Sector Focus


Second lease of life for trucks


A Tipton-based forklift truck maker is offering its ‘second life’ products with the same warranty as its all-new vehicles. Narrow Aisle Ltd, of Great


Western Way, Great Bridge, says that the guarantee covers its remanufactured ‘Flexi ECO AC’ machines, which re-use the chassis and body parts, even though they may be 10 years old. The reconditioned machines


are given new pumps, motors and hydraulic parts and are as good as new – but cost a third less than a completely new vehicle. Narrow Aisle managing


director John Maguire said: “‘Second life’ Flexis are proving a particularly popular option for users who acquire materials handling equipment on contract hire packages. “This process saves a great


deal of primary and secondary manufacturing costs, which, in turn, dramatically cuts the amount of CO2 generated during the total manufacturing process.”


Manufacturing


Increase in turnover for hi-tech manufacturer


An Aston-based hi-tech manufacturer, which created more than 200 jobs last year, has announced a massive increase in turnover. HydraForce Ltd, which makes


high-performance valves and manifold systems, says its turnover for 2018 exceeded £100m, a 38.6 per cent increase on the previous year. The US owned firm says that the


‘unprecedented’ growth was the result of a strong performance throughout Europe, and also Asia. During the year, some 92 per cent


of its products were made in HydraForce’s new factory in Aston Hall Road. HydraForce managing director


Tony Brown said: “Having pressed on with our strategy to manufacture locally for local markets, some of our sales in 2018 are now produced here, that 24 months ago would have been manufactured elsewhere within the group. “On top of this we are seeing through our new product introduction programmes, an


emergence of specific products solely for European applications, which is promoting our creative learning.” HydraForce now employs 675


people in Birmingham, and is in its third factory since it opened in the city in 1988. The company designs and


manufactures high-performance hydraulic fluid power cartridge valves, custom manifolds and electro-hydraulic controls.


It has created thousands of


custom control solutions for a variety of off-highway industries, encompassing farming, construction, marine, material handling, mining and forestry. Mr Brown added that the


company would see a further increase in sales in 2019, with growth down to its ability to respond to market demand and new opportunities created through new product design.


Cleaner than ever: the Range Rover Evoque


Massive growth: HydraForce’s Aston factory


New Evoque cleans up


The new Range Rover Evoque has become the first luxury compact SUV to be certified under stringent new NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions targets ahead of the introduction of new legislation. All Jaguar and Land Rover


models already meet the standards required by the first phase of the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing procedure, which came into effect in 2018. However, the £31,600 Range


Rover Evoque now complies with the even more rigorous second phase requirements (RDE2). This states that the vehicle must


emit 80mg/km or less of NOx, making the new Evoque the first luxury compact SUV to be certified more than a year ahead of RDE2’s


58 CHAMBERLINK June 2019


scheduled implementation on all new vehicles by 2020. Nick Rogers, executive director


of product engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Meeting the standards for this certification ahead of schedule is a real achievement and a result of collaboration within our engineering team. “The new Range Rover Evoque


uses a low-friction engine design which has reduced real-world driving NOx emissions by 90 per cent since 2010. “Independent groups, including


AIR Index (Allow Independent Road-testing) and ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil- Club), are verifying that our diesels are some of the cleanest available.”


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