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Kenworth’s 60,000th Aussie truck
Celebrations at Bayswater as the 60,000th Australian-designed and manufactured truck rolls off its Melbourne production lineAustralia’s number one heavy-duty truck manufacturer, Kenworth, has delivered its 60,000th Australian-designed and built truck at its Bayswater plant in Melbourne.
Andrew Hadjikakou, Managing Director of PACCAR Australia, handed the keys of the Kenworth T610SAR prime mover to long-standing Kenworth customer Peter Wickham, co-founder of Wickham Freight Lines, one of Australia’s largest privately-owned transport companies, at an event at Kenworth’s head office and factory in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Andrew said Kenworth’s achievement in manufacturing 60,000 trucks was a major milestone, not only for the company and its dealer group, but for its suppliers, the vast majority of whom are local.
“Celebrating key production milestones is a Kenworth tradition, one that began in April 1974 when we handed over the keys to truck number 1000. Since then we’ve celebrated each major milestone, leading to today, when we hand over the keys to the 60,000th truck that’s rolled off the Kenworth production line since we began designing and manufacturing uniquely Australian trucks in 1971,” Mr Hadjikakou said.
“The heavy-duty truck market in Australia is one of the most competitive in the world,” Andrew stated. “In an industry with no tariff protection, no government financial assistance and often volatile exchange rate movements, Kenworth successfully maintains its status as the market leader against imported brands from the US, Europe and Asia. We continue to successfully deliver high value-added manufacturing – that is, world-class trucks, which provide distinct business advantages,” he said.
Andrew said Australia had a diverse range of operating environments unlike anywhere else in the world. Trucks must deal with extreme heat in remote, dusty mines and across deserts. Others must haul loads that are two or three times heavier than overseas, and on rough and unmade roads. Often trucks are required to perform an inordinate amount of hours, some as much as 24 hours a day.
“It’s critical this country has a local manufacturer that understands the challenges facing transport businesses. Kenworth is the only local truck manufacturer offering full design capability, technical expertise and resources to application-engineer trucks for the most extreme on and off-road operations,” Andrew explained.
“Our trucks are designed to satisfy these unique needs. They feature higher cooling capacities to handle heavier weights and hotter conditions, more robust construction to manage the roughest roads, and embody a design philosophy that means cost-effective maintenance and reliability,” he added.
Mr Hadjikakou said Kenworth’s more than 45 years of local manufacturing have a significant ripple effect that has benefited many Australian industries and Australians.
The company currently employs more than 1000 staff in Melbourne, the majority of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the manufacturing operations. It also supports the industry’s best nationwide network of PACCAR dealers who employ about 3000 people throughout Australia. In addition, the company supports a variety of local suppliers who provide the majority of the parts and materials which make a Kenworth.
Mr Hadjikakou said it was fitting Kenworth’s milestone truck was built for Wickham Freight Lines.
“Wickham Freight Lines is one of our long term customers,” Mr Hadjikakou said.
“They are knowledgeable and passionate about the road transport industry and forthright with their thoughts and opinions, which has contributed to the continuous improvement of our trucks for close to four decades. It’s been a win-win for both parties, and it’s the epitome of how we conduct business with all of our customers.”
Wickhams is one of the largest privately-owned transport companies in Australia. Established in 1992 it specialises in transporting fresh, chilled and frozen meat and produce, as well as consumer products and dry goods, servicing retail supply chains and other logistics providers. With its unique head office in the shape of a Kenworth K108 cabover in Warwick, Queensland, and terminals in Sydney and Melbourne, the company now operates a Kenworth fleet of 160 prime movers with its distinctive red and white livery.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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