Press Releases

Asda has just taken delivery of 68 Cheetah moving deck, double-deck trailers from The Cartwright Group.

This latest order follows Asda's purchase late last year of 173 of Cartwright's aerodynamic Cheetah trailers.

The double-deck trailers have been built to a new specification that will allow Asda to deliver ambient food to its network of stores more effectively.

Chris Hall, Asda's network transport manager, said:

"We chose Cartwright because they were able to offer a number of specification options which were key for this project. The majority of previous double-deck purchases have been for internal depot - depot trunking, whereas this was our first significant step into utilising this fleet within our store operations.

"The new specification includes a simple, direct drive hydraulic deck operation and the ability to load pallets and roll-cages on either deck area. It gives us the flexibility to either unload from the rear or through the side, giving us more options to fully utilise this fleet.

"And we have included the Cartwright Cheetah air-kit to maximise the fuel efficiency on this fleet."

The order comes as Asda is making great progress in cutting CO2 emissions and reducing the road miles travelled.

Chris Hall added:

"We have recently achieved our target of cutting carbon emissions by 40% across our distribution fleet.

"The implementation of a double-deck fleet was a significant enabler to this and the introduction of double-deck fleet into store deliveries will further reduce our fleet carbon footprint."

Steven Cartwright, Cartwright Group Director, said:

"Asda, like many other customers, are seeing the benefits and savings more and more in their operation, by utilising double deck trailers.

"The new generation of moving deck double deck trailers we are now producing couple an extremely versatile trailer with minimal maintenance and a simple deck operation.

"Adding the Cheetah aerodynamic features to the trailer maximises the overall package, giving cost effective carbon emission reduction".

Asda is buying more than 170 of The Cartwright Group's Cheetah aerodynamic trailers so it can make huge fuel savings.

Asda will receive the 100 curtainsider Cheetah trailers and 73 box Cheetah trailers between now and Christmas.

Months of testing carried out by Asda showed that Cheetah improved fuel efficiency by between 4.5% and 6%. The supermarket giant believes that the Cheetah system will help it achieve a major step change in fuel efficiency.

This is the first time that one of the "Big Four" supermarkets has gone down the aerodynamic trailer route.

Chris Hall, Asda's Central Logistics Network Transport Manager, said: "We retro-fitted a standard trailers with Cheetah and carried out stringent fuel efficiency tests at our clothing distribution centre in Northampton. We ran the trailer for months, carrying out its normal duties, to determine what fuel savings could be achieved.

"The fuel savings were so significant that we felt that Cheetah could help us achieve a major step change in our fuel efficiency."

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We are delighted with the order. We are seeing more and more customers looking at ways of reducing their fuel consumption and carbon emissions

"Asda put Cheetah through extensive, lengthy testing. We were happy for them to do this before committing to buy it, as Cheetah's benefits are clear whenever it is put through its paces."

Chris Hall added: "This was a significant investment and we wanted to get it right.

"The efficiencies that could be achieved became clear and so we were happy to order Cheetah for our fleet."

The new box van Cheetahs will replace trailers in Asda's clothing distribution fleet. All the curtainsiders will replace trailers in its ambient grocery fleet. Asda currently operates 970 ambient trailers and 650 refrigerated trailers.

Cartwright's Cheetah range now includes fuel-saving products for both the trailer and the tractor unit.

Britain's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler has received 62 trailers from The Cartwright Group to transform its southern distribution operation.

AAH Pharmaceuticals ordered 50 demountable box van trailers and 12 drawbar trailers from Cartwright. All the trailers are to be used by AAH at its new distribution base at Stoke-on-Trent, which serves southern England.

The trailers will be based at Stoke but used in night trunking operations to AAH's southern bases, from where daytime deliveries will be made.

AAH ordered 62 trailers so that they would be in constant rotation, either on deliveries or being loaded for the next day's deliveries.

The boxes feature Cartwright's Clearlift demount system. They are 2590mm high and designed to the maximum possible 7820mm length.

Geoff Wright, AAH's Head of Corporate Services, said that the company chose Cartwright because of its track record.

He added: "We have been using Cartwright for seven years now and we have come to appreciate the quality of their products, their reliability and their ability to guarantee a delivery date.

"On this occasion they have done a stunning job and they've delivered bang on time. When it came to making such a big change to our distribution operation we were putting a lot of faith in Cartwright and they did not let us down."

The trailers will be pulled by 33 Scania, 18-tonne P310DB4x2 drawbar chassis that have front and rear suspension to accommodate Cartwright's demount system.

The tractor units were supplied by Keltruck, the UK's largest independent Scania dealer. It is AAH's fourth replacement contract with Keltruck since 1994.

Both the trailers and tractor units are in AAH's new red livery.

The company is the UK's leading distributor of pharmacy and healthcare products and services to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors. Its customers include its sister company Lloyds Pharmacy and large supermarkets.Britain's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler has received 62 trailers from The Cartwright Group to transform its southern distribution operation.

Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has chosen The Cartwright Group for its supply operation.

