| 33 T T Sue Russell ‘Rolls Royce’ of trailers backed by best service Trailer componentry includes imported wheel-bearings and suspension upgrades imported from Canada and guaranteed for 100,000km. Southland: Lochiel Engineering 2000 Ltd REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 03 2186315 | MAIL@SHEETMETALCRAFT.CO.NZ SITE INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE Proud to support Lochiel Engineering 2000 Ltd with quality components. Colin Hitchens took over ownership and operation of Lochiel Engineering, based in Winton 23 years ago. The business itself, however tracks back to the 1980’s as a general engineering workshop, making trailers as a side line activity. “I knew when I purchased the business that the original trailer chassis design was very good, so when I took it over I made the conscious decision not to compete on the market on price but to lead in quality, using the chassis and building the very best trailer and offering the best service. That’s how we’ve grown our reputation and become what we are today,” Colin explains. Quietly stating they build the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of trailers Colin guarantees the chassis for life. He can say this because of the componentry that gets fitted including imported wheel-bearings and suspension upgrades imported from Canada, guaranteed for 100,000km. “They’re bullet-proof and I know when a customer buys a trailer from us, they’re going to get one that will see them through. We don’t play again others on price; we have no need to because when it comes to the types of trailers we make, used by all sorts of businesses, our customers have got a real work-horse.” Colin describes it as buying into the Lochiel Trailer family. And design technologies have certainly also moved with the times. Trailers are designed using CAD software. When Business South spoke with Colin the company was currently engaged in building two boat trailers; one to transport a waka and the other, for a stabi craft with wheels. He’s proud of the team as well, saying they do things a little differently. “The engineers have to weld their name on the trailer so if anything ever comes back with a problem I know who to go to. We used to write it into the employment agreement that if it comes back they have to fix it in their own time but we don’t need to now as all the staff guarantee their workmanship.” The trailers are over-engineered as well, surpassing legal loading weight standards. “We give clients the option of standard fittings or the top of the line components that punch well above the normal engineering standards required.” “They’re bullet-proof and I know when a customer buys a trailer from us, they’re going to get one that will see them through.” The ‘Silent-Ride’ suspension technology out of Canada requires zero maintenance and provides a nice silent soft ride at even the heaviest of loads being carried. “That company specialises in heavy-duty suspension systems for the big American trucks. We’re one of the few in New Zealand that use the Timbren System.” Colin says Lochiel Trailers have taken the use of design technology to the next level. They now offer customers a bespoke trailer design service to carry specialised equipment and gear. The design is worked up using CAD drawing software and presented to the client as a file, complete with the equipment shown fitted on top, so they can see how the trailer will look. The whole process can be handled online and through computer software programmes to deliver quickly and efficiently exactly what the customer wants. Asked about the wider situation of the engineering trades and trades in general Colin shares some real concerns about schools’ lack of promoting the practical careers. He’s had conversations that have backed this concern with some close to the school sector who state that there is little encouragement for students to go to the trades and that this issue is systemic. “I’ve had conversations and its a real worry to hear there is a system set up to encourage students to head to university and professional pathways that doesn’t exist for the trades. In the good old days career advisors would see that a student was good with their hands but not seen as ‘academic’ in the purest sense of that meaning, and there would be encouragement to head towards a trade.” Colin is hopeful that industry organisations will lead the charge to place skills such as engineering in their rightful place as seriously good occupations with great prospects. “You only need to look at the products our team create to know there is serious intelligence behind their design and construction.”
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