Fleet Trailer & Body Builder Autumn 2022

A new trailer brand is set to make its mark in the i rish market with the appointment by Netherland-based d -Tec of setanta vehicles sales as its distributor in the republic of ireland. in Northern ireland, belfast-based setanta subsidiary, diamond Trucks will offer d -Tec products for sale, while in the UK mainland d -Tec will be marketed through setantamajority owned Trailertec UK out of warrington.

setanta vehicle sales is well known as the distributor in ireland for renault Trucks as well as Knapen, Meiller and dennis eagle. The company is also adding another dutch manufacturer to its portfolio in Moving floor Trailer specialist Kraker Trailers.

“setanta vehicle sales Ltd is excited to add both Kraker Trailers and d -Tec Trailers to our sales portfolio for distribu tion in ireland,” said Alfred baker, dealer Principal at setanta vehicle sales. “Kraker Trailers and d -Tec are renowned manu facturers in europe, producing trailers of the highest quality made up of the latest technologies and designs to deliver robust trailers that deliver best-in-class performance. with these attributes, the brands fits perfectly with the ethos here at setanta. setanta vehicles sales North will support customers via our trailer aftersales division that operates 12 hours a day Monday to friday and 6 hours of a saturday with a 24/7 breakdown support arm. in addition to this, diamond Trucks in Ni will sell and support customers in the northern region of ireland.”

d t E c - oVE r sI xt Y YE ars o F

Fa MI lY Ex PE rt I s E

Although it may not be too familiar to irish operators, d -Tec boasts a history going back over 63 years. based in ochten, about an hour to the south-east of Amsterdam, the company was founded in 1959 as a stove-making business by Jan van vlastuin. o ver time the vladstuin group started supplying parts for the transport sector, producing its first patented combitrailers in the 1990’s under the operating company name d -Tec separately Jan’s son, gerrit established an engineering office called

d -Tec Trailers launch in i reland with s etanta vehicle sales

vlastuin Mest Applications ( vMA) which developed a system for the automatic sampling of slurry, solid manure and tamper-proof packaging. in 2006 gerrit took over the vlastuin group.

Today d -Tec ’s transport solutions reflect the heritage of both companies. while it is probably best known for its container trailers, the company also produces tipper trailers with steel or aluminium bodies and tank trailers for manure and non-hazardous waste materials. i t is a major provider of manure transportation trailers in the Netherlands and benelux markets, with the vMA side of the business the market leader in sampling, data registration and liquid manure weighing transport equipment.

having grown continuously since 2008, d -Tec acquired the vogelzang and bulthuis trailer brands from vb Trailerbouw in 2018, with trailers produced at bedum in the north of the country. The company also took over Jiannis, a rental fleet in rotterdam last year and also sells and services agricul tural and building machinery.

speaking at a pre-iAA press event at the company’s headquarters in ochten, gerrit van vlastuin explained that at the core of the family-run business’s design and manufacturing philosophy is a focus on lightweight products underpinned by high quality welding.

“You will see in our company welding is our speciality. we are very good welders. we have been iso 9001-2015 certified since 1999 and are also welder certified. we undertake engineering in 3d, laser cutting, bending welding, matching in, coating and assembly. we are known for producing a very good chassis.”

setanta vehicle sales have sold this flexi Trailer to Murphy Transport in cork

gerrit van vlastuin, ceo of d-Tec

nEW co MPact scra P t IPPE r

At the media event, d -Tec showcased some of the new products on display at the iAA show. They included a new smaller tipper with a volume of 49 m³ for the recycling sector. i t joins an existing 57 m³ model. gerrit explained that a low deadweight from 7,100 kg was an important consideration through the use of high-strength steel, and using highly wear-resistant hArdoX side walls and a hArdoX base plate with a thickness of only three millimetres.

Product Manager dinait Kemp outlined that the tipper has class leading low weight thanks to optimised con struction that includes a tapered neck at the front and built-in tipping gear for an optimal weight-strength ratio. o ther features a stepped neck for a lower centre of gravity and more loading space, while braces between the landing legs and fifth wheel can be eliminated because the body is designed to help the chassis in heavy load cases. Unique push-pull braces ensure the structure is torsionally stiff and straight when tipping gerrit added: “The shape of the body is conical (tapered) and the side walls consist of a single plate with no additional welds for easier and faster unloading of the cargo. one of the rear doors can optionally be equipped with a grain chute for more flexibility during unloading.

