NZ TruckBody & Trailer June 2019

June 2019

BILLET SELF - LOADERS

MILLS TUI & MUSSON LOGISTICS FIRST 50MAX!

• JOST NZ OFF TO A BIG START • HELLA, LIGHTING THE GLOBE

DPS HAULAGE & PATCHELL CLEANING UP

HAMMAR 110 A SUCCESS STORY

TL MACLEAN HORSE AMBULANCE

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More locations coming soon INVERCARGILL

Also available from

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branches nationwide

12 ISSUE #046 JUNE 2019

T

Contents 18

I

JOST LAUNCHES IN NZ Out from under its BPW umbrella, Jost NZ opens for stand-alone business.

24

12

TAKING TO THE MAX Mills Tui’s new 50MAX billet self-loader does it big, and does it first.

18

SPOTLIGHT ON HELLA The NZ arm does more than just distribute, with design, manufacturing and export.

28

24

HAMMARING IT HOME We catch up with Hammar’s real NZ success story, the 110, and a few of its operators.

28

TREE FELLERS Crane & Carry combine with TRT/Hiab to put together this unique, agile Arborist machine.

34

34

HORSE CODE TL MacLean builds this horse ambulance to make equine life a little easier.

38

s

wide

Our round-up of the news and events from the truckbody and trailer scene.

8

INGS

STON

4

NEWS

SELF-LOADER, SKID CLEANER TRT and Patchell combine for this DPS Haulage unit that’s really cleaning up.

38

44

NEW REGISTRATIONS We compile and analyse the latest round of NZTA sales and registration data.

47

TBT DIRECTORY Listing NZ’s truckbody and trailer manufacturers and suppliers.

Truckbody&Trailer | 1

June 2019

BILLET SELF - LOADERS

MILLS TUI & MUSSON LOGISTICS FIRST 50MAX!

• JOST NZ OFF TO A BIG START • HELLA, LIGHTING THE GLOBE

DPS HAULAGE & PATCHELL CLEANING UP

HAMMAR 110 A SUCCESS STORY

TL MACLEAN HORSE AMBULANCE

THE BUBBLE HASN’T BURNT – IT’S HOLDING PRESSURE Four months into 2019, we’ve got a good idea how the truckbody and trailer market is faring for 2019 and the news is still good.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS WE’VE SEEN

As the sales and registration data this

strength, records, expansion and evolution,

issue will show, overall numbers have

the engineering and expertise that goes

and, in a way, it’s almost refreshing to see

dropped ever so slightly for 2019, though the

into these units is just as interesting, with

the market taking a breather. No, we are

market as a whole is still very strong.

the hydraulic ride-height adjustment and

traditionally

transport-oriented

pages,

not on record-setting sales and registration

The market also shifts to demands, and

suspension, plus elements and aspects

pace, like we have seen almost every year for

lately we’ve seen a few extra crane trucks

designed to protect and care for the horse,

the past five. And nor is the market bubble

built, along with the usual array of flat decks,

all wildly impressive, during what is likely

about to burst, either.

curtain-siders and the staple products.

a very difficult time for everyone involved. see

So as we move into the second half of 2019,

sales, and consolidation of efforts and

companies branch into other areas, like

it’s reassuring to see many companies

investment. Those who have been in

TL MacLean has done this issue with its

taking a measured approach to growth,

the industry for some time, and there

horse ambulance. Using manufacturing

others sustaining it, and even those who

are many, have experienced both the

expertise taken from its transport trailers,

are seeing losses, understanding and

global GFC of a decade ago, and even the

the guys have turned their attention to

managing them to maintain a bright

financial crisis of the late 1980s/early

a smaller scale, but one that hasn’t been

future. After all, everyone’s in business to

1990s – and it’s a smarter, more efficient

catered to much in its field.

make a dollar.

What we are seeing is an easing of

business that uses that experience to survive and prosper in 2019.

So

it’s

equally

exciting

to

TB&T

Though its size is at the small end of

Dean Evans

the scale to what’s normally seen in these

dean@trucker.co.nz

Got a new or different truckbody or trailer in the build? Send in some pics, we want to see it.

ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION/ SUBSCRIPTIONS ph. 09 571 3544 www.alliedpublications.co.nz POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 112 062 Penrose, Auckland STREET ADDRESS 172B Marua Road Ellerslie, Auckland PUBLISHER Trevor Woolston mob. 027 492 5600 trevor@trucker.co.nz

2 | Truckbody&Trailer

EDITOR Dean Evans mob. 027 254 4999 ph. 09 571 3544 dean@trucker.co.nz SALES Trevor Woolston ph. 027 492 5600 trevor@trucker.co.nz Hayden Woolston ph. 027 448 8768 hayden@trucker.co.nz

CONTRIBUTORS Robin Yates

PRINTING Nicholson Print Solutions

DESIGNER Luca Bempensante Zarko Mihic

NZ Truckbody & Trailer is published quarterly by Allied Publications Ltd, PO Box 112 062, Penrose, Auckland.

PHOTOGRAPHY Allied Publications staff and contributors ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Sue Woolston accounts@trucker.co.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS $30 (incl GST) for one year (4 issues) within NZ. Overseas rates available on application.

Sue Woolston accounts@trucker.co.nz

COPYRIGHT Articles in NZ Truckbody & Trailer are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher.

CONTRIBUTIONS Editorial contributions are welcomed for ISSN #1177-0007 consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…) If the return of material is required please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail, fax, or email prior to submitting material.

NZ Truckbody & Trailer reserves the right to edit submitted material.

SIX OF THE BEST The HAMMAR 110 UL-UltraLight™ – the world lightest Sideloader in its class – works so well that TIL Logistics Group placed the first order of six for its fleet based on the impressive light tare weight, providing more payload for less fuel usage, the patented SledgeLeg™ for easy handling in tight spaces for placing a container near a wall or fence, and the SAFETY+ ™ system that monitors safe handling.

Like every Hammar, our new 110 is stable, strong and built to last and key features include: • • • •

Light – from 8.3-tonne tare Safe – optimal crane geometry Reach – long outreach cranes Weighing – by each crane or total

• • • •

Strong – 36-tonne Safe Working Load (SWL) Fast – new SledgeLeg™ technology, 50% faster Stable – legs extend for firm base and transfer Ease – Crane/Stabiliser side-by-side design

With more than 45 years experience in sideloaders and a reputation for quality of manufacturing and service, HAMMAR sets the standard.

Now sold in 114 countries

HAMMAR Sideloaders are Made in New Zealand from local and Swedish components to suit YOUR transport needs.

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND

Hammar New Zealand Ltd, 16 Marphona Cres, Takanini, Auckland.

0800 2 HAMMAR info@hammar.co.nz www.hammar.co.nz

» the brand by which others are measured «

VALE: MICHAEL MILHAM OUR THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES go

health battle, and sadly Mike passed away on

to

Scott

March 2, this year, aged 49. We’d like to extend

Vermulen, whose Viridian glass truck we

our deepest sympathies to Mike’s business

featured in TBT December 2018. At the time,

partner Scott, and of course Mike’s family and

Scott spoke of his partner Mike Milham’s

friends.

Auckland

GlassTranz

Director

TB&T

CORRECTION: SWINGLIFT #1 in 2018 LAST ISSUE, TBT REPORTED ON THE TOTAL ANNUAL SALES OF trailers for 2018, and we erroneously reported a total sales figure for Patchell Group of Industries’ brand of Swinglift sales. This was the difference between it placing number two in its market segment, as opposed to number one, which we would like to correct and state is the brand’s rightful position. The error was due to Swinglift model designations and their clarity within a sub-section of official NZTA sales reporting data, however upon it being highlighted, TBT would like to correct and announce that NZTA data officially records Patchell’s Swinglift as the highest-selling side loader brand in NZ for 2018, with a total of 26 sales, which is four clear of its nearest rival brand with 22. TBT apologies for the error, and we have worked with Patchell to ensure its model designations and the way they are recognised in official data reporting is clear for improved reporting accuracy.

TB&T

HIAB DELIVERS FORKLIFT #75,000 WITH SO MUCH HIAB CRANE ACTION

E-series, specially painted and decorated to

this issue, it’s easy to forget Hiab also builds

mark the occasion.

Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab.

Die Behrens-Gruppe runs a fleet of over

MOFFETT truck-mounted forklifts – and it

“MOFFETT is the original truck mounted

120 MOFFETT truck mounted forklifts, of

built its 75,000th one in May, delivered to Die

forklift and globally undoubtedly the most

which over 20 are now the new E Series

Behrens-Gruppe of Germany. Picking up the

popular brand. We’re immensely proud to sell

generation with additional units on order.

special unit from MOFFETT’s production centre

75,000 units before Hiab’s MOFFETT brand

They were also the first customer in Germany

in Dundalk, Ireland, to receive it, the milestone

celebrates its 75th anniversary next year,”

to run the MOFFETT E-Series truck mounted

unit is an emission-free electric MOFFETT

says Michael O’Reilly, Product Manager

forklift.

TB&T

4 | Truckbody&Trailer

Mills-Tu

TATES 250 TONNER Tates NZ ups the tow rating to 250 tonne with its new V.Orlandi HD coupling and tongue.

TATES NZ HAS ADDED A NEW, BIG

of the shank and the nut close to 50 percent

hitch to its NZ offerings, in the form of

larger than the standard version.”

the V.Orlandi HD50, which is rated up to a

The tow eye is also visibly larger, but

massive 250 tonne, and a D-value of 400kN.

substantially heavier with reinforcing in key

Designed

logging

areas, and while a standard tow eye can be

applications this 50mm coupling is also

lifted with one hand, the 250t unit at 30 kg is

suitable for applications such as the

definitely a two-handed lift.

mining industry in Australia; the new

The 250t hitch comes with large twin

250t manual drawbar coupling is also

mounting plates, and nuts and bolts, and is

offered with a matching 250t, 50mm

a simple operation, by simply sliding out the

weld in toweye. Both components offer

lock and easily pulling the pin.

substantial rating improvements over the

“I don’t think there’s anything else in the

existing 50mm range.

country like this that isn’t custom made,”

“We have a standard 50mm V.Orlandi hitch

adds Aaron.

with a very high D rating, but it’s not as

The 250t V.Orlandi hitch and 250t rated tow

substantial as this new unit,” says Tates’

eye are both available from Tates NZ (09)

Aaron Burson. “It’s visibly larger… the size

299 7777.

for

off-highway

TB&T

Compared to a conventional 50t hitch, the 250t unit remains around the same, size, but it’s big where it counts, up to 50 percent larger in some areas.

Mounting plates and larger diameter main bolt adds to size and ability.

