Cargobull passed a Good Distribution Practice (GDP) audit of its TrailerConnect telematics offering – a boon for pharmaceutical freight operations. In the beginning of 2019 the OEM launched an updated range of container chassis on the back of data that underlined the fact that containers will continue to play a key role in the global transport of goods in the future: 38 million containers are currently in circulation worldwide, and 98 percent of all packaged goods arrive at or leave Germany’s largest sea port, Hamburg, by container. To bolster its insulated semi-trailer production, Schmitz Cargobull commissioned a new foaming press at its Lithuanian plant in April. This development tripled insulated trailer production from 10 to 30 trailers a day and has led to further expansions of the OEM’s box body and trailer product range. Even though Wabash National – another US-based heavy weight – claimed rank number four it is important to note that the number used is an estimated shipment value where there is no distinction between trailer and shipping container. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Wabash National is a diversified industrial manufacturer and producer of semi-trailers, truck bodies and liquid transportation systems. Established in 1985, the company manufactures a diverse range of products including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, bulk tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, truck-mounted tanks, intermodal equipment, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions and specialty food grade and pharmaceutical equipment. Wabash National delivered an all-time revenue record this year of $626 million USD (€564.8 million) and generated its strongest operating margins in two years driven by the Wabash Management System according to CEO, Brent Yeagy. Meanwhile, the Wielton Group continues to grow in production capacity, delivering an impressive 30 per cent increase year-on-year. One of the biggest announcements of 2018 was Wielton’s acquisition of British business, Lawrence David. This power play by Wielton Group CEO, Mariusz Golec, was integral to his multibrand development strategy – the same successful method that gave rise to Germany’s Langendorf, France’s Fruehauf and Italy’s Viberti and Cardi. TIRSAN Group is steadily rising in the ranks, too, which can be attributed to Kässbohrer’s M ETHODOLOGY commitment to producing high quality vehicles for customers in While the latest edition of Global Trailer’s annual OEM Ranking has been compiled more than 55 countries. Earlier with the utmost commitment to accuracy this year, Kässbohrer reflected and professionalism, it is still supplied on its manufacturing excellence, without liability. All up, we reached out to more than 100 OEMs globally since June specifically the founding of its 2019. The official data submission deadline welding technologies academy was 13 August 2019. If we were not able to in 2013. obtain an official production number directly The Academy for Welding from the OEM, our source of choice, we consulted a range of industry sources Technologies demonstrates to obtain an estimate. If no estimate was Kässbohrer’s dedication to lifelong available, the brand was not considered. learning and continuing education Build numbers cover the timeframe between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 unless including manufacturing core stated otherwise. competencies. As Kässbohrer
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masterfully manufactures the widest product range from steel and aluminium tanks, silos, tippers to light and robust platforms, container chassis, low-beds, and general cargo vehicles, attention to detail and mastery of craftsmanship guarantees quality and longest vehicle life. South Africa, a ‘Fragile Five’ economy (see market report), is represented in this OEM ranking list by Afrit. The Afrit story began with Dutch immigrant Arend van de Wetering, who arrived in the country in 1955 with his wife and eight children. Van de Wetering is said to have had a remarkable affinity for steel and the ability to fashion it into quality automotive components, a skill he passed onto his sons – Gerrit, Klaas, Johan and Theo van de Wetering. In 1968, van de Wetering and his two oldest sons, Gerrit and Klaas, formed Van de Wetering Engineering, focusing on the design and manufacture of vehicles for the South African military. In 1983, now with brothers Theo and Johan on-board, the company took over local trailer OEM, Afrit – an acronym for Alf Finn Road Industrial Trailers – and started specialising in articulated trailers, for which it has since become famous across the African continent and beyond. Also, an honourable mention for South Africa’s GRW which produced a total of 1,520 trailers. Russia also makes an appearance via Tonar at position 24 (learn more about this ingenious OEM in our cover story). There are a large number of North American OEMs represented in this list, and they are mostly performing better than the year prior, which is interesting when you consider how volatile the market has been of late in the US. ACT Research released a freight forecast in August that anticipates a fall due to overcapacity and weaker demand in freight. Time will tell how these numbers in the months to follow influence trailer manufacturing productivity and how similar trends influence the market on a global scale. www.globaltrailermag.com
