

Thompsons had a trio of its new two- and three-way tipper bodies displayed on operator vehicles at Tip-ex and Tank-ex 2018.
Thompsons director Scott Burton said the company had one available six years ago but there was no demand then, but changing circumstances have made the concept more attractive. The two-way tipper is particularly versatile as it allows a grab-loader to be rear-mounted. Selection of direction of tip and lowering of the side-boards is carried out hydraulically from the cab.
Following the theme running through the show, Thompsons launched the Loadmaster X-Lite body, which has a weight saving of 300kg. Key to its light weight is the use of Swedish Steel’s new Hardox 500 Tuf, which allows a floor thickness reduction from 5mm to 4mm without loss of strength. Burton admitted its appeal is limited to a customer base that requires ultimate payload, but said: “We are aiming to offer a complete portfolio to all sectors.”
Thompsons Tippers business development manager for the South East Sheri Gibbons (above) drove herself to Tip-ex in a 32-tonne manual tipper just days after passing her HGV test.
Gibbons, who joined the business in January, said it was quite a jump from the automatic she had learnt in to the four-over-foursplitter gearbox with a three-way tipper body. But she said: “I had a quick run around in it the day before to familiarise myself, but other than that once I got my head around it, it was absolutely fine.”
Gibbons joined Thompsons from Scania’s Purfleet dealership, where she completed a sales apprenticeship after completing her A levels. Like many in the sector, Gibbons said she fell into the industry accidentally, but was glad she had. “I am glad I’ve done it. I like waving the flag for girls, but otherwise I would have ended up going to university and doing a degree I didn’t really want to do.”