INNOVATIVE

BUILT TO LAST MAXIMISE Your

BOTTOM LINE If you’re moving wood, Mills-Tui are the experts for innovative design to maximise your productivity.

On-highway or Off-highway we can tailor a solution to suit your requirements.

mills-tui.co.nz Mills-Tui Limited 0800 MILLS -TUI (645 578)

Mills-Tui A5L Advert 2019-05.indd 1

10/05/19 2:25 PM

DANA UNVEILS 46K DRIVEHEAD IN BRISBANE DRIVELINE

MANU-

efficiency due to the fact that we’re running

facturer, Dana Australia, has announced its

COMPONENT

oil lines external of the carrier,” he said.

heavy-duty Dana 46K Drivehead. The Dana

“This potentially could provide the benefit of

AU-70-SLS is designed and manufactured

improved oil durability”.

“In Australia, trucks are road speed-limited

locally for heavy haulage in Australia’s unique

to 100km/h, so after a typical B-double on

operating conditions.

In its goal to achieve 1.2 million kilometres

a linehaul journey reaches 100km/h the

as a benchmark for life-to-overhaul of its

engine is constantly bumping the speed

driveheads, Dana has also developed an

limiter which simultaneously reduces the

innovative force-fed lubrication system to

power then reapplies it on an ongoing basis.

increase protection of the critical components

Every time this happens it sends a very mild

inside the differential and minimise wear in

high ambient temps, which over prolonged

load through to the drivehead which over

heavy-duty linehaul applications.

periods can degrade and thin the oil and also

long periods can lead to wear in gears and

lead to inadequate lubrication.

bearings and shorten the unit’s life.

One of the issues with differentials

Dana’s

46K

tandem

drivehead

is

operating under extreme conditions, such

Dana AU-70-SLS driveheads are generally

as linehaul B-train work, is heat build-up.

running up to 15°C cooler than conventional

commonly used in B-train prime movers

With the relatively small amount of oil

units under similar operating conditions,

with GCM ratings of up to 70 tonnes and oil

contained within the diff housing and limited

according to Dana Australia Engineering

capacity of 19.1 litres. At present there are

heat transfer from the housing, diff oil

Manager, Tony Robinson.

20 trucks fitted with the modified driveheads

temperatures can reach as high as 130°C in

“We’re seeing the improved thermal

operating across Australia.

TB&T

NEW B-TRAINS THE

With this design there’s also the potential

introduction of two new B-trains put

to build a 40-20 B-train that will carry both

forward by the TTMF. One of these was

40ft and 20ft containers. Flatdeck and

designed and built by Fruehauf NZ and

Curtainsider B-trains are also available

THE

NZTA

HAS

ANNOUNCED

underwent testing by TERNZ to meet a

Feedback has been good so far, with the

new PBS standard. Undergoing trials is a

driver reporting that turning at intersections is

new seven-axle 20-20 B-train that, with a

way better and handles great, and stating it

suitable tractor unit and provided it meets

does not whip around like the six-axle does

the approved axle spacings, is capable of

when it hits bumps in the road. Stay tuned for

carting two 22.5t 20ft containers.

more developments as the trial progresses.

6 | Truckbody&Trailer

TB&T

Thanks Robin A quick but special thanks to Robin Yates who has contributed to TBT magazine for well over 10 years, compiling data, new registrations and more. Thanks for all the years Robin.

JOST NZ has started operations on Highbrook Drive, East Tamaki. It’s hard to miss the building.

JOST LAUNCHES IN NZ German truck and trailer equipment manufacturer JOST has signalled its intentions and aspirations for the New Zealand market, recently opening its brand new warehouse and office facilities at a prominent and highly visible location in Auckland.

T lines,

The

new

1500m 2

HE EXPANSION AND STAND-

the finishing touches on its new operation

alone venture heralds a new era

over the recent Christmas/new year

1200m 2 of warehousing space, along

for JOST as it expands its product

period.

with open office space and a product

improves

on-hand

stock

and

provides a better customer support.

General Manager Kate Bucknell has employed three key staff to handle

facility

features

showroom, there is also an upstairs training room.

JOST NZ was incorporated in early

warehousing, product and sales, and

“Our stock holding is growing very

2018, and more than a year on, the doors

with more than 100 years of industry

quickly to meet the NZ demand, and with

have recently opened on the young

experience between them, there is solid

the global array of JOST manufacturing

company with experienced staff, putting

grounding and expertise.

subsidiaries,” explains Kate. The product

8 | Truckbody&Trailer

catalogue

for

JOST

is

impressive.

JOST produces axles; it bought the Mercedes Benz axle plant, and then recently rebranded to JOST. “We’ve had significant interest from the market and have already sold a couple of trailer sets locally,” explains Kate.

“We have JOST alloy and chrome wheels, a double ball race turntable… we’re doing well with all those products.

We also have the ROCKINGER 40mm and 50mm fully automatic coupling, which is a direct fit replacement for other market brands; plus JOST landing legs, kingpins, fifth wheels… a lot of our focus is on sensor technology, as a lot of fleets are very focused on safety processes, so we will see our stock holding increase in the near future to cover the sensored range.”

Just

2km

Motorway

on

east

off

the

Highbrook

Auckland

Drive,

the

prominent location of the building and

Top: More than 1200m2 of warehouse space offers room for expansion both with product lines, and with a workshop area.

Middle: The training room: JOST NZ plans to offer its dealers regular training to keep pace with the new innovations from JOST. The 2019 JOST NZ team: left to right: Storeman Ray Tewi; Product Specialist Rhys Harnett; GM Kate Bucknell; Operations Manager/Sales, Jaco de Kock.

Truckbody&Trailer | 9

JOST branding is impossible to miss. “Now we’re in here,” adds Kate, “it’s a pretty nice, highprofile spot; the timing’s right and we’ve got a good team. Most trailer builders know we’re here, and the trailer business is booming.

“We’ve got dealers around the country: TRT/ CTS in Auckland, TRT/CTS in Christchurch, Twiggs in Wellington and Hastings, CDSL in Mt Maunganui, TRT in Hamilton and CTS in Dunedin.”

As National Secretary of the NZ Truck-Trailer Manufacturers Federation, JOST NZ is in good hands. “I love the industry and I’ve been working in it since I was 18,” says Kate.

Now, with a solid focus on JOST NZ, Kate and her team are set to ramp up the brand. Referencing some of the stock, Kate adds that on-hand stock is paramount: “If you haven’t got it, there will always be somebody else ready to put up their hand and supply it. We’re showing we’re willing to support the product and brand, and willing to keep it in stock.”

Contact: www.jostnz.co.nz Phone: 0800JOSTNZ – 0800 567 869 Email: sales @jostnz.co.nz

TB&T

D

L w

Above and below: JOST fifth wheels and landing legs are staples of the business, along with axles, ballraces and wheels.

Right: ROCKINGER coupling, another JOST NZ specialty.

10 | Truckbody&Trailer

0

Hella TB

JOST AXLES

JOST NZ HAS ALSO RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE JOST AXLE RANGE INTO NEW ZEALAND. THE RANGE INCLUDES STEERING AXLES AND LIFT AXLES ALONG WITH A WIDE RANGE OF INNOVATIONS FOR THE VARIED DEMANDS OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT. IN JANUARY 2015, JOST ACQUIRED MERCEDESBENZ TRAILER AXLE SYSTEMS, MAKING JOST ONE OF EUROPE’S IMPORTANT MANUFACTURERS OF TRAILER AXLES. APART FROM CONTINUING TO PRODUCE MERCEDES TRUCK, PUSHER AND TAG AXLES, JOST PRODUCE THE INTEGRATED DCA (DURABLE COMPACT AXLE) SERIES AND THE DSL (DURABLE LEAF SPRING) SERIES OF DISC BRAKE AXLES.

Technology with Vision

DuraLED

®

LED Transport Lighting with Lifetime Warranty

0800 4 HELLA (0800 443 552) for your nearest HELLA stockist Hella TBT DuraLED 210X147 2019 - .indd 1

Terms & Conditions apply

www.hella.co.nz 5/06/2019 12:31:51 p.m.

TAKING IT TO THE MAX Story: Dean Evans Photos: Mills Tui

12 | Truckbody&Trailer

Bigger is better? Not always, but in this case of a 50Max billet self-loader built by Mills-Tui for Musson Logistics, the proof is in the loading.

T

HIS IS NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST

constructed trailer with a Palfinger crane and

50Max billet self-loader, and while it’s

some lightweight engineering, the whole

not the first time the idea has been

operation came together to create a truly unique

floated, Mills-Tui and Musson Logistics have

piece of logging equipment that’s already doing

come together with International and ExTe

a great job on sites and could set the standard

to build a very special unit that some thought

for other similar builds.

“This is the first 50Max self-loading log truck

simply couldn’t be done.

Combining

a

self-loader,

lightweight

that can piggbyback its own trailer,” reinforces

Truckbody&Trailer | 13

Mills-Tui’s Dean Purves. “People have looked

set-forward front axle, which gives us a really

at doing it before, but due to the weight of the

good deck length, to get the trailer up on it.”

trailer and the crane’s lifting capacity, they’ve often found hurdles too big to overcome.

The

chassis

International

is

basically

double-flitched, put

another

and skin

“Our logging trailers are generally lighter

inside the chassis, typical of crane truck

than everyone else’s anyway, but we use

construction, to add strength. “Normally if it’s

lightweight alloy ExTe bolsters to bring the

pre-built you have to strip all the suspension,”

weight down, supplied by The Forest Centre

explains Dean, “but with International building

in Australia. We managed to get the tare

it here, it’s all part of the build process done

weight really light, but it has actually got three

in Tauranga, rather than the labour and time-

bunks, so six bolsters, which made it even

intensive headache of having to remove axles,

more of a challenge.”

retro-fit all the gear, and then reassemble it.”

Recalls Dean: “It all started off with an

This provided a solid, crane-ready base for

idea from Ricky [Musson Logistics] and

Ham Sheck and the production team at Mills-

his awesome operator, Stu McKenzie…

Tui to build on.

and morphed into what we see here. We

The load is restrained with LT tensioners

discussed the whole concept some time

mounted under the deck. On the back doing

ago, and it gathered some wheels. Originally

the heavy lifting is a Palfinger Q170Z crane

it was going to be a four-axle trailer, as we

specified to Musson Logistics’ requirements,

didn’t think we’d be able to do it any larger

which weighs just under three-tonne. The

ourselves. But we looked around and decided

Q-Series Palfinger is the upper end of the

to work towards the project and come up with

medium-duty class of EPSILON cranes in

a five-axle with a 50Max unit.”

this model range and covers lifting capacities

The whole unit starts with Intertruck

of 15-18 tonne metres. A big Road Runner

and an International 9870 600hp tractor,

hydraulic tank holds the slippery stuff which

which offers a number of key advantages,

was all plumbed up by Davies Hydraulics, with

according to Dean: “We could custom build

PTO and pump supplied by Gough’s.

the International in New Zealand, at Tauranga.