20 F t conta I n E r cH ass I s d -Tec also showcased a 20 ft tank container chassis with a deadweight from 2,950 kilograms suitable for 20ft tank containers and swap bodies. “for this design, we also took a critical look at user comfort and at keeping maintenance costs low,” explained gerrit. features include unique staggered ‘steps’ at the rear of the trailer to make it easy to climb up and check the tank, while the open rear allows the driver to easily connect the hoses. ‘ we mounted

the rear lighting on a separate plate to prevent collision damage. simplicity is paramount at d -Tec, both in terms of structure and operation. for this reason, the container chassis only contains limited service parts, which also reduces maintenance costs,’ he added.

r oll E r c ran E t ra I l E r

The acquisition of bulthuis in 2018 has enabled d -Tec to start producing a roller crane trailer for the building sector. Available in three or four

it possible to build an extremely light suspension system weighing approxi mately 100 kg per axle row. i t’s currently the lightest suspension system available on the european market.

W E at HE r I ng t HE curr E nt c H all E ng I ng t IME s

Like all businesses, d-Tec is impacted by the currently supply chain challenges and the rising costs of materials and energy. gerrit said that while order intake remains high, company policy is that they will only commence building trailers once all the parts are on site. currently d -Tec will lock prices agreed with customers for six months in spite of volatile material cost fluctuations.

axle versions, it comes with d -Tec ’s own steering system that steers the last two axles. A hardwood floor with crane track is used in the main but steel and rubber floors are also possible. Available with several toolboxes, the trailer features a bumper with extended lighting possibili ties, while stairs on both sides at the rear make it easy to climb onto the trailer.

InnoVat I on aWard

At the iAA in hannover, d -Tec was awarded 2nd prize in the ‘chassis’ category at the international Trailer innovation awards for its innovative Mbs oMegA air suspension system designed and tested in partnership with vdL weweler. The air suspension system houses a revolutionary “omega”shaped spring steel trailing arm, making

d t E c I n Ir E land

gerrit van vlastuin is optimistic that d -Tec will be a success with irish customers. “ we see setanta as a very strong commercial partner. They have their own workshop network in ireland, and for us it’s important that you have the combination of commercial strength and service capacity. we can be sure that we will have a market share in the future in ireland.” Asked about what products he sees as performing strongly gerrit stated: “one year ago we expected that the vacuum tank trailers would be the most important, but today we see that also the container chassis are more and more important. because our height is so much less, this means fuel consumption is less, up to 10% lower.”

Text & Photos: cathal doyle – cathal@fleet.ie

Tipper

Mbs oMegA air suspension system

roller crane Trailer

ever since its creation in 1968, TiP has continued to evolve, grow, and diversify. several companies have joined the TiP family over the years, and the company has continued to diversify its offerings to deliver the best services to customers across europe and canada.

from 2013 the name ‘TiP Trailer services’ has been used and according to bob fast, TiP President & ceo, it does not represent all the company’s business entities and activities today. Therefore, the brand name is changing to TiP group. “our brand name changes to the TiP group trademark to better illustrate our business activities, asset portfolio and geographic coverage. however, our mission remains the same: to be the trusted partner for our customers, delivering connected solutions and powering sustainable supply chains” he explained.

“ we are proud to open this new chapter! we started our business with renting trailers, but today we offer many more assets: of course a broad selection of trailers, but also trucks, vans, tankers, swap bodies and many more. we lease and rent the assets, but also offer many services: like Maintenance and repair, roadside Assistance and the sale of used equipment. Additionally, we offer a broad portfolio of digital solutions under TiP insight and in all our business activities, we have a focus on sustain ability and a better future for us and our planet. TiP group is a good name to embrace our broad business scope,“ added henrike wilkens, global Marketing director.

