5 posts tagged “trailer builder”

15/01/08

Source: http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/news/lufkin_trailer_operations_0115/

Lufkin Industries, Inc. today announced the Board of Directors has authorized the company to suspend its participation in the commercial trailer markets it serves and to develop a plan to run-out existing inventories, fulfill current contractual obligations and to close all trailer facilities.

Lufkin Trailers is a division of Lufkin Industries Inc, which was founded in 1902 and is a vertically integrated company that designs, engineers, manufactures, sells, installs, and services oil-field equipment and power-transmission products across the globe and highway trailers in the south-central United States and Mexico.

In 1939, Lufkin got into trailers when it purchased Martin Wagon and Trailer Company.

The trailer division thrived during World War II in the form of gasoline transport semi-trailers, ordnance trailers, and mobile laundry units for the Army.

In the early 1960s, the all-aluminum dry freight van was introduced, and high-tensile floats and refrigerated vans were being built. Lufkin's lowboy-type trailers were on the drawing board. In 1969, the trailer division moved into a 345,000 square-foot manufacturing facility that it still uses today.

Lufkin, using 260 of the company's 2,744 employees, manufactures vans, flatbeds, floats, drop frames, dumps, doubles, conventional and spread axles, and specialty trailers.

06/03/06

Source: http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/trailer-oem/great_dane_shipment_record/

For the fourth consecutive year, Great Dane topped all trailer manufacturers with the most trailer shipments. In 2006, an all-time company record was set with more than 60,000 trailers shipped from Great Dane's nine factories.

"We just completed the most successful year in the history of the company," said Phill Pines, chief operating officer. "Our strong production figures are a reflection of economic growth and increased demand over the last several years, which resulted in healthy sales increases at our branch and distributor level. As we look ahead, we are confident the industry will remain healthy as the freight environment stabilizes."

Great Dane also reports monthly shipment records were set throughout 2006. More than 5,000 trailers shipped in each of the months of March, April, June, August and September. More than 6,400 trailers delivered in the month of June alone.

Last year, Great Dane fulfilled nearly 33% of the market demand for refrigerated vans and more than 28% of the market demand for all dry freight vans. Of Great Dane's dry freight sales in 2006, more than 20,000 trailers were SSL models. This accounts for nearly 15% of the industry's total shipments in 2006.

18/07/06

Source: http://www.ashokleyland.com/searchresult.jsp?str=news&id=118

Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group in India, has entered into a strategic tie-up with ANG Autotech Private Limited (a subsidiary of ANG Auto Limited) for the manufacture and supply of tractor-trailers.

“The biggest advantage to the end customer is that he gets an Ashok Leyland branded, fully-built tractor trailer that enables him to start earning from day one instead of, at present, having to wait many months to deploy his tractor trailer on the road,” said Mr. Vinod Dasari, Chief Operating Officer, Ashok Leyland.

“Today there is a shortage of trailers in the market. This tie-up will ensure greater availability of tractor-trailers ” The trailers will be aggressively priced, to ensure that the end user gets standard international quality at competitive prices. said Mr. Premjit Singh, MD & CEO, ANG Auto Ltd. These trailers will be co-branded & marketed by AshokLeyland.

ANG will manufacture trailers in technical collaboration with FUWA Engineering, China, one of the largest manufacturer of axles in the world. FUWA manufactures axles using one-piece extruded spindles that are technically superior to conventionally formed axles and these axles come with unlimited warranty from ANG.

31/01/07

ArvinMeritor Inc. (NYSE: ARM) has announced the formation of a long-term supplier partnership with Trailmobile Corporation, Lake Forest, Ill.  Effective this month, Meritor(R) trailer axles, brakes and air suspensions become the standard offering on all Trailmobile trailers.  

Trailmobile Corporation is one of North America's top trailer manufacturers with manufacturing operations in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

"We're delighted to offer our customers the Meritor quality brand in axles, brakes and air suspension systems," said Tom Wiseman, president of Trailmobile.

Assembled at the company's Frankfort, Ky., production facility, ArvinMeritor will supply axles, cam brakes, the new rugged and robust RideSentry air suspension, automatic slack adjusters, wheel ends, and when specified the Meritor Tire Inflation System by P.S.I.  Trailmobile also outfits its trailers with Meritor WABCO anti-lock and advanced braking systems.

"With an intense effort at supplying high quality component systems through highly efficient delivery processes, we're elated to be selected by Trailmobile. It speaks volumes for our people who work so hard to satisfy and delight our customers," said Sergio Carvalho, vice president and general manager, ArvinMeritor Trailer Systems business.

