HE Services semi-trailer fleet boosted by innovative step frames 20 December 2012

Andover Trailers is delivering more than £500,000 worth of custom-built step frame trailers to specialist excavator hire firm HE Services.

The order includes the first four-axle Andover step frame trailers built with SAF 11-tonne disc brake axles, which HE Services' managing director Peter Durey believes will solve issues with older drum brakes cracking.

In addition to improving reliability, he expects the discs to improve braking performance and speed up maintenance, so further reducing trailer downtime.

"We've had good service from the disc brakes on our smaller Andover step frames, so we asked the design team to incorporate them into the big new SFCL 67s," explains Durey.

"These larger trailers also feature new attached side extensions to the deck, bridge and beavertail, but, aside from that, we've kept specifications very similar," he adds.

HE Services' order included six SFCL 48 (replacing a fleet of smaller 40-tonne step frames) and two SFCL 53 tri-axle step frames, plus two larger four-axle SFCL 67 step frames – built with a low profile neck, beavertail and capable of operating at 48, 53 and 67 tonnes respectively (under STGO conditions).

All the trailers feature SAF air-suspension with raise/lower control, hydraulic steady legs, top deck ramps, trailer-mounted toolboxes, LED lighting and multiple lashing points for load security.

The SFCL 48 step frames were also specified with a lifting rear axle and fuel-saving 1m-wide fold-forward ramps, with groucer bars to aid the loading of tracked machinery.

Meanwhile, the SFCL 53s have 1m-wide by 2.5m-long heavy-duty single ramps, with hydraulic sideways controls, groucer bars on the beavertail, plus a steering rear-axle for manoeuvrability. The SFCL 67s have identical ramps and groucer bars, but with a self-tracking fourth axle and lifting front axle.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Andover Trailers Ltd

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