Cartwright will now provide Superdrug with 100 pieces of equipment over the next 18 months.

The equipment will be used to deliver stock to all 911 Superdrug stores and 229 Savers stores. The kit will operate from the two main distribution centres at Dunstable in Bedfordshire and South Elmsall in Yorkshire.

The deal comes as a boost to Cartwright's already healthy order book. The Altrincham-based body builder and trailer manufacturer is set for a record sales year and has been taking on extra staff and offering maximum overtime to meet demand.

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "It is very pleasing that such a major company as Superdrug has joined the many others who are Cartwright customers.

"We believe that Superdrug chose us because we are always positive in every aspect of the procurement process - we offer competitive packages and flexible approaches to any deal.

"And now they are receiving the goods, Superdrug is pleased with both the quality and the attention to detail we exercise on behalf of our customers."

Howdens Joinery is taking delivery of 60 trailers from The Cartwright Group.

The UK-wide suppliers of kitchens and joinery products to the building trade have placed an order with Cartwright for the 4.2-metre straightframe Clearspan curtainsiders in Howdens Joinery livery.

The trailers will transport Howdens Joinery products to its 450 trade outlets from its three main sites at Runcorn, Northampton and Howden as well as from its other bases around the UK.

Cartwright has already started work on the order. Howdens Joinery will be receiving the trailers in the coming months.

Howdens Joinery chose Cartwright after discussions about the best trailers for their needs.

Charlie Nissen, Howden's National Transport Manager, said: "We wanted to make sure that we had the trailers that could give us the maximum benefit when it came to ensuring that all our trade outlets and all our customers were supplied efficiently.
"We believe that these trailers are the best way forward for us. We very much look forward to receiving them and putting them to good use."

Steven Cartwright, The Cartwright Group director, said: "Howdens wanted to look into the best way of maximising the efficiency of their fleet. We discussed their needs with them and were able to provide them with the trailers that were exactly suited to their needs."

The Malcolm Group has placed an order with The Cartwright Group for 130 trailers that will carry its brand-new livery.

Cartwright, the Altrincham-based trailer manufacturer and bodybuilder, is working to an updated specification for Malcolm's 2009 trailers. The Malcolm Group, one of the UK's largest logistics and construction service providers, is receiving the 13.6 metre, tri-axle curtainsiders at the rate of 10 a week.

The trailers all feature the Cartwright aerodynamic system and have full side skirts to improve fuel efficiency. They will be used in the Malcolm's logistics fleet.

All of the trailers feature the new Malcolm's livery, with the Malcolm Group corporate blue on the curtain side and use of the new Logistics logo on the back doors.

Helen Ryan, Marketing Manager for The Malcolm Group explained: "We feel that we have revitalised the look and feel of the Malcolm brand to reflect the positive changes that have occurred in our business over the last five years."

Malcolm's chose The Cartwright Group because it could build the trailers to their exact specification and supply them within the necessary timescale. Cartwright's warranty offers, service levels and spare parts availability also impressed the logistics provider.

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We are very pleased with this order. Malcolm's knew exactly what they wanted and that suits us down to the ground because it is all about giving the customer the right product to suit their operation.
"It is becoming more and more important for customers to operate equipment that is designed for maximum efficiency. And it is equally important to provide the after-sales service and assistance that any company needs when they are running a large and successful operation."

Andrew Malcolm, Chief executive of The Malcolm Group said: "'Quality and service is paramount to our business and is derived from our consistent investment in the latest vehicles, cutting-edge technology and training.

"This investment is key to the growth of our business and it keeps our fleet up to date and as environmentally friendly and efficient as possible. As an environmentally responsible company we aim to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment and help our customers do the same."

The Malcolm Group began as a family business in the 1920's and now employs more than 2,000 people, operating over 500 trucks, a thousand trailers, 200 items of heavy plant and more than 4.5 million square feet of warehousing throughout the UK.

The Cartwright Group has moved quickly to employ Bob Pope as its main man in the south.

Pope has been appointed Cartwright's regional sales manager for the south of England. He will be based at the company's depot in Avonmouth.

London-born Pope, who has more than four decades' experience in the trailer business, comes to The Cartwright Group after stints with Hill Hire, Boalloy and Fruehauf. His first objectives are ensuring the smooth operation of the just-opened Avonmouth site and boosting the already successful contract and spot rental of Cartwright Rentals.

Pope said: "This position is an exciting challenge as The Cartwright Group is in a great position, with it being a one-stop shop for everything.

"I've always been impressed by Cartwright products. It is a family firm based on good principles. Everything they produce is built on their premises under their close quality control.

"I have been in this industry all my working life and I am relishing the challenge of showing customers and potential customers the quality products that this company makes."

Steven Cartwright, director of The Cartwright Group, said: "With our new site in Avonmouth and the increased success that we are enjoying it made perfect sense to try and get someone of the quality of Bob Pope to cover the south for us.

"We were delighted that we were able to bring him on board. He offers experience, expertise and the flair for sales that will be good news for us and our customers."

The Cartwright Group has expanded its rentals operation, creating both a new southern base and a national online service for customers.