“our customers and partners will see the changes come to live in our commu

nication and our channels:

our website: a new UrL and also an impressive make-over and modern look

our social media channels have new names: visit us on  Linkedin,  facebook , YouTube

‘TiP sales’ is now ‘TiP Used equipment’ and the website address is TiP-Used.com

The login to fleetradar and fleetconnect will change to a TiP- group.com UrL”

customers can be assured that TiP and its business activities remain the same as before! our brand name changes to the TiP group trademark. our legal name remains TiP Trailer services and as such is part of TiP group,” concluded henrike.  Meanwhile, TiP and schmitz cargobull have a set digital milestone for frictionless digital data provision. The

TiP Trailer s ervices name change to TiP group

TiP group is partnering with schmitz cargobull to integrate their standardized telematic interfaces for the respective systems.

i t is now possible for transport companies using telematics systems from schmitz cargobull and TiP insight, TiP’s telematic solution, to access the data provided for all their vehicles via their individual access points, regardless of the telematics hardware installed or the telematics portal used.

This straightforward and convenient solution is made possible thanks to the cooperation between the two providers. “for transport companies, the topics of data standardization, inter-operabil ity and consolidation, and thus open interfaces, are key expectations to make the digital real,” explained Theo de vries, commercial vice President M&r and TiP insight, and Marnix Lannoije, Managing director of schmitz cargobull Telematics, in a joint statement.

Pictured are Marnix Lannoije, Managing Director, Schmitz Cargobull Telematics and Theo de Vries, Commercial Vice President Maintenance and Repair and TIP Insight

Uniquely effective

Joining forces for connected refrigerated transport: Mitsubishi heavy i ndustries Thermal Transport europe and idem telematics

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Transport Europe GmbH (MTTE) is on course for growth with climate-friendly, highly efficient transport refrigeration systems featuring renowned Japanese quality and reliability. Most recently, the German-based subsidiary of the Japanese industrial group gained recognition with its noise- and exhaustfree, all-electric cooling systems. Now the company is cooperating with  idem telematics, (a BPW Group company) the European market leader for open-system  transport telematics: both companies are combining their expertise in refrigerated transport with the aim of providing road hauliers with more efficiency, safety and service throughout the entire transport process.

At the iAA Transportation exhibition, Mitsubishi heavy industries Thermal Transport europe presented for the first

time a system-open telematics portal based on the market-leading cargofleet3 solution from idem telematics, but enhanced with specific functions. The portal integrates predictive monitoring and proactive service functions of the refrigeration system. Thanks to open interfaces, this solution harmonises with all vehicles, telematics hardware as well as software applications, such as transport management systems, rental company systems, freight wallets, erP systems and much more. in the high-end class of transport refrigeration - the gdPcertified transport of medical productsthe system ensures seamless monitoring and digital documentation of the entire transport process.

To explain further björn reckhorn, Managing director sales & After sales at Mitsubishi heavy industries Thermal Transport europe gmbh said: “Transport logistics are unthinkable today without

Talson proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary

One of the leading box trailer manu facturers and Europe’s market leader in air cargo semi-trailer manufacturing, Talson proudly celebrates its 40th year anniversary this year.

Talson was established by a University graduate of aviation technology, Kees Thunnissen in 1982, who successfully merged aircraft design with box trailers and gave rise to the Talson trailer made of aluminium, with a self-supporting upper structure delivering lower weight and best internal load heights.

one of the first developers of roller tracks for air cargo and the inventor of the Talfix multi-functional load carrying system, Talson keeps delivering innovative, sustainable, reliable trailers assuring the high quality and function ality that is standard for loyal Talson customers for four decades.

with 40 years of experience, Talson has mastered the needs of all box trailer users. i ts product range, including air cargo, multi-functional boxes for general cargo, intermodal solutions, fNA line, as well as inner-city logistic boxes, is a perfect fit for narrow city streets.

As the world aligns with regulations that aim to protect our future, Talson proudly contributes to achieving this target as the only box manufacturer in europe to manufacture its vehicles primarily out of aluminium. being made of aluminium, Talson vehicles have a longer product life and Talson customers on average use their aluminium vehicles for 15 years, 25% more product life than conventional vehicles. while Talson Aluminium box vehicles contribute to its customers’ strong Total cost of o wnership (Tco),

telematics. we are pleased to be working with idem telematics, because we share the same view of quality, safety and system openness. Together we tap into the efficiency gains of telematics for transport companies and at the same time protect their independence from individual providers. A significant issue for both companies is predictive analysis, so that the system always remains operational and is maintained at the perfect time.”

