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It’s not often you hear someone wax lyrical about a chemical element, but Fred Marano really loves aluminium.

“It’s versatile, ageless, recyclable, lightweight,” he says enthusiastically, adding even more to his descriptive summary. “It doesn’t rust, it’s low maintenance, easy to manufacture and it has good value.”

Fred should know – he’s been using it for almost 40 years. His company, Sloanebuilt, manufactures custom-built aluminium trailers and truck bodies, and does it well. With a strong focus on the construction and agricultural industries, Sloanebuilt is known for offering a wide range of products that are strong, durable and reliable. 

While their continued success is a combination of innovation and a highly skilled team, aluminium makes it all that much easier.

“It’s fit for purpose, and it’ll continue to be fit for purpose,” Fred says. “It’s always being improved and it’s a product that I think you’ll see even more in the transport market over the years to come.”

This is where Capral comes in. It supplies all of Sloanebuilt’s aluminium, whether it is an exclusive extruded section or its plate. This means every aluminium component in a Sloanebuilt trailer has come exclusively from Capral.

Fred considers Capral as not just a supplier, but a crucial partner in their success. Not only does Capral more than satisfy its supply agreement, but Fred says the two businesses also share values and commercial integrity. 

“We find Capral exceeds in every way from top to bottom,” he says. “Their product is excellent, and tolerances are always within range. They do the job right the first time, every time. We’ve tried other suppliers over the years, but we find Capral exceeds from beginning to end.”

Having a durable product that is Australian made is a Sloanebuilt priority. Fred believes that only Australian manufacturers and suppliers understand the unique environmental conditions in this country and the need for materials and products that can withstand them.

“Australia’s a good testing ground for every other part of the world in the tipper market,” he says. “We’re proud to be associated with that.”

Capral Aluminium began its operations in Australia in 1936 and is now known as one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and distributors of aluminium profiles.

The company has extrusion manufacturing facilities in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, allowing it to supply products within short lead times.

It also has an extensive network of added value facilities which can supply aluminium extrusions while providing customers with a streamlined final product. These services, including knurling, anodising, power coating, drilling and precision cutting, are designed to meet the needs of customers.

For Fred one of the advantages to working Capral is in their method of delivery which makes them a stand-out against the competition. He explains that delivery of large aluminium orders can be fraught with problems, but Capral is respectful of dedicated delivery times.

“They supply in the time slot. They don’t just push it out and say, ‘there you go, you’re on your own’,” he says, adding that they also understand the safety issues of unloading, ensuring all products are properly loaded and restrained. 

The last four decades have seen tremendous growth for Sloanebuilt, having come a long way since Fred and his wife Helen bought the business. At the time it was a two-person operation. Today, they manufacture a host of products including tippers, flattops, rigid beavertails, dog trailers and semi-trailers, all from their $30 million, 36,000 square-metre factory at Smeaton Grange, just on the outskirts of Sydney.

Fred says he was initially drawn into the idea of buying a business because he had always wanted to work for himself, but producing a quality product was a must. 

With the help of Capral, Sloanebuilt is able to offer a product that is customised with exceptional attention to detail. Its fully-integrated in house manufacturing process means the team take aluminium and then cuts, bends, sands, cleans, paints and assembles – demanding a huge range of skills from its 130-person strong workforce. 

As for the future of Sloanebuilt and Capral’s relationship, Fred says there is so much more they can do. For him innovation is key and with the team he has, growth is definite.

“Maybe in two or three year’s time we will be building trailers that are forty metres long. Wherever the industry takes us, we’ll go.”

Fast fact

Capral has recently introduced lower carbon aluminium to its offering, with up to 50 per cent lower carbon emissions than global averages, providing manufacturers with a more sustainable aluminium option.

The post Capral exceeds Sloanebuilt’s expectations in partnership appeared first on Trailer Magazine.

June is an exciting month for Rentco. A shipment will be landing on its doorstep, but it’s much more than just a long-awaited vehicle arrival. It marks a big step and is a long-time goal for this transport equipment rental company, and they are confident it is an opportunity to set an example for the industry on how to move towards a greener future.

Four electrical Terberg terminal tractors, the first-fit-for purpose rentals in Australia, will arrive with eight more expected before the end of the year. It’s the culmination of 12 months’ work with the team at PortxGroup, the Australian Terberg dealer, as well as Terberg in Europe and Asia.

“While many countries around the world have made really significant progress introducing electric vehicles, there is the sense that in Australia we are still a little bit sceptical and perhaps somewhat undecided,” says Rentco National Business Manager, Paul Scott.

“We’ve decided to step forward and make a commitment and an investment.”

