Broughan Engineering located in Coppenagh, Tullow, Co Carlow, is a family-run business owned and run by brothers Paul and Patrick Broughan. The company was established 15 years ago, building on a well-known engineering business started by their father Paddy Broughan, who used to do general engineering work 40 years ago.
Paul and Patrick are joined in the office by their sister Carole making Broughan Engineering a true family business.
Broughan Engineering Ltd manufactures a range of high-quality trailers, which includes grain/silage, cattle, bale, low loaders and dump trailers. A valued service Broughan offers to its customers is the option of manufacturing bespoke trailers to meet their customers’ ever-changing needs.
Smyth Trailers based in Garryhill, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, was established by brothers Sam and Clive Smyth in 1994. Coming from a history of agricultural contracting started by their father Sam Snr, the brothers made the decision to give up contracting and concentrate on trailers in 1999. Employing 15 staff, they manufacture a broad range of trailers from their purpose-built facility, including silage, grain, bale and dump trailers. Smyth will also design a bespoke trailer to suit the customers’ requirements and application.
Dooley Bros Engineering Works Ltd was established in 1962 in Ballycallan, Co Kilkenny. It is a family-run business producing a broad range of trailers at a purpose-built facility. Throughout the years, the company has expanded its product range considerably. Initially, most of the trailers manufactured were tractor-drawn for the agricultural market such as silage/grain, cattle and bale trailers, but in the 1990s Dooley Bros developed a range of dump trailers and low loaders for the construction industry. The company also offers a design service to manufacture a bespoke trailer to suit clients’ needs across all industries.
What do the new regulations mean to these manufacturers?
The main changes only apply when the trailer is being towed in excess of 40km/h. Existing trailers being towed up to 40km/h will require little to no modifications to adhere to the new regulations. Many trailers manufactured in 2014/15 have adapted the changes required, so will need few or no changes.
Braking
Braking is the most crucial safety aspect of the new regulations with all trailers exceeding 40km/hr having to be fitted with high-speed commercial axles (105km), coupled with 420 x 180mm brake shoes, load-sensing air brakes and auto slack adjusters achieving 45% brake efficiency. The use of manual slack adjusters is no longer permitted on new build trailers; instead, auto slack adjusters must now be fitted leading to a cost increase of €200 plus vat per tandem axle trailer.
The next aspect of braking which is now implemented is a breakaway device. This is an emergency brake to stop a trailer in the event of a decoupling and must have a braking efficiency of 13.5%. There are four main types of breakaway devices been used on trailers in Ireland.
Mechanical steel cable pulled parking brake.Hydraulic breakaway device.Load-sensing air brake system.Electronic breakaway kit.Existing trailers being towed up to 40km/hr will require a breakaway device to be fitted but may consist of a secondary coupling device such as a chain or wire rope.
If the trailer is to be towed over 60km/hr, then anti-lock braking system (ABS) must be fitted with a cost increase of €1,000 plus vat.
Plating
All trailers, whether new or existing, that are designed to be towed over 40km/h or with laden weights of 19 tonnes for tandem axles and 22.5 tonnes for tri-axles, must be fitted with a manufacturer’s authorisation plate.
This plate contains information
such as:
Manufacturer’s name.Vehicle identification number (VIN).Total permissible mass.Permissible axle loads.Permissible towable masses.Most trailer manufacturers are offering a plating service for existing trailers at a cost of €150, plus VAT, for inspection and plating only.
Speed rating
Speed discs are now required on all new trailers showing their maximum design speed to be towed.
Existing trailers which are capable by design to be towed in excess of 40km/hr must now also be fitted with a speed disc.
A speed disc must be placed in a prominent position on the rear of the trailer.
Lighting and visibility
All trailers must be fitted with an adequate lighting system consisting of:
Amber side lights.Rear tail lights.Rear stop/brake lights.Rear indicator lights.Number plate lighting.Trailers with a declared gross vehicle weight (DGVW) over 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with rear reflective markings. If the tractor and trailer combination is longer than 10 metres, reflective side markings must be fitted.
If the combination exceeds 13 metres, than an additional “long vehicle” sign must be fitted.
All modern trailers should already be fitted with lighting systems and will require minimal changes to comply with the new regulations.
