Publication: July 2007
A "Truck & Bus Builder" report
About the report (click here)
The report contents (click here)
Introduction / overview (click here)
Ordering details and form (click here)
About the report
Purpose
This report has been produced in response to a global need for a single reference point about the growing European heavy tractor/truck and trailer industry. It is designed as a desk-top reference for those working in the industry, such as the trailer manufacturer and operator, as well as those supplying to the industry, such as component suppliers, financiers, consultants, etc.
Content
The European Truck-Trailer Report 2007, which is to be available from July 2007, is a market report about the European heavy semi-trailer and drawbar trailer manufacturing industry.
A main feature of this report is the detailed statistics, from the most up-to-date information available, used by the authors in compiling market forecasts. The report contains market reviews and forecasts for all the main European countries. Current legislation on the industry is examined and the impact of proposed new laws on trailer manufacturing assessed. Another matter given attention is the variation to EU rules pursued in particular countries. The report highlights the development of the leading trailer makers, looks at the way they are impacting on the market and identifies key trends and changes in this sector. The influence of the tractor unit, braking and running gear manufacturers on the truck-trailer industry is also assessed and the developments in technology identified.
For further details of the contents of this report, review the chapter headings.
Report contents
Introduction
The report consists of approximately 250 pages with the following chapters:
Chapter 1
Overview of the western European trailer market
The expansion of the European Community continues to be the dominating factor in driving the markets of Western Europe. Of the transport alternatives road transport continues to thrive at the expense of rail and waterborne cargo movements.
Chapter 2
Legislation
The dates for type approval for heavy duty trailers and semi-trailers and bodywork get ever closer and are occupying the minds of trailer makers large and small; there are many worries.
Chapter 3
Statistics and analysis
Western European trailer and semi-trailer registrations are reviewed, analysed and forecasts given.
Chapter 4
The tractor unit manufacturing developments
The new models of the main artic tractor unit manufacturers and their plans for them are reported.
Chapter 5
The German and Austrian trailer industries
The German trailer industry is the European market leader, led by Schmitz and Krone. Their performance and that of other German trailer builders is analysed.
Chapter 6
The French trailer industry
The French trailer industry has been going through a period of re-adjustment following the collapse of the then biggest-in-Europe trailer making group – General Trailers. This is now over and several notable advances are reported.
Chapter 7
The Italian and Swiss trailer industries
The Italian industry is shown to be under pressure from foreign manufacturers but domestic manufacturers are putting up a strong fight. The impact of changes in the law provides the main focus in Switzerland.
Chapter 8
The trailer industry in the Benelux countries
Heavy trailer makers in the Benelux countries continue to play a pivotal role in European transport. Their major contribution to trailer development centres on movements through Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Chapter 9
The trailer industry in Scandinavia
Foreign competition in Scandinavia continues, but this region is leading the campaign for 25.25m, 60 tonnes gcw road trains.
Chapter 10
The UK and Irish trailer industries
The UK and Irish trailer industries have not kept up with the prosperity of trailer makers in Continental Europe. Nevertheless there have been developments, not least the takeover of the Boalloy Group including M&G Trailers.
Chapter 11
The Spanish and Portuguese trailer industries
Spanish and Portuguese trailer builders are endeavouring to fight off overseas competition in both countries. Foreign manufacturers, however, continue to prosper.
Chapter 12
An overview of Central and Eastern European markets
The expansion of the European Community has led to a big rise in commercial vehicle sales; including trailers in the new countries of the European Community.
Chapter 13
Trailer superstructure (body) manufacturing trends
Latest developments in both product and services are reported, with forecasts as to the key sectors likely to expand.
Chapter 14
Temperature controlled (reefer) trailer trends
New legislation is impacting on reefer manufacture resulting in the expansion of the industry and future methods of refrigeration.
Chapter 15
Tipper and moving floor trailer trends
Moving bulkhead and moving floor units on semi-trailers continue to make inroads on the traditional tipper markets.
Chapter 16
Curtainsider, container and van trailer trends
The latest developments in curtain-sided trailers and semi-trailers are reported. Expansion in this sector continues as markets develop in Central and Eastern Europe.
Chapter 17
Bulk trailer trends
The expansion of the EU is having a strong impact in this sector as Western European trailer builders seek to cut costs; it has been particularly hard hit by the rise in the price of aluminium alloy.
Chapter 18
Specialist trailer trends
As was reported in the last Report, the increasing demand for vehicles to carry special loads is creating new requirements. New industries, like wind power, are creating new markets for specialist load carriers.
Chapter 19
Trailer running gear and suspension suppliers
Trailer axle and suspension suppliers have done much to drive the trailer industry in recent years. The main players and their contribution to the industry are considered.
Chapter 20
Brake and brake system manufacturers
The progress made by the key players in the area of foundation brakes and brake controls is highlighted. The chapter appraises the impact of the latest technology.
Chapter 21
Trailer tracking and monitoring (telematics)
Considerable progress has been made in the electronic monitoring and control of trailers and their functions has been made in recent years. This chapter reviews the options available.
Chapter 22
Trailer component suppliers
The role of component suppliers to the trailer and semi-trailer industry is appraised with particular attention given to coupling gear and landing legs.
Chapter 23
Who owns whom in European truck-trailer manufacture
This chapter endeavours to indicate which companies own or control other companies in the industry.
Chapter 24
Diary of developments from Truck & Bus Builder archives
A diary of events, taken from “Truck & Bus Builder” archives, pinpointing when events took place in the world of truck and trailer manufacture and components’ supply.
Introduction / overview
Latest European Truck Trailer Report predicts steady growth into the next decade
This third and very latest edition (August 2007) of the European Truck-Trailer Report 2007, published this month, updates the study of the heavy trailer manufacturing industry and its main component suppliers.
The year 2006 was a boom year for heavy trailer production and sales, reflecting the dominance of road transport in Western Europe’s transport mix. Rail and waterway transport cannot compete in terms of flexibility. Our prediction is that the upward production and sales trends for heavy trailers will continue into the next decade.
Amongst the happenings since the last Report are changes in ownership of prominent trailer makers in the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France.
The lobby for 25.25m long, 60 tonnes gross weight road trains has strengthened with Denmark joining other Scandinavian countries in permitting the use of these rigs.
Roll-over of maximum length, maximum weight, articulated tippers when discharging their loads, has led to such outfits being banned on health and safety grounds on some sites. These sites are mainly connected with waste disposal but, significantly, the bans are not confined to just one country; they exist for example both in the UK and France. A consequence has been for tippers being replaced by moving floor and moving bulkhead designs with some tipper manufacturers moving into producing bodywork of this kind for the first time.
The expansion of the European Community has resulted in increased use of road transport in the new EC countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This has resulted in steadily expanding sales for the key trailer builders in Western Europe. This is reported in the chapter on market performance in Eastern and Central Europe which also highlights the scene in Russia which has changed markedly for the better in transport terms since the last Report was published.
In the area of legislation, the heavy trailer and body making industries are awaiting with some trepidation the implementation of Type Approval for bodies and trailers. Some manufacturers are expecting that it will cause the failure of some, smaller, producers.
We agree with the pessimists – there will be a fall–out, so further rationalisation of the industry is expected for the same general reasons as those given over the past couple of years with Type Approval adding a further factor. These are:
· Intensive competition from the biggest players in the industry.
· Centralised manufacture of components and modules with localised assembly and application adaptation, is offering the large trailer builders key advantages in the market place.
· Inability of smaller companies to implement and comply with increasingly onerous requirements of legal and quasi legal measures and standards – notably whole vehicle and trailer type approval; noise and exhaust emissions requirements; and ADR and ATP standards.
· High labour costs, especially in relation to competition from Eastern European countries, driving down margins.
· High cost of components and materials for smaller companies that do not have the muscle to achieve discounted prices through bulk buying.
· Overcapacity and fierce price competition in the market.
· The vulnerability of small companies– in terms of lack of capital funding, cash flow (especially in recessionary times or in times of rising inflation) and huge rises in raw material costs.
The Report reviews the latest developments of the main artic tractor unit manufacturers and considers the prospects for the new models introduced in the past two years. Here the move continues towards the use of artic tractors for semi-trailer hauling at the expense of trucks with drawbar trailers.
In the Report’s review of the industries of the Western European countries, the German trailer industry is seen as remaining the European market leader. In most of the other countries the most significant trend is the rise in imports (mainly from the German companies of Schmitz, Krone and resurgent Kogel).
The search for higher payloads continues. The different chapters looking at market segments review the development and use of lightweight materials in design and pinpoints areas of extra services provided by manufacturers which could make a difference to their future financial viability. These different chapters look at temperature controlled trailer trends, examine the developments in the tipper, moving floor and curtainsider trailer sectors and review progress in the container, van, bulk tanker (liquid and dry goods) trailer segments. Another chapter takes a look at how the production of special types low loaders and military trailers has changed in recent years.
The huge contribution of the foundation brake and brake systems producers is recognised in the chapter on artic and drawbar trailer braking.
The importance of electronic management systems in terms of trailer tracking and monitoring (telematics) is acknowledged in the chapter on this subject.
The role of running gear and component suppliers to the trailer and semi-trailer industry is appraised with particular attention given to the vital role they play in the industry. It is noted that they are now a force in their own right having targeted major fleets in a bid to sell their products.
There is a who owns whom in European truck-trailer manufacture which endeavours to indicate which companies own or control other companies in the industry.
Finally, there is a diary of events, taken from “Truck & Bus Builder” archives which endeavour to pinpoint when events took place in the world of truck and trailer manufacture and components’ supply, over the past two years. It supplements the information given in the two previous issues of the Report.
A copy of the full report (The European Truck Trailer Report 2007) can be purchased from Truck & Bus Builder Reports Ltd. Please complete the order form by clicking on the - Ordering details and form button - and fax back to: +44 (0) 1984 639301. Alternatively contact Katie Molyneux or Julie Shandley-Edwards on: +44 (0)1984 639300 or by e-mail subscriptions@truckandbusbuilder.com.
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