Cartwright Rentals, the trailer rental arm of the Altrincham-based trailer maker and body builder, opens its new base at Severn View Industrial Park in Avonmouth on July 1. And the company's new web portal allows all its rental customers instant online access to every detail about the equipment they are renting.

The Avonmouth site is the latest development in Cartwright Rentals expansion. It already has its own dedicated five-acre site in Manchester, a satellite location in Glasgow and a branch operation in Northampton.

Director Steven Cartwright said that the new, one-acre site was a response to the company's growing customer base.

He added: "We were looking for a suitable location to help us meet growing customer demand.

"Just like our other locations, Avonmouth can offer the customer rental, finance, parts and of course the Cartwright product range.

"We are finding more and more that our customers like the fact they can deal direct with the manufacturer for short and long-term rental, as well as contract hire. Avonmouth allows us to be on hand for customers in that area.

"Our customers are happy there is no middleman. And we have developed on that idea by creating the web portal, so that it is even easier for customers to deal directly with us."

The web portal enables Cartwright Rentals customers to view and manage fleet information online. Information such as service records, MOT certificates, trailer operating locations and rental costs is available instantly. The portal can also be modified to suit a customer's exact requirements.

In 15 years, Cartwright Rentals has grown from providing long-term rental to a select few customers to its current capability of providing short or long-term trailer rental and operating lease. It now operates a fleet of over 8,000 trailers.

The Cartwright Group's latest contract is helping industry and householders keep warm as winter approaches.

Cartwright has supplied national supply chain specialist TM Logistics (TML) with 24 curtain-sided demountable boxes, 12 prime movers and 12 drawbar trailers. They will be used on TML's contract for Kingspan Insulation, delivering insulation products around the UK.

This order complements a batch of ten demountable drawbars delivered last year. TML is already experiencing significant cost savings as a result of their introduction.

The high cube curtain-sided boxes and the extra length afforded by Cartwright's prime mover and drawbar combination have enabled TML to increase load capacity by 22%. This has reduced the number of journeys required per annum, which benefits the environment and cuts overall operating costs.

This latest batch is in a new Kingspan livery, marking a change in the company's branding. The Scania R310DB4x2MNMA sleeper cabs have drawbar chassis, full air deflector kits, air suspension and opticruise gearbox.

Cartwright's "Clearlift" system installed on the chassis means the curtain-sided bodies are demounted using the Scania's front and rear air suspension and the high lift suspension on the tandem axle drawbar trailers. This can be performed by one man and can increase volumes by up to 30 UK ISO pallets. For smaller loads the prime mover can be uncoupled and used as a more manoeuvrable delivery vehicle.

TML believes Cartwright's products:
- Increase its efficiency.
- Reduce the number of journeys it needs to make.
- Reinforce both its competitive edge and green credentials.

The demountables also enable pre-loading at the manufacturing site, providing quick turnarounds on vehicles and trucking exchanges.

Adam Purshall, TML's Head of Engineering and Compliance, said the demountable drawbars are essential for gaining access to areas with delivery restrictions.

He added: "The Cartwright Group can conceive, design and produce precisely what we need. This professionalism gives us flexibility, efficiency and the clear ability to meet our customer's needs."

Cartwright Group director Steven Cartwright said: "We are very pleased to have been awarded this order and it is particularly satisfying to be working with such a forward-thinking company as TML."

TML utilises a contract hire package for its Kingspan contract from Midlands based Keltruck, Scania's largest independent distributor. Keltruck supplied the vehicles on a fully-maintained contract basis over five years.

Keltruck Sales Director Mike Kelly said: "Keltruck has been supplying Scanias to TML for 25 years. We have an excellent personal relationship with the business and look forward to being of service for many years to come."

CARTWRIGHT'S much talked about Cheetah Aero System will be on its stand at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show.

The Cheetah has just been launched following a year's testing that showed it led to fuel savings of 16% and a 13-tonne reduction in annual carbon emissions (based on 124,000 miles per annum).

In wind tunnel tests, its specially-designed cab roof fairing, cab extensions, trailer skirts and rear roof scoop showed a 42% total reduction in drag coefficient.

Cartwright decided to put the Cheetah on the stand to capitalise on the huge interest generated in the system since it was unveiled in February.

Director Steven Cartwright said: "The calls and inquiries are now coming in for Cheetah so it made sense to let everyone at the CV Show see it for themselves."

Cartwright's stand will also feature a Staples double-deck trailer and a Royal Mail curtainsider.

The Staples 13.6 metre, stepframe, GRP van double-deck is a tri-axle trailer featuring hydraulic moving decks, a tail lift and an aerodynamic sloping front roof to match the tractor unit's aerofoil. It was supplied by Cartwright to DHL Supply Chain for its Staples contract.

Royal Mail's trailer is an 18-tonne curtainsider rigid vehicle on a DAF chassis, fitted with Cartwright bodywork to Royal Mail specifications. The bodywork features Cartwright's unique Royal Mail roll cage load restraint system which enables a roll cage to be safely secured within a curtainsider.

