Types of Construction
There are three basic types of bus manufacturer:
- Chassis manufacturer - builds the underframe in a body-on-frame type construction
- Body manufacturer - builds the coachwork a body-on-frame type construction
- Integral manufacturer - builds entire buses, often using no underframe at all
Manufacturers may also be a combination of the above, offering chassis only or integral buses, or offering bodywork only as used on integral buses.
The splitting of body and chassis construction allows companies to specialise in two different fields. It also allows differing offerings of product to customers, who might prefer different chassis/body combinations. For the manufacturers, it lessens the exposure if one or the other goes out of business. Larger operators may also split orders between different body/chassis combinations for shorter delivery schedules.
Sometimes, a chassis and body builder will offer an exclusive combination of one body on one chassis, as a 'semi-integral'. This combines the expertise of the two companies, and saves the cost of making their chassis/body usable on different products.
Often builders, such as Duple Metsec will assemble products into kits, for export and local assembly at a partner site.
Large users of transit buses, such as public transport authorities, may specify specific features that a bus design must feature. This practice was notable in the Transport for London bus specification, and predecessors.
Read more about this topic: Bus Manufacturing
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