After a fair bit of design work by Mills-Tui’s Jeff Miller, Intertruck custom built this 8x4 that is perfect for the job. And they built it to the specifications we needed, plus it’s got a

14 | Truckbody&Trailer

Top line and bottom pic: Mills-Tui’s new 50Max build for Musson Logistics is the first of its kind, providing a self-loading crane with the capacity of 50Max, and a payload of 28 tonne.

Above: Big Palfinger Q-Series Epsilon crane handles around 15-18 tonne. Typical Mills-Tui detailing with polished stainless steel back-lit guards.

EverShine Wheels NEW!

Surface treatment for premium forged alloy wheels •

Super low-maintenance - requires only soapy water/truck wash to clean

•

Provides protectionfrom harsh transport environments

•

Penetrates the surface layer and binds itself to the metal

•

5 year finish warranty (Conditionas apply, please contact JOST NZ for warranty T&C’s)

Available from July 2019

www.jostnz.co.nz

The trailer is something special too. Weighing

hardest part of the build because in use, the new

in at 5660kg, the chassis is a Mills-Tui hi-tensile

unit is proving to be very effective, according to

chassis shortened to suit, and fitted with the

Dean. “It’s been operating a few weeks now…

lightweight alloy ExTe bolsters, which are all multi

it went on the road in May, and it’s all positive

position to allow a wide range of loading options.

– no drawbacks, and even the 50Max is pretty

Underneath the trailer are Hendrickson axles

run-of-the-mill these days.”

with Intraxx disc with Tyremaxx and Hendrickson

Of course being a Mills-Tui build, there was

air-bag suspension, while Knorr-Bremse EBS

also time and attention paid to the details,

rounds out the package.

with polished stainless steel covers and green

The whole unit is finished off with Dulux

detailing on the fuel and hydraulic tanks, Mills-

Armorspray applied by Priceright Parts &

Tui and International back-lit logos,, plus dual

Machinery with the finishing visual touches of

polished exhausts coming out the side, adding

livery by Truck Signs.

a little pride-in-appearance to the unit.

The truck is also spec’d with a Hardox skinned

Some said it couldn’t be done, but the proof

log deck with Exte Quick Lock bolsters, Mills-

is already working away, and with a specified

Tui cab guard and dunnage racks all sitting on SI

International truck from Intertruck,, Mills-Tui

Lodec load cells for accurate weight readings.

mods and lightweight trailer, ExTe lightweight

And that magic weight reading? “It can carry

bolsters, the likes of Hendrickson suspension,

28 tonne of payload, and the 8x4 has plenty of

Hardox, SI Lodec and Palfinger all in the mix,

traction, thanks to the Bigfoot CTI,,” explains

it’s an impressive unit of Musson Logistics that

Dean. That’s around three-tonne more payload

could set the standard for others to follow.

than a conventional unit, which in scale terms is

Contact:

more than 10 percent. Plus, adds Dean, there are

www.millstui.co.nz

savings on RUC costs, which combined, makes it instantly more attractive.

Of course being on a 50Max permit, there are some route limitations, but with the everexpanding network, it’s becoming an increasingly attractive option for operators like Musson.

“It can go on any 50Max road,” adds Dean, “so it’s not route-specific and they go all over the show… it really suits what Musson does: they cart all timber, long wood, log poles, so it’s a real multi-purpose unit for what they do.”

In fact with the engineering side, that was the

16 | Truckbody&Trailer

TB&T

Above: More detail includes polished stainless covers for the tanks, plus green detailing to match the Musson corporate Below: A big 28 tonne payload, up three tonne on a conventional unit, plus the ability to self-load, offers numerous benefits, from maximising the RUC, to expanding its abilities and jobs.

ZMD

®

Zero Maintenance Damping Technology ®

Never change a shock absorber again

INTRAAX® AANL / AANT Low-ride and top-mount air suspension system

ZMD™

ZERO MAINTENANCE DAMPING™ Technology • Reduced maintenance cost • Elimination of misdiagnosed shock absorber issues (misting vs. leaking) • Uniform suspension damping over the life of the trailer • Enhanced cargo protection

For more information, contact Adam Adam McKenzie: McKenzie:027.499.6735, 027.4996.735, John Simmons: 027.303.4094, or visit www.hendrickson.com.au

TIREMAAX™ PRO

Tyre Pressure Control System Automatically inflates tyres using the trailer air supply Prevents overinflation by relieving air from the tyres back through the controller Constantly equalises pressure across all tyres

Story & photos: Dean Evans

SPOTLIGHT ON HELLA A world-renowned brand with a rich 120-year history, HELLA has a special place in New Zealand, with local manufacturing and exports around the world.

T

HEY’RE THE ICONIC, VITAL AND

default choice and lighting icon for many of NZ’s

obvious

top trailer manufacturers.

but

often

unappreciated

Met by HELLA NZ’s affable Marketing Manager of ten years, Duncan Stirling, we’re

and

offered a glimpse into the whole HELLA

trucks and trailers on our roads. HELLA signal

manufactures lighting products for the global

process, from concept to design, manufacture

and marker lights are fitted to thousands of

automotive, marine and transport markets

and shipping. But not before the reception area

trucks and trailers in New Zealand, and the local

from two local sites in Auckland and Waihi, so

offers model car, plaque and trophy reminders of

arm has a special place in the company’s history

the time was right to pay a visit to the head

HELLA’s high profile involvement in motorsport,

and current global operations.

office and factory to get an insight into the size

particularly rally, including its association with the late icon of rallying, Possum Bourne.

component fitted to the majority of

Locally

HELLA

designs,

tests

HELLA, which is inextricably linked to the

and might of the operations, and look at the

development of the car, dates back to June 1899

manufacturing of its products, including the

in Lippstadt, Germany. Locally, HELLA was

DuraLED range.

“Due to import tariffs in the 1970s HELLA New Zealand originally produced bulb-based

established almost half a century ago in 1973,

More than just an office, the multi-building site

lighting products for the local market,” explains

to manufacture, market and distribute products

is home to electronic, mechanical and optical

Duncan. “Then thanks to our innovative MD

in New Zealand. And over those years, HELLA

design engineers. The engineers are utilising

at the time, Martin Reinbach, we started

has evolved to also supply the Australian and

cutting edge tools to develop innovative, ultra-

developing LED products in the 1990s;

global markets, an impressive feat given the

reliable and energy efficient products using the

manufacturing primarily for heavy duty truck

company’s 40,000 global employees (7000 of

latest LED technology.

trailer transport, as the conventional bulbs were

those in R&D) and 100 manufacturing facilities in more than 35 countries.

HELLA first launched its LED automotive

susceptible to voltage drop over long cable runs

signal lamps in 1990, and its R&D has never

and vibration often caused filament breakage.

While automotive and marine are both

ceased. These days their products are regarded

The advantages of LED were saving power and

increasingly large sectors for the company, the

as the benchmark for the road transport

the fact LEDs are rigid devices, meaning more

transport sector in Australasia is simply huge,

industry, manufactured to suit the most

resistant to vibration experienced on trailers

and its DuraLED product has become the

demanding environmental conditions.

when travelling up and down NZ roads.”

18 | Truckbody&Trailer

1

2 New Zealand still is one of the few HELLA sites covering design, development, manufacturer as well as sales. This allows them to tailor their products to the rigorous Australasian market.

“We were actually the first company to produce an LED lamp for the automotive original equipment market. The first product was mounted as OE on the back of many vehicles as the high-mount third stop light mandated by law in the early 1990s.

These original products have been supplied to a number of leading OE manufacturers up until 2018.”

“Australia and New Zealand are currently our

3

Above: Employees at the Hella NZ office and factory in Auckland.

1: A Transport icon, the Hella DuraLED light.

2: Electronic layouts are computer designed to provide longevity and minimise heat build-up.

3: The Hella production facility at Waihi assembles the electronic component side.

4: Possum Bourne and the Subaru World Rally Team was just one of the high-profile race and rally drivers using Hella products in competition over the decades.

4 Truckbody&Trailer | 19

3

2

1 biggest markets for transport lighting,” adds

procedures and equipment, including his infra-

Duncan, “We also export to Germany, the US

red camera that views invisible-to-the-eye hot-

and more than 30 other countries.”

spots on circuit boards or parts.

industry standards.

Duncan recalls a specific situation where products that met approved international

In 2006 HELLA started developing products

“One of the few things that will kill an LED

standards were causing issues in the field: “A fire

for the marine market. Utilising its expertise in

is heat,” says Duncan. “With an LED, the

brigade was using some LED lamps, imported

LED design and robust housing manufacturing,

hotter it gets, the duller it gets over time, so a

from Austria, and they were experiencing radio

HELLA New Zealand soon became the global

hot LED has a very short life. When we design

interference over their comms in the forest. The

headquarters for HELLA Marine, developing 90

electronics and arrange components on circuit

lamps met all the relevant standards, however

percent of the range and managing marketing

boards, we manage the heat very effectively to

in remote areas, when multiple lamps were

from NZ.

eliminate hot spots.”

in close proximity, their collective emissions

We start the tour past the showroom, into

“We use infra-red thermal cameras to check

combined and increased the electromagnetic

the design department, which looks after the

which electronics are generating heat and that

interference. So HELLA NZ developed a series

product development; mostly the electrical,

they are not likely to compromise the product

of products that are finely tuned and branded

placement of components and optical design.

performance. This camera enables us to

RFCommSafeTM.

“Although LEDs are by nature very robust

measure the temperatures of the electronics

levels of lamps in this range are below the

Tests

prove

emissions

they also need to be managed effectively to

down to a component level. We can then adjust

radiofrequency noise floor and as a result coast

ensure a long life and reliable performance”

the design to manage heat sources effectively.”

guards and fire brigades throughout the world now recommend RFCommSafeTM products.

explains Duncan. “Heat, moisture, voltage fluctuation and other factors all have a

We then pass a large dark room equipped

detrimental effect on LEDs and the sensitive

with a multi-axis goniometer, which Duncan

components used to drive a lamp. HELLA

explains is used to test light angles and

has developed comprehensive design and

intensities during design and production.

test procedures to guarantee all LED lamps

LEDs are directional and optical engineers

will continue to operate at optimal levels,

need to focus the emitted light to various angles

even when exposed to harsh conditions and

depending on the application, for example a signal

environments for long periods of time.”

lamp needs to be seen across a defined set of

“With a bulb, 12 or 24V, just 10 percent of

angles. Our expert engineers use reflectors,

15

energy is generated into light, and 90 percent

sophisticated optics and lens technology to direct light where needed.”

into heat. An LED can generate the same light output but doesn’t generate anywhere near

Steve then points to a bed-sized pyramid,

Into Steve’s environmental lab there’s an

as much heat using carefully managed power

explaining: “We also do radio frequency tests

array of test equipment. Here new products

supply.”

to measure both the frequency emitted and

in development are being tested for reliability

We walk into an electronic testing area and

exposed to, to ensure lamps are well within

along with others that have been in endurance

meet engineer Steve Bloxham, but not before

emissions requirements so as not to interfere

tests for over a decade.

fitting ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) straps to

with radio communications.”

our shoes, which ground us out to eliminate any electronic-damaging static charge.