Trailmobile has grown, progressed, and developed its own path through history as the industry has experienced major changes in design construction and distribution methods through its evolution. From the introduction of the spring loaded fifth wheel coupler in 1919, to the delivery of the first trailers designated for piggyback use in 1929, to the introduction of panel foam in 1982, Trailmobile has been a leader in innovative ideas for the trucking industry.   It continues to add to its long list of firsts in design changes, testing methods and standards, and technological advances.

20/12/06

Source: http://www.bizbuzzmedia.com/blogs/big_lorry_blog/archive/2005/12/20.aspx

As you’d expect of the industry’s topping trucking blog, Biglorryblog keeps its big ears wide open in order to bring you all the latest news and gossip. And one rumour I recently heard is that the Chinese trailer making powerhouse CIMC is considering buying a European manufacturer. “Which one?”, I hear you ask. Well would that I knew. But as soon as I have some hard facts I’ll bring them to you—even if the story turns out to be a dud..

Meanwhile, if you're asking “Who's CIMC?” don’t feel too bad about it. Until I read a recent article in Haldex’s in-house magazine DynamiX about China International Marine Containers (AKA CIMC) I didn’t have a clue about who they were either. But talk to trailer component suppliers about CIMC and their reaction verges on hushed reverence.

Not surprising really in light of the recent comment from CIMC president Mai Boliang that: "Our goal is to become the world's largest trailer manufacturer by 2008." And according to one major axle manufacturer: "They're probably already there." Last year CIMC built no less than 40,000 trailers at its six domestic production plants in Southern China, including dry freight vans, curtainsiders, reefers, skeletals and tankers. Not bad for starters, even if that's not quite enough to put CIMC in pole position of the World’s biggest trailer maker

The current title holder of that title is reckoned to be US giant Great Dane, with an estimated annual production of around 55,000 units, followed closely by fellow American manufacturer Wabash, with close to 48,000. However, Great Dane and Wabash have good reason to worry about CIMC, especially when it comes to competing in their own (US) back yard. Two years ago the Chinese company paid some $4.5m (£2.4m) for the trailer-manufacturing assets of Indiana-based HPA Monon. And having refurbished its site, last year CIMC launched an assembly subsidiary called Vanguard National Trailer Corporation. One of Great Dane's 10 US manufacturing sites also happens to be located in Indiana - coincidence or what? Vanguard is already talking about expanding its dry-freight 'van' trailer build from last year's 3,000 units to 8,000 by the end of 2005.

As part of that process it recently launched a brace of dry-freight models, and while most components for its chassis-less models are sourced within the US, some 10% of sub-assemblies are shipped in from China. In parallel with Vanguard, CIMC also brings in fully built up skeletals from China, and there's talk of offering a full product line-up in the US including reefers.

Among the trailer component providers, ArvinMeritor is actively backing CIMC to hit its target of world leadership by 2008, saying it is "pleased to support their ambitious goal with our trailer products". It adds: "With products ranging from axles, air suspensions and tyre inflation systems to a complete line of foundation brake and ABS systems, wheel-ends and hubs and drums, ArvinMeritor is the only company with a major global presence in trailer component production." The fact that CIMC uses Arvin Meritor running gear would seem to support that claim.

By any yardstick CIMC’s current production of 40,000 trailers per annum in China and 8,000 in the US is certainly enough to make any European trailer maker sit up and take notice. The top European trailer maker by a clear head is Schmitz. Last year it built some 36,000 trailers, generating a turnover of Euro1.18bn (£785m). But by 2009/10 Schmitz aims to be building 65,000 trailers a year boosting its turnover to more than Euro2bn (£1.33bn) with, in time, a "technical production capacity in excess of 80,000 trailers".

Of course there's nothing to stop CIMC from buying an under-performing European trailer maker (there are enough around) and doing a Vanguard on it. And that’s what’s being rumoured….

Meanwhile here’s six things you probably didn't know about CIMC

· China International Marine Containers (Group) was founded in 1980 and went public in 1993. Its HQ is in Shenzen, in the southern province of Guangdong; it employs 14,000 people.

· Its product range includes tandem and triaxle container skeletals, curtainsiders, dry-freight vans, reefers and tankers.

· Since starting manufacturing in 2002 CIMC has become the largest semi-trailer manufacturer in China.

· Yearly trailer production is currently running at around 40,000 units. It also exports FBU skeletals to Japan and the US.

· Through wholly-owned US subsidiary Vanguard National Trailer Corporation CIMC is aiming to build 8,000 dry-freight vans a year.

· CIMC boss Mai Boliang, who has been with the company for 22 years, says CIMC's goal is to be the world's largest trailer maker by 2008.