From its well-appointed, state-of-the-art facility, County Cork based Lynch Trailers manufacture an impressive range of high quality tractor drawn trailers as well as providing a superb after sales and repair service of all trailer types including jeep drawn livestock trailers, plant trailers etc. We met up with Dónal Lynch to get an insight into this exceptional family business which boasts an exemplary track record going back more than five-and-a-half decades.
Reflecting on how his father came to set up Lynch Trailers, Donal reveals that the business began almost unintentionally in 1959 when Dan Lynch made a tractor trailer from the remains of a Commer lorry and advertised it on the Cork Examiner. There were few telephones at the time, so the advert simply read ‘New 9ft x 6ft tractor trailer for sale, contact Dan Lynch, Coolea, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork’. As Dan used to say himself ‘the road was black with cars’ as people came from far and near to buy the trailer. Realising then that a huge demand existed, Dan began to manufacture various tractor trailers and the business grew from there. Whilst non tipping flat trailers were the norm at the start, the tipping trailer was quickly introduced which paved the way for larger grain and silage trailers etc…Since then, without interruption, Lynch Trailers have been manufacturing trailers in Coolea village. Now known as Lynch Trailers, in times gone past they often referred to in the Cork – Kerry region as the ‘Coolea Trailer’.
In 2001, Dan’s son, Dónal took the reins and set about both expanding the product line and establishing Lynch Trailers as a national brand. For a while the company expanded into the smaller jeep drawn trailers as well as tractor drawn trailers. Dónal says ‘In my earlier years here, our product range consisted mainly of the smaller car & jeep trailer ranges and a lot of farm tipping trailers’. In 2002 the company manufactured its first tractor drawn aluminium cattle trailer and in the intervening years this product range has developed to be a very into a large part of the business. ‘By 2008 cattle trailers had become a significant part of the business but I still felt that our cattle trailer didn’t really stand out from other trailers on the market. It was at this stage that we moved to the all aluminium trailer and introduced features such as the seam welded floors, galvanised slurry tank, galvanised dividing gates etc. I wanted to differentiate our trailers from those of our competitors and we certainly succeeded in that. Although some other companies have since copied some features such as the galvanised slurry tank, the Lynch cattle trailer is still the only trailer on the market where slurry doesn’t come in contact with painted steel. The slurry only comes in contact with either aluminium or galvanised steel – both of which resist corrosion’ It is obvious from our conversation that the long life of his trailers is a key design characteristic. ‘Yeah, I have traded in trailers that were made here over 40 years previous. I’d like to think my son or daughters will be able to say the same. ‘
Looking around the factory yard I notice an array of trailers ready for delivery including bale trailers and various tractor or farm tipping trailers. Donal says ‘We make a lot of bale trailers all year round. The demand for bale trailers has increased significantly in recent years. We also make a lot of farm tipping trailers. Our farm tippers are a good bit stronger than most other trailers of that type on the market. I suppose we have always specialised in farm tippers more than other manufacturers. I think most people now realise that a well made trailer is almost a lifetime investment. Trailers with the right specifications that are well designed, well built, and well finished lose very little value over their lifetime and continue to perform for decades’
The recent development of a brand-new manufacturing facility leaves the business in a very strong position going forward – a veritable one-stop shop for all trailer needs: “We had been adding to the old workshops as we went along but in 2014 we took the plunge and built a new state-of-the-art facility on the same site here in the Gaeltacht village of Coolea. It was a difficult project as we had to take down some of our existing buildings to allow the building of the new workshop to proceed whilst still trying to maintain production and more importantly – income!’ The original building that was built in 1966 was our main welding and fabrication area up to 2014, almost 50 years!’ The new building covers 10,000 sq ft and incorporates purpose built sandblasting and painting areas alongside a hugely impressive manufacturing workshop that’s neatly laid out into different manufacturing areas and is also fitted for an overhead crane. ‘It came to the stage that we just had to invest in our facilities in order to grow the business.’ Donal says that paint quality has become a big factor in recent years with all machinery manufacturers and he realised that any new building would have to include a sandblasting facility to prepare trailers for priming and painting. ‘Sandblasting is a dirty, expensive and time consuming process but the results are phenomenal. It is only when you see how clean the steel is after sandblasting that you realise how critical it is to the overall value of the trailers.’ The new building is highly insulated and is very comfortable to work in. More importantly it also provides a temperature controlled painting environment during the winter months.
