RiverRidge is an award-winning waste and resource management company in Northern Ireland. Established in 2011 as a small skip hire and landfill company, through a series of acquisitions and investments in its operations, infrastructure and fleet, it has become the leading waste and resource management provider across the region, offering its extensive customer base a full range of integrated waste management services.
One of RiverRidge’s latest investments is a series of K-Force moving floor trailers, which were purchased through Kraker dealer, Setanta. The addition of the 16 new trailers to the company’s fleet, brings the total number of moving floor trailers to 66.
Speaking about his dealings with RiverRidge, John McCann from Setanta said, “I have been familiar with RiverRidge and its fleet for many years, but when I reached out to Stephen Thompson on behalf of Kraker, outlining the benefits of K-Force for the company, Stephen’s interest was piqued and a personal meeting followed. Intrigued to find out more about the trailers, a trip to the production facility in Axel was arranged.”
Stephen Thompson said, “John's approach is old school, and I mean that in a positive way. He really immerses himself in a company and he only makes a proposal once he has all the required information. He provided RiverRidge with comprehensive and detailed information about the various options of K-Force moving floor trailers. To ensure that the proposal matched exactly what RiverRidge needed, John did not only talk to me, but also to the drivers and maintenance. He was very thorough in his approach.”
Visit to the Axel factory proved beneficial to gain insight into detail and manufacturing
Stephen paid his first visit to the Kraker factory in Axel after his contact with John. He said, “It was a huge benefit to visit the production facility, and see first-hand the details and precise manufacturing. I was impressed by what I saw: the efficiency of the production method, and the environmental and sustainability considerations that are taken into account. The core values of RiverRidge and Kraker Trailers fit well together! An added bonus for us was the five-year guarantee that comes with the moving floor trailers.”
Following Stephen’s visit to the Axel factory, an initial order was placed, which was shortly followed by a second order.
RiverRidge is determined to change the world of waste in Northern Ireland and has made a significant contribution to the region’s waste landscape over its 13 years. The company launched the slogan ‘Rethinking Resources’ in 2017 to communicate a more resource efficient and productive approach to waste management in Northern Ireland, making it clear that it is committed to the circular handling of waste and raw materials. Looking forward, the Kraker K-Forces will contribute to the company’s sustainability practices, as contained within its ESG strategy.
The unique construction of the Kraker trailer provides a greater payload, meaning less journeys are required over the course of the year. The trailers are specific versions for the UK market, and were developed by Kraker Trailers to allow for a higher load space and therefore a higher load volume – 44T in the UK compared to the EU’s 40T.
“Extended lifespan for trailers at RiverRidge”
Stephen continued, “The K-Force trailers’ sturdy and unique floor construction, combined with the high standards of servicing and regular safety inspections that RiverRidge conduct, mean that the moving floor trailers will be maintained to the highest standards throughout their lifespan with RiverRidge. It is not unusual for a RiverRidge trailer to surpass its expected lifespan, which is generally around eight to 10 years.”
Both Stephen and John have told us independently that with the K-Force, Kraker has built strong and reliable trailers that stand out from others. John adds, “The design of the trailer makes maintenance for the owner much less complex. If you get your maintenance right, and that is certainly the case at RiverRidge, it is reflected in the service life of the trailer.”
The trailers selected by RiverRidge, which include the VBK Rollrite roof, have safety at the fore. They feature a reinforced top rail on the side of the reinforced rear door where the loading takes place. Furthermore, with this type of roof, no straps run along the side of the trailer and it is very user-friendly for the driver. One push of a button is enough for the roof to effortlessly open and close automatically, so the driver does not need to climb on the platform, therefore mitigating risk when working from height. The watertight roof also reduces the chances of damage to the roof cover.
Stephen Thompson is very pleased with his experience to date with K-Force and the moving floor trailers. John McCann, in turn, does not hide the fact that he is very happy to meet the needs of his clients with Kraker products, particularly clients like RiverRidge that run large-scale operations. John said, “The trailers are a true sight to behold, especially with RiverRidge’s distinct branding, you cannot miss them.”
And as long Kraker keeps delivering the high quality products that they do, with John McCann as their first contact, the so-called sky is the limit.