Case Study
Road Train
Stock Trailer
Lee Fabricating
Lee Fabricating is a trailer manufacturer based in Wagga Wagga, NSW, specialising in robust, custom-built transport solutions for Australia’s agricultural and livestock industries. Known for their hands-on fabrication expertise and practical approach, they deliver heavy-duty equipment tailored to the unique requirements of their customers.
For this project, Lee Fabricating engaged Quantech Design to develop a set of triple road train livestock trailers from the ground up, with the aim of servicing the Queensland cattle transport industry.
Challenges
Quantech Design needed to approach this project knowing these trailers would be working in tough conditions.
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Designing from Scratch – The project involved creating a triple road train trailer set starting from little more than photos and basic measurements. Developing a fully compliant, manufacturable design was a significant undertaking.
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Transport Demands – The trailers were required to safely and efficiently transport cattle from farm to market across long distances, placing high demands on durability, functionality, and road dynamics.
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Complex Gate Arrangements – Designing robust and user-friendly livestock gate systems presented challenges, particularly in balancing animal safety, operator efficiency, and manufacturability.
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Custom Builds – Each trailer set needed to be tailored to the specific requirements of the end customer, ensuring no two sets were exactly the same.
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Manufacturing & Timeline Pressures – The scope was large and lengthy, with tight timelines influenced by material lead times and customer delivery schedules. Meeting these without compromising design integrity was critical.
Solution
Lee Fabricating's detailed knowledge of the industry's needs meant we could collaborate on the best possible solution:
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Ground-Up CAD Development – The design process began with conceptual modelling in CAD, which evolved iteratively into a fully engineered, buildable design that adhered to industry standards and custom requirements.
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Prototyping and On-Road Validation – Challenges emerged during prototype builds and early on-road testing, particularly around durability. Quantech addressed these by refining structural details and making iterative improvements based on real-world performance.
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Distinctive Design Features – Lee Fabricating trailers were differentiated through extensive use of laser-cut components in place of hand-cut, off-the-shelf stock materials. This not only improved aesthetics but also ensured higher accuracy, consistency, and strength.
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Close Collaboration – Quantech worked closely with Lee Fabricating throughout the project, often on a daily basis, to ensure design, prototyping, and manufacturing ran smoothly. This close relationship enabled rapid problem-solving and alignment with the high standards expected by Lee Fabricating and their customers.
Results
The collaboration between Quantech Design and Lee Fabricating delivered a robust, road-ready triple road train trailer set that met the demanding requirements of the Queensland livestock industry.
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Industry-Specific Solution – The trailers provided a reliable means of transporting cattle safely and efficiently over long distances.
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Durability Proven in Service – Iterative testing and refinement ensured the trailers could withstand harsh on-road conditions and heavy use.
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Tailored to the Customer – Each trailer set was custom-built, ensuring that unique customer needs were met without compromising quality.
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Aesthetic & Practical Edge – Laser-cut details elevated the trailers above typical offerings, combining visual appeal with practical strength.
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Strong Partnership – The close working relationship with Lee Fabricating ensured the project was delivered on time, to a high standard, and set the stage for ongoing collaboration.