Axtec Are Back At The CV Show 2022

 

Take Time Out To Visit Axtec at the 2022 CV Show. 

Axtec are an ever present at the CV show having exhibited in all its formats since day one.  We were never going to pass up the opportunity to once again set our stall up at the NEC, and we are excited to be back in Birmingham catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. This year we’ll be on stand 5G52 in hall 5

Transport technology has come an awful long way since the first show in 1991 and, whilst buying everything on-line has become normal for all of us these days, buying highly technical equipment really needs the help and advice of an expert; someone who knows their product inside out. And where best to meet specialists in the transport industry than its premier industry event? It’s also a great way to pick up new ideas, find out what the latest thinking is and find new solutions to old problems. 

So, what will there be to see? 

Though our retro stand will undoubtedly be the same, we'll be introducing several new products and product enhancements. It's going to be a challenge, but we hope to launch what we believe will be the lowest-profile and lightest strain-gauge based weighpads on the market. We'll also be introducing new connected solutions for both Axtec OnBoard and our market leading 5000 Dynamic Axle Weighbridge. 

Taking time out of a busy schedule to visit the NEC is never wasted, so please make a note of the dates – May 24th to 26th and we hope to see you there.

What an event THAT was!

As a regular at manning exhibitions stands, and ever present at the CV Show, we know a good show when we see one.

And last week the CV Show at the NEC may just have been about the most successful we’ve experienced. Plenty of new enquiries to follow up and, very pleasingly, plenty of positive feedback from existing customers.

From customers with just one 3.5t van, through potential resale partners to the operators of the biggest fleets we once again had the full spread of conversations on the stand.

 

Axtec Stand at the CV Show - packed away for another year!

Fortunately we have such a breadth of systems and software that we are able to offer impartial advice on the correct system for the job.

Whilst a fixed axle weighbridge was right for those running full trucks from a DC, an onboard solution would be a far better solution for those on multi-drop work.

Others may offer only one type of system but it’s only by having a vast range, and vast experience of similar applications and industries, that we can offer impartial advice on the right tool for the job.

One or two customers were in the market for a  type of system that we don’t produce and, as our intention from day one was to only specialise exclusively in axle weighing, we explained clearly that we couldn’t help and passed them on to others who could.

Some of the applications we discussed were quite complex and will require site visits, in depth discussions about the best solution for the job and plenty of time and patience.

We know that an axle weighbridge can be a big investment and that we will no doubt still be talking to some of our new contacts when the show rolls around again next year.

So with so many interesting applications to discuss the time just flew by and before we knew it we were packing the stand away for another year.

But we’ll be back – and the dates for your diary in 2019 are 30 April, 1 & 2 May.

See you there.

Showtime!!

April is the time of year everyone who  is anyone in transport heads to the NEC for the CV Show.

Axtec have been supporting it in all its formats since day one and this year we’ll be on stand 5J102 in hall 5.

With just about everything available on the internet these days, are trade shows still relevant?

Surely buying everything these days is just a simple job of looking online, finding the cheapest price and clicking the order button?

Whilst that might be true of all manner of things, some products are more technical and require professional advice if they are to work at their best.

And that usually starts with a chat with a specialist – and where best to meet specialists in the transport industry than its premier industry event?

See you on stand 5J102 at the CV Show 24-26 April

Many show visitors come to see a specific product or supplier but it’s also a great way to pick up new ideas and find new solutions to old problems as well.

Technology in the transport industry does keep moving on after all.

We upgraded an axle weighbridge with some new software for one customer. He was having issues determining who was using the system and when but a brief chat about what he needed suggested that the Fleet Management Program would help.

Recording every tractor and trailer that weighed in date and time order with a report available whenever he wanted meant that he got exactly the information he needed.

And can now look out for efficiencies in his operation by knowing what his vehicles weighed and when.

Not every detail about a product or its options can be easily listed on a website.

Taking a day out of a busy schedule to visit the NEC may seem a wasted day but talking to an expert about a highly technical installation may well be the most productive thing to do that day.

So make a note of the dates – April 24^th,25^th and 26^th and we’ll see you there.

The best thing they ever bought?

It’s always nice to hear from an existing customer about how one of our systems is helping them make a profit.

And Ford & Slater, one of DAF Trucks’ largest UK dealer groups, visited us at the CV Show to  tell us they had made annual savings of £19,000 since installing one of our dynamic weighbridges.

The had previously incurred the costs and time penalties when weighing off-site, and were prompted to invest in the system after learning the same equipment had been installed at Leyland Trucks in Lancashire – the UK assembly plant for right-hand-drive DAF vehicles.

Ford & Slater have been installing Axtec OnBoard for five years now and need to weigh vehicles for calibration purposes. Knowing that the Leyland assembly plant had been using an Axtec Dynamic for a number of years gave them the confidence to install their own.

Ford & Slater's Axtec Dynamic Axle Weighbridge

And added to the substantial saving made in time and costs of visiting local weighbridges, the install time of the system and delivery times to customers has also significantly improved.

The total installation cost which was under £20,000.00 has been virtually recouped in the first year of operation and thereafter the system is adding to the companies profits.

