NZ-made brake testers for UAE

Lifting and testing equipment supplier MAHA has supplied its first two units to the United Arab Emirates. The MTL5250 mobile roller brake testers, built in New Zealand, will be used by UAE vehicle testing agencies for routine vehicle inspections.

Mick Lauster, managing director, MAHA Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, said that the Australasianmade units employed MAHA’s standard, German-made brake and axle-play testers, but the overall package – including the frame, trailer and motor generator – was created Down Under.

“Our sister company in the Middle East, together with the MAHA local dealer in the UAE (Al Zarouni International), asked us to build these units locally because of the way we design the trailer,” said Lauster. Four similar units have been in operation in Australia for more than seven years.

The New Zealand-made units feature custom-made wheel tracks that are wider than German standard units by about 300mm.

MAHA has long supplied equipment to the Pacific

Islands out of Australia, and currently has hundreds of units in operation throughout Australia and New Zealand. Lauster said that in the past 12 months, the market had strongly turned towards German made equipment.

Chantal Abou Jaoude, managing director of MAHA Middle East, said that the local teams in Dubai – and their customers – were looking forward to the arrival of the units. The commissioning and aftersales support would be carried out locally.

“There’s an appetite for good-quality gear,” he said. “MAHA also trains its own specialist technicians, and our aftersales service is contributing to the uptake. Through Covid, we’ve had continuity of supply and service to our customers.”