21st May 2009
Local engineer to present a world best practice Standard in Europe
Manukau engineer Geoff Walsh heads off to Germany this weekend to present New Zealand’s work on world best practice truck and trailer safety Standards to the International Standard Organisation (ISO).
The ISO has recognised the new design Standard that Geoff and numerous other engineering experts developed for heavy vehicle towing connections such as tow bars, draw bars and draw beams is off such a high standard, that they will consider it when reviewing their international towing connection Standards.
“The design safety of these connections is paramount and our review of the Standard found our on-road testing indicated significant differences in road conditions compared to Europe. Our Standard has been developed specifically for New Zealand conditions to ensure there is no compromise in road user safety,” says Geoff Walsh, Chairman of the Heavy Motor Vehicle Towing Connections New Zealand Standard. “As on occasions draw bars on large truck and trailer units have failed and can potentially cause devastating consequences for New Zealand drivers.”
The original Standard and the revision was completed by a team of engineering experts Including representatives from the New Zealand Transport Agency, Motor Trade Associations, IPENZ, NZ Heavy Haulage Association, Road Transport Forum and other agencies worked on the design standard that explains best practise design on linking connections between heavy trucks and trailers.
“The ISO interest centred around the quality of the Standard written by the NZ team and also that it is unique in the world for its application to the structures linking two heavy vehicles together, other standards only apply to the coupling mechanisms, not the actual tow-bar structures like our Standard does,” says Mr Walsh.
“This Standard also covers tow bars and connections between boats and caravans so the development of this standard will mean greater safety for all road users,” he says.
As Chairman of the group that worked on the revision of the NZ Standard 5446:2007 Heavy Motor Vehicle Towing Connections: Drawbar Trailers, Geoff Welsh will attend the ISO meeting in Frankfurt, Germany on behalf of the group.
For more information contact:
Julie Buchanan
Communications Manager, IPENZ, Engineers New Zealand.
Mobile: 021 479 885
DDI: 04 473 2028