The Axtec Dynamic will weigh any current or projected road going vehicle in around 40 seconds and is the most accurate system of its type in the world.

Axtec took responsibility for the complete installation from planning the location to all the civil works and final commissioning and testing using our unique axle weighbridge calibration vehicle.

Axtec Dynamic was the right solution for Ford & Slater but there is a vast array of systems, software and peripherals in our range. As the UK’s only dedicated manufacturer specialising exclusively axle weighing systems we can offer impartial advice on the right system for your needs.

If there are any axle weighing issues we might be able to help with, just get in touch. And next year you could be telling us about an increase in YOUR profits.

Some times good news travels slower than bad news

And sometimes good news is hard to find but there was plenty of good news for us at the CV Show last week.

We were delighted so many existing customers visited our stand all of whom had nothing but positive things to say about their experience of Axtec and its products.

Most of those customers had been buying our systems for a number of years so it was great to hear that even after an extended period they had no complaints about the products or service they were getting.

And most importantly were happy to continue buying.

Very much good news all round.

From the customer with hundreds Axtec OnBoard systems who visited us to appraise us of his future requirements to the Dynamic Axle Weighbridge customers who wanted to arrange meetings to discuss new installations at new premises.

We had them all visit us on our stand together of course, with a whole raft of potential new clients.

There was much of interest at the NEC but so many clients made straight for our stand to talk through their axle weighing concerns.

Discussing Axle Weighing at the CV Show 2017

Some of those new contacts were looking for a replacement supplier after they’d had a previous poor experience, but most were looking for a solution to an overloading issue.

From operators of needing OnBoard Indicators to keep their vans legal whilst out on the road to major players in the logistics industry with distribution centres needing Dynamic Axle Weighbridges.

Bodybuilders, facilities providers, consultants, parcels companies – they all took time out of their busy schedules to visit our stand and discuss their vehicle weighing problems and requirements.

So now the CV Show is over for another year and the hard work really starts following up those enquiries over the months and in some cases years to turn them into new business.

And hopefully we’ll welcome those people back to our stand in the coming years to tell us about their own positive experience.

Some real world figures on overloading.

The statisticians tell us that around 80% of the vans on the road are overloaded. We’re not sure how large a sample that is based upon but it’s an alarming figure.

In the world of real vans, real weights and real drivers, one of our customers has established his own level of overloading and, whilst the sample figure is relatively low, the incidence of overloading is high.

As part of their drive to ensure they are operating legally, one of the major utility companies bought some portable weighpads from us last year. With a number of depots around the company, the Transport Manager wanted to have a weighing facility in his car to do on site spot checks and driver training.

The perfect application for weighpads incidentally.

Axtec OnBoard Load Indicator - preventing van overloads

During a recent exercise at one of his depots, he weighed 60 vehicles before they left for work. Alarmingly, he found 40 of them were overloaded. That’s two-thirds of them.

Some were only slightly over the legal limit but some were seriously overloaded, one or two approaching 300kg overweight. A significant figure on a 3.5t van and well within the area that could attract a prosecution.

The reasons were the usual ones given by drivers such as not clearing scrap from the van after a job, keeping ‘one-extra’  spare component in the back just in case etc. These are common, daily occurrences for many operators. All avoidable but all could possibly lead to a prohibition, prosecution, and a fine.

And with overloading adversely affecting the brakes, steering, clutch suspension, tyres, fuel consumption etc, all of which are not cheap, not to mention possibly invalidating the insurance in the event of an accident, overloading your vans is something to be avoided.

If overloading is something you would like to discuss a resolution to in detail, come and see us at CV Show next week where you’ll find us on stand 5A79.

Nothing like seeing it demonstrated

Having vast experience in axle weighing means that we know all about the see-saw effect.

But not everyone, including some that have been in transport a long time are aware of what can happen when the load is incorrectly positioned on the vehicle.

A training exercise for transport and depot managers at one of the major builders merchants produced an interesting reaction from those attending when we showed them what happened.

Placing a set of portable weighpads, correctly set up and on flat level ground, beneath the front axle of a 2-axle rigid we then got them to place a couple of pallets of bricks right behind the cab. With plenty of space left on the load bed our audience were genuinely surprised to learn that the vehicle was now illegal because the front axle was overloaded.

We then put some pallets behind the back axle. And again there was genuine surprise when everyone learnt that, even though the overall weight had increased, the vehicle was now legal.

Weighpads - great for driver and operator training.

The action of putting load behind the back axle had caused the front axle weight to decrease.

The see-saw effect nicely demonstrated.

The issue of load distribution is often overlooked even by those with a great deal of experience in managing a fleet of vehicles but it is high point loads that cause most damage to the road surface.

Which is why there is a national network of axle weighbridges to check not only gross weight, but individual axle weights as well.

A vehicle can be well within its maximum gross weight but could be operating illegally because the distribution of the load is incorrect.

This is often a problem for operators with diminishing loads. The vehicle leaves the yard perfectly legal but as weight is removed from the rear, it is vital that the driver redistributes the load or the front axle can become overloaded.

As we said, even those with great experience may not be aware of this and have to have it demonstrated to them.

If you think your staff could benefit from some free axle weight training, feel free to get in touch.