BTS21: Coming together with show stopping trailers

Celebrating connection will be a common theme for the 29 trailer, tanker and body manufacturing exhibitors at the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show

While the transport industry has kept Australians connected during the pandemic, many owners and operators have been unable to travel to meet customers and forge those essential interstate relationships, giving this year’s event the atmosphere of a grand reunion.

Not surprisingly, there’s a lot to catch up on. Expect to see a focus on improved design and materials use to give reduced tare weight in trailers, maximising payload potential. A bumper grain harvest has driven demand for bulk haulage agricultural tippers, while improvements are set to be unveiled in the live bottom sphere.

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The strength of Australian manufacturing will also be a hot topic, with government pandemic-recovery incentives helping to supporting local jobs. Many leading players are already talking up big increases on their order books for home-built trailers, and recruitment remains strong.

Keep an eye out, as always, for end of financial year bargains, with the show a great place to do business and plan for a future that’s looking increasingly bright.

MUSCAT TRAILERS

Stand 94 Foyer

2021 marks 40 years for NSW-based Muscat Trailers, whose mantra seems to be never-ending innovation, particularly in the live floor market. The 2019 Brisbane Truck Show saw Muscat Trailers present a quad dog with a live floor and, this time round, it’ll be debuting its new quad semi-live floor. It’s touted as the first of its kind and represents a major safety breakthrough, taking operators away from tipper exclusion zones and traffic, eliminating the associated risks and getting drivers into places they would never dream of accessing with a tipper (under bridges, in tunnels, around power lines, in narrow streets), with materials unloaded by conveyor belt rather than gravity. Muscat Trailer’s Nicole Azzopardi says the team is excited to be exhibiting again after a year of uncertainty in the industry.

“This is a major show that brings suppliers and customers together. It will be nice to be back seeing some old friends, along with some new faces,” Azzopardi says.

MAXITRANS

Stand 53 Foyer

Celebration will be a key theme at the MaxiTRANS stand, as one of its most iconic brands, Freighter, turns 75. An original 1950s Freighter trailer will provide an eye-catching throwback to a different era in trucking, while video testimonials from loyal customers will highlight the long-standing passion for the brand. MaxiTRANS managing director and CEO Dean Jenkins says the stand celebrates a milestone not just for MaxiTRANS but for the whole industry.

“There’s a lot of confidence returning to the industry,” he explains.

“This is a celebration of customers supporting Australian manufacturing. We pride ourselves on building trailers in Australia and supporting Australian jobs.”

That’s only set to increase, too, with manufacturing well under way at MaxiTRANS’ new Carole Park facility in Queensland, part of the Queensland Government’s Covid recovery package. Bringing Freighter, Hamelex White and Lusty EMS together on the one stand should also serve to solidify MaxiTRANS’ brand recognition.

“The show is invaluable because you can meet as many customers as possible in one location,” Jenkins says.

“It’s about showing customers all the benefits that come under the MaxiTRANS banner.”

HAMMAR

Stand 69 Foyer

Sideloader specialists Hammar Australia will be unveiling an all-new concept that will increase payload weight for container sideloaders without compromising road network access. General manager Grahame Heap says the new design utilises clever chassis design and axle groupings that will allow considerably higher weight limits.

“You can do that by use of quad axles under the performance-based standards (PBS) scheme, but you then start to limit yourself as to where you can drive,” Heap says.

“With this scheme we’re looking at still running under general mass limits, but with a considerably higher load, so you won’t need to change schemes.

“The key to this innovation was working out how we can increase payload while still maintaining a good level of access. That’s what we’ve been working on and that’s what we’ve achieved.”

It’s news that’s sure to excite anyone running intermodal carriers, and all part of the continual refinement that Hammar work at year after year, it explains. Heap says keeping the stand looking fresh is a priority.

“Each Truck Show we like to bring a new innovation or design, we like to mix it up. We consider this show the best single marketing opportunity, particularly when showcasing new designs and developments. It allows people to see and touch the product firsthand, to better understand the improvements,” he says.

