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NGH Express has developed what it calls the ‘NGH Spec’, a set of particularly robust components and features that it knows can handle the gruelling route across the Nullabor. One that made the cut is the eLeg from Razor and Fuwa K-Hitch.

When Bryan Adams sang that “Only the Strong Survive” in 1987, his lyrics championed the value of mental strength in overcoming adversity. However, the concept also translates accurately to a physical level, especially when it comes to trailer building – for equipment to last, it has to be able to stand up to its environment. The sentiment rings true to those who travel on the coarse and uneven roads that cross the famous Nullarbor plains on the East-West route from Melbourne to Perth – a path that is the daily reality for NGH Express’s fleet of 11 trucks and 30 trailers.

Although the general freight fleet now has robust collection of equipment, Nathan Godfrey, Owner/Director of NGH Express, admits that he has gotten it wrong in the past. “We’ve certainly learnt a lot from buying the wrong stuff. It gets more complicated with trailers than with trucks, because there isn’t really a standard spec. So I took things into my own hands and developed what I call the ‘NGH Spec’,” Nathan says.

Although it took some trial and error to develop, the NGH Spec has become a very particular set of requirements that equipment must meet before it can be confidently added to the fleet. With the Nullarbor’s destructive roads in mind, Nathan decided early on that a priority focus for the NGH Spec had to be the strength of the components. “I like to build things tough,” he says. “Australia is a big country and we go from one side to the other, so our vehicles are travelling 7,000km week after week. I invest in equipment that will just keep going, because if you buy something cheap, then you have to expect to spend a lot of time fixing it.”

Nathan says it’s “really important” to have open conversations with trailer manufacturers and component suppliers to make sure equipment will be able to handle abuse from the roads or other environmental factors such as heat. “I go and see a trailer model and pick out all the weak points, then the manufacturer re-engineers it to match what I need. Topstart has been really good in that way – it builds whatever I want, however I want it,” Nathan says – revealing that the most recent trailer he has designed with Topstart is a 36-pallet double drop deck B-double delivered in December last year.

The new trailer set is a prime example of the NGH Spec, Nathan says, boasting tough floor to roof gates, thick outside curtains, a Teflon-topped turntable, 11-tonne pre-cambered axles with parallel bearings and his third set of eLeg automatic landing legs that are fitted to the A-trailer. “While I was re-designing the NGH Spec with Jimmy at Topstart, Colin Himmerman from Fuwa K-Hitch suggested I try the new automated landing leg that it was developing with Razor International. He’d previously suggested a sturdier axle to replace what I was using, which worked out really well, so I was confident to give the eLeg a try too,” Nathan explains.

As such, Colin says that NGH Express was one of the first companies in Australia to have the eLeg installed. “NGH was early off the mark.  Before Nathan’s fleet we’d only supplied to about three or four others. Now, of course, the eLeg can be found on a rapidly growing number of significant fleets as standard fitment,” Colin says. “It is easier for the drivers to operate than a manual leg and they last a hell of a long time.”

Razor’s co-Managing Director, Geoff Watson, agrees that the eLeg holds up to the standards for the NGH Spec. “The eLeg has a robust, yet compact solid aluminium gearbox casing, and has undergone extensive testing to ensure it will be a valuable part of the NGH Express fleet,” he says – adding that the eLeg builds on Razor’s proven electronic landing leg technology.

The eLeg also does its part in preserving the strength of the NGH Express longhaul drivers, who already have enough fatigue management concerns without wearing themselves out manually operating landing legs. “As a business owner, you’ve got to think about workplace safety: anything to make life safer for the staff is a priority. In our case, that means removing the need to manually wind landing legs to protect drivers from back injuries,” Nathan says.

“The eLeg is definitely part of the future and it is good technology, so there’s no doubt that it will become part of the NGH Spec from now on.”

According to Colin, Nathan’s description reveals the main benefit of the eLeg, as it is all about improving OH&S. “It’s so easy to operate, and it’s not hard on the shoulders and arms of the operators because there is absolutely no labour involved. The drivers can save their energy for other, more important things,” he explains. “The eLeg is operated with a push button and simple high/low range gear lever, so the driver just has to hold the button and the legs will operate by way of the directional buttons.

“The leg incorporates internal sensors that trigger when the leg reaches the end of its stroke whilst retracting, or In the case of lowering the legs to the ground in high speed, when the load is imposed. To continue raising the trailer to the required fifth wheel height, you simply switch to low gear and push the directional button until the desired height is achieved. There’s no more manual work so it greatly reduces the chance of injury and costly claims.”

Taking care of his staff is incredibly important to Nathan, especially as the number of NGH Express employees continues to increase in alignment with the company’s growth. “Now I have about 14 staff members, including drivers, office staff and mechanics. The business has come a long way since I bought my first truck,” he says.

