Goldhofer is brand that has an unparalleled history and heritage. The brand has been in business since 1705, and it was in the 1950s that it started operations in the segment in which it is among the global leaders right now – which is the design, development, manufacture and supply of various heavy duty trailers and transport modules.
In order to reach out to its customers in the region, both prospective and existing – of which there are many – Goldhofer participated in Breakbulk Middle East 2024. Dean Exner, Regional Director of Sales, Transport Technology, Goldhofer, was at the event representing Goldhofer at the company’s stall. Speaking to PMV Middle East, he said the company’s products are legendary in the global bulk cargo and heavy transport sector, helping to move the heaviest loads and objects.
“From the Americas to Asia and Australasia, as well as every region in-between, you can find Goldhofer products all across the globe engaged in moving some of the heaviest and largest objects that need to be moved,” says Exner, in an exclusive video chat, which can be accessed here.
Goldhofer products make a difference
“The global infrastructure industry is a key arena where Goldhofer products are working to make a vital difference, especially in the power and energy sectors. Whether it is transporting wind turbines and blades, and components of huge windmills, or moving components of refineries and other energy industries weighing several hundreds of tonnes – Goldhofer excels in providing the special vehicles that make such transport possible.
“Without our heavy transport modules, such as our Self-propelled Modular Transporters – or SPMT – and our heavy trailers, many for-granted elements of our modern life would be difficult to transport and install.”
Of course, the name Goldhofer is as well known in the Middle East as it is in other parts of the globe. Explaining how the region is a key area for Goldhofer’s sales, he says: “We have been working with our customers here in the Middle East and supplying them our market-leading products for many decades now. I’m here at Breakbulk Middle East to meet with our clients in the region to whom we provide the design, engineering and fabrication for their heavy transport modules.”
An important customers in the region for Goldhofer is UAE-based Al Faris, a name that needs no introduction in the Middle East’s engineered heavy lifting and heavy transport sector. Giving details on the close relationship between Goldhofer and Al Faris, Exner says: “Recently, we were glad to receive a contract and order from our well-known customer Al Faris. They ordered 24 axle lines from us, from our well-known THP SL module. We appreciate the order as the next and latest step in the continued association between our two companies.
“This association stretches back a long way and Al Faris is a company that has been using Goldhofer products for a long time now. In fact, just some time ago we supplied them three units of our Stepstar trailers. We are glad to see that there is continuing demand for our products in the region with customers such as Al Faris.”
The relationship with and importance of Al Faris underscores the importance of the entire Middle East for Goldhofer, and Exner says: “This is a very important region for us. With the importance of the petrochemicals and oil & gas sector in the region, which forms the backbone of the region’s economy as among the major energy suppliers to the world, there is always need for heavy transport and haulage here in the Middle East.
“The oil & gas installations, refineries, downstream petrochemical industries – all of these require heavy transport services in order for their industrial complexes to be set up. And this is where we at Goldhofer come in with our long years of experience and expertise in providing the right equipment for such heavy transport jobs.”
Demand from Saudi Arabia
Exner is also happy about the demand from other parts of the region and from other companies for Goldhofer products, especially from Saudi Arabia. “Over the last couple of days here at Breakbulk, as well as speaking with our existing and potential customers, I have a really good positive feeling for the near future for Saudi Arabia, especially in the oil & gas and wind energy businesses.
“We have received a lot of enquiries and had many discussions related to our products for the transportation of wind turbine blades, especially, and the well-known heavy haulage transporters in our product portfolio, such as the THP or PST. So I trust that we can look very positively into the future in this region and we are expecting good sales.”
He adds that another important part of feedback that he got at Breakbulk is about the quality and efficacy of Goldhofer’s products. This is a vindication of “our dedication to our products”, he affirms.
“Customers here that I have spoken to all tell me that Goldhofer is one of the best products worldwide and they are always glad to have our products in their fleets,” Exner reveals.
So what sets Goldhofer and its products apart from the competition in the market? Goldofer has been involved in this business since the 1950s, Exner mentions, so its products are based on many decades of experience and expertise, backed by extensive research and development.
“We offer the most well-known and highest quality products in our field and this is the feedback that we always get from our customers. We are working closely with our customers, and we constantly listen to their feedback to further develop and refine our products according to their requirements and bring in new innovations for the future. In this way we not only satisfy our existing customers but we are constantly emerging as a better and better proposition for our potential customers,” Exner explains.
“From our point of view, achieving best-in-the-world status starts with the designing and engineering that we do. Then it’s over to our meticulous production and our strict attention to quality, and then our attention to aftersales service for our customers.
Taking care of customers
“We provide the full package to our customers and we take care of them from start to finish, from A to Z, and they are very glad about that. And their feedback gives us confidence that we are indeed among the leaders worldwide in the heavy transport business and in the manufacturing of such products that we do. That is why our name is so well known and has a high reputation worldwide.”
Building on that reputation, Goldhofer is also taking its responsibility towards the planet’s future seriously.
“As we all know, preserving the environment is very important to us all for our future. And to be green and sustainable in business practices is key to that. As Goldhofer, we are also concentrating on this aspect and we are working closely with our partners and customers in order to find the best and cleanest solutions for the near future, both in terms of production and when our customers are operating and utilising our equipment on the roads and in the field today in order to have a far lower carbon footprint.
“Taking care of our planet is an important part of our and our customers’ goals and that is why we are constantly innovating and inventing new equipment for the future,” Exner concludes.