Steve shows us through different test

One factor that contributes to the robustness

HELLA NZ has also developed their own

of HELLA’s DuraLED range is the material used

emissions standard called RFCommSafeTM

to produce the lamps. Heavy duty, chemical, UV

which is more stringent than other relevant

and impact-resistant polyamide and acrylics go

14

13

1 20 | Truckbody&Trailer

2

4

5

6

through strenuous tests before being selected

all the design, compliance and certification,”

as suitable housing materials. Products are put

says Duncan, “it goes to our production facility

through extreme temperatures, with some

in Waihi, where state of the art automation

products being subjected to a real-time five-

lines with integrated pick and place, robotic

day extreme heat and cold cycle test, from

soldering and automated visual inspection

minus -20° to +50°C. Other products are put

procedures, all operate like clockwork. The

into specialist UV chambers, and salt spray

finished PCBAs then come back to Auckland

environments for months at a time, to simulate

for lamp assembly.”

not just years of real-world use, but typically

“NZ doesn’t have cheap labour compared to

more than the lifetime of use of the vehicle it’s

other countries,” adds Duncan, “If we moved

fitted to.

production offshore it would be a lot harder

Durability is clearly a strength of HELLA, and

to manage the quality like we do. By utilising

while competitor lamps run for just a week

robotics and automation where possible it

under testing, HELLA has one lamp running

reduces the costs of manufacturing, while still

since 2004 – 15 years!

maintaining the highest quality standards. With

Adds Duncan: “Steve’s job is to test the

engineers, designers and production teams

product to make sure they exceed established

all inhouse, HELLA New Zealand is a truly

standards, then expose the product to

vertically integrated company.”

extremes to find potential weak points. We

Back up in the Auckland facility there are

then go away, redesign it and make it even

13 injection-moulding machines – and we

better… it’s what HELLA does.”

see a two-piece interior downlight housing HELLA’s

being popped out, with formed grey and clear

manufacturing facility is equally impressive.

acrylics. A central computer with impressive

“Once the electronics department have done

touch-screen oversees and schedules all the

Crossing

the

road

into

1: Infra-red testing proves extremely valuable during design and testing.

2-3: At Waihi, circuit boards are placed and soldered by robots to ensure the highest quality and consistency.

4-5: In the Auckland test laboratory, Hella lights are put through torture: some lights are about to enter their 13th year of test operation.

Racks of LEDs have just passed six years.

6-7: Various testing machines accelerate wear, allowing Hella to choose which materials prove superior in particular situations, such as high salt, and UV. 8: Dozens of machines produce different moulds, such as this two-piece clear/white interior down light.

12

7

8

9: DuraLED lenses fresh from moulding.

10: Robots are used to glue the lenses together creating consistency and a lifetime warrantied seal.

11: The warehouse stocks both NZ-made and imported Hella products for domestic and export.

9

12-13: The marker light is Hella’s most popular product, producing tens of thousands each year.

14: The DuraLED range on display.

15: It may look simple, but there’s decades of development and untold money invested into the DuraLED, to the point where Hella now offers a lifetime warranty.

11

10

Truckbody&Trailer | 21

10

Left: The Auckland moulding factory produces the lenses and acrylics of the light cases.

Below: Finished and fitted and ready to last the lifetime of the vehicle.

work lamps and beacons – but 70 percent of HELLA product sold in New Zealand is locally manufactured. Thanks to our local finished goods warehouse we can offer exceptional service to our customers, usually receiving an order, pick it and have it dispatched the same day.”

We pass back into the showroom and see displays of HELLA lights and the panel for DuraLED, with a range of coloured, clear product runs, though Duncan adds: “We often

becoming brittle and eventually cracking and

or combination lamps. “There’s around 60

have people as part of the process, working

have been proven to withstand harsh chemical

different products in the DuraLED range, with

with machines and, where critical, inspecting

washdowns used on dairy and fuel tankers for

various sizes, shapes, functions, finished and

the product for quality.” To keep up with

many years.”

assemblies. With so many options and the

demand production teams operate around 20

Once production has finished, lamps are

unmatched reliability, DuraLED really is the

hours a day, six days a week, over three shifts.

individually light function tested to ensure

premium brand when choosing LED lighting for heavy duty transport.” Says Duncan.

In different areas are a couple of production

correct operation. Regular testing is part of

areas where there is hand soldering and

the quality control process; in some instances,

“With over two decades of continuous

some simple assembly, while there is lots of

every single lamp is tested and logged for

improvement, ongoing research and market

automation, from labelling machines to robots

auditing purposes.

experience, HELLA is proud to offer DuraLED

and lots of moving parts.

Another interesting point of the tour is how

with an industry leading ‘lifetime’ warranty.

Duncan explains: “Lamps consist of multiple

lean HELLA NZ operates, yet how flexible it can

We’ve had some of these products in the

parts including optics, lenses, base plates,

be. Duncan adds. “A large part of our business is

market for over 20 years, proving just how

circuit boards and cables that all need to come

servicing the aftermarket industry and we pride

durable and reliable they are. With our lifetime

together precisely. Operators will position

ourselves on how quickly we can meet customer

warranty we are making a clear statement that

parts on jigs so automated robotics can apply

demand. HELLA’s turnaround for ‘made to order’

HELLA NZ is willing to stand behind the product

a 2-pack glue around pre-programed paths.

product is usually days, not months. This is a

and our customers that choose DuraLED.”

Another robotic arm then picks up a lens and

unique point of difference for our OE customers,

positions it accurately with controlled pressure

wholesale distributors and retail partners.”

After seeing first-hand the efforts that HELLA go to throughout the design, testing and

Once manufacturing is complete, products

manufacturing, it’s easy to understand how and

We pass a machine pumping out side

pass through packaging before being stored

why HELLA can lay claim to 70 percent of the

marker housings. “This is one of our most

in various locations for local dispatch or export,

light market in NZ trailers.

popular products,” says Duncan. “We sell

though some parts might require a final trip to

tens of thousands of these lamps every year.

the laser engraving machine for any specific

I personally take a lot of pride in seeing our

international standards markings on the light.

for a perfect fit and seal.”

lights on the sides of trailers up and down the

A fenced off security area for export is

country. These lamps help improve a vehicle’s

marked by cages. “We’ve set up for export

visibility so in many ways it’s our contribution to

to the USA, so to comply with strict border

improving road safety.”

security everything needs to be controlled. All

The assembly process is very impressive

export jobs are made to order and when we

and so too are the materials used. “HELLA’s

receive an order we can generally assemble

premium range of DuraLED products use

and have it ready for global shipping in a week.

Grilamid for the exterior lens,” explains Duncan.

We export to the USA and Germany weekly –

“Initially used in high-end sunglasses, Grilamid

while Australia is often daily.”

is a lightweight, flexible and transparent material

He adds: “For the domestic market we also

that is extremely impact and chemical resistant.

import some products manufactured by other

These qualities prevent the lens from yellowing,

HELLA companies. This includes bulbs, some

22 | Truckbody&Trailer

And from that, it’s lights out.

TB&T

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HAMMARING HOME

Story: Dean Evans

NZ leads the world in HAMMAR 110 Sideloader sales, so we catch up with local boss Fred Sandberg, and a few key customers, to find the secrets of its success.

H

AMMAR HAS SEEN THE SALES

ago, the 110 has been not just a success for

HAMMAR builds only sideloaders and

of its newest sideloader, the 110

the company and model, it’s driven growth,

its concentration on making the very best

model, take off in New Zealand – to

expansion, and led to some of its technology

products has seen it become the world leader,

filtering across to other HAMMAR models in

selling into more than 115 countries. New

the range, as well as being noticed in other

Zealand is just one of six countries where

global markets.

HAMMAR

that point where it now leads the world.

Launched at The Expo in 2017, the HAMMAR 110 has become the company’s top-selling

manufactures

its

sideloaders

locally by fully owned subsidiaries, outside of

sideloader in this market, largely thanks to its

But it’s New Zealand that’s led the way in

unique two-in-one lifting design and capability,

sales, taking 55 percent of all worldwide 110

while at the same time dramatically reducing

model sales in the first year, with the local

Locally, the 110 dominates the seven-model

tare weight.

market continuing to outpace other countries,

HAMMAR range, accounting for the majority

now accounting for almost 60 percent of

of sales. “I would say it’s probably up to 70

global sales.

percent are 110 sales here in New Zealand…

The 110 features a double-action system that can either deploy the ‘StepOver’ leg technology

Sweden.

it’s definitely the most popular model at the

developed for the popular HAMMAR 155 for

“We were very confident that the new

stacking or transferring containers, or a new,

HAMMAR 110 would find favour among

patent applied, fast ground handling ability that

New Zealand transport operators when we

“I think it demonstrates just how well our

has been dubbed the ‘SledgeLeg’, the double-

introduced it, but the response has been far

customers in this market understand the

action system operating in a single cycle. This

greater than we expected,” says HAMMAR

benefits of using the 110,” adds Fred.

enables the 110 to operate in much tighter,

New Zealand boss, Fred Sandberg.

confined spaces.

Following its international debut at The Expo at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, two years 24 | Truckbody&Trailer

moment, compared to the 195, for example.

Described as both an “evolutionary and

“For New Zealand to account for such a

revolutionary” development of the sideloader,

large proportion of 110 models sold around the

the 110 model was designed with markets like

world since it was launched is extraordinary.

New Zealand in mind.

“Space is becoming a premium at many

bit to 8.3 tonne, which is still very low.” This

businesses in large cities and towns these

is also a fundamental reason for its popularity

days, which makes it difficult for truck

locally.

drivers to operate a traditional sideloader,

Speed is the key and with the swift

with stepover technology, when delivering or

deployment of the stabiliser legs in the

picking up a container,” he says.