'A catalogue of all Cartwright Group products and services will receive its official launch at the Commercial Vehicle Show.

Cartwright directors and design staff devised the catalogue as an easy-to-use reference point for all existing and future customers. It is the first time such an approach has been used in the industry.

Director Steven Cartwright believes the catalogue is the best way for customers to see the whole range of Cartwright Group products.

He said: "We think this is the most effective way of letting people know what we do. It will cover all the products we design and manufacture as well as our finance and rental services.

"If a customer wants to know if we can provide a certain service then we can refer them to the relevant page of the catalogue.

"We intend it to be the ultimate reference point for everything we do, almost like an Argos catalogue - everyone has one because they know that there is so much inside."

The catalogue, which will be regularly updated and added to, was written, designed and even printed on Cartwright Group premises. It will be available to view at the Cartwright stand at the show.

Their stand will also feature Cartwright's attention-grabbing Cheetah Aero System. Cheetah was launched following a year's testing that showed it led to fuel savings of 16% and a 13-tonne reduction in annual carbon emissions (based on 124,000 miles per annum).

It is being put on the stand to capitalise on the huge interest generated in the system since it was unveiled in February.

The Cartwright stand will also feature a Staples 13.6 metre, stepframe, GRP van, double deck, tri-axle trailer featuring hydraulic moving decks, a tail lift and an aerodynamic sloping front roof to match the tractor unit's aerofoil.

The stand will also display a Royal Mail 18-tonne curtainsider rigid trailer on a DAF chassis, fitted with Cartwright bodywork featuring Cartwright's unique Royal Mail roll cage load restraint system.

THE Cartwright Group is to unleash its revolutionary Cheetah aerodynamic energy efficiency system onto the open market.

Cartwright has developed the Cheetah Aero System in conjunction with TNT Express, The Department of Energy and the Transport Research Laboratory.

Through extensive trials over 12 months with trailer and tractor, the system led to fuel savings of 16% - with a 13 tonne reduction in annual carbon emissions based on 124,000 miles per annum.

The Cheetah's cab roof fairing, cab extensions, trailer skirts and rear roof slopes were wind tunnel tested. They showed a 42% total reduction in drag coefficient.

TNT has been so impressed by the Cheetah Aero System that it has placed an order for 86 13.6 metre GRP van trailers that feature it.

TNT's National Engineering Manager Steve Davis said: "We have found that this design will play a huge role in helping us reduce our fuel consumption - and that is something backed up by the official Department of Energy tests.

"There are other trailers on the market but this Cartwright aerodynamic system has proved it can save us money on fuel. That is why we have bought it.

"It is a cost-effective product which has been designed by Cartwright with fuel savings in mind."

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said that testing would continue on Cheetah. He added that the Cheetah would be on the Cartwright stand at this year's CV Show.

The Cheetah features specially-designed cab roof fairing, a rounded front aerofoil, aerodynamic rear roof scoop, a large radius skirt, tapered rear skirt quarter panels and a circular rear under-run bar and open rear chassis design.

Steven Cartwright said: "We have been in testing and development for a year now but we want to continue with further fuel testing to gain further data.
"It is very pleasing to see that TNT is as convinced of Cheetah's value as we are. TNT has looked at other aerodynamic systems and chosen ours.

"We would expect any company to look at the alternatives, including the latest offerings that have come on to the market.

"But the best aerodynamic system is our system. It has been proved the best in testing. That is why TNT, and other companies who value low fuel consumption, will buy it."

The Cartwright Group has supplied WH Malcolm with 70 specially-designed intermodal swap bodies.

Working to a brief from WH Malcolm, Cartwright devised a special tapered swap body on a unique slim base for use on the railways.

The design gives Malcolm's the ability to carry a design payload of 27,000kg of gypsum in each trailer. Each body is being used as part of the contract Malcolm's has with British Plasterboard to transfer gypsum from a mine at Kirkby Thore, Cumbria, up to Glasgow.

Empty swap bodies are taken by rail into the Kirkby Thore mine, filled with gypsum and then taken by rail at Glasgow. At Glasgow, these swap bodies are then lifted onto skeletal road trailers for road distribution.

By creating a tapered design for the pioneering intermodal Swap Body C25, Cartwright has ensured that they can utilise the maximum possible height for rail tunnels on W6A (W7) gauge lines running between Kirkby Thore and Glasgow.

The base of the swap bodies is slimmer than anything produced by Cartwright's Continental rivals. It has also been designed and constructed to the maximum side aperture possible of 2330mm operated with the IKA Megafret rail wagon.

Cartwright spent almost a year devising, designing and testing the intermodal trailer, which has been given formal approval by Network Rail and UIC It has also supplied 25 skeletal trailers to transport them by road.

The Cartwright Group has recently supplied Argos with another 164 trailers as part of Argos's ongoing fleet replacement programme.

The design of the straight-frame box van trailers, which has evolved and been refined in conjunction with the Argos Engineering team, reflects the operational requirements, in regard to strength, longevity and reliability, whilst also incorporating increasing health and safety requirements.

