THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

September 2008

Afrit’s 55-ton lowloader comes fitted with detachable gooseneck and convertor dolly. Although this type of gooseneck and dolly system are not new ideas they are not widely used. This trailer also boasts four identical main beams to carry the load as opposed to two beams as is the norm      Paul de Wet, MD of PEC Transport, back left, seen here with his wife Thea, is  all smiles as he receives his sparkling new 55-ton lowbed from Afrit Trailers in Rosslyn. Up front are, from left, three third generation Van de Weterings, Afrit MD Andre, designer Gerben and sales representative Chris.

The handing over of a tridem axle lowbed semi-trailer at Afrit’s Rosslyn manufacturing facility served to once again underline the company’s inherent ability to offer an innovative approach to design and engineering that places it at the top end of the global trailer manufacturing industry. 

With a tare of 16 500 kg, the trailer in question is a 55-ton lowloader with an hydraulically operated detachable gooseneck and single-axle converter dolly specifically designed and manufactured for Kestrell-based PEC Transport. 

The designer, Gerben Van de Wetering, says a detachable gooseneck is not a new idea but is not widely used. “The advantage is that once the gooseneck has been detached, the trailer can be loaded from the front,” he explains. A notable feature on the Afrit trailer is that four identical main beams carry the load instead of two, as is the case with the majority of lowbeds. 

Fitted with heavy-duty leaf spring suspension and Henred Freuhauf axles, the convertor dolly provides significant flexibility in that it allows for a 55-ton payload when coupled to the prime mover. With the dolly the trailer is permitted to carry a 45-ton load. 

Apart from some support and accessory brackets and tubes, the trailer is manufactured entirely out of Domex steel. It comes fitted with Weweler air suspension from the Netherlands and Henred Freuhauf 13 ton axles and 315/80 x 22.5 steel wheels. 

It seems that growth and expansion are endemic at Afrit. Over the last few years, the company acquired land adjacent to the main plant and set up dedicated component manufacturing and fabrication facilities. The original workshop has been converted into an assembly plant with three distinct lines catering for side tippers and interlinks, flat decks and sliding curtainsiders and a special line for smaller, customised orders. With around 1 000 employees, the company can produce up to 450 trailers a month. 

Van de Wetering says the extensions are ongoing and the company is now looking at introducing robots into the manufacturing process. This, he says, will further improve quality and productivity. 

The Van de Weterings are extremely proud of the company’s position in the local market. While they say they are not looking at being the largest supplier of trailers in Africa, a tangible passion and focus on innovative design, manufacturing quality and personal service and support certainly make the company a good stop-off point for any fleet operator wishing to augment his fleet of trailers.