York feels like a million
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THE GLOOM of the trailer manufacturing sector was lightened this week with news that York has secured over Elm worth of export business this year, and there are The company has overcome foreign resistance to completely built-up York trailers, which are expensive to transport and often incur tariffs in countries which encourage local assembly, by developing the axle, suspension, and other component activities at its Market Harborough factory.
It has concentrated its export effort on developing new overseas markets, and has been high hopes that this will top E8m. supplying as much or as little of a trailer as each market demands.
This has resulted in hydraulic equipment and design and manufacturing expertise for tippers being provided in Saudi Arabia, and axles and suspensions and other trailer components are being supplied for trailer assembly in Kuwait, Malaysia, and Portugal.
Because of the low labour costs in Portugal, the company is using that country as an assembly area for trailers being sold by 8 part-owned company in such new York markets as Africa. A company spokesman told CM that there had been no trades union resistance to this in Britain, as the Portugese operation represented the company's only means of satisfying these markets.
New trailer manufacturing plants, in which York has an equity stake, are being built in Brazil and India.
York Trailer International managing director Jim Davies told CM that exports now account for about 50 per cent of the company's activities, and for 66 per cent of its sales.