For many Australians, 1988 will always be a special year, a combination of 200 years since the First Fleet arrived in Australia, as well as Queensland hosting world Expo 88, helping to confirm our place on the world stage. For other people though, 1988 has a more personal meaning, like Richard and Sue Brown, who launched Tefco Trailers in the bicentennial year. In fact, they made it even more memorable by registering the business on August 8, making its commencement date on the paperwork read 8/8/88. Since then, the company has developed a reputation for producing high quality tipping trailers, including triaxles, sliding and roll master ‘A’ trailers, rigid bodies, 3, 4, 5 and 6 axle dogs and even road trains, in a choice of tip over axle, chassis tipper, front mounted hoist or fixed tip. Richard Brown says the move from operator to manufacturer was a logical progression, after he spent many years operating and repairing his own tipping trailer fleet. “Tefco started as a repairer, and then became a manufacturer, it was a progressive move, because there were only so many trailers to repair, plus there was a strong market for new tipping trailers.” The company has its roots in Goulburn, in regional New South Wales, and Richard describes the early units as ‘basic’, saying the suspension units were 8 or 9 leaf springs, a far cry from the sophisticated road friendly airbag suspension set-ups of today. To show how far things have come from when Tefco assembled its first units, Richard explains that in the early 1980s trailers did not even require compliance plates, compared to multi combination trailers currently under construction for a client who has requested Hendrickson disc brakes, with EBS braking. “I find it a challenge, you should always look to make things better and safer, it does require a high level of engineering. Tefco has become known for their accurate engineering and have been using 3D Inventor programming for many years which allows for precise drawings and finite element analysis calculations for every trailer. “It has been a gradual progression of improved techniques and overall manufacturing experience.” With their beginnings in Goulburn, it probably should not come as a surprise that their greatest experience is in grain cartage equipment, although they have well and truly branched out into new areas over the last two decades. “In addition to our early core business of grain and coal trailers, we are now building trailers for the recycling and quarry industries.” Tefco has always been an innovator with its trailer designs, with the introduction of creased side walls and front mounted hoists as advancements in the early 1990s. Indeed in 1992, Tefco built its first B-double combination, with what was one of Australia’s first roll back A trailers, which made its debut at the 1992 Sydney Truck Show.
1992 Sydney Truckshow, Front Mounted Hoist B Trailer, Roll Back A Trailer
In 1994, Tefco developed its own lightweight aluminium dog trailers with the use of an aluminium chassis. “It is one we still build today, because it is so successful.” The advantage of an aluminium chassis Richard explains is that it flexes when under stress, where a steel chassis would bend or crack. Other innovations include the use of high grade Weldox 700 steel in their trailer chassis’ and dollies, which Richard regards as giving an ideal balance of weight saving and durability. Tefco Axle Dog Trailer with aluminium chassis, 19m Quick Tip B Double with Weldox 700 frame
Richard says with operators making big investments when they purchase new truck and trailer sets, it is important they receive a return on the money they have outlayed. “For example, a B-double and prime mover unit costs around half a million dollars, the operators require it to give a reliable service with minimal downtime, offer value for money as well as having a high resale value.” “I think part of our success is because we have always used premium components. After 12 successful years working from their original base in Goulburn, Richard and Sue took the plunge and built a factory in Brisbane, making them one of just a handful of manufacturers to build trailers in more than one state. The new factory, in Murarrie, near the Port of Brisbane, opened its doors in May 2001, offering manufacturing and repair facilities for customers. “The move to Brisbane represented an expansion of the company, as well as a change in lifestyle for the family. Manufacturing in Brisbane opened the door for Tefco to enter into new markets, such as the recycle products trailers range. Richard describes how Tefco worked closely with operators to develop this new line of trailers, for example the use of Hardox steel was introduced after consultation with operators revealed the need for good impact resistance to rough loading, and strength to last many years of carting scrap steel ranging from railway lines to flattened cars. “In this recycle products trailers range we manufacture sliding A trailers and chassis tip and dropframe B trailers, it is now a quite significant part of our market.” The move to Brisbane also opened the doors to a number of national fleets, Richard mentions, such as Hanson Australia, where Tefco has been supplying tipping trailers from their quarry spec range including rigid & dog units, B doubles and tri-axle trailers to all states of Australia. Hanson Chassis Tipper on the Great Ocean Road, Tefco 42ft Dropframe Recylce Products Trailer In late 2007, Tefco continued to expand by becoming a distributor for CIMC Vehicle Australia, whose range of flat tops, curtainsiders and skels are a ‘good add-on’ to the existing tipping trailer range. “These are all production line products, rather than the complex manufacturing processes of tippers. “They are designed and built for Australia, the engineers come from Australian experience, with strong manufacturing resources behind them. “The trailers have many benefits such as light tare weights but the use of higher grade steels and they are competitively priced.” CIMC Vehicle Australia Skel B Double and Curtainsider B Double With the two manufacturing branches on the east coast, Tefco is more than capable of supplying trailers across the country. Richard cites their 12 years experience selling to Western Australia with SFM Howard Porter as their successful dealer. “We have a long history of sales to the west, probably because we have developed a strong product that withstands their rougher conditions and also meets the multi combination guidelines.” Finding and retaining staff skilled in trades already in high demand from the mining industry is also a challenge. Richard mentions they did look offshore for recruits, but it turned out they were unnecessary as he sees the beginning of a turnaround in the skills shortage due to the slowing economy. Instead, Richard and Sue explain how looking after their staff and running the business as a close family, has helped them to retain ‘plenty’ of their original staff. “We have a good apprentice program at both our facilities, to encourage people to join our business.” With almost 100 staff across the two locations, Richard says the growth of Tefco has been gradual, rather than instantaneous, which has allowed them to source staff as they were needed. Goulburn has a static employment market with many long term staff, whereas Brisbane has a continuous but transient flow of available workers. “We have a lot of expertise and a lot of good people, we look after them and they look after us, it is hard work, but it is also a lot of fun.” With 30 years experience as a manufacturer behind him, Richard considers the next 10 years are unlikely to be about radical change, instead it will be about continual refinement of the core product range. “I think the grass roots will always remain, we will just develop and manufacture better and more efficient products.” Richard and Sue at Tefco Brisbane, and with Trevor a proud Tefco Brisbane Employee
Versions of this story are appearing in August editions of ATN and Owner Driver magazine.