Called the PNEUMACTIC, the new bulker was the centerpiece of MAC Trailer's display at MATS, held March 19-21 in Louisville, Kentucky. It joins a construction-oriented product product offering from MAC that includes dump, platform, and transfer trailers.
“We had a tremendous amount of booth activity as a direct result of the PNEUMACTIC trailer being featured on our display,” said Philip J Bortz, MAC Trailer vice-president of sales and marketing. “Our customers had been asking for some time that we develop a dry bulk trailer, and we moved ahead with the project in spite of the economy. We had already sold about 35 of the trailers prior to MATS. From all the positive comments and interest that was generated during the unveiling, we are confident the pneumatic trailer will be a strong product offering for MAC that will allow us to diversify and serve another sector of the transportation market. We took orders for at least 50 more during the show.
“We are quite pleased with the overwhelming response from our current customers, as well as fleets and independent operators. Our dealers are very excited about the product, as well. We may be new to the tank trailer market, but we have a knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated team that has been engineering and manufacturing tank trailers for many years.”
Planning for the dry bulk and tank trailer product line started about two years ago for MAC and included management team trips to European tank trailer plants in 2008. The influence of European dry bulk trailer design is very evident in MAC Trailer's new product.
“We saw the craftsmanship and attention to detail in their trailer designs,” Bortz said. “They build premium products with application-specific engineering, and we wanted to incorporate their proven design features into our dry bulk trailer.”
The prototype dry bulker was completed in January, and MAC Trailer wasted no time in launching full production at its plant in Salem, Ohio. With current production capacity and a single shift, the company has the ability to produce about 500 dry bulk trailers a year.
The pneumatic bulker is just the first of what will be an extended tank trailer line with Mac already having final designs for dry bulkers up to 2,200 cubic feet capacity. In addition to the cement bulker, a vacuum-pneumatic self-loader is in the final design stages. It should be ready for launch in about six months, and MAC will then begin engineering tanks for other product categories, according to Bortz. The dry bulkers will be marketed throughout North America by MAC Trailer's current dealer network. In addition, the manufacturer plans to add tank-specific dealers.
The PNEUMACTIC bulker stands out from the crowd with a Europe-influenced aerodynamic bulkhead at front and rear that adds structural reinforcement. The trailer has a full frame and is constructed of 5054 H32 bright aluminum alloy. The cement trailer has a relatively low center of gravity.
Piping is tucked out of the way to improve aerodynamics and reduce the potential for driver injury. Morris Coupling connectors help ensure quick disassembly of discharge piping for cleaning.
Other trailer hardware includes Truck-Lite wiring and LED lighting, aluminum bolt-on light boxes, Jost Magnum A-400 landing gear, and a galvanized steel upper-coupler plate.
MAC Trailer's new dry bulkeris available only with air suspension, and Hendrickson's Intraax axle and suspension system is standard. Antilock braking is from Meritor-WABCO.