HOWARD PORTER

Stand 137 Foyer

Established in 1936, Howard Porter manufactures all manner of semi-trailers from general freight skels to flat tops, drop decks, low-loaders and tippers. It is now also the Australian distributor for Steelbro sidelifters, having acquired Steelbro in 2014. Call into its stand to check out the latest model 363 Steelbro sidelifter, touting reduced tare weight, faster operation, a simplified hydraulic system and reduced electronic componentry. Also on display will be the ‘Bullmaster’ side tipping trailer for the earthmoving and mining industry, with a chassis constructed from high-grade steel and the bodies from 450-grade wear plate, allowing for a reduced tare weight with higher payload.

“The Truck Show is a great chance for us to catch up with our customers and suppliers,” Howard Porter CEO Roy Lombardi says.

“With the border closures over the last 12 months we’re looking forward to seeing faces we haven’t seen for a while. It’s a great chance to walk our clients through some recent developments and product improvements.”

Call into Howard Porter’s stand to check out the latest model 363 Steelbro sidelifter

DRAKE TRAILERS

Stand 90 Foyer

Expect to see a number of upgrades to the Drake Group’s trailer fleet on display at the show, including its steerable deck widener trailer with a new Drake-designed steering system that allows up to 35 degrees of increased manoeuvrability. Also featured will be Drake’s quad-axle drop deck widener and a selection of O’Phee Trailers, including the PBS-approved super semi (with split groups available in flat top, drop deck and skel trailer ranges), plus lightweight frames and two improved models of sideloaders, the BoXLoader and Swinglift. Group sales manager Sam Drake says this year’s Truck Show is “extra special” given the events of last year.

“We haven’t been able to travel to see our customers, so this event is a much looked-forward to opportunity to catch up and see everyone in the flesh,” he says.

“It’s also an opportunity to celebrate being Australian-made. Buying a Drake means you’re taking an active role in supporting local jobs, driving economic activity and ensuring Australia’s long-term prosperity.”

Also look out for Drake’s famous diecast collectibles – 1/50 scale truck, crane and heavy haulage replicas; the perfect adornment for any office or display cabinet.

Drake Trailers says the truck show is an opportunity to celebrate Australian-made

GRAHAM LUSTY TRAILERS

Stand 47 Foyer

2021 brings a new location at the truck show for Brisbane-based Graham Lusty Trailers (GLT), and more space means the chance to bring a lot more gear. CEO Graham Lusty will be there to meet customers and discuss the state of play. Lusty says the team will be showcasing its bespoke trailer designs at the show.

“It’s all about our customer-driven approach,” Lusty says.

“We work with the customer to look at the prime mover they’ll be using in conjunction with the trailer and how we can customise that trailer to help increase payloads.”

Like many transport operators, GLT experienced a pandemic boom in business last year, even if there were challenges procuring stock due to quarantine delays.

“While the country was negotiating the pandemic, many cropping regions were experiencing a bumper harvest season due to rain,” Lusty says.

“With government stimulus into these industries combined with the great harvest season, we had record production last year. We’re proud to work with other industries, like farming and mining, to continue to support Australians in difficult times.”

Graham Lusty Trailers’ CEO, Graham Lusty, will be at the show to chat to customers

WEST-TRANS EQUIPMENT

Stand 69 Foyer

Australian-built skip loaders and hook lifts will be on display at the West-Trans stand, including the DS-80s skip loader and the new HL-20A hook lift, designed with lower pedestals and rollers so the bin or container sits lower than previously, allowing for a larger payload. It will also be bringing a range of HMF vehicle loading cranes to display.

BRUCE ROCK ENGINEERING

Stand 136 Foyer

The problem of acid corrosion on trailers transporting iron ore from inland mines to ports is well-known in the mining industry. To combat this, Bruce Rock Engineering (BRE) will be integrating SSAB’s Hardox HiAce corrosion-resistant steel to fight both abrasive wear and corrosion in its 60-metre super quad road trains that work Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The new steel to be used on the entire floor plates of the four trailers (carrying a payload of up to 141 tonnes) is touted as prolonging service life on the trailers carrying corrosive loads by up to three years; a 20–30 per cent increase in service life compared with Hardox 450. If carting corrosive materials is causing you maintenance headaches, put this stand on your must-visit list. Also check out BRE’s expanded Cold Core MSC range of refrigerated trailers, including a 12-pallet rollback B-double lead trailer.