Harris Group hosted an event at its Dublin facility to showcase its range of Higer, LDV and Isuzu coaches and minibuses. Dominic Ward was in attendance
Acold and frosty Dublin was the scene for Harris Group’s vehicle launch event, showcasing the new Higer Super 9 mini coach, so named because it is 9m in length, Higer Road King 12m, shown to us in left-hand drive, as well as an Isuzu Visigo 9m, again in left-hand drive, and a product Chris is hopeful will come to the UK. Harris Group had flown out a number of UK operators to its facility along the Naas Road in Dublin’s fair city which, at present, stands at 59 acres, and is continuing to expand.
Arriving from all corners of the UK and at different times, operators invited out were met at Dublin Airport by Marketing and New Product Manager for Harris Auto, a member of the Harris Group, Chris Haughton.
Day one
We had all flown into Dublin Airport, with guests flying in from Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham, London and Glasgow. An early start for some people. However Bob Turnock from RWT Commercial Services was keen to point out that the early start was nothing compared to his – he began at the crack of dawn the day before, working throughout the day before driving to Holyhead to catch the overnight ferry to Dublin.
With all guests in the morning arrivals slot having gathered in Dublin Airport, Chris then led us out of the warm terminal into the cold and frosty air of the Emerald Isle. Jokingly, I mentioned to him that he could have arranged the weather, to which he quipped back: “We’re getting a new outdoor heating system in place. It’ll be operational in the next couple of days. It’s called the sun!”
We were led into the coach park at Dublin Airport, where we found a Higer Super 9 belonging to Eamonn Deering Bus Hire. The driver was Eamonn Deering himself, and as an owner and operator he was asked a lot of questions from the UK operators about the vehicle including the big question – what was the MPG like on the Super 9. Eamonn duly took out his fuel log and showed the fuel useage of the mini coach in real-time running to be over 18 MPG.
Eamonn ferried us to the hotel on-board his Higer Super 9, which gave us all a first glimpse at the running of the vehicle.[wlm_nonmember][…]
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With Chris acting as tour guide, explaining what the next couple of days looked like, we made our way from the terminal over towards the hotel, passing the Harris Group Naas Road facility on the way – a journey of about 20 minutes. Driving past the facility, Chris took to the microphone again and gave us some interesting facts about the Harris Group. He told us that the facility is currently 59 acres in size, and is continuing to expand, and he was also keen to point out which pieces of land Harris Group has bought to develop – it’s a lot. He also pointed out that they have an ISO accredited assembly plant on site, where they have been manufacturing Hino and other HGV vehicles for the last 40 years. Chris rounded up his brief talk by showing us the new headquarters building, which is currently under construction. He pointed out that the new building will be opening in February, 2018, and will also house a driver’s accommodation block, meaning that drivers can stop overnight whilst vehicles are being serviced, and jump back on the road straight in the morning, as the new workshops will be going 24 hours a day from mid-2018.
Arriving at our hotel – the Red Cow Moran Hotel, which was a mere stone’s throw from Harris Group – we checked in, had a quick moment to freshen up and grab a coffee before boarding the Higer Super 9 again and heading back to Harris Group.
One of the first things that you’ll notice about the Harris Group is the vast number of vehicles they have parked outside, waiting for PDI and a range of services carried out on-site before dispatch to dealers and operators in Ireland and the UK. For example, there were a great number of LDV V80 vans parked outside to be converted to minibuses, which Chris told me is done by Joe and Stephen Ferry at Donegal Automotive Services.
Arriving at one of the buildings, we were greeted by one of the new Higer 12m vehicles, which will be given the name Road King, and powered by Cummins. We took a couple of quick pictures outside, whilst the light was still favourable, before diving out of the cold and into the warm servicing facility. Here, we were met with a range of converted LDV V80 minibuses, as well as a range of Higer Super 9s – one of which was raised up on a garage lift for us to examine the underside, a Higer Storm, and an Isuzu Visigo, which features a Cummins Euro 6 engine and a capacity of up to 39 seats. The Isuzu Visigo is a vehicle which, as Chris pointed out to me, is currently in discussion for Harris Group to sell to the UK. All of these would be available for us to look at, but the first item on the agenda was to have a hot meal – much needed after 4°C with wind-chill factor! It was also a great opportunity for operators to network, and everyone around my table was very friendly. Some of the guests were arriving later on that day, and joined us at the facility for lunch.
