Andover Trailers started
production in 1985 from the old Tasker Trailer
factory in Anna Valley. The company received
its first trailer order from Barlow Handling
for a tandem axle forklift trailer with an
aluminium body and full width ramp. At the
same time Andover started carrying out a
lot of truck conversions by fitting extra
axles to rigid vehicles and tractor units.
Extra axles were fitted for two reasons,
to correct weight distribution problems or
for extra payload. At this time most of the
truck manufacturers were saying there was
no requirement for lifting axles on trucks
and they would never catch on. Granning Suspensions
from the USA started to bring this equipment
into the UK and looked after the method of
fitting and later the change of type approval
on the trucks. Truck conversions and trailer
modifications were the main source of work
at this time, but at the same time Cadzow
Heavy Haulage was telling us what type of
trailer was needed to move pavers and rollers.
This was at a time when tubeless tyres and
air suspension were being introduced. This
trailer, although we did not know it, would
change the way plant would be moved in the
UK . This was the SFCL 36, 850mm deck height,
chamfer up onto the neck to fit the underside
of a 3 point roller, three axles with air
suspension and a raise / lower valve and
spring assisted ramps with clip on toe extensions
to give a 9 degree angle. The first trailer
was taken to ARC at Abingdon for testing
and was quickly followed by a 6 month order
book. Raymond Brown at Ringwood ordered our
first 46t drop well low loader which was
followed by larger trailers up to the 120t
gross trailer for Walters Plant. In 1994
Andover made its first plant body for Falcon
Low Loaders in South Wales - a move which
was going to be very important to Andover
, and again the movement of plant in the
UK . In 1993 the link with Goldhofer started
which would increase the range of equipment the company could offer from a 6t drawbar
up to modular equipment to carry 10,000 tonnes.
Without wishing to be the largest manufacturer
in the UK , Andover has worked to get a reputation
of being fair, honest and manufacturing a
quality product with strong residuals. Over
the last few years there has been a lot of
pressure from products being made where the
cost of labour is cheaper, but at Andover
we have tried to increase the quality of
our equipment like the 50t and 56t gross
step frames which are the strongest trailers
in the market where customers know they have
purchased a quality product., which truly
is ‘Better by Design’.