Having supplied trailers to Argos for 15 years, Cartwright wanted to make sure the specifications of the latest order exceeded the customer's requirements as achieved on the previous year's build.

The new trailers vary between 13.6 metres and 7.3 metres in length. A hundred of which feature Dhollandia retractable tail lifts, with the remainder fitted with Ratcliff hydraulic closure column lifts.

Other features include some trailers fitted with command steer axles, tinted blue GRP roof skins (to keep internal temperatures down), right-angled aluminium kick strips, GRP grit-impregnated floors, shutter doors with stainless steel rear frames, compression buffers, BPW drum brakes and, on some trailers, hydraulic landing legs.

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "Having talked with Argos about their exact needs we made sure that each of the trailers supplied included every possible feature necessary to meet their requirements.

"This deal has seen us provide a wide variety of trailers, with each one designed and built to meet the specific challenges it will meet during its working life with Argos.
"Once again we are happy to have obtained and completed the order with Argos and we would look forward to meeting their trailer needs in the future."

Argos Ltd Engineering Manager, Geoff Mitchie, said: "We have worked closely with Cartwright to ensure they provided a trailer to fully meet our operational requirements."

Argos Ltd Fleet Maintenance Manager Peter Williamson, added: "Our involvement doesn't stop when the order is placed, it continues throughout the build process. The end result being a quality product delivered to us on time".

Cartwright is also set to supply a further 43 trailers to Homebase, which continues to strengthen the relationship with another Home Retail Group company, The Cartwright group now supplies all three companies within the group (Argos Ltd, Homebase & Argos direct).

Supermarket giant Asda has made its name keeping millions of shoppers satisfied. But now Asda itself is the contented customer after shopping with The Cartwright Group.

The Manchester-based trailer manufacturer Cartwright is completing an order for Asda of curtainsiders, double-deck trailers and box van trailers. This order will mean that Asda has bought more than 500 trailers from Cartwright in the past five years.

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We are currently supplying Asda with 163 curtainsiders and 15 double-deck trailers. They are also set to receive20 box van trailers, which will be used in their George clothing and accessories operation.
"The Cartwright Group is certainly very happy and very proud to have reached this landmark with Asda. We look forward to continuing our successful working relationship

Announcement of the latest large order between the two successful companies comes just days after Asda was named Britain's greenest grocer - having been crowned "Multiple Environmental Retailer of the Year" at the Retail Industry Awards.

The environment was the theme of The Cartwright Group's stand at this year's CV Show. Included on the stand was a 13.6 metre, refrigerated, stepframe, double-deck trailer it had supplied to Asda, featuring twin hydraulic moving decks and twin temperature capability.

Chris Hall, Asda's Network Transport Manager, said: "Our relationship with the Cartwright group has gone from strength to strength over the last 3 years. The combination of quality products & excellent customer care has contributed to the successful award of our latest fleet requirements".

The Cartwright Group only launched its new standard refrigerated trailer at the Commercial Vehicle Show last year. But the response since then has been so positive that the company is gearing up to expand and diversify in the temperature-controlled sector in 2008.

With its influence in this sector growing by the month, Cartwright is signing up an increasing number of account holders and supermarkets to its range of temperature-controlled products.

Having launched its rigid refrigerated range successfully, 2007 has also seen increasing demand for its portable cold storage range of cold stores and blast freezers. Director Steven Cartwright believes it is now time for the company to start making inroads into the growing home delivery market.

The past 12 months has seen Cartwright invest heavily in creating a panel production plant and a new fridge line assembly area. It plans to increase production next year for both refrigerated and ambient products to meet increasing demand.

Steven Cartwright believes the increase in demand is due to the company's willingness to sit down and discuss customers' exact needs - and its ability to deliver them.

He said: "We are able to offer all types of refrigerated bodywork. We offer standard fridge trailers, as well as single or multi-temp trailers and multi-temp double-deck trailers.

"We make it our duty to design and manufacture the bodywork to the customer's exact requirements. The last thing we want to do is say to them "This is what we do, you can have it like this or a bit higher or lower".

"The customer will have specific needs and we work with them to make sure that those are met, even down to the smallest requirement."

With Cartwright offering Cartwright Finance, its joint venture with Bank of Scotland Asset Finance, it has the expertise on hand to make financing a fleet as easy and as simple as possible for customers.

Its ability to offer refrigerated trailers on spot hire or long-term lease with maintenance contracts has also proved successful in the marketplace.

Steven Cartwright added: "We are making the product in accordance with customers' wishes and then making sure the product is looked after for its lifetime.

"Customers in this market are very specific on what they need and we ensure that we provide that throughout the life of our products."

The last surviving mobile post office of its kind has been restored to its former glory by The Cartwright Group.

Seventy-year-old GPO 2 has just been the star attraction in an exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum and will be paraded at other vehicle events this summer.

But it was a sorry sight until the Altrincham-based commercial vehicle bodywork experts set to work on it.

After being taken out of service over 20 years ago, it was acquired for the British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA) in 1994 as a unique artefact. The only other such vehicles, GPO 1 and GPO 3, had both been damaged beyond repair.

