Last year JOST Australia announced its planned entry into the local axles and suspension market – a momentous move to expand the company’s value proposition for Australia’s road transport operators.
It is currently trialling new axle equipment in local field tests with trusted collaborator and trailer manufacturer, Gorski Engineering.
“We’ve enjoyed a fruitful partnership with JOST for more than two decades and were delighted when they approached us to trial their axles,” says Gorski Engineering General Manager, Paul Baker. “We’ve been using a variety of JOST parts for the last 25 years and really appreciated the opportunity to field test a new set of equipment.”
JOST’s new axles are rated to 10.4 tonnes and are available in both drum and disc options. They can also be fitted in overslung and underslung positions, meaning their springs can sit either on top of or below the trailer’s axle beam. Additionally, the axles come in either 285mm or 335mm diameters providing flexibility to suit various vehicle designs. These various axle types are also Road-Friendly Suspension (RFS) certified.
Gorski Engineering is specifically trialling JOST’s RFS-certified Overslung Drum 285 PCD axle on a tri-axle tipper for Melbourne-based plumbing service provider, Mellerick Plumbing and Drainage.
“Justin Mellerick purchased his first tipper from us in 2008 – he’s Gorski through and through,” Paul says. “This newest tipper is a very common type within Melbourne’s northern suburbs due to the tighter roads and spaces in that area. Mellerick needed a trailer he could manoeuvre with ease. He delivers aggregate material to small residential housing sites and works in tight spots that are often only wide enough to fit one car.”
JOST’s RFS-certified Overslung Drum 285 PCD axle is an ideal component for these requirements due to a lift-axle design which allows for extreme manoeuvrability.
The third axle stays in the air when the trailer is operating with empty or low tare weights, reducing the tipper’s drag and turn. Being much nimbler and more flexible as a result allows it to better navigate tight spaces.
When the trailer’s tare weight increases to a certain point, the third axle will drop to provide essential stability and weight distribution, contributing to the trailer’s smooth handling. The equipment’s RFS-certification also ensures less impact on the road surface due to the implementation of shock absorbers, hangers and other parts.
While Paul says that Mellerick Plumbing and Drainage has enjoyed the mechanical characteristics of JOST’s axles, Gorski has also found the components to be aesthetically pleasing and easy to fit.
“These components are certainly well-constructed,” Paul says. “They look very good to the eye, but are also extremely user-friendly from a manufacturing standpoint. The equipment comes pre-assembled with shockers and hangers and we just attach them onto the trailers as complete units.”
JOST also fitted its axles with telematics devices so that they can provide live data, which can then reveal if any improvements are needed. For Paul, JOST’s commitment to proper development ensures high quality.
“When JOST brings something to the market, you can guarantee it’s been carefully tested and proven to work,” he says. “JOST is a multinational brand with global support and a massive parts network. They don’t make impulsive decisions or mistakes during the design process, and they certainly don’t bring sub-optimal products to customers. JOST is becoming a one-stop shop by developing these axles. We are extremely interested in partnering and growing with companies such as JOST.”
After receiving positive feedback from Mellerick Plumbing and Drainage on JOST’s axles, Gorski Engineering has also worked to fit this new equipment on another fleet’s trailer. The high quality of these products helps maintain the trailer builder’s own reputation in the market according to Paul.
“We’re extremely focused on our brand’s legacy,” he says. “We don’t want our first transactions with customers to be the only ones. We want dealings with clients to be generational and life-long. Using equipment from manufacturers like JOST helps us stay ahead. It allows us to build trailers that are reliable which keeps our customers coming back.”
Fast fact
For more than 45 years, equipment specialist, JOST Australia, has served the commercial road transport industry with heavy vehicle components including fifth wheels and hydraulic systems. The company’s product portfolio is supported by an expansive spare parts network which is further bolstered by JOST’s global supply chain.