‘SledgeLeg’ mode, trucks can be in and off site

“When we started looking at how we could

in less time, especially compared to traditional

assist drivers in this respect we also wanted

stepover sideloaders. And with the ability to

to use the opportunity to save tare weight,

still transfer a container with the fully extended

without compromising the 36-tonne lifting

‘StepOver’ legs, the new 110 provides more

capacity, or the strength, quality and durability

options for transport operators.

that the HAMMAR is so well known for.”

Opposite page: The HAMMAR 110 sideloader has racked up more sales in NZ than any other market worldwide displaying both the ‘SledgeLeg’ and ‘Stepover’ technologies.

“It can easily put a container down next to

HAMMAR used its highly successful

a wall or fence,” adds Fred, “which can be

‘StepOver’ 155 model as the starting point,

difficult in stepover mode; the sledge mode

developing the double-action ‘SledgeLeg’

also gives you very quick handling to and from

system to increase its versatility. Then it took

the ground. When you don’t have to bring out

the cranes from the 160 model and revised the

the outer leg, it makes the whole operation

trailer chassis to use fewer components and

very fast.”

incorporate lighter, high-strength steel as part of the weight reduction exercise.

So why is the 110 so popular in NZ and Australia? “We do a lot of transferring here,

“Even though we have shaved some two-

to and from other vehicles and skeles, and

Above: Top Tranz Hammar 110 unit, in use in Auckland.

tonnes of weight by comparison to the 155,

it makes good sense to have the stepover

the 110 model is still constructed to extreme

technology – you don’t have to put the legs

Top right and below: Mt Maunganui NZL’s Hammar 110 unit takes advantage of its dual-mode leg set-up. The branch has two units, both quads.

strength standards,” says Mr Sandberg.

onto the other trailer. The whole operation is

“We were talking about 8.2 tonne with the

stable and safer.”

very first unit we did in Sweden on trial super

The new 110 model also saw the introduction

singles, but by the time it arrived in NZ we

of the HAMMAR Safety+ system, a canbus-

wanted duals on three axles, so it came up a

based PLC operating system that monitors

Truckbody&Trailer | 25

Left & right: Christchurch’s Summerland Express has been working its Hammar 110 for 18 months, and just put in an order for unit number two.

Looking at our options we couldn’t go past the Hammar 110.”

Being in the ‘confines’ of Auckland, the multi-use legs have certainly come in handy for Top Tranz, explains Chad: “This unit doesn’t go into port, it just chases skeles around all day.

We definitely have to deal with tight spaces – there are a number of sites we deliver to where the premises were not designed with container deliveries in mind so there are definitely some tight spots the guys are having to put containers into. I haven’t come across a site yet that specifically needs that 110 lifter, but it definitely comes in handy with that sledge mode.”

Of course reliability is paramount, but Chad also speaks highly of the brand: “We’ve had a the entire handling procedure to avoid operator

also available. The operation is described as

few issues over the years with the reliability of

mistakes and to increase safety in general

being very smooth, thanks to the advanced

some of our lifters, but the Hammar has been

around the working Sideloader. Safety+ also

hydraulics and electronics, with a soft landing

a good, solid, reliable brand, which is why we

features load weighing, by each crane or the

to ensure containers and any delicate cargo is

keep going back.”

combined total.

not damaged.

There are similar feelings from NZL’s Mark

Safety+ system has since been introduced

“HAMMAR has a lot of details that are

Richards, Plant and Equipment Manager at

on other models and is now a standard feature

different,” adds Fred, “and to operate the

the Mt Maunganui location: “We looked at all

on all HAMMAR sideloaders built for NZ.

HAMMAR, you only use the one button to

the options and for us, this was the best one.

With demand for the new 110 and other

operate both cranes at the same time, which

We’ve got eight 110s across the NZL Group,

models continuing to grow, the Swedish-

makes it really easy to use with one hand –

and I’ve got two, both quads. We’ve had one

owned company’s manufacturing facility in

and of course you can shut down one crane if

since Christmas and one arrived last week,

South Auckland was enlarged, again, in late

you’re on a slope.

both with SAF axles.

2018 and HAMMAR is now looking to the next

“Durability is another factor, and we know

“I like the new technology and the dual

stage to see how production can be lifted even

the HAMMAR has European build quality

purpose of the legs. Space is an issue for us,

further to satisfy customers.

– they love hard work! We also noted that

but we’ve replaced a lot of the tri-axles with

reliability and reputation for our service level

quads for better safety and stability. Quads

has been very good.

are a little harder to get into spaces, but we’ve

Says Fred: “For the last three years we have grown 20 percent each year, so in November we shifted assembly production to this new

So with that in mind, we spoke to a

gained a little bit locating the boxes down; they

site a few doors down from our current facility,

few HAMMAR 110 customers to get their

are a bigger trailer, and they can carry more if

and this has allowed for an increase in chassis

feedback on the model.

needed.

welding at the current location. So already in

Chad Rountree from Auckland’s Top Tranz

“We’re largely metro, in the Bay of Plenty,

2019 we have seen a big increase on what we

speaks highly of both Hammar and the 110:

and the heavier boxes, just picking them up

can produce. That was a good step, but even

We’ve had our Hammar 110 for a couple

and putting them down, no transfers. We’ve

now we are looking for more space, because

of years now… We’ve always been fans of

got a fleet of skeles as well, so we don’t need

the service and maintenance shop is full.

Hammar. The container fleet is predominantly

to transfer too much.

sidelifter based with near on 20 of them in

“We’re liking the weight limitations, so you

Zealand comes with a standard cable remote

total. We also have a few skeles so when

can’t overbalance – those things are gold.

control, to allow the driver to move around

the time came to replace one of the older

Even with good operators, it gives you some

the sideloader for the best possible view – a

lifters the leg over option seemed best suited

confidence. It’s paramount for us keeping the

small, easy-to-use radio remote control is

for transferring to and from these skeles.

operators safe because you’re not always with

Each HAMMAR sideloader sold in New

26 | Truckbody&Trailer

them. It’ll also tell you the weight of the trailer,

with Transpecs. It has an 84hp auxiliary motor

big legs you can swoop over to the other side.

as you can’t always rely on the customer to

and the beauty is the speed and the hydraulics.

“We thought we might as well go with the

tell you the weight, so not only could you

Unlike Auckland, there’s a little more room in

110, which can do multi-jobs, dump close, or

potentially over-lift, you could potentially

Christchurch, though the 110’s dual leg mode

over trailers, or railway wagons, whatever you

overload your unit.

still comes in handy, adds Ross. “Space is

want to put them on.”

“It took a little while to get used to the

only an issue when stacking containers, when

Of course, the biggest testimony is a repeat

operation, as it’s a fraction slower than older

you can get close and don’t have to double-

customer, and Ross already has another three-

models – and I’m talking seconds here – but

lift them. And you don’t have to put pressure

axle currently being built.

that’s not a downside: it’s a controlled and

on the truck when swinging from one to the

Contact:

consistent speed.”

other, chassis on trailer and trucks… with the

www.hammar.co.nz

TB&T

It’s equally popular in Christchurch for different reasons. Summerland Express’ Ross Millard was the second customer to get a 110 three-axle around 18 months ago, and recently a 110 quad.

“We have five sideloaders in the fleet,” says Ross, “and a bit of everything, but I like Fred. He’s great and you’re talking to the top man, and you get what you ask for. Weight is the big difference, because we have a light tractor unit on the front, so it’s all about what weight you can get on.

“The 110 was our first HAMMAR, and we put SAF on because of the good relationship

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TREE

FELLERS Story & photos: Dean Evans

28 | Truckbody&Trailer

Tree-cutting, felling, removal and large arborist work has just become a lot more advanced, and a little easier for Auckland’s Arborist360, with the introduction of its new and impressive Crane & Carry-built DAF tree-cutting crane truck.

Truckbody&Trailer | 29

S

AFETY AND SPEED AREN’T OFTEN the best of friends,

and improve safety of tree-felling and trimming operations with

and one can sometimes be at the expense of the other. But

minimal impact of traffic control and public disturbance, both noise

watching this new specialised crane truck unit work on one of

and phsyically. And minimal hassles for the company, as well.

its first days in operation, it’s easy to see how and why this method

“It’ built as a 20 tonne unit so there’s no need for special permits,

is a way of the future combining both improved safety with increased

it’s all legal as it sits, comes in at the light length and weight… that’s

speed - and for Arborist360, a very efficient way that’s more than just

all part of what we do, making sure the front axles are at the right

a dream, it’s become the new normal.

weight,” explains Mike. “That’s one of the problems with the big

Tendo Izanagi and business partner Ivor Shannon have just invested

cranes is they overload the front axles quite easily… and that’s also

in this new unit, a DAF 8x4 truck and Hiab X-Hipro Loader Crane with

part of the problems of NZ compared to Europe and other countries, in

an ingenious and versatile attachment for the head in the form of a

that their axle weights are completely different to ours.

somewhat menacing but very effective grapple saw.

“It’s as far forward as we could go with it with weight over the

Found and prepared by Christchurch’s C&C engineering, the DAF

front axles,” details Mike, with the big just-under-six-tonne Hiab crane

truck was chosen to handle New Zealand’s unique requirements for

positioned mid-ship, making it versatile in almost any direction, and

axle loading, but still offers a lot of versatility. C&C engineering Director

able to reach into the rear deck to retrieve attachments or tools, or back

Mike Mackley says this is one of many similar units recently built. “I

over the end of the truck into a trailer or well beyond in any direction.

suppose we’ve become a bit of a specialist for cranes like this lately,

“On the back of the truck is a special subframe to take all the

having done them for Gisborne Hiab, Justin Martin, Thames Valley, and

stresses of the crane,” adds Mike, “plus a removable deck on the

a couple for LT Transport… but this unit for Treefactor, with the crane

rear, with a small unit to load up, or tow a big semi-trailer attachment

and the grapple is unique, and the reach is massive!”

underneath… or hook up to a trailer, so there are lots of options for

With the crane handled by Hiab importer, Hamilton’s TRT, the unit is the first of its type in New Zealand, and is designed to both expedite 30 | Truckbody&Trailer

different needs.

“Tendo could also fit a personnel bar to take people up but he has

Control panel, though most of the work is done by the radio remote.

Hiab stabiliser and pads and neatly mounted on the truck.

Ringfeder hitch allows the option of a semi-trailer.

TRT provided and fitted the Hiab crane.

Lift/reach/weight limits and basic safety instructions.

lots of options there, and the ability to do other peripheral jobs, inclusive and exclusive or Arborist work, which gives him a lot more freedom to do a lot more work. Plus of course there’s the good running road speed, without the need to be permitted, and it can run around legal and makes life easy,” adds Mike.