The vehicle at the heart of the excitement is the Terberg YT200-EV, a third-generation product with a unique battery and a multi-faceted active safety design. Safety aspects include six temperature sensors, a smoke sensor, as well as short circuit, overload and low voltage protection. The batteries use freon-generated liquid active cooling. 

Designers describe the performance of the YT200’s electric motor as like that of a diesel engine, but with no CO2 and NOx emissions at the point of use. It also has fewer moving parts than both a diesel engine and any other previous electric vehicle generations, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Another benefit that is particularly relevant for terminal trucks which often operate indoors, is that they have a reduced noise level.

Established in 1995 with just nine trailers, Rentco has grown to own a fleet made up of more than 3,500 pieces of equipment and become Australia’s most recognised transport equipment rental companies. This latest delivery will add to what is already an impressive range of terminal tractors, as well as other offerings such as, trucks, utes and trailers, which are available to rent in every state and territory on the mainland.

PortxGroup is committed to investing in building technical expertise and services to support EV terminal trucks in Australia, even offering specific factory training for their usage. 

Peter McLean, PortxGroup CEO, says the YT200 terminal tractors are able to deliver outstanding results and are pleased to now be part of Rentco’s electric vehicle offering.

“Lowering CO2 emissions and finding sustainable solutions is increasingly becoming critical,” he says. “PortxGroup has delivered an innovative and highly productive solution to meet our customers’ needs.”

With a head office in Melbourne, PortxGroup offers supply chain solutions, including material handling equipment, parts and maintenance, as well as project solutions. It is an Australia and New Zealand distribution partner of Terberg terminal tractors, Kuenz cranes, sfPorteq spreaders and Merford cabins. It is also the exclusive Hyster dealer in the Pacific Islands. The company aims to offer its Australasia clients cost-effective, innovative solutions and direct access to global OEMs.

For Rentco, as the industry continues to turn green, it aims to deliver. As the company points out, the purchase wasn’t just a commitment to offer a carbon neutral choice, market demand was there as well. 

“Our transport partners were asking for electric vehicles which was something we couldn’t ignore,” Paul says. “I think Australia is starting to recognise green choices in an effort to help shape a more sustainable future and we see this as a pathway for many to follow, with green vehicles including electric vehicles here to stay.”

Fast fact

Rentco maintains a large enough fleet that it can ensure equipment change, if required, in a short time frame: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Rentco’s new offering turns a shade of green appeared first on Trailer Magazine.

The Australian arm of global hydraulics company, OMFB, has announced it is launching a new business segment which will provide local hydraulic solutions, including in-house hydraulic circuit assessment, design and kit assembly, as well as a new product offering. 

A labour of love for those involved, Mobile Hydraulic Solutions will now allow OMFB Pacific to provide reduced lead times and better technical support, and in turn compete with major brands.

“Italy was very interested in pushing this new segment because they know there is demand in the market,” says Marketing and Customer Relations Manager, Federico Bonometti. “We started talking about it last year and developing a plan of action to better address the Australian market requirements and provide local solutions.”

That plan involved bringing on Engineering Manager, David Perrott, to set up a 400-square-metre warehouse facility including a new clean room workshop for in-house proportional directional valve (PDV) assembly, with an initial stock asset of $200,000.

Business has changed in a post-pandemic world, David explains, with the need to have OMFB’s specialised Italian-made parts readily available on Australian soil. 

“This is a massive step forward for the company,” he says. “We can now provide full support regarding the design and development of hydraulic systems. The expansion will allow OMFB Pacific to be a solution provider, assessing the customers’ requirements, designing the hydraulic system and supplying the full kit, including a locally assembled and tested PDV.

Established as a family business in 1950, OMFB, which is short for Officina Meccanica Fratelli Bianchi (Bianchi Brothers Mechanical Workshop), got its break by manufacturing spare parts for Italian, American, English and German trucks which were being used for post-war reconstruction efforts. The core business revolved around Power Take-Off units (PTOs), pumps, oil tanks and valves. From there, it has grown into a global hydraulic equipment supplier.

This latest Australian foray is following in the footsteps of the Italian parent company which, three years ago, entered the proportional hydraulic segment. This included more sophisticated hydraulics components and systems that went beyond the transport industry, supporting forestry, mining and mobile applications such as elevated working platforms, vacuum trucks, water trucks, road rail vehicles, excavators, log loaders and drill rigs.

Australia is now following suit, highlighted by its proportional directional valve which provides precise control over the flow or pressure of fluid in a hydraulic system, allowing for more accurate and efficient operation.

“The new product has proportional control, high pressure limits and high oil flow capability. It helps things move as fast or as slow as you would like, which gives the machinery operator fantastic control over their equipment,” David says.

