2
018 was a diffi cult year for the
truck bodybuilding and trailer
manufacturing industries,
which suff ered due to the overall
slowdown in the GCC markets and fall in
demand from the construction industry.
"Furthermore, the lack of legislation to limit
gross vehicle weight and to regulate the
import of second-hand trailers have made it
more diffi cult to compete in the UAE market,
which also faces oversupply,” says Ivan
Fornazaric, managing director of the UAE-
based Gorica Group.
However, new opportunities have emerged
for Gorica. Outside its core GCC markets,
Gorica has been receiving inquiries from
Iraq. Demand from the oil and gas has been
increasing for acid tankers and frac tanks.
Gorica has been investing in the productCONSTRUCTION
MARKET SLOWDOWN
AND OVERSUPPLY
AFFECT VEHICLE BODY
MANUFACTURERS
development of trailers and bodies for
emerging applications such as aluminium
tankers. During 2018–19, the company also
launched a number of new products including
aluminium animal feed bulkers, aluminium
grain tipping semi-trailers, as well as special
cargo trailers with power rollers for Emirates
Airlines for the transportation of Airbus A380
engines.
The animal feed industry, particularly,
has been responsive to aluminium trailers.
“Some markets are gradually adopting
aluminium as an alternative to steel. We have
been receiving orders from the animal feed
industry for aluminium animal feed bulkers
and aluminium tipping trailers. Although
aluminium has a very small portion of the
market, it has the potential for applications
in fuel and food transport vehicles,” saysFornazaric.
The Gorica Group comprises four
companies in three GCC countries. The
group's main manufacturing unit, Gorica
Industries, has its headquarters in Dubai
with three production facilities in Jebel Ali
Industrial Zone 2, and a branch in Dubai
Investments City with two additional
production facilities.
Gorica Industries manufactures a complete
range of cargo trailers, semi-trailers, fuel/
water/sewage/jetting tankers, dry bulk
tankers, aluminium tankers/bulkers, transit
cement mixers, municipality equipment,
oil fi eld equipment along with pressurized
vessels, refrigerated semi-trailers and frigo
bodies across the Middle East and Africa.
A second member of Gorica Group is Gorica
Vehicles & Co, based in Muscat, Oman, which
also has a branch offi ce in Salalah. Gorica
also has a sales offi ce in Kuwait. Another
subsidiary is Gotrade, which is the group’s
trading arm, spare parts and after-sales
company based in Dubai and has a branch
offi ce in Abu Dhabi.
Recently, Gorica Group established a new
company named United Trailers Company
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company has
its own workshop with a focus on after
sales services and mounting of Gorica-
manufactured bodies.
“We’re exploring new opportunities such
as crane-mounted trucks and trailers. Gorica
Industries could build the trailer and Gotrade
could mount the crane. We’d also like to add
LPG tankers to our range of products in the
near future,” says Fornazaric.Ivan Fornazaric, managing director, Gorica Group36
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