We joined Tendo, Ivor and the Arborist360/Treefactor crew on one of the unit’s first jobs north of Auckland, for what would appear at first glance to be a reasonably straight-forward job of trimming a tree on a dry day in Winter. With a crew of ten, there’s a lot more to the basic operation, with the task of traffic management, public and worker safety and disposal of the felled branches all important aspects of the job. With one lane of the B-road coned off, and local traffic radio controlled at either end over a section of 50 metres, the DAF crane truck fires into life from its waiting position on a side-street and moves into place.

Pads are taken from their storage trays and the stabiliser legs extended, while the suspension is levelled, as we’re on a very subtle but noticeable incline.

The morning’s project is felling a dead tree, which is proving hazardous to both property and public, especially with a kindergarten across the road. Nearby residents stop and voice their gratitude that we’re here as the falling sticks have created a mess and minor damage, so Tendo’s company is here on the job to not

Arborst360/ Treefactor partners Tendo Izanagi, with the grapple looming, and Ivor Shannon on the controls.

just give the tree a good clean-up, but also clear some low-hanging branches that are getting close to taller passing vehicles.

As the PTO is called into action, Tendo helps set up and oversees the operation, as Ivor straps the crane’s remote to his belt.

The Hiab 638 E-7 crane comes alive, and may be a little overkill for this job today, but its specs ensure there are no problems whatsoever: with a capacity of 57 tm (tonne metres), the crane has a long horizontal reach between 18.1m (hydraulic), up to 33.7m with a jib, plus a vertical reach of 36.5m. Ideally suited to lifting heavy and bulky materials, today it’ll be using its reach and agility rather than its lifting capacity.

As a hard-hatted Ivor stands at a safe distance from the unit and extends the main arm, it doubles back down on itself and reaches into the back half of the DAF, a large box-section storage area. Large enough for multiple tools, there’s just the one piece in there for today’s job. Tendo watches as the eyelets carefully guide into place, and with just two hydraulic lines and a bolt, nut and safety clip, the Hiab lifts and pulls out the slightly menacing looking Grapple Saw. Truckbody&Trailer | 31

Both a grapple and integrated hydraulic chainsaw, Ivor raises and suspends the tool to get an idea of what it’s capable of, twisting and turning the head, and crunching

The crane is first extended and attaches to the cutting grapple attachment, stored in the rear deck.

Ivor brings the grapple close and performs a basic rundown of checks and articulation: note the yellow chainsaw tucked away and ready.

and expanding the grapple.

Donned with seemingly mandatory sunglasses, due to the majority of the job looking to the skies, Ivor quickly navigates the crane to the first branch, positions the open grapple on top of the branch, lowers it and closes the grapple around the branch: then another switch activates the yellow chainsaw as it simultaneously pivots from its safety housing and starts quietly, cutting, devoid of the petrol-engined noise normally associated. Ivor is careful not to cut too hard too quickly and takes a few cautious bites at the branch to get through the 15cm diameter branch,

The Hiab crane’s 32m reach makes 10m jobs like this easy, as the grapple reaches for the first branch.

The grapple returns to ground level holding the fresh-cut branch, and drops it for removal.

but within a few seconds, it’s cut through and free and held only by the grapple, which is in turn lowered to the ground, dropped and the crew feeds it into the nearby chipper.

The cutting operation has taken just a few minutes, remembering that these are early days with the new unit, so everyone is still learning about the operations – it will surely only get faster. Plus it’s been just 15 minutes since the start of the road closure window, when the job effectively ‘started’.

“Normally,” explains Tendo, “you’d have to send guys up the trees with ropes and tie off the branches,

The long reach of the crane allows both operators and the truck unit to be parked safely away from falling branches.

Hydraulic, smooth and silent, the grapple is agile and makes Arborist work look easy.

and there’s a lot of time involved, and then there’s the safety aspect. “With this, it’s quick, simple and safe.”

Big 30cm branches are easily cut and removed.

Large branches like this are cut up with a hand chainsaw before feeding into the nearby chipper.

32 | Truckbody&Trailer

Today’s job is wrapped up quickly, efficiently and most of all safely

attachments, and while Arborist360 has an increasingly busy

without having to put an arborist at risk in the dead tree - but it’s also

schedule, there’s a whole range of work this new unit will be capable

the versatility of the Hiab crane that allows a number of different

of in the near future.

TB&T

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Story: Dean Evans

TL MacLean is known for its vehicle transporters, but for something completely different, built this horse ambulance trailer on a much smaller scale.

H

ORSE RACING IS A HUGE INDUSTRY, AND WITH A

injured horse back to the clinic.” Plus spectators aren’t as exposed to

racetrack in almost every city across the country, it’s a

sensitive or potentially distressing care or treatment.

popular sport for good reason. But with so many tracks and

“We built it for a mixture of people, vets and a number of

racehorses, there also comes the element of risk of injury – from minor

organisations and trusts who got their heads together and have seen

scrapes and cuts, up to events that can prove fatal.

the appeal and benefits of a unit like this,” adds Barry.

But there are moves to mitigate risks and improve the ways injuries are handled with the likes of this horse ambulance trailer.

Built by Dunedin’s TL MacLean for The New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust, the company is well known for its vehicle

So far, TL MacLean has built four of these horse ambulance trailers with another three under various stages of construction and the amount of work and detailing is befitting of the esteemed horse racing industry.

transporters, so it’s fascinating to see that a little of the technology

“Each unit takes around three months to build,” explains Barry.

has transferred over to this small ‘transporter’ of a different kind –

“They’re a very specialised unit.” Much more than just a float, a key

though the reality is that this horse ambulance trailer is a remarkably

feature of the trailer is its hydraulic suspension that raises and lowers

specialised unit.

the entire trailer parallel to the ground.

“This is what the industry really needs,” says TL MacLean MD

There are two controls, one for the suspensions and one for the

Barry Armour. Previously/currently, if a horse has an injury issue during

drawbar’s hydraulic ram that allows the Ambulance to drop to the

a race, the vet places a sheet around the horse to work on it in private.

ground while it’s still connected to the vehicle… but it’s built so anyone

Says Barry: “Now if something goes wrong, they’ve got both a privacy

can operate it,” adds Barry, noting the safety aspect of nearby toes as

curtain, plus somewhere the horse can move into, standing up or

the trailer drops right to the ground. “We designed all the suspension,

lying down, and be treated on-site or used by vets to transport an

and it hydraulically goes up and down, and it also has suspension

34 | Truckbody&Trailer

Above: With the trailer’s suspension lowered, it’s easy to see the improved access for horses who can simply walk into the trailer, rather than having to step up or walk up a ramp, both which could be impossible for an injured horse.

Left: The trailer lowers right to the ground through hydraulics, and is tall enough so even the largest horse can enter the medical float. The unit is designed so that the horse can enter from the rear, and exit through the front. Note the Peterson LED lighting.

built in, with accumulators, so it rides very nicely, better than a standard spring. Hyspecs in Christchurch supplied some of the components, like the rams, valving and switching. It assesses its own height and does everything automatically in switches – it’s quite a clever bit of gear.”

All up weight is less than 2000kg, so there is no problem with it being towed by the average, typical double-cab ute/SUV service vehicle, with the trailer’s disc brakes and 185/R14 tyres, offering the ideal combination of safety and ride quality.

Internally, the fit-out is even more tailored. With soft lining and recovery mats on the walls and floor, there is a padded, stowable crush to support the horse, a non-slip rubber floor, railings that enable the horse to enter from the rear, have it standing on an angle with internal compressions so it doesn’t fall down, or move around and get further injured, or laying down for treatment, and the railings fold away so the horse can either exit from the rear, or simply exit forwards through the large front door.

Peterson/CDL slimline LED lighting is also used inside and out for safety and visibility.

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Surmises Barry: “From what we see, they’re working out extremely well for the racing industry and while we are ramping up

» the brand by which others are measured «

www.hammar.co.nz Truckbody&Trailer | 35

a bit, and have a contract for a few more, we’re obviously hoping it will spread around the country.”

According to VetEquine Otago’s Peter Gillespie: “The NZHAT now has three ambulances and tow vehicles in commission; two in the North Island and one in the South Island. By Christmas 2019 we will have five ambulances and by the end of 2020 we hope to have ten ambulances and tow vehicles deployed throughout New Zealand. There won’t be an equestrian event or race day where one of our ambulances won’t be on standby if needed.”

Added Gillespie: “[recently the trailer] was called upon to transport a horse with a fractured pelvis that could not be moved on a regular horsefloat. The ability of the ambulance to be lowered to ground level allowed the horse to be comfortably assisted on board and transported to a rehabilitation facility; a positive outcome for the horse and her owners.”

Contact: www.tlmaclean.co.nz

TB&T

Manufactured by TL MacLean, LED lights by Peterson, and warning signs about crushed toes are all very important aspects of this build.

Inside is typical of a vet’s office, with padded railings for the utmost in patient care.

Hydraulic suspension design is remarkably effective, eliminating conventional springs and axles, and allowing the trailer to drop to the ground. An accumulator also allows the hydraulics to perform the role of suspension/shock absorption, which it does remarkably well.

Left: Large front door allows an easy and safe exit for the treated horse, while two controls work the suspension and the drawbar. Trailer weight is under 2000kg, so well within a typical 3.5 tonne rating of a double-cab ute with a 550kg racehorse in place.

Above: During preliminary measurement and build, showing the placement of a horse during care.

36 | Truckbody&Trailer

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R E N A E L C D I K S , R E D SELF-LOA Stor y: Dean

Evans

Story: Dean Evans

Main image: Outlaw Photography.

The newly completed unit, loaded and ready for its first job.

DPS Haulage adds a self-loading billet bolstered unit to its fleet, with a few appealing aspects and additions.

L

OOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS one of the key reasons

together for DPS by Patchell Industries, with Hiab’s Jonsered log crane

Darren Sinclair added this new unit to his fleet. Managing

and Traction Air® CTI supplied by TRT.

Director of DPS Haulage, whose base is in Whakatane, with

“This is a uniquely adapted unit,” says Darren, “probably the first

trucks reaching throughout the Central North Island, Bay of Plenty and

billet bolstered truck on a Kenworth K200 with a rising cab-mounted

East Coast, Darren understands this is a specialist unit that may not

crane, rather than the traditional open air tractor seat.”

make him a million dollars by next week, but it’s an important addition for both his fleet and the environment.

