Nippon Trex has completed works on a new trailer production facility within its headquarters in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, which is expected to boost production capacity by 40 per cent.
The factory is reported to integrate trailer welding and painting into a single line and reduces work at height to achieve a more flexible production system and safer working environment.
Automation via robots has also been introduced in each process including shot blasting, powder coating and main rail welding.
A solar generation installation (750 kW) will be installed on the rooftop of the head office which is expected to cover 10-15 per cent of electricity usage. Battery storage (1,800 kW) will also be installed to store solar power on holidays, promoting renewable energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approx. 3.2 tonnes annually.
Trex invested 5.3 million yen (approx. €32.8 million) into the buildings and facilities.
The plant is based in 350 Minamiyamashinden, Ina-cho, Toyokawa-shi, Aichi Prefecture – inside the head office and factory of Nippon Trex.
Trex estimates production capacity to be about 3,000 units per year.
The OEM has invested in 12 shot blasting robots, four powder coating robots, five AGVs and two robots for its main rail automatic welding.
“This will improve the production system for trailers, for which demand is growing significantly due to the need for mass transportation and efficiency, and will shorten delivery times and improve product quality,” said Trex President, Fumihiro Takasaki.
“Our group will continue to focus on measures to improve the efficiency of the production system and capacity in the special purpose vehicle business.”
Trex’s main trailer products include wing semi-trailers, semi-trailers with sidegates, flatbeds and skels.
Next month, Trex will be exhibiting its refrigerated van semi-trailer at the 6th Kansai Logistics Exhibition.
In other news, Kuehne+Nagel is expanding in Thailand.
