Truck and Trailer Parts (TATP) has become New Zealand’s sole distribution and service agent for the Fuwa K Hitch brand.
Headquartered in Guangdong (China), Fuwa is known for its axles, fifth wheels, king pins, landing gear sets, ball races, and suspensions.
“The products hold significant market share positions in Asia and Australia and Fuwa is the largest global producer of axles, by volume, in the world”, says TATP general manager Scott Holt.
TATP will carry a comprehensive line-up of core inventory lines, and it will also be able to order the product from the Australian Fuwa K Hitch warehouse, providing customers with very short lead times.
Clients who require Fuwa products delivered in bulk may also have their orders shipped directly ex-factory in China, saving significantly on freight costs.
Currently, the Fuwa manufacturing facility produces in the vicinity of 800,000 axles, 200,000 landing gear sets, 40,000 suspensions and huge volumes of fifth wheels, king pins, slack adjusters and other components annually, and Holt says the acquisition of the local distributing agency for the brand is a coup for the Hellaby Group company.
“The local stock exchange commentators have recognised this is a tremendous deal for the group, and we need to make good market gain through this,” says Holt.
“We are already in discussions with potential customers, many of whom have seen this outstanding range of products at trade shows in Melbourne and Brisbane, where the FUWA brand is already recognized as a market leader,” he says.
“We will be matching the Fuwa axle product with the latest Knorr Bremse G2.2 electronic braking system for all New Zealand customers,” says Holt.
“Fuwa axle products offers benefits such as the single piece non-welded axle beam which is unique, and the wheel end is a Wabco PAN19 which is widely used throughout the industry,” he says.
Holt also says that Truck and Trailer Parts are investigating new Fuwa K Hitch products such as the Razor-powered ‘eLeg’ landing leg set. “There is a lot of new technology such as this that can be introduced to improve health and safety for drivers and the industry,” says Holt.
“The key benefits of the electronic leg is in minimising unnecessary exposure to the operator, when hitching and unhitching the trailer, while greatly reducing the time and effort required with traditional landing leg operation, and thus providing a far safer and user friendly environment for drivers,” he says.
Chris Barrett – national sales manager of Fuwa K Hitch Australia – says they are “extremely pleased to welcome TATP into the Fuwa family as our distributor in New Zealand.
“To be able to join forces with a company like TATP, finally gives FKH Australia the ability to truly service on a national basis this very important market, at both OEM and after sales level, which has been a long term desire of ours,” says Barrett.
“When key management had the TATP opportunity presented to us in Australia it was agreed unanimously that the timing could not have been better,” he says.
“This will not only give greater coverage and brand recognition of our Fuwa range, but will also enable us to better service and care for those existing loyal customers in the market,” says Barrett.
“It will significantly shorten lead times and technical support of our products as they will be virtually off the shelf,” he says.
“This in turn will also provide those customers with the most competitive price possible,” says Barrett.
“We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding partnership with Scott and his team as our new partners,” he says.
Holt says the success of the brand in other world markets is yet another reason for the acquisition of the exclusive distribution agency for the New Zealand market.
“New Zealand customers will also notice very sharp pricing compared to the traditional brands, with FUWA you are getting a lot of product for a smaller outlay,” says Holt.
“These products are tried and tested in the harshest conditions in the world, and the extensive warranty that FUWA provides on all its products bears testament to this,” he says.
