The proof is in the pudding

Bulk Transport Equipment (BTE), a top-tier trailer manufacturer, has obtained a solid reputation for producing high-quality aluminium tippers through its extensive engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

The trailer builder specialises in the construction of all sorts of combinations, such as trucks and dogs, tippers, road trains and Performance-Based Standards (PBS) units, with aluminium from Capral Aluminium headlining its production process.

All of BTE’s aluminium tipper bodies are built solely using Capral’s aluminium extrusions which are produced according to BTE’s own specifications.

BTE also purchases aluminium plates from Capral which, too, are ordered in specific sizes and dimensions to suit each application.

“Our extrusions, which are the crucial parts of an aluminium body, all come from Capral,” says BTE Purchasing Coordinator, Leroy De Mello. “I’ve been dealing with Capral since I started working here in 2014, but we’ve been using their aluminium even prior to that.

“We were a pretty small business in the early stages and we didn’t have a lot of buying power, but Capral gave us an opportunity. They took the time to talk to us and develop a rapport, and that’s one of the reasons why we have stayed with them. It’s a pretty longstanding relationship, which is something we definitely value.”

Due to its unique combination of strength, lightweight and corrosion resistance, aluminium is widely used in the transport industry.

Where weight reduction is a critical factor in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, Capral can design and produce both standard and customer-exclusive extrusion sections for these applications.

“At the end of the day, that’s what the end user is looking for,” Leroy says. “They want longevity in their equipment. Downtime for them means pretty substantial losses, so the last thing anyone would want is for their tipper to be off the road. If we can go to these end users and say, ‘We’re using Australian-produced materials that you don’t see failures or problems with’, that’s definitely the selling point.”

The aluminium extrusions in Capral’s range have been specifically designed around these factors in transport applications, and Leroy says it shows when the extrusions leave the factory on BTE’s trailers.

“We don’t have issues with extrusions cracking, tarnishing or anything like that,” he says. “If you send a piece of equipment out the door and you don’t see it coming back with any issues, it means it’s a good product and it’s faring pretty well in the marketplace.

“That being said, once we do put the extrusions out into field, we don’t see them back. We don’t have to worry about them because there are never any problems.”

This, Leroy says, comes down to Capral’s quality control.

“The raw materials Capral uses are up to standard and up to code, and the proof is in the pudding,” he says. “When a good design comes together with quality material it shows when the end product is in the field and is standing up in a harsh transport environment.

“The fact that we don’t have quality issues with our extrusions is feedback in itself that the material is well suited to the market. It’s a great product, and we’re more than happy to use it and even promote it.”

As part of its commitment to provide end-to-end solutions, Capral also has a lower-carbon aluminium option available, known as LocAl.

First introduced to the market in 2022, LocAl includes two lower carbon aluminium options – LocAl Green and LocAl Super Green, which are among the lowest carbon aluminium options available globally. Typically, the global average for carbon emissions per kilogram of aluminium is 13.9kg, which compares to LocAl Green’s 8kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)/kg Al and LocAl Super Green’s 4kg CO₂e/kg.

Although BTE hasn’t acquired any experience with the lower carbon options as of yet, Leroy says it’s definitely something that is on the agenda to move towards and be a part of.

With every aspect of manufacturing covered, Capral is also known for having a remarkable customer service. This in itself has benefitted BTE significantly according to Leroy, who says Capral has come to its aid in several instances where last-minute resources were required.

“When I call, they make it happen,” he says. “Downtime and not having material on the floor is something that can really hurt, so if I’m stuck, I’ll call Capral and get an order in the system. From there, they will strive to get it out to us as soon as they can. It generally comes within their promised lead time, so they really do go above and beyond to keep their customers happy.

“Their sales representative who looks after our account, Manish Bhandary, is really great to deal with as well. He’s very proactive, and if that’s a reflection on Capral, they’ve definitely got our business. We’re really happy with that kind of service.”