Arka buys Hytrans aluminum loading planes for its superstructures. -"Our big challenge is that no two bodies are the same. Everything is tailor-made and must be produced on the basis of drawings. Here, Hytrans delivers on all the challenges we give them," says Kato Nordland at Arka.
At Os outside Bergen, Arka has been making truck bodies since 1912. The company has 60 employees and a turnover of just over NOK 150 million. Today, Arka is one of Norway's largest bodybuilders - and in close cooperation with Hytrans.
10 cargo planes in 2024
-"You could say that there are aluminum profiles from Hytrans on everything we make in one form or another. A lot of it is specially adapted to specific customer needs," says Kato.
-"We build all types of truck bodies and deliver throughout the country. This year alone, for example, we have delivered 10 large trucks from Hytrans.
There are also large, heavy crane superstructures with cranes weighing up to 200 tons, and these often require frame sets, limbs, loading boxes, cabinets and profiles. And, of course, you have large cabinet trucks.
Quality is important
A paver project can vary in cost and size, but the investment is important to Arka's customers.
-"It's important because this is equipment that is in almost continuous operation, and faults often cost a lot of money in the form of loss of operating time.
-"We are the ones who are measured on quality by our customers, so it is important for us that it is high," says Kato.
In many contexts, it is also a decisive factor that aluminum is used because it is not only durable, but also lightweight.
-"The lighter the equipment we put on, the more they can transport and the less fuel the vehicles use," says Kato.
A lot to save
This is confirmed by Hytrans. The more load capacity and less fuel consumption you get on your truck, the more profitable it becomes with a Hytrans truck body. Calculations show that you can save 5-10% on fuel by only reducing the weightweight of the truck by 10%.
On the truck bed, steel hassteel has been a dominant material, but now more and more people are switching to aluminum. Although steel is a strong material, it is three times as heavy as aluminum.
One challenge that many truck owners face is that they believe that their need for a solution requires too many adaptations to the vehicle. As a result, they only opt for standard plans or cabinets. At Hytrans, however, very few challenges go unsolved.
- "We can create solutions for everything from small cars to large vehicles and install them on the cars as well," Tore points out.
Here you can see an overview of opportunities.
"Aluminum is flexible and with all our profile variants we can create tailor-made solutions for all types of superstructures. The benefits of testing us can be significant and profitable," he says.
-"By switching to aluminum, you will reduce the weight considerably and still retain the necessary strength and durability. What's more, tailoring solutions are designed to ensure that the work experience is exactly what you want it to be," says Tore at Hytrans.
-"With the phasing in of electric vehicles, reduced weight will also be an important contributor to battery saving and reducing the number of charging breaks," he adds.
Solid collaboration
Kato believes there are obvious reasons why the two companies have developed a solid partnership over the years.
-"For us, Hytrans is good at communication, delivers good quality products and is adaptable and flexible. They also have great expertise in aluminum as a material. That's why we trust them and the solutions they propose.
-"They've solved pretty much every challenge we've thrown at them, and in return we haven't had any complaints from our customers. That means a lot to Arka and our customers.
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Three steps to a solution
Does your business need ramps or bridges? Then you're three easy steps away from getting it fixed:
1: Contact our advisors for a chat about needs and challenges
2: Based on this, we make a proposal for a solution and offer
3: You order and we produce.
Hytrans can deliver tailor-made solutions throughout Norway.