After eating, Chris gave us a small talk, and then let us loose with the vehicles, encouraging us to take as many photos as we could.
As I was walking round on what I like to call a ‘photoshoot lap,’ I could hear some of the operators singing praises about the Higer range, sounding thoroughly impressed. Speaking to a number of them confirmed what I’d heard – a very well-made product was the sentiment expressed. This being the first time I had seen the Higer range, and indeed a Chinese-built vehicle, I too was impressed. I particularly found the Super 9 very spacious and comfortable.
After exploring the vehicles from top to bottom, we were then taken on a tour of the cavernous spare part facility. I thought that the spares room we were in was the only one, given its size. I was wrong about that. We boarded the Super 9 again for the short drive to Harris Groups’ current headquarters, and were then led to another spares plant. Whilst walking through the office, you could easily place yourself in being in somebody’s house. The floors are carpeted, the walls have paintings, and it reinforces the friendly feel to the business – as Chris said to us, it doesn’t matter whether the customer has one vehicle or 200, they treat everybody the same. Whilst in the second spares room, Chris talked to us about some of the pieces carried in the spares department, as well as telling us they have invested in the region of €700,000 in their spares department. One thing that particularly caught my eye was something on the crate for a selection of windscreens, which was explained as being called “Tip N Tell.” Chris explained that this is a way of ensuring the parts are still intact, and can be signed off on each leg of the journey, for example courier to airport. Should there be sudden shock to the crate, the blue ink will run into the white zone. If there is an issue in transit, the part will not be signed off by the next leg and another part can be reordered before reaching Dublin.
Chris enthused to us the pride in still carrying spare parts from vehicles that are made over 45 years ago.
Completing the first day of the trip, we then boarded the Super 9 to head back to the hotel for dinner and bed.
Home time
On the second day, although longer, we had more of time for relaxing. With a few of the invited guests departing back to the UK on early flights, the rest of us were given a bit more of a civilised starts – it certainly beat my 0400hrs start of the day before!
We then had a few hours about the hotel before checking out, and boarding the Super 9 to go for a drive around the country lanes. Our driver for the second day – Pat – invited people to test drive the vehicle, and Malcolm Lee of Lee’s of Durham took the wheel for the first leg. The vehicle performed well on the country lanes, and was a smooth ride for the passengers – that comfortable that a lot of them had fallen asleep! Malcom said to me afterwards how impressed he was: “It’s a superb bit of kit. The build quality is like no other Chinese-manufactured vehicle we’ve seen, and the market knowledge of the team at Harris Group is second to none.”
Pulling over briefly for a driver change – Martin Spiller of Centurion Travel, based in Radstock near Bristol, took over – we made our way back into town and back to Harris Group’s current HQ for teas and coffees, with operators swapping notes along the way.
A couple more operators departed back to the airport and, shortly after they left, Chris treated us to lunch at a nearby restaurant – the Irish charm and hospitality being in full flow here.
A short ride back to the airport followed, with the five remaining guests on night flights being transported back to the airport in a brand-new executive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. A driver of another vehicle on the way back pulled out in front of the Sprinter, which allowed us to experience first-hand the brakes, as well as giving the seatbelts a good account of themselves.
Arriving back at the airport, and getting through security, we had a quick drink before we all left back for UK shores one by one.
Marking the end of a busy couple of days, the positivity for the vehicles and the facilities available from the Harris Group was abundant. Not just from Harris Group, but from the operators invited over. It’s only a matter of time before Higer arrives in the UK, and I would put money on the first one being purchased by one of the operators who visited the Harris Group with me.[/wlm_ismember]