66 | MANUFACTURING TruGroup T T Richard Loader Top traffic management solutions While traffic management is centred around sites in Christchurch, Timaru and Blenheim, engineering and manufacturing facilities are based in Christchurch and Hamilton. “The rolling stock of traffic management vehicles in New Zealand is about twenty-five years old and requires updating, and a fair proportion of that stock wasn’t compliant with more robust health and safety regulations.” T T to page 68 In August this year TruGroup, a leading supplier of traffic management solutions in Christchurch, Timaru and Marlborough, and more recently a truck manufacturer, will celebrate fifteen years in business at its new Christchurch Head Office and manufacturing facility. Business Development Manager Duncan Sole attributes the company’s successful operation to its people, the quality of service provided and the entrepreneurial spirit of the company’s founder, Willy Robertson, who encourages and empowers the development of his people. “Willy came from a background of working in Christchurch’s traffic management industry, and in 2008 saw an opportunity to establish his own brand, with an improved service offering,” says Duncan. “Starting with one man and a truck, the business has evolved to a team of eighty-three and a diversified model. When I started five years ago there were eight different business units including furniture removal, hospitality, motorcycle sales and hire, civil construction, property services, hire and auto-mechanical. “Most of those businesses were divested following Covid. However, we were always having trucks built for our use in traffic management, and two years ago the idea was forged to build those trucks ourselves.” While traffic management is centred around sites in Christchurch, Timaru and Blenheim, engineering and manufacturing facilities are based in Christchurch and Hamilton. “As well as providing trucks for our own purposes, we also provide trucks to other traffic management providers throughout the country. About seventy percent of our trucks go to the North Island with lots of opportunities around Auckland/Hamilton/Tauranga Golden Triangle and many other regions where the roads have been damaged by natural events and require traffic management support during repair work. The rolling stock of traffic management vehicles in New Zealand is about twenty-five years old and requires updating, and a fair proportion of that stock wasn’t compliant with more robust health and safety regulations. So, there was a good opportunity for us to develop that business.” TruGroup’s core manufacturing focus is the production of key-ready traffic management trucks, with its 207th build recently rolling off the production line. “A major point of difference is that we’re a one-stop manufacturer and our trucks are key-ready,” explains Duncan. “If you buy a truck from us, it will arrive in your yard with a tank full of fuel, ready to go to work. :We source the cab and chassis, design the deck, build it and attach it to the chassis, paint and brand it, complete the electrical work, make it compliant and deliver it to your yard.” While the end-to-end production time is typically 14 weeks, TruGroup also builds trucks to stock, to enable immediate delivery. “We’re the only manufacturer doing that. We also provide finance to purchase the trucks. Because we now have two large production facilities, we’re working on expanding our truck range to include tip trucks, hydro-excavating trucks, curtainsiders, box bodies, and transport trucks. In total there are twenty people working across our two manufacturing sites, including fantastic design engineers, auto-electricians, engineers, apprentices and labourers. We want to make best use of that skill set. Progression can be from labourer right through to manufacturing team leader.” Working with civil contractors, local bodies and event organisers in the regions where TruGroup is based, the company’s traffic management solutions are designed to reduce speed and create a safe workspace for the client through areas under construction or repair, and managing the traffic through the site.
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