When the UK and Ireland’s largest semi-trailer manufacturer decided to switch from hiring to purchasing scissor lifts, they looked no further than Sunward.
Thanks to the working relationship that SDC Trailers’ production manager Eoin McErlean has with local Northern Ireland Sunward dealer AJ Armstrong and Sons, a month’s demo of 6m and 8m scissor lifts has led to their first purchase of Sunward machines – a total of 11 electric scissor lifts!
Founded in 1978, SDC Trailers manufacturers curtainsider, boxvan, platform, skeletal, drawbar and machine carrier trailers for the industry’s leading logistics operators, supermarket chains and rental companies.
The scissor lifts that had been on hire for years were typically used to assist in the manufacture of curtain-sided trailers across SDC’s 600,000ft2 of production facilities in Toomebridge, Antrim, Mansfield and Southampton.
The new electric Sunward machines – five SWSL 0607DC 6m lifts, five SWSL 0807DC 8m lifts and a SWSL 1008DC 10m lift (Sunward’s scissor lift range runs up to 20m) will be used by SDC’s production team in Toomebridge.
AJ Armstrong director, Andrew Armstrong said SDC Trailers opted for electric scissor lifts as they would negate the risk of fumes within the building, but also because they were easy to charge and run.
“They are performing very well and SDC seem to be well pleased,” Andrew said.
Eoin McErlean said the demos sealed the deal for him and SDC’s facilities manager.
“The equipment demo gave us the opportunity to evaluate the electric machines onsite and long-term it looked more financially attractive to buy from Sunward,” he said.
Eoin added: “I knew if Andrew was happy with them, they were going to be good.”
Over the past four decades, SDC has pioneered several industry-first semi-trailer solutions for the modern-day transport operator. The business also operates an extensive spare parts network, with 18 branches stocking over 16,000 truck and trailer parts to ensure customer downtime is kept to a minimum.
