Hayling trailers - no more?

[Tim M]

I drove past Hayling trailers last week and it looked decidedly closed up. There was also a sign on the gate saying "business premise for rent". Just tried to find their website and it seems to be no more. Anyone know anything? Shame as it was a handy place to get parts.

[Trailer Guy]

Yes. New CE certification requirements, on all newly fabricated trailers, was cited as the reason to cease trading.

Genuine shame to see a local firm opt to close due to EU requirements.

[camelgas]

Thats sad, as I found him very helpful when down that way and in need.

My local dealer severn valley trailers has ceased manufacturing for the same reasons , more brussells B/S to sink small local firms.

[Tim M]

I believe boat trailers manufacturers are able to get a temporary exemption from type approval until 2014 as they are "specialist" items. At least that's what I was told by someone in the trade who had spoken to the department for transport.

[Rokraider]

It seems bizarre to wrap a company up just because it has to plate the trailers it builds?
Presumably a lot of the parts used, such as axles, wheels & tyres, brakes, hitches and lights are bought in CE approved components. So all it leaves is the frame design and build quality so sort out. Presumably, once a design is approved and tested, all the other trailers based on that design wont have to be individually tested?

[camelgas]

I work in the gas/oil industry where CE has been a way of life for many years now, suppliers tell me that type approval and testing costs them in eccess of 100k per time, one smallish engineering company went from producing a large range of goods to just two main products because of this.
I really feel for the long established small companys that this new legislation hits.

[Trailer Guy]

The thing is, it's a European Community whole vehicle type approval system.

Whole vehicle type approval is the process by which vehicles, their systems and components are approved to the appropriate national, European enviromental and safety standards. Without it, vehicles cannot be sold or registered in the UK.

There is a UK specific type approval, to help low volume producers, called National Small Series Type Approval. The down side to this, is that you can only sell these trailers in to the UK.

Of course, you could do an IVA for each and every trailer you built, but that would get tedious, quite quickly, I should imagine.

Bit of info, if anyone's inclined: Trailer Certification

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by Tim M

I believe boat trailers manufacturers are able to get a temporary exemption from type approval until 2014 as they are "specialist" items. At least that's what I was told by someone in the trade who had spoken to the department for transport.

Hadn't heard that tbh, that's interesting. I know the big manufacturers are already there - Indespension, SBS etc.

Had a conversation with Dan, at DeGraaff, the other day and his new trailers are going to be approved IIRC. It's a shame about Hayling.