Weights
New weight limits are being introduced with the regulations as follows:
Single-axle trailer
A single-axle trailer can carry 10 tonnes on its axle with no suspension requirement and three tonnes on the drawbar. This can be increased to four tonnes on the drawbar with the addition of a ball and spoon-type coupling.
Tandem-axle trailer
A standard tandem-axle trailer with no suspension can carry eight tonnes per axle with spacing less than 1.3 metres between axles. This can be increased to nine tonnes per axle where flexible suspension is fitted, such as springs or air bags, and an axle spacing of 1.3 metres or more. With the addition of flotation tyres of 500mm or wider, this weight limit can be increased further to 10 tonnes per axle. An axle spacing 1.8 metres or greater requires the addition of a steering axle. The weight limit on the drawbar of a tandem-axle trailer is three tonnes but this can again be increased to four tonnes with a ball and spoon type coupling.
Tri-axle trailer
A tri-axle trailer with an axle spacing less than 1.3 metres and with no suspension system can carry seven tonnes per axle. This can be increased to eight tonnes per axle, with a flexible suspension system and axle spacing 1.3 metres or greater. Another tonne per axle can be achieved with the addition of flotation tyres 500mm or wider. Ten tonnes per axle is possible with a flexible suspension system, flotation tyres and an axle spacing of 1.8 metres or greater, but steering axles are required on both the front and rear axles. The drawbar weight limit can again be increased from three tonnes to four tonnes, with a ball-and-spoon coupling device.
The overall width of a trailer has been increased from 2.5 metres to 2.55 metres. Flotation tyres and mudguards are allowed to protrude up to 100mm from the body of the trailer on each side. Devices associated with hydraulic rear-door opening mechanisms are exempt from this measurement.
The overall consensus between trailer manufacturers is positive as the requirements are in black and white. In recent years, competition within the trailer market and pressure from customers meant that most of the new requirements were already fitted or at least available as options on their trailer ranges. Manufacturers have reported increased orders in preparation for the 2016 deadline with interesting trends such as sales of ball-and-spoon coupling up from two or three in 2014 to over 40 in 2015.
Read more
Trailers can move fast too – with devastating results
Testing times for trailers in 2016
Broughan Engineering located in Coppenagh, Tullow, Co Carlow, is a family-run business owned and run by brothers Paul and Patrick Broughan. The company was established 15 years ago, building on a well-known engineering business started by their father Paddy Broughan, who used to do general engineering work 40 years ago.
Paul and Patrick are joined in the office by their sister Carole making Broughan Engineering a true family business.
Broughan Engineering Ltd manufactures a range of high-quality trailers, which includes grain/silage, cattle, bale, low loaders and dump trailers. A valued service Broughan offers to its customers is the option of manufacturing bespoke trailers to meet their customers’ ever-changing needs.
Smyth Trailers based in Garryhill, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, was established by brothers Sam and Clive Smyth in 1994. Coming from a history of agricultural contracting started by their father Sam Snr, the brothers made the decision to give up contracting and concentrate on trailers in 1999. Employing 15 staff, they manufacture a broad range of trailers from their purpose-built facility, including silage, grain, bale and dump trailers. Smyth will also design a bespoke trailer to suit the customers’ requirements and application.
Dooley Bros Engineering Works Ltd was established in 1962 in Ballycallan, Co Kilkenny. It is a family-run business producing a broad range of trailers at a purpose-built facility. Throughout the years, the company has expanded its product range considerably. Initially, most of the trailers manufactured were tractor-drawn for the agricultural market such as silage/grain, cattle and bale trailers, but in the 1990s Dooley Bros developed a range of dump trailers and low loaders for the construction industry. The company also offers a design service to manufacture a bespoke trailer to suit clients’ needs across all industries.
What do the new regulations mean to these manufacturers?
The main changes only apply when the trailer is being towed in excess of 40km/h. Existing trailers being towed up to 40km/h will require little to no modifications to adhere to the new regulations. Many trailers manufactured in 2014/15 have adapted the changes required, so will need few or no changes.
Braking
Braking is the most crucial safety aspect of the new regulations with all trailers exceeding 40km/hr having to be fitted with high-speed commercial axles (105km), coupled with 420 x 180mm brake shoes, load-sensing air brakes and auto slack adjusters achieving 45% brake efficiency. The use of manual slack adjusters is no longer permitted on new build trailers; instead, auto slack adjusters must now be fitted leading to a cost increase of €200 plus vat per tandem axle trailer.
