11 Jan 2023
2022: A Year In Review
2023 is already in full swing, so join us as we take a look back on some of our most exciting and significant moments from last year.
2023 has begun, and things are already picking up speed here at Kuda as we work towards making this our biggest and best year yet! We were super busy throughout 2022, bringing you great new products, kitting out trucks, and keeping you entertained with more videos and social media content than ever before. We’ve achieved so much in just one year, so let’s take a moment to reminisce on some of the most exciting things we got up to.
As Seen On Top Gear:
From early 2022, we were working on a super-secret project: adding accessories to a Mercedes Actros Edition 2 for Top Gear! We were excited to take on this challenge and so grateful for the opportunity.
Outside the cab, we colour matched the chassis and side skirts, and even fitted one of our very own TreadSafe catwalks. We also added a DVS (Direct Vision Standard) System for added safety. Inside the cab, we added some of our favourite cab comforts, including a CabStore rear locker, a fold down TV and a TruckChef Microwave.
We were very fortunate to be able to include so many of our own products and brands when accessorising this truck, and it
was an honour to be featured on Top Gear. The full episode aired on the 19th of
June 2022 and featured Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff and they attempted to qualify as lorry drivers
and embark on an HGV road trip across Britain. You can still check out the full episode over on BBC iPlayer!
The Commercial Vehicle Show:
From 24th-26th May 2022, we attended and exhibited at the largest freight transport, distribution, and logistics event in Britain: The Commercial Vehicle show! The show is held at the NEC in Birmingham, and we had plenty of space to set up a truly impressive stand, showcasing our own brands and collaborating with some of our favourites.
On our CV Show stand, we displayed products from our CabStore, MirrorShield, TruckChef, TreadSafe and iAM ranges, alongside a featured exhibits from TomTom and Indel B. We also collaborated with TotalSim, using their leading CFD platform- Bramble- to run a range of simulations showcasing the fuel saving benefits of our iAM system.
Working With Trucker Tim:
Throughout the year, we had several visits from popular internet personality ‘Trucker Tim’; it was great to finally meet him after a long time being fans of his videos! Of course, we made a TikTok with him, and we also fitted one of our very own TruckChef microwaves into his truck!
Back in August, we did something a little bit different and kitted out a Mercedes Arocs 8x4 Tipper Truck with a range of fantastic accessories. This included the 22” round end Hadley airhorns, and some light bars to which we attached a total of five Strands Siberia Night Guards.
With this combination of super loud airhorns and ultra-bright lights, this tipper truck was guaranteed to stand out from the crowd. The Strands Night Guard is not only a powerful driving light, but also features a dual amber and white position light and a built-in strobe. This is only one of the fantastic offerings from the Strands Siberia range, but we thought that the 12” version of the Night Guard was absolutely perfect for this truck!
Customising a Mercedes Actros Ride-On Toy Truck:Tim wanted to give an extra special present to his son, Freddie, for his first birthday, and what better gift than his very own truck? This was also a surprise for his wife, Steph, so it had to be a super-secret project!
Once Tim had assembled the licensed Mercedes Actros ride on truck, we started adding some Kuda customisation. An array of Strands lighting products were added, including some Dark Knight LED marker lights and a Cruise Light Bar. We also added two sets of 3D printed airhorns, and had some great signage made by our friends at Chapple signs. Freddie even got to have his name printed on the front of the truck like a true trucker!
Working With Becky Giles:
Over the summer, we began working with Becky Giles, another prominent influencer in the TikTok trucker world. Becky specialises in transporting livestock and has given us great insight into this side of the industry.
Our partnership began when we supplied Becky with her very own pair of Baby Shark Airhorns 3.0 (which she specifically wanted so that she could play ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’- very fitting), and a 5th wheel cover for her truck. From this, our partnership continued to grow, and Becky has since collaborated with us on giveaways, sent in video content for us to use, and even starred in her own videos for our channel.
Working with Becky is really fun, and it has been especially refreshing to work with a young woman who is so passionate
about trucking! We are still in close contact and hope to work together more in 2023.
We couldn’t do a 2022 look back blog without mentioning this, could we? Reaching 10k on TikTok was a huge milestone for us in September of 2022, and was the eventual payoff of lots of hard work and many videos filmed.
To make the occasion extra special, we planned to post a TikTok every day for the 10 days leading up to hitting 10k, but we actually managed to reach it after the very first video! Of course, we continued with the rest of our planned content- consisting of product spotlights, challenges, giveaways and more- and we think it made for some of our most fun videos to date. We have an entire blog post on our 10k TikTok journey if you want to check it out!
3D Scanning and Modelling:
2022 was also a big year for Kuda in terms of technology. In order to speed up the mould making process without sacrificing quality, we made a significant investment into market leading 3D scanning and autonomous robotic CNC equipment. This would allow us to streamline our design process and bring new products to the market much faster. This investment has involved a major remodelling of Kuda HQ to allow space for dedicated modelling areas and a state-of-the-art room to house our CNC robotic equipment. We are now able to easily scan components, and even full vehicles when required!
With new technology comes a new skillset, and we are proud to say that we now have our own in-house CAD engineers as a part of our ever-expanding team. Our existing staff have also been trained on the capabilities of this technology so that everybody is on the same page with how things will work moving forwards.
Alongside this, 2022 also saw a huge investment made into the latest 3D printing technology, allowing us to model
potential components and test the fit within just hours. Ultimately, we believe this technology will help us make
great strides in our business! You can read more about it in our recent blog post.
Kitting Out Four 'Red Beauties:
In November, we received the opportunity to kit out not one, not two, but four stunning, red Mercedes Actros L’s. This project consisted of both internal and external accessories which were identical across each truck.
For the outside, we fitted some light bars to the roof, equipped with some state-of-the-art Strands beacons and LED side markers. Inside the cabs, we fitted our very own CabStore lockers, complete with LED strip lighting on the underside and one of our TruckChef microwaves in the middle compartment. We also fitted an XTRONS Fold Down In-Cab Smart TV to the underside of each locker, allowing the drivers to watch their favourite shows from the comfort of their bunk.
This was a really exciting build and a great project to get stuck into. We were so happy to get to include so many of our own accessories made in-house! You can take an in-depth look at these trucks over on our YouTube channel.
The Mix Opening A New Venue:
Kuda have been working closely with The Mix- a local youth charity- since 2021, and in 2022 we were proud to support them in opening a second location!
In such rural areas, it can be difficult for young people to access the Mix’s headquarters if they live outside of Stowmarket. To remedy this, and to ensure that they are able to help as many people as possible, the second location has been opened in Needham Market, with the intention of reducing geographic barriers to their services.
The new hut will be used for weekly open sessions for young people; it comes equipped with computers, TV’s, a dartboard and even a pool table, so they’ll never be short of activities!
Kuda is proud to be a part of directly supporting this project alongside local residents and the Police and Crime Commissioner. It's wonderful to see our community coming together to support our young people and we look forward to continuing to work with The Mix throughout 2023.
