Hydroforming, multiple lashing points, and lower tare weight define Lawrence David’s next-generation curtainsider chassis
When commercial trailer and truck body manufacturer Lawrence David unveiled its new curtainsider chassis at the Road Transport Expo in June, the design reflects years of conversations with operators. Both lighter and stronger, it’s the UK company’s answer to customers who are looking for more payload and flexibility from every trailer.
Established in 1973 as a family firm, Lawrence David has built its reputation on a simple principle: “We build what you want – not what we want to build,” as Commercial Director Ben McEvoy points out. Today, that approach has helped Lawrence David become one of the UK’s leading curtain and box trailer builders.
After Lawrence Marshall recognized the gap in the market for a premium bodybuilder, the founder set up his business in Peterborough and it has grown tremendously over 50+ years, continuously developing products and solutions for the UK transport industry – a market described by Ben as ‘very mature.’
“We try to meet customers’ requirements wherever possible, within the usual constraints,” he continues. “Overall, we’ve established a reputation for quality, forward-thinking engineering. Everything we manufacture is built for longevity, from design all the way through to build, and that allows us to serve our customers.”
With core products comprising trailers and rigid bodies, the company’s specialism is curtainsiders and box vans, for both trailers and trucks. Ben reveals Lawrence David’s most recent chassis design was about finding a solution that would cover multiple customers’ requirements. “The focus of the new chassis is our primary product – the curtainsider trailer,” he explains. “We were receiving an influx of requests for various combinations of internal strapping. A standard Lawrence David curtainsider uses a V-groove rave, which means the side of the trailer bed is shaped like a V. Inside are pull-up rings, used to lash products and attach straps.
“However, more customers were asking for the ability to utilize the maximum internal aperture within the trailer bed which can make the V-groove less useful for every load as it’s unable to perform its function. There are also operators with loads that can create debris – the V-groove became a ‘dirt collection’ point too. One of the biggest elements of the new chassis is the multiple lashing solutions, both on the outer rave face and inside the V-groove.”
Taking the opportunity to discover what else customers wanted, the group focused on the payload maximization priority – meaning the lighter the trailer, the more goods they can carry. “Reducing the empty tare weight of the trailer, without compromising on the strength and longevity of the established Lawrence David product, was back at the top of the agenda.” In addition, moving truck connections and park and shunt functions onto the bulkhead added to operational efficiency.
“Hydroforming is a significant step in the manufacturing process, and we’ve introduced it to the rubbing plate at the front of the new trailer chassis,” Ben elaborates. “This needs to be one of the strongest parts of the trailer, and hydroforming allows us to keep that strength, based on the grade of material we use and the production process, without any degradation of longevity. It’s stronger, more cost-effective to produce, and lighter.”
In 2018, the business was purchased by the Wielton Group (Wielton), as part of the Polish organization’s acquisition trail; an investment Ben says has made Lawrence David part of the third largest trailer manufacturing group in Europe. “Wielton wanted to compete with the market leaders on capacity, while maintaining the geographical brand of all its acquisitions,” he notes. Along with Lawrence David, these include Fruehauf in France, Guillén in Spain, Langendorf in Germany, and Viberti in Italy. “Every acquisition was strategic, to capture as much market share and strong brand reputation as possible in each location.”
Not only is the company owned by Wielton, but it is also Lawrence David’s biggest supply partner. In 2020, the investor built a dedicated line in its factory solely for the UK manufacturer. “It builds the LD chassis – we don’t put a Lawrence David body on a ‘standard’ chassis; Wielton produces a Lawrence David chassis for Lawrence David. It’s a great business partnership.”
Advance Body Repairs (ABR) form part of the firm’s commercial offer at the point of sale, a service first launched in 1990 and carried out through its service centers in Peterborough and Corby. Benefiting from a high customer retention rate and a vast amount of repeat business, Ben believes the value-added services Lawrence David offers as part of its UK group play an integral part. “All our customers are aware we deliver both functions, yet they’re treated very separately,” Ben highlights, whether it’s a repair project or a new-build body. “They all feed into the same pot, but we don’t directly blend ABR into our sales proposition, as ABR have their own established customers alongside the linked LD base meaning that they repair and refurbish other brands of trailers and bodies too. It isn’t exclusive to Lawrence David products.”
Sustainability is equally high on the agenda. Lawrence David’s net zero roadmap has delivered early wins, with solar generation at its production sites being a major contributor, alongside electric company vehicles, battery-powered tools, and upgrades to compressed air, gas, boiler valves, and pipework. The business has also analyzed how employees commute to reduce fuel use. Ben admits the harder task lies beyond the factory gates. “The toughest part of our net zero strategy is establishing at what point our suppliers are within our supply chain, because their progress links into whatever the company can report. The roadmap is challenging, but we’re making progress.”
Year-to-date registrations keep Lawrence David in a strong second in the UK curtain and box trailer market. “Number two is quite a comfortable position to be in within your given market, as it allows us to keep clipping at the leader’s heels without constantly looking over our shoulder.” When asked whether Lawrence David wants to be number one, he answers honestly: “It would be wrong of me to say no – but the emphasis is on keeping a good balance.”
Looking further ahead, Ben can only pinpoint one overarching development that could re-define the next generation of trailers: autonomy. “People are now seeing autonomous cars, and they’ve started talking about autonomous trucks,” he finalizes. “Outside of the alternative fuel and EV developments, which are already ongoing, further autonomy developments are the main innovation I can see having a big influence on our industry – whether that’s in two years or 100 years.”