“Although I started from humble beginnings, I found a niche in the market and targeted it. Now, being dedicated to Perth linehaul has allowed me to grow my fleet and pick up work with some major companies. Next year, I’m anticipating adding two or three more trailer sets to the fleet, of course all built to the NGH Spec and complete with eLegs.”

Similarly to the NGH Express fleet, the trailer and component markets have evolved dramatically since the Canadian singer Bryan Adams released ‘Only the Strong Survive’ in the late 1980s. However, the requirement for hardwearing equipment is still the main constituent for the ‘NGH Spec’ and a widespread part of the Australian transport industry that isn’t likely to change.

Fast Fact: The majority of the trailers in the NGH Express fleet are pulled by Volvo FH prime movers, but Owner/Director Nathan Godfrey’s pride and joy is his fully customised 2010 Peterbilt 388, lovingly titled ‘Boneshaker’. For the second year in a row, it won the ‘Best Custom Truck’ award at the 2015 Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show. “It looks amazing and features paintwork from an artist at AIM Autographics. It represents a lot of money, time and effort, but it’s my dream. Everything is fully customised – it has everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Fast Fact: Displayed at the 2014 IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, Germany, the first order of the fully automated landing leg was delivered to Vawdrey Australia in April last year. “This is a monumental feat, as it has taken Razor and Fuwa K-Hitch three years to commercialise the product,” says Razor’s co-Managing Director, Geoff Watson, who adds that the eLeg has the potential to ‘revolutionise the transport and logistic industry’.

Adversity is inevitable in a globalised economy, but axle and suspension expert Fuwa K-Hitch has proven that it doesn’t have to keep Australian transport businesses from finding success. 

When Roman poet Horace famously stated that only adversity would reveal true genius, he most certainly didn’t have the transport equipment industry in mind. But in the face of a slowing economy and on-going political quarrel about the future of Australian manufacturing, his 2000-year-old observation is now seeing an unlikely revival in the axle and suspension market.

Melbourne business Fuwa K-Hitch has taken the age-old assertion as an inspiration to help transport businesses navigate a tough market by enabling them to achieve more productivity at a reduced cost base. “Times are tough, of that there is no doubt. The global economic downturn has spared no one and the transport industry in Australia is certainly feeling it,” says National Sales Manager, Chris Barrett.

“But the wheels have to keep turning, as they say. Existing trailers need to be kept on the road and running safely, and new equipment has to add much-needed productivity to our national fleet. At Fuwa K-Hitch, we want to play our part in that by providing transport businesses with high-quality, yet cost-effective equipment that can go the distance.”

He adds, “It’s all about empowering Australian transport businesses. It’s about giving them a great basis to work with and build on the ingenuity that has made them successful in the first place.”

While a shortfall in productivity growth is still weighing heavily on economic expansion in Australia, Chris says there is no reason to renounce faith in the notion of on-going growth and prosperity. “As part of the largest axle producer in the world and one of the biggest component suppliers in Australia, we have the right product range to help transport businesses of any size find a solution that is both economical and efficient. We believe there is opportunity in every challenge, and we have the size and scope to make a difference.”

Chris says Fuwa K-Hitch has every axle dimension covered, from general-purpose on-highway gear in the standard nine-13 tonne range, to extreme off-road equipment in the 20-tonne and beyond category. “On top of that, we will always go that extra mile to tailor a package that will suit the individual client, which is incredibly important in a time like today if you want to be able to add value,” he explains – adding that the global Fuwa network is actively supporting the Australian branch.

“As one of the largest manufacturing businesses in our field, we have forged strategic alliances with a whole range of world-renowned companies, such as VDL Weweler in the Netherlands and WABCO in Belgium, just to name a few. That way we have quick access to the latest technology from China, Europe and North America and can react to any market movement in an instant. That flexibility is a powerful value proposition for our fleet clientele here in Australia, who trust in us to supply them with the best there is for the work they do.”

Chris says combining that flexibility with local thought-leadership is key to remaining competitive, especially in the face of adversity. But with transport margins tightening by the day, cost control is an ever-present issue. “The good thing of being part of the Fuwa Group is the volume we achieve, so we can be extremely price competitive. Price and quality don’t need to contradict each other once you reach certain economies of scale, and if you get both right, you have a strong business case.”

Despite the global footprint of the Chinese-based Fuwa corporation, Chris says Fuwa K-Hitch is still very much a local business. “We place huge value on holding stock locally to ensure the quickest possible turnaround times from order to supply, which means we react quickly to our customers’ requirements while reducing their own inventory costs and reliance,” he says. “We have also forged close relationships with many trailer manufacturers locally to offer them the best possible pricing and service.”

Combining stock availability and proven aftersales service with a global innovation and manufacturing network, Chris says Fuwa-Hitch has used a phase of economic uncertainty to create a toolset that will foster ingenuity within its customers’ businesses: “We work extremely hard behind the scenes, but at the end of the day, it’s all about our customers here in Australia. We want to enable them to look at any economic scenario and be positive about it, because they know they can rely on their equipment and focus on getting the job done safely.”