A self-loading billet bolstered truck and trailer, the unit was put 38 | Truckbody&Trailer

“We went the cab way for two reasons: for driver appeal and for safety. After operating the traditional self-loader sitting up and out in the weather we wanted to make sure the operator was safe and

Testing the unit, the Jonsered enclosed cab offers much improved driver comfort.

dry, so we went for the cab option. And for obvious driver appeal, as

overall length compared to what’s commonly out there, but the three

nobody wants to sit up there exposed. You’re out in the weather about

axle trailer with it’s lower tare weight helps the crane lift it on and off.”

as much as any normal logging truck driver would be to chain up, or

The crane itself is a Hiab Jonsered 1188S, a cut-to-length timber

set the truck up, but then into the cab and out of the elements for the

handling crane with a lifting capacity of 12 tonne-metre and lifting

duration of loading then chain up and then you’re out of there.”

3450kg at three metres. This crane has an outreach of 9.6 metres with a capacity of 1040kg. The Jonsered log grapple has full 360°

truck, with a three-axle multi-trailer, and the crane that loads the trailer

rotation control, and the cabin has full manual controls and is designed

onto the back of the truck. The trailer is built a little shorter, as we lose

for maximum visibility with large windows and a high seat position.

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Truckbody&Trailer | 39

The self-loader picks up the trailer with the grapple and loads it up to the truck within a few minutes and locks into place with the crane

The trailer weight is around 4.44 tonne.

leaving it in the bush, and some customers are focusing more on

“Years ago I used to drive a self-loader,” recalls Darren. “I’ve always

getting that material out.”

wanted to have one in the fleet but the customer base hasn’t always

“So crane trucks like ours normally come in after the logging crews

been big enough to warrant it. But as our company has grown, a

have moved out, pick up all that remaining material and anything

couple of years ago I started looking to build and gauging interest from

left behind and deliver it, plus they leave the skid in a clean and tidy

my customers.

situation.

So we embarked on a plan to build it, and it went on the road in

“With the billet wood, we also load and unload ourselves at the mill

April 2019. The company’s customer base so far consists of private

because the material is too short for the loaders to handle, so we do

and corporate customers and the self-loader itself is currently under

that ourselves. It takes a little longer but you have to cost that in to the

contract to Rayonier Matariki, along with assisting Forest Distribution

business model… it’s not something we put our hands up to do, but

and our own private interests.”

the material is that short, it’s just easier.

In 2010 Darren moved his DPS Haulage operation from Tau po to

“It’s also about making the skid waste a little more profitable for

Whakatane and later adding a branch in Gisborne, while continuing

everybody and getting it off site, and to the mill. That material is just

his long standing relationship with Patchell. “Originally I was working

as good, it goes into the mill as normal pulp would go, it’s fresh and

with Reg Smith in Taupo,” explains Darren. “There was a relationship

they take it and chip it as though they would a load of six-metre pulp.”

[with Patchell] there, and then in 2010 an opportunity came up and we

Of course, the bottom line always rules business and with a

moved to Whakatane on our own and continued with them. Since then

specialised unit like this, it’s sometimes more a gamble than a

we have expanded and put on our own workshops and mechanics in

guarantee.

both areas.

Says Darren: “In the old days, it was an expensive way of getting

With around 35 vehicles in the fleet, plus daily subcontractors,

the stuff out, because you give quite a bit of tare weight away; plus,

Darren explains the reasoning to introduce the self-loader to the fleet:

there’s loading/unloading components. You need to cart the type of

“We’ve built it multi-bolster, to cart logs and billet wood and what you

material, it’s quite expensive to do… and expensive to build a truck like

can’t put on a normal logging truck.”

that. So you’ve got to have a bit of demand, both ways: how to get it

“It was a flip of the coin to see if it would all pan out,” adds Darren.

out, and maybe some of the customers may need it to make up their

“There was initial demand for this type of product, but now there’s

pulp numbers with this type of material; stuff that normally gets buried

even more emphasis on it due to environmental issues rather than

and leaving the skid site as clean as possible.

The cab is well equipped and comfortable, and a great workstation.

40 | Truckbody&Trailer

ready for the work day, or new site.

“It’s not all about being cost-effective, though the days of leaving this stuff behind may be numbered.”

“We’ve done about a month on this unit at the moment, and I’m driving it myself,” adds Darren. “It’s being used basically every day,

pressures and put a little time into it to find the dos and don’ts - and it’s been some time since I’ve driven one - and we’ve got it to a place where we’re about to start teaching a guy, and pass on those dos and don’ts.”

up to six days a week, and we’re doing work with our private and

The truck unit was also a custom build, according to Scotty at

corporate customers, so yesterday we may have been with Rayonier

Southpac, a Kenworth K200 Rigid built specifically for a truck-mounted

and today it’s with Forest Distribution so we’re tweaking everything.

self-loading crane. It’s a day cab, with X15 600hp engine, rated with

I’m ironing out the normal teething problems and learning how it all

a 28.5t GVM, and 97t GCM. It also has non-load share front axles,

works.”

manual trans with Meritor driveline and diffs, with interaxle and dual

The change to TRT distribution for HIAB in New Zealand also meant the crane was the final part to be fitted to the unit. “We didn’t really have time to test anything as the crane’s arrival was delayed,” adds Darren, “as we had customers cutting wood and waiting for us to pick it up, so we jumped on it and put it to work. We had to tweak crane

cross-locks, plus Airglide 460 rear, Alcoa Durabrite wheels, Michelin tyres and EBSS. Henrickson Air Suspension with disc brake axles are used along with Peterson round LED lights to the rear bumper.

TRT’s Traction Air central-tyre inflation system is installed on the

Loading at Omataroa Forest.

And with a full load, exiting the Omataroa Forest.

Load out from Omataroa Forest.

The DPS Halage unit works at night, with an array of SI-Lodec floodlights from the cab and truck unit.

unit’s drive axles. It ensures tyre pressures will automatically optimise

could be asked if it’s actually worth building a unit like this. But Darren’s

traction and improve performance when the unit is travelling from seal

experience counters all that: “Back in the day, I used to drive one and

to forest roads.

they are a good option for not just that material, but also cold decking.

This unit is also fitted with an SI-Lodec weigh system to both the

Given trucking is a bit of a premium at the moment, and driver demand

truck and the trailer. The truck has load cells under the two center

is high you cannot always supply trucks to crews, and sometimes it’s

bolsters and the trailer has an air suspension weigh system displayed

holding the crew up, we can take over with that crane truck, and cold

in the cab of the truck on a 9704 Meter.

deck load our trucks and finish the job for them. There’s also general

It also has a R.I.T.S (Remote Information Transfer System) fitted to allow the driver to read the scale on either his phone or a tablet in the cab of the crane. Along with this, it also has Peterson overload warning lights fitted to the cab guard.

Externally, for night work, and to turn dark into bright, there’s also a custom LED Flood Lighting package by SI-Lodec.

With the unit’s cost and seemingly limited potential, on the surface it

cleaning up, cleaning the skids, and multiple things that we can do with it.

Self-loading, enclosed cab, and working well for the company and the environment, it’s both a clever and considerate unit from DPS Haulage.

Contacts: Patchell Industries www.patchell.co.nz

TB&T

42 | Truckbody&Trailer

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Loading at KPY Log Yard in Kawerau.

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Patchell’s Swinglift brand, number one sidelifter in 2018, continues and contributes towards the parent brand’s success in 2019, as it heads towards its tenth straight year at number one.

Words: Staff

TIME TO PUT THE RECORDS AWAY With a record-setting 2018, the trailer industry may have softened for the start of 2019, and the talk of records could be taking a break, but the industry still powers on.

W

ARE

Roadmaster is the holder of the longest run of success. Though

suggesting that the markets are levelling off in some

registering one less trailer than the same time in 2018, it sits in a

areas, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the truckbody

solid second place thanks as much to other makers – specifically

and trailer manufacturer markets. The top three manufacturers for

Fruehauf and MTE – having slightly weaker starts to the year. A year

2019 are showing not just resilience, but strength, with solid and

ago, Roadmaster was in fourth with the same sales, but this has

consistent sales after the first four months, to the end of April.

been a slower start to the year than even 2017 for the Auckland

As the first and only manufacturer to exceed 200 units in a year,

company. It’s a noted strong finisher, and with just 12 registrations

Patchell has a solid record to uphold, and continues to dominate the

being the difference between second and seventh on the sales list,

market. Though just 17 units head of Roadmaster, that equates to

there’s certainly no cause for alarm just yet.

HILE

SOME

INDUSTRY

EXPERTS

around 40 percent more, and though it feels as though 2019 has just

The fact that MTE sits in third behind Roadmaster could be a very

started, we’re basing these numbers on sales after one-third of the

positive sign of the two companies sharing resources when MTE

year has already passed.

Group purchased Roadmaster in October 2018, so it’s interesting to

Of course this is good news for the Rotorua-based multi-faceted

see them showing the potential strength of that ‘merger’. But given

company, as it looks to claim its tenth consecutive year of New

they’re both slightly down on 2018, it could be just as much down to

Zealand sales success. As the only maker with a double-digit market

the softening of the overall market.

share, a slim but significant one-percent up on the same time last

TMC is equally strong, just one unit off third place, but showing a

year, that’s both a promising sign for Patchell, and an ominous sign

big increase year-on-year, up five units – or 15 percent – on its 2018

for competitors, for the forthcoming eight months.

efforts.

Of course Patchell’s success isn’t at others’ direct expense,

Fruehauf rounds out the five, and though placed third with 50 units

and it’s rather fitting that Roadmaster sits in second place, given

in 2018, its 35 units registered in 2019 still shows strength, despite a

44 | Truckbody&Trailer

Hamilton’s MTE has shown solid numbers again, also with builds like this Smart trailer.

little lost market share: 7.0 vs 9.4 percent.

Obviously with Patchell and Roadmaster both in Rotorua, that

Of the remaining manufacturers in the top 20-ish, brands to

shows the strongest growth by area year-on-year, with Auckland

increase their market share over 2018 total nine: Jackson, Freighter,

showing a sharp rise. Second-through-sixth all dipped however, year-

TES, Evans, Kraft, Makaranui, Mills-Tui, Hammar and TRT, with only

on-year to the end of April, with Hamilton, Christchurch, Invercargill,

Jackson registering the same number of units (16) but showing a

Palmy North and New Plymouth all a little below – though still strong

larger market share due to the slightly weaker market.

– compared to their 2018 efforts. Tauranga and Dundein are the only

Those to lose market share year-on-year included Domett, Transfleet, Fairfax, Chieftain and Maxicube, though with reasons, such as smaller but still solid numbers, or the segregation/ classification of Maxicube as a stand-alone brand from Freighter.

other areas in the top 10 locations to show increases over the first third of 2019.