Funds were raised recently for its restoration, but the task was a huge one for Cartwright.

Cartwright's works manager Bill Potts said: "It had been badly vandalised and was full of rubbish. Many original items like the windscreen, headlights, front bumper, locks and internal fittings were missing while the internal panelling was in poor condition."

Cartwright builds the majority of modern-day Royal Mail trailers. So it was delighted to be invited to restore the veteran vehicle by BPMA engineering consultant Dave Stone.

Cartwright contributed to the cost of refurbishment and used red, gold and black high performance paints produced by one of its regular suppliers, HMG Paints of Manchester.

The bodywork specialists spent huge amounts of time tracking down original parts, had the engine overhauled, reupholstered the seats in leather, recreated the awning, had replacement crests laser-cut and even brought back one of their retired coachbuilders to repair the bodywork.

Dave Stone said: "Cartwright worked faithfully to my plans and the resulting refurbishment is absolutely fantastic."

John Cartwright, director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We are proud to have been involved in this restoration project as it has been of great interest.

"It reinforces our company aim of being a one-source solution to our customers' requirements."

At 33 ft long and 7ft 6ins wide, GPO 2 was built to the maximum size allowed on British roads in the 1930s. The Post Office gave it the registration plate GPO 2 to signify it as a special vehicle.

It had originally been used to provide telegraph, telephone and postal facilities at major shows and horseracing events, such as Ascot. In wartime it had been a recruitment centre and wireless transmitting station.

The Cartwright Group has supplied Royal Mail with its biggest ever order for trailers as part of the postal company's drive to go green.

Mail chiefs have received 140 environmentally friendly, double-deck trailers from the Altrincham-based manufacturer. Each trailer can carry 50% more mail than conventional single-deck trailers.

Steven Cartwright, director of The Cartwright Group, said: "It is obviously very satisfying to conclude such a major deal with the Royal Mail.
"Everyone at the Cartwright Group is delighted that the Royal Mail has again come to us to meet their trailer needs.
"Over the years we have had a very good, productive relationship with the Royal Mail. We look forward to it continuing for many years to come."

After consultations with Royal Mail, The Cartwright Group designed and supplied 13.6 metre long, 4.44 metre high, GRP van-sided stepframe, triaxle double-deck trailers with a hydraulic moving deck floor. Each trailer holds approximately 100,000 items of mail - the equivalent of a day's post for Carlisle.

Royal Mail turned to Cartwright to help reduce the environmental impact of its distribution network. It estimates that the Cartwright trailers will reduce the road miles and carbon emissions of that part of its operation by 20%.

This is the latest in a series of deals between the two companies which have seen the manufacturer produce innovative trailers to meet Royal Mail's specific needs.

Royal Mail Network Director Paul Tolhurst said: "We are motoring towards our goal of creating a greener transport fleet.
"Measures such as the double-deck trailers help improve our efficiency and we know that improved business performance goes hand in hand with improved environmental performance."

The emphasis will be on the environment with The Cartwright Group at this year's CV Show.

The company's stand will include three double-deck trailers which boast a variety of state-of-the-art features designed to help the environment.

A prototype 13.6 metre triaxle, straightframe double deck trailer with a hydraulic, full-length moving deck will be on display. It has been designed to carry york cages, pallets and containers for the Royal Mail. Royal Mail has placed an order for more than 100 double decks with Cartwright's.

The prototype features recyclable polypropylene panels manufactured by Omnia. It is also lighter than conventional trailers, with aluminium floors and no wood used in its construction - bringing the benefit of increased fuel efficiency.

Cartwright's teamed up with Akzo Nobel so that the most environmentally-friendly paint process was used on the trailer, including a waterborne primer and a topcoat made of organic raw materials. The result is a trailer that boasts paint that has 55% lower VOC emissions than its rivals and is lead and chrome free.

Cartwright's will also be displaying a 13.6 metre, curtain-sided, stepframe double deck it built for Circle Express. This features a hydraulic moving deck and a front aerodynamic roof slope, which boosts fuel efficiency.
A 13.6 metre refrigerated stepframe double deck featuring twin hydraulic moving decks and twin temperature capability will also be on the stand. It has been supplied to Asda.

Director Steven Cartwright believes the show is an opportunity to show how Cartwright's designs efficiency and environmental awareness into its trailers.

He added: "Our customers want products that reflect concern for the environment and deliver efficiency. We have the technical expertise and experience to ensure we meet those needs."

The Cartwright's CV Show stand will also feature its popular new mobile dock lift, the RollerLift.

There will also be a Snap-On Tools mobile showroom. It is based on a six and a half tonne Iveco Integral chassis cab which Cartwright's created the bodywork for - and secured an order to supply 20 of the mobile showrooms.

The Royal Mail Trailer may look bright red but it was actually one of the greenest vehicles at the CV Show this April, in part thanks to the Sikkens paint system at Cartwright's trailer chassis manufacturing line in Altrincham, Cheshire.

