The foldability, the fact that you can put the trailer against a wall
and minimize the space it takes, is really the primary feature of the
trailer. Our trailer is an urban, suburban trailer that has that, but
still allows consumers to do what they need to do; they can still
haul anything - from a motorcycle or an ATV to large side by sides.
NATDA: The foldability is an interesting feature. Can
you tell me a little bit about that mechanism?
We wanted a folding trailer that could be operated by one person,
one that would be simple and easy to operate and yet provide
the required payload. The way the trailer is built makes it sturdy
enough to withstand more than a ton of weight. It is a trailer with
sides and it collapses around the central axle. The fact that it’s an
aluminum trailer makes it easier because it’s lighter as well. You
can really put a ton on the trailer and drive without any trouble.
It was a challenge to make something that would be that sturdy
and that light and, at the same time, that you could store easily. It’s
the combination of these features that makes the Adapt-X trailer
unique.
NATDA: How are your dealers in Canada enjoying the
product so far?
We are growing exponentially. Our challenge is to make sure
we can manufacture and provide the units to dealers. It’s a
unique product and customers recognize it. For example, when
www.natda.org
we demonstrate how the trailer works during trade shows, the
overwhelming reaction is, “Wow. That’s new and that’s clever!”
NATDA: What do your manufacturing times look like?
Are you looking for a slower rollout to ensure dealers
don’t face any backlog issues with your trailer?
We’re working at it step-by-step, because it’s very important for
Apogee to provide superior customer service. Long wait times
don’t help dealers. We need to build our dealer network in the
U.S. The northeast of the U.S. is a natural expansion, but we want
to roll out in a controlled manner. That means even in states
where you have warmer climates like California, Texas and Florida.
And then, it is also a matter of opportunities and when dealers
contact us directly.
We have great manufacturing capabilities, though, and can ship
trailers easily, because they’re folded. Put them on a pallet and we
can ship anywhere in the U.S. for a fraction of the cost. It makes
it very attractive for dealers and for customers.
NATDA: Is the Adapt-X the only model now?
It’s currently the only model that we make, but we do have
different sizes and they all work around the same design. Apogee
is a young and very dynamic company, so we have a few products
already in our R&D pipeline. We want to keep innovation at the
forefront of what we do.
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