Trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull has announced a significant upgrade of its UK manufacturing operation together with the launch of several products new to the UK market.
The developments at the companys factory, which is situated close to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, will see the introduction of what the company believes will be one of the most advanced multi-product trailer production lines in the world. The new line will enable capacity at the plant to be increased significantly while the type of trailer models built in the UK will also grow.
Tom Macallan, Schmitz Cargobull (UK) Ltds managing director, commented: Before the changes to our production facility, we operated two separate factories - each producing a single product range: reefers and curtainsiders. The new production line enables us to produce six different trailer ranges on a single world class line.
He continues: Furthermore, we will achieve higher throughputs from the single line than we had previously attained from the individual reefer and curtainsider sites.
The single line goes live in March 2009 while additional upgrades to other areas of the plant such as the paint shop will be completed imminently
The companys UK product offering has been further enhanced with the availability of a new range of rigid frame trailers and a curtainsider trailer with reinforced sides specifically developed for use in industries where large amounts of loose materials are to be handled.
The investment at the UK factory and the introduction of new products for the UK market follows Schmitz Cargobulls recent announcement that it is expanding its presence across the UK with the opening of a number of Regional Business Centres (RBCs).
The RBCs are equipped with ultra-modern workshop facilities and display new Schmitz Cargobull trailers as well as an extensive fleet of quality used and refurbished models. In addition large stocks of spare parts are held at the sites enabling Schmitz Cargobull to offer both same-day and next-day delivery.
Most recently Schmitz Cargobull opened a RBC in Warrington whilst further openings are planned for later this year.
Tom Macallan concludes: Everyone accepts that these are difficult times for industry, but Schmitz Cargobull has given a clear indication of its commitment to the UK market with this significant investment. We remain the clear UK market leader in refrigerated trailer sales while some 70%+ of Euroliners sold in the UK are Schmitz Cargobull products. We believe that the changes we have made to our factory will enable us to grow our UK curtainsider market share while the introduction of several new product ranges will allow us to make inroads into markets that hitherto we have not competed in.
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