Fast Fact: With branches in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, as well as strong relationships with various OEMs and major aftermarket suppliers, Fuwa K-Hitch has built a national network spanning all of Australia.

Fuwa K-Hitch has partnered with Swinburne University and Ballarat consultancy Bisitecniks to design a fifth wheel testing laboratory in Melbourne. A Victorian first, it has already helped with the certification of Fuwa’s latest cast turntable model.

Until recently, testing the mechanical properties of a fifth wheel was a job that had to be carried out in Brisbane or Sydney, as the hydraulic equipment necessary is rare, expensive and complex to handle. For a long time, the two cities’ universities were the only institutions in the country allowing private enterprises access to such technology.

But with Swinburne University recently opening a $15 million ‘Smart Structures’ Laboratory in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, local transport equipment expert Fuwa K-Hitch sensed an opportunity to finally bring some professional turntable testing capacity to the state of Victoria.

At the heart of Swinburne’s Hawthorn Laboratory is a Multi-Axis Substructure Testing (MAST) device, which is effectively able to simulate a fully-fledged earthquake. Driven by a large underground pump hidden beneath a metre of concrete, it inspired the team at Fuwa K-Hitch to utilise some of the force behind it to put the brand’s first-ever cast fifth wheel model to the test.

“While we knew the Smart Structures Laboratory was primarily built to test the integrity of architectural structures, we couldn’t ignore the potential use the lab’s giant hydraulics system may have for the testing of transport equipment,” says Markus Sidler, Product Manager at Fuwa K-Hitch and the driving force behind making professional turntable testing capacity available in Victoria.

To ensure the test would be carried out in accordance with the latest ADR standards, Fuwa K-Hitch also brought well-known Ballarat consultancy Bisitecniks on board. “We are a registered ADR test facility covering a wide range of ADRs,” says Bisitecniks’ Paul Walsh. “Our role was to ensure that the testing was conducted in accordance with the ADRs and included designing the equipment to interface with the Swinburne hydraulic apparatus. Together, we then went on to develop and execute the testing program.”

According to Paul, the ADRs require a new fifth wheel to endure a strenuous fatigue test that sees it oscillate some two million times over the course of a fortnight – equating to about a decade of constant usage. “It is quite a gruesome test that would have uncovered any weaknesses of the product immediately, but I have to say that Fuwa K-Hitch’s new cast fifth wheel performed exceptionally well,” he explains – adding that the paperwork for ADR approval is now on the way to Canberra.

In addition to the fatigue test carried out in Melbourne, Bisitecniks also performed a so-called overturning test at its facilities in Ballarat, as required by the ADRs. This test demonstrates how a new fifth wheel would cope with the lateral forces occurring during a roll-over scenario. Fuwa K-Hitch’s new model passed that test as well.

Paul adds, “It’s always exciting to see a new product become ready for volume production, but given this was the first ever fifth wheel tested locally in Victoria, it was a particularly special project for us to be involved in.”

With the approval process now on the home stretch, Fuwa K-Hitch is expecting the new cast fifth wheel to go on sale just in time for the Christmas season. “We are really looking forward to having a cast turntable in our portfolio,” says Sales & Product Specialist, Shane Harbridge. “The new model will be the lightweight alternative transport businesses operating on the eastern seaboard have been asking for in the past, but still come with a generous 200kN rating, which is ample for double and even triple work.”

Shane says the new, locally tested cast fifth wheel will come in six standard heights, with the option of further customising it if required. “While we feel that fabricated fifth wheels still have a place in the marketplace, the new cast model is more variable in terms of height as it is based on bolt-on feet, so there’s more room to play. What’s more, we included the secondary safety in the main handle for easy and safe single-hand operation – showing just how much thought went into the design.”

“After having it independently tested in Melbourne, we are extremely confident that our new cast fifth wheel will shake up the market once it goes on sale at the end of the year,” adds Markus. “The fact that we have invested in the creation of a local testing facility should be testament of how important the project was for us as an Australian business, but of course the transport community will have the last word when the product finally hits the road.

“For our part, we are extremely happy with the outcome and hope that we not only created a new fifth wheel for the line haul market, but brought back some highly coveted engineering know-how to Victoria that was only available in New South Wales and Queensland before. Even though the final product will be built in China, having created that kind of local legacy is something we are very proud of.”

Fast Fact: Fuwa K-Hitch’s new cast fifth wheel can boast bolt pattern feet for easy interchangability and has proven locking components that are the same as the current service parts in the fabricated range – ensuring parts identification and replacement is easy and cost effective. “We have taken already known and trusted know how and incorporated it into our new era of fifth wheels with further model expansion to come,” says National Sales Director, Chris Barrett.