TIP Group supports Howdens with major refurb of its trailers in sustainability drive

The company is also expanding its truck fleet with the introduction of nine new Volvo LNG tractor units.

The refurbishment initiative will see nearly 400 Howdens tri-axle curtainsider trailers refurbished over the next 10 months, extending their working life for a further 10 years.

The project involves stripping each trailer, shotblasting the chassis and superstructure before repainting and mechanical refitting.

TIP will then oversee the fitment of new strapping, new curtains and its telematics system, TIP Insight.

TIP said the refurbishment option provided a more sustainable solution; purchasing new trailers for the whole fleet would not only have involved a large capital outlay for Howdens but would have seen a significant tonnage of CO² emissions generated as part of the manufacturing process.

It has been calculated that there will be an approximate saving of 3.9 tonnes of CO² emissions per trailer by avoiding the emissions generated from the manufacturing process if purchased from new.

For the Howdens fleet, this translates to a saving of 1,548.3tCO2e in emissions in total.

Markus Pretzl, head of ESG at TIP, said: “Using the expected lifetime mileage and scope of refurbishment of each trailer across the Howdens fleet we are able to calculate the carbon dioxide savings for the business in taking the refurbishment route, as opposed to purchasing from new.”

Further environmental benefits are being made by recycling all 400 sets of trailer curtains. Buckles and poles are being salvaged for the metal, whilst the curtains and straps are being cleaned, recycled and ultimately made into bags and accessories, avoiding approximately 60 tonnes of landfill.

TIP manages not only Howdens’ fleet of trailers but also its trucks too within Howdens VMU’s at their two main distribution centres in Goole and Northamptonshire.

The introduction of the Volvo LNG trucks will also help lower emissions compared to their diesel counterparts.

Gareth Sterland, head of transport at Howdens, said: “It is our responsibility to future proof the transport side of our business in the most efficient and safe way we can, and this is a fantastic method of doing so.”