New horsebox to celebrate 50 years of trade in trailers

Mar 21 2008 By David Jones

EUROPE’S biggest trailer maker celebrated its 50th anniversary in style by unveiling a new flagship horsebox.

Ifor Williams Trailers said owners can opt to have a camera installed inside the horsebox so that the horse can be monitored during transit.

The new product was unveiled at a special open day at the firm’s manufacturing site on Deeside Industrial Park where it will be built.

Distributors from across the UK, Europe and beyond travelled to the open day to see the new horsebox which will also go on sale in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Since the company was established in Cynwyd, near Corwen, in 1958, Ifor Williams Trailers has made more than 500,000 trailers. Today it has operations in Cynwyd, Corwen, Bala and Deeside.

Andrew Reece-Jones, design engineering manager, said: "Our existing horsebox has evolved and improved over the years but the new horsebox is radically different and more stylish, with flowing lines.

"We have made it more automotive in its design so that it is sleeker and more sophisticated.

"The camera fits inside the trailer and transmits a picture to a monitor inside the vehicle so you can see how the horse is behaving and how comfortable it is.

"Whilst you wouldn’t be looking at the screen whilst you’re driving, it allows your passenger to keep an eye on the horse."

VIP guests at the celebrations included TV personality Dai Jones, presenter of S4C’s Cefn Gwlad programme, who said: "I am delighted to be here because I admire this company which sells these trailers across the world."