IN CONVERSATION
In Conversation with Cobo Tankers and Services
COBO TANKERS AND SERVICES WAS BORN OF A DETERMINATION TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE FOR UK CUSTOMERS AFTER COBO UK AND HDE WENT INTO ADMINISTRATION IN JULY 2018 . TALLERES COBO OF SPAIN , WITH ITS MISSION TO BE A SERVICE PROVIDER OF HIGHEST QUALITY , SET UP INDEPENDENTLY IN THE UK AND THE NEW BUSINESS WAS BORN . AGAINST A BACKDROP OF THE CHALLENGING CLIMATE OF LAST YEAR , FUEL OIL NEWS CAUGHT UP WITH JOBY CLARK , SALES MANAGER , TO HEAR HOW COBO TANKERS AND SERVICES HAS DEVELOPED .
Telling us more about his experience in the industry , Joby said :
“ I ’ ve worked within the industry for 20 plus years , previously working in hydraulics and compressors but always with an association with Cobo . I sold my first rigid way back in 2004 , which was a Cobo tank assembled in the UK .
“ I ’ d always wanted to get more involved in the supply of rigid tankers , which suits my background and knowledge of working with truck specifications , so I was pleased when Talleres Cobo brought me on board .”
Progression and development With the changing name and face of Cobo UK , there were mixed reactions from UK customers , as Joby explained :
“ For some there has been uncertainty , but this has been the bigger finance houses . For the actual end users , it means that there is a direct link into the main factory which many see as a benefit . It also means that we have been able to progress and develop the rigid tanker business as there is only one profit centre .
“ We no longer have our own facility for repairs in the UK but , with a network of businesses performing these on our behalf , it seems to suit many as they have a local company to work on them rather than having to bring them back to a centralised workshop .”
Approaching customers , Brexit and COVID Nowhere near as easy as ‘ ABC ’, last year brought challenges to all sectors of the industry , as Cobo Tankers and Services highlighted in our February issue of Fuel Oil News . However , the company overcame this
20 Fuel Oil News | March 2021 and had a successful year :
“ We brought on more new rigid tanker customers and 2020 was also a good year for semi-trailer builds as well . Our customers in the home-heating oil business have generally had a good year and this will probably be reflected in new truck orders for this year .”
Commenting on the ways in which Cobo overcame the challenges presented by the pandemic , Joby explained :
“ We have had to be a little different in our sales approach and have been sending out presentations on memory sticks along with sales literature . This has enabled us to keep up the growth in sales . It has been disappointing not to have been able to get to Ireland for the last year . The Irish market is a good market for us , especially as product is shipped directly from Spain , avoiding customs issues that some are facing .”
Speaking about some areas of concern , Joby commented :
“ It has not just been COVID – the uncertainty around Brexit has also been challenging and many businesses have held off capital investment , waiting to see the outcome and now that a deal has been done , we are hearing of discussions of investments taking place . As a foreign manufacturer , we are pleased to see the deal as there are no tariffs on some of our products . The paperwork for importing is a little more complicated , however , with agents , this is in hand and there will be no significant increases in prices for our customers due to this .