The Royal Mail Trailer chassis has been painted using the Sikkens Ultra Low VOC paint with the body of this trailer painted using Sikkens Autocoat BTLV 351 which has the lowest VOC of its type and is also completely lead and chrome free.

This unique system provides a massive reduction in the VOC emissions and is both chromate and isocyanate free. The system boasts a true waterborne primer with a VOC of 33 grammes per litre (legislation requires the VOC of under 540 grammes) and a topcoat made from organic raw materials with a VOC content of 290 grammes per litre (legislation requires a VOC of 420 grammes or less). The result of using the new Akzo Nobel system means that Cartwright's are able to reduce the VOC emissions during the painting of a trailer chassis by a substantial 55% when compared with conventional high solid systems and offer their customers a five year paint manufacturer's warranty.

The trailer was also designed using recyclable polypropylene panels manufactured by Omnia. It is also lighter than conventional trailers, with aluminium floors and no wood used in its construction - bringing the benefit of increased fuel efficiency.

Director Steven Cartwright commented: "Our customers want products that reflect concern for the environment and deliver efficiency. We have the technical expertise and the experience to ensure we meet those needs."

Langdons has taken delivery of five refrigerated trailers from The Cartwright Group.

The temperature-controlled storage and distribution company ordered the five, 13.6-metre, dual-temperature trailers as additions to its UK trailer fleet. They will be used across its UK operation.

Graham Millard, Langdons' Fleet Engineer, said the combination of good relations with Cartwright's and the quality of the product clinched the deal.

He added: "We have done deals with Cartwright's before and have always found them a good company to do business with.
"We first saw this type of trailer on the Cartwright's stand at last year's Commercial Vehicle Show. We were impressed by what was being offered and that was what eventually led to us placing an order,"

Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We are delighted with this order from one of the UK's best-known temperature controlled specialists."

Langdons specialises in controlled-temperature operations. The company moves 25,000 pallets per week of frozen or chilled food.

The Cartwright Group is currently finalising the details of its stand at this year's CV Show

The Cartwright Group is supplying 27 box van trailers to ensure stocks reach all 137 Staples stores across the UK.

Cartwright's has built and supplied the tri-axle GRP trailers to DHL Exel, who have the contract to supply Staples' UK stores from depots in Milton Keynes and Daventry. The trailers have already started transporting goods to the office supplies company's retail outlets.

All trailers were built to DHL's specification. DHL discussed its technical requirements for the trailers with Cartwright's before agreeing the precise details.

The trailers feature BPW running gear with Vacu-Lug tyres and a rear, tuckaway Dhollandia Tail Lift to ensure high street deliveries are as easy as possible.

DHL says that Staples are delighted with the trailers. The eye-catching livery has already been used in some of Staples' national marketing activities.

The trailers are on a full contract-hire package from Cartwright's trailer rental and leasing division, Cartwright Rentals. This five-year package covers maintenance, service, breakdown and tyres.

Stephen Coles, DHL's Distribution Manager, said: "We knew what we wanted in terms of specification for the trailers and we talked it through with Cartwright's.

"We got exactly the trailers we wanted. Cartwright's offered us an excellent package in terms of both cost and commitment to us over the length of the contract.
Steven Cartwright, Director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We are very happy to have been awarded this order and it is an another example of customers utilising our direct deals on contract hire and maintenance."

The Cartwright Group has supplied a new demount body scheme as part of a major contract with Bathstore.

The commercial vehicle bodywork and semi trailer manufacturer supplied a prototype demount swap-body scheme earlier this year. It involves Cartwright's well-proven "Clearlift" system, which has been successfully sold for more than 25 years. But unlike a contact system, the body is lifted clear of the chassis, thus enabling the driver to have more flexibility in the body demounting and mounting.

This system features four off lightweight hydraulic rams and cross beams, fitted to DAF 45 7.5 tonne distribution vehicles. There are also DAF 75, 18-tonne drawbar vehicles with centre bogie tandem axle drawbar trailers, with full air suspension for demounting of the swap bodies.

Bathstore has now taken 17 of the chassis installations and four drawbar trailers. They have also had 28 of the demount swap bodies featuring lightweight honeycomb GRP side panels and doors.

And Bathstore is about to place further orders, as Cartwright's new demount system has proved of great benefit to the bathroom specialists.

Cartwright's worked closely on a pilot scheme for the new system with Roy McCrudden, National Fleet Manager for Wolseley UK, Bathstore's parent company. The pilot scheme was used for the home delivery service run by Bathstore, which is the UK's largest bathroom specialist retailer.

After successful trial of the new scheme, Bathstore has introduced it for its deliveries across England, Scotland and Wales, serving customers ordering online and from its 150 plus stores.

Roy McCrudden said: "Bathstore is growing and with that comes new warehousing facilities and a larger vehicle fleet.

"Cartwright's system benefits us as it means that we can hold our products in a few central warehouses, ship them on to distribution centres and then on to customers. It means that handling of the goods is much reduced.

" We are using Cartwright's because it is a company that is always willing to adapt, innovate and move its product forward.

