wheel couplings, with indicators in the cab that show whether you've coupled up correctly--even electronic interlocks with Jest's landing legs that prevent you from uncoupling a trailer until the legs are extended. u by Brian Weatherley