The next aspect of braking which is now implemented is a breakaway device. This is an emergency brake to stop a trailer in the event of a decoupling and must have a braking efficiency of 13.5%. There are four main types of breakaway devices been used on trailers in Ireland.
Mechanical steel cable pulled parking brake.Hydraulic breakaway device.Load-sensing air brake system.Electronic breakaway kit.Existing trailers being towed up to 40km/hr will require a breakaway device to be fitted but may consist of a secondary coupling device such as a chain or wire rope.
If the trailer is to be towed over 60km/hr, then anti-lock braking system (ABS) must be fitted with a cost increase of €1,000 plus vat.
Plating
All trailers, whether new or existing, that are designed to be towed over 40km/h or with laden weights of 19 tonnes for tandem axles and 22.5 tonnes for tri-axles, must be fitted with a manufacturer’s authorisation plate.
This plate contains information
such as:
Manufacturer’s name.Vehicle identification number (VIN).Total permissible mass.Permissible axle loads.Permissible towable masses.Most trailer manufacturers are offering a plating service for existing trailers at a cost of €150, plus VAT, for inspection and plating only.
Speed rating
Speed discs are now required on all new trailers showing their maximum design speed to be towed.
Existing trailers which are capable by design to be towed in excess of 40km/hr must now also be fitted with a speed disc.
A speed disc must be placed in a prominent position on the rear of the trailer.
Lighting and visibility
All trailers must be fitted with an adequate lighting system consisting of:
Amber side lights.Rear tail lights.Rear stop/brake lights.Rear indicator lights.Number plate lighting.Trailers with a declared gross vehicle weight (DGVW) over 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with rear reflective markings. If the tractor and trailer combination is longer than 10 metres, reflective side markings must be fitted.
If the combination exceeds 13 metres, than an additional “long vehicle” sign must be fitted.
All modern trailers should already be fitted with lighting systems and will require minimal changes to comply with the new regulations.
Weights
New weight limits are being introduced with the regulations as follows:
Single-axle trailer
A single-axle trailer can carry 10 tonnes on its axle with no suspension requirement and three tonnes on the drawbar. This can be increased to four tonnes on the drawbar with the addition of a ball and spoon-type coupling.
Tandem-axle trailer
A standard tandem-axle trailer with no suspension can carry eight tonnes per axle with spacing less than 1.3 metres between axles. This can be increased to nine tonnes per axle where flexible suspension is fitted, such as springs or air bags, and an axle spacing of 1.3 metres or more. With the addition of flotation tyres of 500mm or wider, this weight limit can be increased further to 10 tonnes per axle. An axle spacing 1.8 metres or greater requires the addition of a steering axle. The weight limit on the drawbar of a tandem-axle trailer is three tonnes but this can again be increased to four tonnes with a ball and spoon type coupling.
Tri-axle trailer
A tri-axle trailer with an axle spacing less than 1.3 metres and with no suspension system can carry seven tonnes per axle. This can be increased to eight tonnes per axle, with a flexible suspension system and axle spacing 1.3 metres or greater. Another tonne per axle can be achieved with the addition of flotation tyres 500mm or wider. Ten tonnes per axle is possible with a flexible suspension system, flotation tyres and an axle spacing of 1.8 metres or greater, but steering axles are required on both the front and rear axles. The drawbar weight limit can again be increased from three tonnes to four tonnes, with a ball-and-spoon coupling device.
The overall width of a trailer has been increased from 2.5 metres to 2.55 metres. Flotation tyres and mudguards are allowed to protrude up to 100mm from the body of the trailer on each side. Devices associated with hydraulic rear-door opening mechanisms are exempt from this measurement.
The overall consensus between trailer manufacturers is positive as the requirements are in black and white. In recent years, competition within the trailer market and pressure from customers meant that most of the new requirements were already fitted or at least available as options on their trailer ranges. Manufacturers have reported increased orders in preparation for the 2016 deadline with interesting trends such as sales of ball-and-spoon coupling up from two or three in 2014 to over 40 in 2015.
Read more
Trailers can move fast too – with devastating results
Testing times for trailers in 2016
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: