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Executive Report: Successful specialist Thwaites reports growing demand for its compact dumpers. Alan Guthrie visited the company’s Warwickshire headquarters. Thwaites is in the enviable position of being a specialist in a market that continues to show remarkable growth. The company reports strong sales of its dumpers into the hire industry, owing to the on-going activity in the house building market. “Statistics suggest that between 155,000-165,000 new homes have been built annually for the last several years, and the trend shows no signs of slowing,” contends Ian Brown, Thwaites’ Sales Director. “Dumpers are essential products for moving spoil and materials, often being hired in tandem with mini excavators.” The Thwaites Alldrive four-wheel drive line-up ranges from 1-9 tonne. The company has seen vigorous growth in sales of models below 3 tonne. “We are able to serve a broad spectrum of hire customers. Hirers of larger plant have added equipment like this, which they can logically offer to their building contractor customers. At the other end of the scale, tool and equipment hirers have grasped opportunities to supply compact dumpers to smaller contractors, landscapers and homeowners. With more work being done in confined domestic locations, the 1-tonne dumper has become the tool of choice for this growing market, and is a high work-rate alternative to manual labour.” More than 250 people are employed at Thwaites’ factory near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, where the entire dumper manufacturing process is undertaken, from the delivery of sheet steel to new machines driving off the production line. This enables the company to maintain quality standards at every stage. “Specialising in one product area means we have developed a skilled design and manufacturing team here, with many long-serving employees,” states Ian Brown. “We understand the products, know what customers want and we have a stable sales team backed by excellent distributors.” Five years ago, Thwaites reappraised its product range. “We wanted to maximise our performance in certain key areas, which can be summarised as safety, security and serviceability. We foresaw the impact that new legislation controlling noise, vibration and engine emissions would have, and we adapted accordingly. We made design changes such as repositioning the hydraulic tanks from the rear of the machines, facilitating access to the engine.” The company’s smaller products, which are proving so popular with tool and equipment hirers, comprise 1 tonne, 2 tonne and 3 tonne models. The Alldrive 3-tonne line-up comprises front tip and power swivel versions, and manual or hydrostatic ‘hi-swivel’ models that combine high tipping and 180° swivel tipping. The 2-tonne machine is offered in front tip, power swivel and high swivel versions. The 1-tonne Hi-Tip hydrostatic dumper, launched in October 2003, features a minimum width of less than 1m and the ability to tip into skips. “The machine is fully hydrostatic, utilising Poclain wheel motors powered by a Yanmar three-cylinder engine,” states Ian Brown. “We have incorporated automotive type pedals, rather than hand controls, to enable drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel.” A power swivel hydrostatic version was launched at SED in 2005, and Thwaites will show a full line-up at this year’s event. The latter machine has proved popular for work at roadsides, cemeteries and parks. Thwaites dumpers feature the company’s Kinglink chassis design, enabling centre articulation and oscillation for better traction. Hydraulic priority steering valves also enable simultaneous tipping and steering. Ian Brown believes that demand will remain strong. “Besides the continuing growth in construction, many people are choosing to extend their existing homes rather than pay a large sum in stamp duty when buying a new house, and projects like this similarly require compact, high work-rate equipment.” • T
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422471 Executive Hire News › Archives › May 2006 › Executive Report › Successful specialist
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