Australian truck manufacturer Kenworth has delivered the 50,000th truck designed and manufactured truck at its Bayswater plant in Melbourne.
Mike Dozier, Managing Director of Paccar Australia, handed the keys of a K200 prime mover to long-standing Kenworth customer Peter Rodney, Managing Director of Rodney’s Transport Service, the largest privately-owned trucking company in the Riverina.
Dozier said Kenworth’s achievement in manufacturing 50,000 trucks was a major milestone, not only for the company but for Australian manufacturing. Kenworth has designed and manufactured Australian trucks since 1971, and it has been the number one heavy-duty truck supplier since 2001. Australian-built trucks are also exported to New Zealand, Japan, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
“The heavy-duty truck market in Australia is one of the most competitive in the world,” said Dozier. “In an industry with no tariff protection, no government financial assistance and a high Australian dollar, Kenworth successfully maintains its status as the market leader against dozens of imported brands from the US, Europe and Asia. We continue to successfully deliver high value-added manufacturing, that is, world-class trucks which provide distinct business advantages.”
Dozier said Australia had a diverse range of operating environments unlike anywhere else in the world. Trucks must deal with extreme heat in remote, dusty mines and across deserts. Others must haul loads that are two or three times heavier than overseas, and on rough and unmade roads. Often trucks are required to perform an inordinate amount of hours, some as much as 24 hours a day.
“It’s crucial that this country has a local manufacturer which understands these challenges. Kenworth is the only manufacturer offering full design capability, technical expertise and resources to application-engineered trucks for the most extreme on and off-road operations,” said Dozier.
“Our trucks are designed to satisfy these unique needs. They feature higher cooling capacities to handle heavier weights and hotter conditions, more robust construction to manage the roughest roads, and embody a design philosophy that ensures cost-effective maintenance and reliability. And, before model’s are introduced, test vehicles undergo millions of kilometres of road testing in Australia’s harshest conditions to ensure they meet Kenworth’s standards.”