Balancing the Scales

BalancingBalancing THE SCALES

This was a completely new way

of doing business

Loadmass brings together local design and manufacturing to develop a new line of rigid truck and light commercial on-board scale systems, the LMA2020 and LMA3030

Loadmass Pty Ltd has been quietly developing its own range of rigid truck and light commercial on-board scale systems. This requirement came about when, in December 2019, the UK manufacturer and supplier of Red Forge on-board scale systems closed its doors due to the ill health of its founder. Loadmass was the largest international distributor for Red Forge and this event took Loadmass by surprise.

While Australia was in the midst of its worst bush fire crisis in many years and COVID-19 was just emerging as the next humanitarian crisis, Loadmass was on the hunt for a replacement product to avoid its own crisis. Loadmass scoured the world for a suitable quality product as well as a reliable supplier to replace, what had become for it, a very successful product line for the rigid truck market.

Loadmass managing director Frank Parker took up the challenge and designed the LMA2020 series of on-board scales to replace the Red Forge product. The development journey took over six months as the company was in discussions with local and overseas suppliers and fabricators. With the market calling out for the product that they had become used to buying for their fleets of rigid trucks, it was a race against time, as every day the new product was not available became an opportunity for competitors to take away market share.

Loadmass’ journey involved setting up local manufacturers to fabricate and supply the components, bringing the various locally-fabricated products and locally-sourced electronics into its facility at Holbeche Road in Arndell Park and finally organising its own staff to finish assembly and testing the product ready for market.

This was a completely new way of doing business for Loadmass, as it primarily sourced its core products from established manufacturers internationally. The only exception was its highly successful locallydesigned and -made LMA530 steer sensor, which was also the brainchild of Parker.

The LMA2020 was released to the market in June 2020, with the supply and installation of 11 systems to a regional council in NSW. That was the start of a steady manufacturing, supply and installation business.

Loadmass has stated that sales of the new LMA2020 product has exceeded expectations and this has now led to the development of another new product. The LMA3030 range has been specifically designed for light commercial vehicles.

The idea was sparked when a specially fitted-out security van was presented to Loadmass with a request to fit scales. It was obvious that the current range of on-board products were oversized for this application. It took another three months and the design was completed. The supply chain that was established for the manufacture of the LMA2020 range was used again for all of the new componentry, so it was much easier to get the LMA3030 product ready for testing and for market release.

All products are available directly from Loadmass Pty Ltd at loadmass.com.au.