Finish line

Convair Engineering is a trailer builder based in Epping, Victoria. Founded in 1993, it has specialised in the design, manufacture and supply of pneumatic dry bulk tankers for over 30 years.

The company also constructs ISOtainers and onsite storage tankers from steel and aluminium which it imports for the food, chemical, construction materials and oil and gas industries.

The key to being a reputable manufacturer within the road transport industry is not only having a high-quality product that will withstand the environments and operating conditions it’s thrown into, but one that customers will be completely happy with. And, by selecting Rhino Guards as the exclusive supplier for its stainless steel mudguards, this, according to Convair Engineering Sales and Business Development Manager, Steve Gnafakis, has been achieved.

“When Rhino approached us, we were pretty impressed with the quality of their product – especially the mudguards, so we started using them,” he says. “We’ve been using them ever since, and we’ve received some really good feedback from our customers.”

Convair Engineering was introduced to the Rhino product around one year ago. Steve says the business was starting to have some issues with another product at the time, and the quality and finish of Rhino’s stainless steel guards was what carried Convair Engineering over the finish line.

“What impressed us from the get-go was the smooth finish,” he says. “It has no ripples on it, and it’s also quite strong and doesn’t tear easily. That was what got us across the line.”

Convair Engineering has since gone full bore with Rhino, fitting its stainless steel guards as standard to every unit it builds. Steve says the feedback he’s received from the workshop is that they’re very easy to fit, and the praise doesn’t just end there.

“The customer feedback has been really positive as well,” he says. “The issue with our previous guards was initially brought up from our customers who weren’t happy with the finish, and that’s what really prompted us to start looking into alternatives.

“They’re very happy with the finish of the Rhino guards. Truck drivers take great pride in their toys – they want everything to look schmick, and the smoother and shinier it is the better.”

Rhino is a leading manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel mudguards in Australia and New Zealand. Suitable for both trucks and trailers, they are built to last the distance while being able to withstand harsh conditions. The OEM’s range has a variety of sizes and finishes to choose from, including three material types with a number of designs such as ribbed, smooth and rod edged finishes.

Rhino uses stainless steel 304 Bright Annealed (BA) to manufacture its stainless guards which gives them ultimate durability and finish. More specifically, 1.2mm-thick stainless steel is utilised, which is more robust than thinner products offered and not as heavy as thicker options – striking the optimal balance between strength and weight.

Rhino’s BA has a smooth, bright, reflective finish typically produced by cold rolling followed by annealing in a protective atmosphere in order to prevent oxidation and scaling during annealing. This finish provides a smooth, non-abrasive mirror-like surface which is visually attractive, can be easily cleaned and results in the product being highly corrosion-resistant.

In its production, Rhino uses a proprietary manufacturing process to produce a smooth edge on its stainless steel smooth and ribbed guards. The result is a high-quality ripple-free edge (with a double-fold on the inside end of each guard as well) and the assurance for trailer OEMs such as Convair Engineering that the product will last in its deployment.

“We pride ourselves on having a top-notch tanker,” Steve says. “Our customers want everything to look good, and this has definitely helped us with the finishing off of the tankers.

“You often get customers who will walk around and pinpoint every single blemish when picking up a new tanker, so having a mudguard that is smooth and shiny helps us out because it means we have no issues and that we get positive feedback.”

On top of all this, Steve also has extreme confidence in Rhino’s customer service abilities.

“I personally haven’t had any problems, but my understanding is you ring them up with an issue and they’ll be onto it,” he says. “Overall, Rhino have been very good to deal with. The ordering process is really simple and the turnaround time is pretty good as well.

“They always keep in touch, so getting in contact with them is really easy too. So, while it is a fairly new partnership, working with Rhino has absolutely benefitted Convair Engineering.”