Genuine Truck Bodies (GTB) has broadened its horizons for 2014.Having previously focused on building rigid truck bodies for OEMs, national fleets and truck dealerships, the Victorian upstart will now compete for a bigger share of Australia’s trailer building market.
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Established in 2006 and headquartered in Dandenong South, Victoria, GTB is a subsidiary of Perth-based motoring and logistics retailer, Automotive Holdings Group Limited (AHG), which is listed in the ASX200 index and holds more than 150 automotive franchises across Australia and New Zealand.
In the past, GTB has established itself as a one-stop-shop for logistics businesses and truck dealerships – designing and manufacturing steel trays, curtain siders, van bodies and custom bodies, predominantly for the rigid truck market. Now it has positioned itself firmly in the refrigerated transport equipment market. In 2011, GTB’s sister company, Rand Transport, acquired Harris Refrigerated Transport – increasing the internal demand for tri-axle freezer trailers. After extensive research and development, GTB therefore commenced B-trailer production alongside the already well developed rigid truck body production lines.
“GTB was able to conduct unfettered ‘in-house’ R&D, particularly with regard to uncompromising weight reduction and thermal efficiency innovations.”
With modest production volumes – kicking off with two and three units per month – this soon grew to a steady five per month. “But the learning curve didn’t stop there,” explains GTB General Manager, Les Lange. “Our next challenge was the lead roll back trailer to complement the already successful B-trailers.”
GTB then took on the extensive research and development task of producing a matching A-trailer, which after prototyping and trialling throughout 2013, has shared the same successful path as the first trailer product.
“We’ve now built more than 130 refrigerated trailers since we started manufacturing in early 2012,” says Les, revealing that the majority of equipment has been built on behalf of its sister companies. “This exercise has provided GTB the opportunity of conducting unfettered ‘in-house’ R&D, particularly with regard to uncompromising weight reduction and thermal efficiency innovations.
“With increasing external demands, production volumes are already averaging 10 units per month, but we have the capacity to build up to 25 units per month in the future,” Les adds. Depending on customer requirements, GTB can now supply single A-trailers, B-trailers or complete B-double sets, as well road train rated equipment such as tandem axle dollies.
According to Les, developing a suitable product range required a sizable investment by GTB. “We wanted a product that really made a difference in the market and added genuine value to our local manufacturing industry,” he says. “Working closely with our customers to understand their needs and to add value at every opportunity has always been important to us, especially regarding the refrigerated line-up.
“That’s why we’ve researched the refrigerated transport market extensively and went on to develop a new, innovative product. The general consensus was centred on weight reduction, but without compromising the body’s strength and safety. In addition, we’re always able to customise our standard product range to suit individual requirements, should the need arise.”
Rather than following the conventional way of doing things, GTB took the opportunity to create its very own trailer design. “We learned a lot of lessons during the process,” says Les, pointing out the attention GTB’s engineering team paid to every detail of the build.
According to Les, the introduction of GTB-branded refrigerated trailers has also influenced the way the company’s rigid bodies are built.
“Because the refrigerated trailers have worked so well with the fleets, we started applying the same methods to our rigid range,” he says. “Typically, we’d use a steel sub frame to build a rigid, but it’s all about saving on unnecessary weight today. Over the long haul, our new aluminium approach will reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption for the fleets who make the change.”
The new Refrigerated rigid body range is now available in 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 pallet sizes with all of the typical options one would expect.
Currently, GTB is in the final stages of building 16 multi-temp refrigerated vans for diverse Perth-based fleet Mrs Macs, which Les says will complement the GTB refrigerated range with custom-build style options available for national fleets with specific logistics challenges.
“The success of integrating the trailer design into our rigid bodies has quickly become our cornerstone, we are already developing our Dry Freight Range starting with the rigid bodies.”
“The success of integrating the trailer design into our rigid bodies has quickly become our cornerstone, we are already developing our Dry Freight Range starting with the rigid bodies, and the official presentation of our first prototype that will also coincide with GTB’s first-ever display at the International Truck Trailer and Equipment Show (ITTES) in April,” Les adds. “2014 will be a massive year for us, especially with the Show where we will officially debut our prototype 14-pallet rigid dry freight van, as well as our rigid range.
“It’ll certainly give us great exposure and a chance to meet more potential clients. GTB are all about designing products that add value to the commercial road transport industry, and we’re extremely excited to launch our new product range that has been specifically tailored to handle the increasingly demanding requirements of Australian cold chain logistics.”
