Trailer maker Schmitz Cargobull upgrades UK facility

The developments at the company’s Newcastle factory will see the introduction of what the it believes will be one of the world’s most advanced multi-product trailer production lines. 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. Managing director Tom Macallan (pictured) said: “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.” It would also enable Schmitz Cargobull UK to achieve higher throughputs from the single line than it had previously attained from individual reefer and curtainsider sites. The single line goes live in this month (March) while additional upgrades to other areas of the plant – such as the paint shop – will be completed imminently. The company’s UK product offering has also been 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 Cargobull’s recent announcement that it is expanding its presence across the UK with the opening of a number of regional business centres. Macallan concluded: “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%-plus 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.”