O’Phee Trailers have been shaking up the industry since the early days. Firstly, with their adoption of Performance Based Standards (PBS) long before they became part of the Australian law. And secondly, with their state-of-the-art O’Phee BoxLoader sideloader series which has benefited significantly due to the rise in the container transport market. Earlier this year, O’Phee Trailers launched a brand new retractable skel trailer: The Retract-X.
Container transport market on the rise
It’s hard to imagine a world without trade. From the cars we drive, to the smartphones we carry, to the clothes we wear, there’s no denying Australian’s rely heavily on the nation’s growing import market. As it stands, there is high demand between Australia and Asia. We bring in items such as clothing, communications, technology, machinery and transport equipment, crude oil and petroleum products, while exporting our own iron ore, education travel services, coal, natural gas, beef, aluminium ores, wheat and wool.
The container shipping industry is continuing to grow. Between 2015-16, we imported a total of $349 billion in goods and services – a number which has risen an average of 3.8% over the last five years. The container transport market is booming especially in areas such as Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.
Shining a light on the Retract-X Container Skel
Using the innovative technology by French crane expert BoXLoader, their new model is complete with the local quality craftsmanship the O’Phee Trailers design and manufacturing team is so well-known for.
“The Retract-X is a total departure from the currently available retractable skel designs,” Mick O’Phee says.
His large claim doesn’t fall short either. The new model is made from high tensile steel – the same type also used on their other new addition: the Speedloader – and incorporates an innovative rigid box frame construction, which Mick says makes it easier to extend and retract under load.
As no container load is alike, the Retract-X utilises variable king pin and lock pin locations to maximise various transport weights, which can be further optimised thanks to the high tensile frame subsequently giving the model a low tare weight. A weight, which Mick says, is currently the “lightest in the Australian marketplace”.
The safety and overall performance of O’Phee’s Trailers has always been optimised by their early adoption of the PBS Standards. This dedication to safety still reigns supreme with their new skel trailer, with Mick saying that many operators in the industry more concerned with increasing their payloads as margins began to tighten, producing avoidable faults in the way products were manufactured. “That is one of the main reasons we were quick to jump on the PBS Scheme as soon as it was introduced” claims Mick.
Redefine your business operations with the Retract-X skel design trailer. Get in contact with The Drake Group and O’Phee Trailers team today to discuss your container transportation needs.
O’Phee Trailers is a part of The Drake Group – a company which brings together the best in manufacturing and engineering. Drake Trailers, Drake Collectibles, BoXLoader and Sunseeker East Coast Australia also fall under The Drake Group banner.
