Baileys Ready For Expansion
Brake safety

Baileys Ready For Expansion

28 years after the first Bailey trailer was produced, the company is ready for the next stage in its expansion. A new factory in Sleaford, an expanding dealer base and a well earned reputation for quality trailers should see them increase annual production to 1000 units within the next 2 years.

Sited on the Pride Parkway, within view of the A17 Sleaford by-pass, the new Bailey Trailers factory comprises a main factory block with offices for admin, design and sales plus a stand alone building with paint shop facilities, in total 50,000 square feet of production space. The new site has improved access for Baileys’ own transport plus steel and component deliveries.  The labour force has topped forty and the new factory has been fitted with the latest technology and CAD design. Improved work flow patterns, purpose designed overhead cranes and a new laser cutter should enable the company to produce up to 20 trailers every week.

 

Another strength is Bailey’s readiness to meet new standards required by the customers and the government. All their grain and root models over 12 tonnes are fitted with commercial axles which provide the 50% braking efficiency proposed by the EU while any smaller models can be fitted with the same as an optional extra.

“With faster tractors and more road haulage, demand for the high performance axles has steadily increased to a point where it is now viable for us to fit them as standard on our top selling trailers” explains Michael Bailey.

This is particularly relevant in view of trailers generally getting bigger. For many years Bailey’s top selling model was the 14t grain trailer. This has been overtaken by their twin axle 16t model. Large low ground pressure tyres are also an increasing trend as farmers seek to reduce soil compaction.

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For details please contact Michael Bailey on 01529 303411

EC proposals on trailer brakes: a manufacturers’ view“

We could meet these proposals today” says Michael Bailey “It’s all comes down to what the customer is prepared to pay.”

In fact all Bailey Trailers over 15 tonnes are already fitted with commercial axles which provide the 50% braking efficiency proposed by the EU and any smaller model can be so equipped… at a price.
Michael feels that unless the law states that only trailers with the 50% braking efficiency are allowed on the road, few farmers will be prepared to spend around £900 to upgrade to the alternative axles from their agricultural axles which already provide 25% efficiency as standard. There are also reports that some farmers have found commercial brakes over aggressive on smaller trailers.

Regarding a failsafe system that engages the brakes should trailer and tractor separate accidentally, again it’s a question of added cost, in the region of £350 on a Bailey trailer.

A parking brake system operated from the cab would need carefully design, first deciding whether it should be oil, air or electricity based.
Even with a trailer equipped to these proposed standards, there is the human factor to consider.

“We hear of some farmers that rarely if ever bother to connect their braking system to the tractor!” says Michael. “Then there’s the far more common practice of farmers who park their grain or beet trailers at the end of harvest of beet lifting and expect the brakes to function fully months later without any thought of a maintenance service. The brakes on our delivery lorry have to be checked every 6 to 8 weeks, there are trailers out there that haven’t been checked or serviced for years!”

Similarly, to be fully effective, a failsafe braking system needs to be connected by the tractor driver every time a trailer is hitched. This will only be guaranteed when the system is configured to prevent towing without it being connected.

“We are leaders in a very competitive market”, concludes Michael, “without the new proposals being made a legal requirement on all trailers, made in the UK or imported, I don’t see them as being viable . However we are ready in any case.”