Talking GVM, MTE and TRT hold the 60t+ category, though each has lost and gained share respectively, closing the gap, though the

So about that overall softer market? Well, so far, that is actually

total is one less unit. In the 50-60t market, there’s a noticeable drop,

proving to be true. By the end of April 2018, the total market

with totals down to just four, from 11, for the same period a year ago.

was sitting at 530; while 2019’s total is just under 500, at 497,

Finally, imports are also down, especially from the USA where our

representing a six-percent drop. With so much success over the past

dollar has suffered heavily over the past year, dropping five percent,

five years, there was bound to be a flattening of registrations, and

with sales numbers dropping from 12 to two. Even the UK, whose

it’s still well up on 2017 by almost 20 percent. So still a very strong

pound has fluctuated over the past 12 months, but is currently

market, though one that could struggle to match the record-setting

where it was a year ago, has also dropped imports, from 14 down to

heights of 2018.

three.

TB&T

Rotorua’s Roadmaster is showing resilience to a softening market in 2019. The company worked with Northchill to design and manufacture these coloured pods, for Stabi-Craft to deliver its boats around the country

Truckbody&Trailer | 45

Brand PATCHELL

Increase of share

loss of share

No change

GVM in kg YT April 0ver 60,000

2019

2018

vol

%

MTE

4

TRT

2

0ver 60,000

6

2017

vol

%

vol

%

0.8

6

0.4

1

1.1

4

1.0

0.2

1

0.2

1.2

6

1.1

No I/D Patchell MTE

2

0.4

TRT

1

0.2

Felbinder

1

0.2

Manac

3

0.6

4

0.8

2

0.4

2

0.4

5

1.2

2

0.5

1

0.2

1

0.2

Other

April YTD year on year comparison 2019 2018 2017 Volume % Volume % Volume % 60 12.1 59 11.1 60 14.3

ROADMASTER

43

8.7

44

8.3

31

7.4

M.T.E.

39

7.8

51

9.6

34

8.1 6.4

TMC

38

7.6

33

6.2

27

FRUEHAUF

35

7.0

50

9.4

38

9.1

TRANSPORT TRAILERS

34

6.8

23

4.3

28

6.7

DOMETT

31

6.2

37

7.0

31

7.4

JACKSON

16

3.2

16

3.0

16

3.8

TRANSFLEET

14

2.8

16

3.0

16

3.8

FREIGHTER

14

2.8

4

0.8

0

0.0

TES

13

2.6

10

1.9

9

2.1

EVANS

10

2.0

9

1.7

8

1.9

KRAFT

10

2.0

8

1.5

8

1.9

MAKARANUI

10

2.0

6

1.1

3

0.7

FAIRFAX

9

1.8

13

2.5

4

1.0

MILLS-TUI

9

1.8

6

1.1

3

0.7

HAMMAR

8

1.6

6

1.1

6

1.4

CHIEFTAIN

7

1.4

9

1.7

3

0.7

TRT

6

1.2

2

0.4

2

0.5

MAXICUBE

4

0.8

29

5.5

24

5.7

50,001 to 60,000

4

0.8

11

2.1

4

1.0

CWS

4

0.8

7

1.3

3

0.7

40,001 to 50,000

48

9.7

44

8.3

40

9.5

KOROMIKO

4

0.8

2

0.4

0

0.0

30.001 to 40,000

266

53.5

314

59.2

225

53.7

HTS

3

0.6

4

0.8

2

0.5

20,001 to 30,000

154

31.0

123

23.2

136

32.5

TEO

3

0.6

2

0.4

0

0.0

10,001 to 20,000

10

2.0

17

3.2

4

1.0

COWAN

2

0.4

2

0.4

5

1.2

< 10,001

9

1.8

15

2.8

5

1.2

DOUGLAS

2

0.4

2

0.4

0

0.0

Total all

497

100

530

100

419

100

MTT

1

0.2

5

0.9

4

1.0

ADAMS & CURRIE

1

0.2

4

0.8

0

0.0

MORBARK

1

0.2

3

0.6

1

0.2

FELDBINDER

1

0.2

2

0.4

1

0.2

GLASGOW ENGINEERING

1

0.2

2

0.4

2

0.5

M D ENGINEERING

1

0.2

2

0.4

0

0.0

WHITE

1

0.2

2

0.4

2

0.5

0.6

TRINITY

0

0.0

6

1.1

0

0.0

2.3

NICKEL

0

0.0

3

0.6

1

0.2 0.0

Country of origin Australia UK China Germany USA

2019 vol 1 3 1 2

2018 % 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.4

vol 1 14 3 12

2017 % 0.2 2.6

Netherlands New Zealand Other

476 14

Total

497

46 | Truckbody&Trailer

95.8 2.8

500 530

94.3

vol 5 4 3

% 1.2 1.0 0.7

1

0.2

CECO

0

0.0

2

0.4

0

406

96.9

MANAC

0

0.0

2

0.4

0

0.0

OTHER

50

10.1

47

8.9

47

11.2

Totals

497

530

100

419

100

419

McCurdy Trucks - mccurdy.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

TRUCKBODY & TRAILERS Ace Equipment & Engineering Ltd Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Manukau Truck Bodies - manukautruckbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Action Manufacturing - actionmanufacturing.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Maxitrans Industries - maxitrans.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Automated Truck Body Solutions - automatednz.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Modern Transport Engineers - modtrans.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Birkett Motorbodies - birkettmotorbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Modern Transport Trailers - moderntransporttrailers.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Bison Equipment - bisonequipment.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Mills Tui - mills-tui.co.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................... 5

Boss Motorbodies - bossmotorbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

MP Motorbodies - mpmotorbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Cambridge Welding Services Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

MTC Equipment - mtcequipment.com Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Cartwright Engineering - cartwrighteng.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Nickel Engineering - nickelengineering.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Cowan Trailers - cowantrailers.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Onehunga Transport Engineering Ltd - otel.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Deakin Motors - deakinmotors.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Patchell - patchell.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Delta Stockcrates - deltacrates.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Piako Transport Engineering - lowloader.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Domett Truck & Trailer - domett-trailers.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Roadmaster Ltd - roadmaster.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Evans Engineering - evanstrailers.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

SEC Transport Engineering - sec.co.nz Ad on page: ........................................Outside Back Cover

Fairfax Industries - fairfaxindustries.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Tanker Engineering Specialists - tankerengineering.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Fleet Engineering Ltd - fleet-engineering.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Tanker Solutions Ltd - tankersolutions.co.nz Ad on page:………………………………………………..................N/A

Fruehauf NZ Ltd - fruehauf.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Ten4 Transport Engineering - ten4.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Gary Douglas Engineering - garydouglas.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Tidd Ross Todd - trt.co.nz Ad on page: .................................................................... 33

Hammar NZ - hammar.co.nz Ad on page: ..............................................................3 & 36

TLMacLean Ltd - tlmaclean.co.nz Ad on page: .................................................................... 27

Jackson Enterprises - jacksonenterprises.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

TMC Trailers - tmc-trailers.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Kraft Engineering - kraftengineering.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Total Transport Engineers Ltd Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Kingsford Motor Bodies - kingsfordmotorbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Tradesman Motorbodies 2000 Ltd - tmb2000ltd.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

LB Engineering - lbengineering.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Transport Trailers - tandg.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Lowes Industries - lowes.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

Transport Engineering Otago ltd - teotago.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Transport Engineering Southland - tes.co.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................N/A

McCormack Motor Bodies - mmbltd.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A

DID WE MISS YOU?

This guide is provided as a free service to the truckbody and trailer industry. Did we miss you? If you’re a truck body and/or trailer manufacturer or supplier, and would like to be listed here, simply send us an email with your website, to dean@trucker.co.nz.

Truckbody&Trailer | 47

Transfleet - transfleet.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Transmech NZ - transmech.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Transworx S.I Ltd - transworx.co.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................... 9 Trout River - troutriver.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Trucks New Zealand Ltd - trucksnz.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Waikato Motor Bodies Ltd - waikatomotorbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Waimea Engineering - trinder.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Wairau Truck Bodies – ALIMAX - wairautruckbodies.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Valley Crates - valleycrates.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Warren Auger Bins Ltd - warrenaugerbins.co.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................N/A

SUPPLIERS Alemlube - www.alemlube.co.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................N/A Allflow - allflow.co.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................N/A Airplex - airplex.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Archers Auto Springs - autosprings.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Brake’z & Alignment Ltd - brakez.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A BPW Transport Efficiency - tenz.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Bigfoot Equipment - bigfoot.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A CAL Isuzu - calisuzu.co.nz Ad on page ....................................................................N/A CDL Autoparts/Peterson - cdlautoparts.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Commercial Transport Spares - cts.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Ezi Tarp - ezitarp.com Ad on page: ...................................................................N/A Forest Centre - forestcentre.com.au Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Gough Palfinger - goughpalfinger.co.nz Ad on page: .................................................................... 23 Gough Transpecs - goughtranspecs.co.nz Ad on page: .................................................................... 23

DID WE MISS YOU? 48 | Truckbody&Trailer

Hella - hella.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................... 11 Hendrickson - hendrickson.com.au Ad on page: ..................................................................... 17 Hino Distributors (NZ) Ltd - hino.co.nz Ad on page: ....................................................................IFC Jost NZ - jost.nz Ad on page: ...................................... .............................. 15 Kiwi Tarps - kiwitarps.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Malcolm Cab Solutions - Rotorua Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Mega Pacific - megapacific.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Mikes Transport Warehouse - mtw.net.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Nationwide Stock Crates - nationwidecrates.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A NZ Tarping Systems - nztarpingsystems.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A NZ Trucks - nztrucks.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Peak Panel & Paint - peakpanelandpaint.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Plytech International Ltd - plytech.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Promax Engineered Plastics Ltd - promaxplastics.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A PTEK Ltd - ptek.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A PPG - ppgpaints.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Racewell Engineering (McIndoe Group) - mcindoegroup.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Real Steel - realsteel.co.nz Ad on page: .................................................................... 37 Resene Automotive & Light Industrial - fleetcare.net.nz Ad on page: ...................................................................... 7 Rhino Products - mudguards.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Roadrunner Manufacturing - roadrunnerltd.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A SiLodec - silodec.co.nz Ad on page: .......................................... Inside Back Cover Smallbone Isuzu - smallbones.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A Tates NZ Ltd - South Auckland Ad on page: .................................................................... 43 Thermo King - thermoking.co.nz Ad on page: ..................................................................N/A TRT - trt.co.nz Ad on page: .................................................................... 33 Truck & Trailer Parts - tatp.co.nz Ad on page: ..........................................Inside Front Cover

This guide is provided as a free service to the truckbody and trailer industry. Did we miss you? If you’re a truck body and/or trailer manufacturer or supplier, and would like to be listed here, simply send us an email with your website, to dean@trucker.co.nz.

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