Hino Australia is carrying out a series of information seminars for truck body builders, component suppliers and engineering certifiers, in what it says is a first for the Australian truck industry.
Hino launched its Bodyworx programme in early 2018 with the creation of an online portal containing technical and regulatory information to assist with the design and construction of truck and bus bodies on Hino chassis.
Hino Australia product strategy manager Daniel Petrovski says new technologies mean body builders, component suppliers and certifiers now require a far greater understanding than ever before.
“It is also essential that they understand the implications associated with fitting a body to a Hino chassis and that there can be differing impacts on the vehicle’s chassis from the various body types and the body mountings that can be chosen,” Petrovski says.
“We have a responsibility to actively share all the information that we can with the body builders and component suppliers who we consider our business partners.
“At Hino, our trucks are built under the guiding principles of quality, durability and reliability, and by providing this next level of information to our body builders, we are equipping them with the knowledge about the Hino trucks they require to build and mount their bodies to the end customer’s vehicle.
“We know that a correctly integrated body provides our customers with superior operational outcomes, which is a positive for everyone,” he says.
Over 200 body builders nationally were invited to attend the first round of the Hino Bodyworx seminars, which ran over two months in five capital cities.
Hino Australia applications engineer Jeff Gibson played a big part in the creation of the Hino Bodyworx Portal and seminar programme.
Hino applications engineer Yousif Nassrat also brought a wealth of knowledge to the programme including his previous work in the authorised vehicle examiners (AVE) area of the industry.
Information covered in the seminars includes body mounting guidelines, recommendations and specifications, CAD drawings, detail on technology systems employed in the various Hino models and how bodies need to be built to integrate with them.
“The Bodyworx seminars are a natural extension of the information already available on the Hino Bodyworx portal,” Petrovski says.
“They allow Hino direct contact with the body builders and component suppliers and provide context, and importantly enable us to answer specific questions that industry participants may have.
“Feedback from the seminar attendees has been very positive, and we believe it will ultimately lead to better outcomes and products for our customers.”
Licensed Certifiers Association (LCA) president Pete Weatherby attended the first event in Sydney and says it was an “excellent opportunity for AVEs and body builders to establish important business links with Hino and more so important with the growing applications of technologies”.
“We recommend the Hino Bodyworx events to all of our LCA members, including our AVE counterparts interstate,” Weatherby says.
The next round of the Hino Bodyworx seminars will occur in the fourth quarter of 2019.
*Go to hino.com.au/bodyworx for more information and to register.
