Holmwood’s sleek solution
- From the November 2011 issue.
Holmwood Highgate - a leading force in designing intelligent transport solutions for the bulk liquid industry - has developed a new, lightweight barrel design that does not only offer less tare weight and extra payload, but also more space for additional branding.
Combining almost 60 years of experience in manufacturing transport equipment and a lean, future-oriented production process, Holmwood Highgate has become a leading force in designing intelligent transport solutions for the bulk liquid industry.
To maintain an innovative edge in Australia’s demanding commercial road transport industry, Holmwood has now developed a new, lightweight barrel design that does not only offer less tare weight and extra payload, but also more space for additional branding – such as the vibrant new Toll livery.
“Dealing with Toll, Australia’s leading force in fuel transportation, we’ve recognised a growing need for a smooth, modern barrel design that can still offer high payload, but comes in a sleeker, smoother design,” says Holmwood Highgate’s Business Development Manager, Karl Henare.
“So we went back to the drawing board and came up with a rejuvenated design that is both light and lean, but can still boast all the features that have made Holmwood become a leading brand in the first place.”
According to Karl, transport specialist Toll has already received a new fleet of B-double combinations and pocket road trains based on the new design. “It’s a win-win-situation,” says Karl. “The combination of minimum tare weight and the new, sleek design underline Toll’s new image and will also promote the Holmwood Highgate brand all around the continent.”
Based on 3D technology, up-to-date modelling and finite element stress analysis, the new barrel has been thoroughly tested before transport giant Toll took delivery. “The new tank is not only a good-looking piece of equipment, but also an intelligent one that can make a notable difference at the bottom line,” Karl explains. “Just like every product manufactured by the Holmwood Group, it has efficiency in its DNA.”
The new livery is showcasing Toll’s new colour scheme that has replaced the aged orange logo in the first half of 2011 – “representing strength, reliability and operational excellence,” says Karl. “The refreshed logo is symbolic of Toll’s current growth and enhances their brand equity – the value of the Toll brand.”
Nonetheless, it retains elements of the previous Toll logo – the direction of the characters to capture movement and speed, the lift pattern at the top of the ‘TO’ to symbolise movement, and the green colour. “But, it is all about the future of Toll. It is an evolutionary step – a decision to freshen up the brand through the logo, and I believe this process will allow the company to have an even higher profile and image in the marketplace,” says Karl. “In a way, our new trailer is following that direction, combining well known quality with a new, energetic appearance.
“To make it even sleeker, we installed as much of the external piping on the inside, including the vapour returns and electrical lines,” he adds. “That’s how we achieved that clean, streamlined look.”
The pocket road train version has some special custom additions with couplings on both front and back so each trailer can be lead or trail for added versatility. “Since Toll will use them in Western Australia’s harsh environment, we chose a heavy duty set-up that can endure the toughest of conditions,” says Karl. “From the lightest tare weighted tankers, to the heaviest of off-road toughness, the new Holmwood barrel was designed to prove reliability time and time again.”
Background
Holmwood Highgate was founded in the mid 1950s primarily to repair US fuel tankers used in the Korean war, before being sold off for use in Australia. From these beginnings, it has grown to become a highly respected name in the Bulk Liquid Transport industry.