OMFB Pacific is further increasing their product range here in Australia, offering piston motors, gear motors, load sense pumps, HMI solutions, operator controls such as joysticks, as well as sensors.

Fast fact

All pressure losses in a hydraulic system are lost power, wasted fuel and additional wear. Modern variable flow hydraulics improve operator control and reduce the operating costs of the entire machine by minimising pressure losses. 

The post A new step for OMFB in Australia appeared first on Trailer Magazine.

From cosmetics and flowers to pharmaceuticals, food and even art, a lot goes into creating the perfect refrigerated vehicle for special cargo. At Scully RSV there are a number of partnerships required to get it exactly right.

Scully RSV has been in operation for more than 30 years and is one of Australia’s leading providers of refrigerated transport solutions with utes, trucks and trailers all available on short- or long-term rental. It also offers new and used truck sales, available for up to 16 pallet capacity.

Its team of skilled craftsmen manufacture the vehicles with the industry’s leading brands that supply Scully RSV with quality chassis, fridge, tailgate, panel and technology components. For Scully RSV, working with these brands to bring the best in technology, safety and innovation to the market is paramount. This includes names like Toyota, Isuzu, Hino, ThermoKing, Carrier and Anteo.

At Hino, Sales Manager for Queensland’s Sci-Fleet, Will Gaulton, has been working with Scully RSV for more than ten years. His job is to secure the chassis of choice for Scully RSV, which goes to its yard at Acherfield where a skilled team builds the pallet body on the back.

“From there it heads to the preferred fridge supplier and then back to us for registration and delivery,” Will says, adding that, on average, Scully RSV buys between 100 and 120 trucks a year from Sci-Fleet ranging from a small two-pallet to a 14-pallet truck.

A family business, Sci-Fleet has been servicing southeast Queensland for more than 40 years and is just one of many suppliers who have helped Scully RSV grow to become nationwide. In fact, Scully RSV have recently expanded operations in Western Australia, along the east coast and have service capabilities in South Australia and Tasmania.

Will says one of the advantages Scully RSV has is it can offer a solution to its customers regardless of the state of the economy.

“The customer has the opportunity to buy the asset or, if finance is hard to get or times are tougher, they can secure short term or long-term hire,” he says. “They can even hire for ownership if they want. Whatever the customer requires, Scully RSV has the capabilities and scale to fulfil.”

For Scully RSV CEO, Andrew McKenzie, working with a company like Sci-Fleet means Scully RSV is guaranteed to get the most recent technology and advancements in an ever-changing market environment – something it insists on getting right. This even includes the latest Hino 300 Series Hybrid Electric model, revealed at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show.

“Refrigerated vehicles are the most complicated and technically advanced vehicles in a fleet.” Andrew says. “Building something specifically for what our customers need is crucial, so we are always pushing the envelope to stay ahead of the innovation curve and working with partners who are pushing that envelope.”

Hino Australia Vice President Brand and Franchise, Richard Emery, says the Hino 300 Hybrid Series Electric model meets Euro 6 exhaust emissions standards and is the only Japanese light duty truck in Australia to do so.

“Euro 6 is achieved by using the proven EGR and DPR systems, in combination with the Hino SCR system,” he says. “This SCR system may be new to the 300 Series, but this exhaust emissions solution is already found in our Hino 500 Series models, in which it has proven to be reliable and effective at reducing engine exhaust emissions.” 

The Hino 500 Series model is already in the Scully RSV fleet and a detailed announcement on when customers can try the Hino 300 Series Hybrid Electric model is expected soon.

Hiring a vehicle from Scully RSV is a good way to try the technology, the company says, offering a low cost and low risk opportunity to decide if long term hire or new truck sales is better suited to their operation.

“A lot of our customers are coming in and trying our vehicles on short term hire to test out the new technology solutions we have rolled out,” Andrew says. “This includes ScullyLive, SafetyCulture Pre Starts and now Hino Connect. At Scully RSV we are always having ongoing and open discussions with our suppliers to understand their technology and innovation and with our customers, to understand their needs.

“By bringing the two together it truly is the only way to keep ahead of the curve and develop the best solutions for your customers.”

One of Scully RSV’s latest technology advancements has been the use of the Hino Connect application, a digital platform by commercial vehicle manufacturer, Hino Motors. Among its benefits are:

Real-time data tracking of fuel consumption, maintenance and diagnostics;
Braking and vehicle performance analysis;
Monitoring of driver performance and the most efficient routes; and
Roadside assistance and a five-year warranty.

The post Scully RSV keeps Australia connected with partnerships appeared first on Trailer Magazine.