As I arrived, a truck was just leaving the factory towing a large silage trailer. “We have developed an exceptionally good grain and silage trailer range over the past number of years and these are fast becoming a significant part of our business.’ Donal explained that although development of this range began in 2008, it is only now – following investment in the new premises – that they are in a position to produce them in numbers. We’re very excited about this trailer range going forward because we have put a huge amount of time and effort put into developing this range. All the feedback we have received from existing customers over the past number of years has been extremely positive, especially in terms of trailer stability and ease of towing. At this year’s ploughing championship in Ratheniska, the positive feedback both from existing and potential customers was really encouraging. Customers especially loved the quality of finish on the trailer.
“All our trailers are CE-certified and comply with the new 2016 regulations for agricultural trailers. To be truthful, we had to make very few changes in order to comply with the new regulations because most of the requirements of the new legislation were standard features on our trailers anyway.” Equipped with a Mechanical Engineering Degree, Donal is ideally placed to ensure the company’s products are compliant with all relevant legislation. ‘I concentrate on trailer design and sales, and we have 5 full time employees working in the manufacturing. Any business is only as good as the people that work within it, and I am very fortunate to have a good team of lads here that give it their all every day. Attention to detail is key, and the lads are just as committed to getting the product right as I am myself. We expect to hire two additional employees next year’.
There are two things in particular that separate Lynch Trailers from the chasing pack. Firstly, the quality of workmanship is really exceptional and compares favourably with even the best finished trailers on the market in terms of design, build quality, and finish. Secondly, all their trailers are surprisingly well priced. By dealing directly with the end user, Lynch Trailers is able to consistently guarantee the highest-quality trailers at the best-possible price. ‘We have always dealt direct with the end user and I like that aspect of the business. I like to get to know our customers and try and match the trailer with the customer’s specific needs. I have built up some very good friendships with customers over the years. Dealing direct also keeps you closer to the market in terms of knowing what the market likes and wants. It’s the feedback from your customers that shapes your products for the future’. This business is 100% customer-focussed and the back-up service is a vital part of that, he concludes. “We service all kinds of trailers and we keep a full stock of parts here as well.
When asked if the company can expand further without agents or nationwide distributors, Donal responds ‘Look around you, those two trailers are going to different customers in Cork, that cattle trailer there is going to Killimer, Co.Clare, the one next to it is going to Kells in Co. Meath. We have trailers on order at the moment for Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Roscommon and Mayo. We deliver nationwide with our own truck. In time we may look at appointing a small number of dealers in Ireland but it’s not a huge priority for us at the moment. We have one dealer in across the water in Wales and we will certainly be looking for more dealers throughout the UK in 2016.
So what’s next? Donal is very optimistic about the future. What else would be next only build more trailers, he says! A new website is also coming soon – not just packed full of information on their trailer products, but hopefully full of relevant information for all trailer users! He tells me that there will be some exciting additions to the product range in 2016 as well.
Fifty-six years since its inception, Lynch Trailers is experiencing a second wind, a new lease of life so to speak. “I love it, it’s in my blood. It’s not the easiest way to make a living and everyone connected with this business work exceptionally hard. Hopefully the next generation will carry it on again but
it’s a bit early to tell yet’ said the smiling Corkman as he holds his 6-month-old son, Danny! Will he be the future? Only time will tell!
Lynch Trailers,
Cúil Aodha,
Macroom,
County Cork.
Tel: 026 45044
Mobile: 087 2775752
Email: [email protected]
www.lynchtrailers.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 11, December 2015