"Many companies will simply offer the same product year after year but Cartwright's are always looking at ways to minimise the weight of equipment and maximise the available volume. They are quick to come forward with changes to make their products even better for the customer.

"Cartwright's also has the benefit of being able to manufacture the complete system in house, including demount frame , bodywork , chassis installations, drawbar trailer, tail-lift and hitch fitment .This has the advantage of one point of contact and a one-stop shop "

The Cartwright Group has supplied a new demount body scheme as part of a major contract with Bathstore.com

The commercial vehicle bodywork and semi trailer manufacturer supplied a prototype demount swap-body scheme earlier this year. It involves Cartwright's well-proven "Clearlift" system, which has been successfully sold for more than 25 years. But unlike a contact system, the body is lifted clear of the chassis, thus enabling the driver to have more flexibility in the body demounting and mounting.

This system features four off lightweight hydraulic rams and cross beams, fitted to DAF 45 7.5 tonne distribution vehicles. There are also DAF 75, 18-tonne drawbar vehicles with centre bogie tandem axle drawbar trailers, with full air suspension for demounting of the swap bodies.

Bathstore.com has now taken 17 of the chassis installations and four drawbar trailers. They have also had 28 of the demount swap bodies featuring lightweight honeycomb GRP side panels and doors.

And Bathstore is about to place further orders, as Cartwright's new demount system has proved of great benefit to the bathroom specialists.

Cartwright's worked closely on a pilot scheme for the new system with Roy McCrudden, National Fleet Manager for Wolseley UK, Bathstore.com's parent company. The pilot scheme was used for the home delivery service run by Bathstore.com, which is the UK's largest bathroom specialist.

After successful trial of the new scheme, Bathstore.com has introduced it for its deliveries across England, Scotland and Wales, serving customers ordering online and from its 115 stores.

Roy McCrudden said: "Bathstore.com is growing and with that comes new warehousing facilities and a larger vehicle fleet.

"Cartwright's system benefits us as it means that we can hold our products in a few central warehouses, ship them on to distribution centres and then on to customers. It means that handling of the goods is much reduced.

" We are using Cartwright's because it is a company that is always willing to adapt, innovate and move its product forward.

"Many companies will simply offer the same product year after year but Cartwright's are always looking at ways to minimise the weight of equipment and maximise the available volume. They are quick to come forward with changes to make their products even better for the customer.

"Cartwright's also has the benefit of being able to manufacture the complete system in house , including demount frame , bodywork , chassis installations ,drawbar trailer , tail-lift and hitch fitment .This has the advantage of one point of contact and a one-stop shop "

The Cartwright Group is supplying 206 curtainsiders to TDG between now and December.

TDG has just started taking delivery of the first of the trailers, which are to be used to distribute Kimberly-Clark paper products to sites across the country.

The trailers are 13.6 metre, triaxle, curtainsiders, featuring a 3.1 metre side aperture height, roll stability, GRP aerodynamic side skirts and front airfoils.

TDG's group procurement director Mike Aldridge commented: "This was a golden opportunity to equip the K-C operation with a fleet of modern and efficient trailers complete with all the latest onboard safety technology.

Mark Cartwright, director of The Cartwright Group, said: "We were delighted with the order.

"We have given TDG a complete, one-stop solution from initial design to manufacture and we have completed the package with our own, in-house Cartwright Finance."

The Cartwright Group has supplied ten specially-designed trailers to suit Asda's transporting of its George clothing range.

Asda has just taken delivery of the triaxle, stepframe trailer vans, which have twin moving, hydraulic decks. They were designed and built by Cartwright's to meet the specific needs Asda had for its clothing distribution.

The trailers will be based at Asda's sites in Northampton, Wigan, Stoke-on-Trent and Washington and will move product between all clothing DC's.

Asda asked Cartwright's to design a trailer that would have the absolute maximum carrying capacity. The supermarket company took eight double-deck trailers from Cartwright's rental fleet on trial while detailed discussions continued about Asda's design request.

When Cartwright's had completed the design for Asda, the retailer placed an order for ten. All ten were built at the Cartwright's base in Altrincham before being delivered to Asda sites in recent weeks.

Asda's network transport manager, Chris Hall, believes that working with Cartwright's ensured that he was able to obtain the best possible trailer for the job.

He said: "These trailers have been very much designed in response to our specific requests.

"As we are dealing with the transporting of clothing, which is very light, we do not have issues relating to the risk of running overweight. So we were looking for ways to maximise the use of a trailer's cubic capacity.

"What Cartwright's have designed for us has pretty much doubled our trailer capacity."

Cartwright director Steven Cartwright said his company had designed the trailers to accommodate both roll cages, rolling rails and pallet use, maximising the total cubic capacity by utilising two hydraulic moving decks - one over the foredeck and one over the rear deck. This enables pallets to be loaded on both decks over the foredeck area.

Chris Hall added: "Cartwright's have supplied trailers for our clothing network for the past five years and we have always found their products to be well designed, well built & reliable.

"Their responsiveness to customers' needs and their initiative in coming up with solutions have always been excellent."