Jens Zeller, Managing director of idem telematics added: “More and more of our transport customers are choosing Mitsubishi because they appreciate the reliability, performance and ultra-fast, precise response of the transport refrig eration systems. The interaction of our telematics with Mitsubishi refrigeration technology has proven itself for years; now we are looking forward to taking the cooperation to the next level together.”

they also prevent material waste associated with fleet renewal needs. in addition, Talson vehicles offer modular aluminium side walls made of separate riveted panels that allow less costly and faster repair but also minimise material waste.

Talson’s multi-functional Talfix system, with more than 10,000 holes on side panels as well as a wide range of loading options, enables its customers to use their trailer capacity more efficiently, resulting in less fuel consumption and less co2 emissions.

Customers and potential stakehold ers of Van Eck Trailers had the chance to explore the latest state-of-the-art transport solutions in Hall 27 – Stand E32.

celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2022, van eck, the expert trailer manufac turer from the Netherlands, continues to remain passionate for high-quality and innovation constantly evolving its road transport systems with sustainability in mind.

with the aim of finding the best possible transport solutions to meet customers’ needs, each vehicle from van eck’s product range, namely eckstreme

series, Twindeck vehicles, ecko co2mbi series, Lhv vehicles, eckpress series, Air cargo vehicles, eckcellent series Temperature controlled box and distribution box vehicles and eckspert series special vehicles, are designed and built with uncompromising quality. van eck has the longest history of developing Lhv trailers and is the only manufacturer to produce its own roller bed systems for the eckspress series which differentiates its Air- cargo vehicles. in line with its vision to reinvent modern road transport for a more sustainable future, van eck Trailers has become a solid partner of the european

New products with iQ from sAf-hoLLANd

New developments by SAF Holland premiered at the IAA Transportation included the SAF TRAKr regenera tive braking axle which will go into production this year, as well as its SAF-HOLLAND Automated Coupling. Other products on exhibition were the sensor-based Smart Axle with the SAF TrailerMaster telematics system and the new SAF TIRE PILOT I.Q. tyre pressure monitoring system as well as the digital products in the SAF-HOLLAND I.Q. portal.

with the sAf TrAKr regenerative braking axle, sAf hoLLANd offers more efficiency and sustainability. The electric trailer axle can be used on all trailers with electrical consuming units such as refrigerated semi-trailers or semi-trailers for construction materials, but also in vehicles with electro-hydraulic units such as moving-floor vehicles or tanker trucks. i t reduces or even completely eliminates noise, particulate and co2 emissions. in addition to the added comfort for the driver, the sAf TrAKr meets all legal requirements for inner-city low-emission and environmental restriction zones.

with the sAf hoLLANd Automated coupling system, the manu facturer proves its expertise for the interface between truck and trailer. As an important step towards autonomous driving, automatic coupling automates and accelerates the coupling and uncoupling tasks with a sensor-based process. for drivers that means more safety, time savings and an attractive workplace in the cab. The shAc system with its high-speed data transfer in real time is a key element for making automation of semi-trailer trucks eco nomically viable in the long term. in relation to the digitalisation movement, sAf hoLLANd is working on an intelligent, networked trailer that is integrated into the digital logistics processes. The objectives of the smart Axle concept include increased safety, optimised processes, lower overall costs and compliance with the latest legislation. The smart Axle is accordingly

van eck Trailers demonstrate its 110 year expertise

commission-backed Aeroflex Project, contributing to the development of the aerodynamics of Lhvs as well as the development of the e-dolly. van eck also proudly took part in the european commission-backed Transformers project to further the development of the Transformer trailer that is optimised for the best aerodynamic performance.

The van eck team also contributed to the european commission-backed horizon 2020 project developing smart loading units, taking inspiration from air cargo-like loading and unloading with packing standardisation offering warehouse management ease of use.

supplied with sensors for wheel-end monitoring, including brake and tyre pressure. The sAf TrailerMaster telematics solution provides digital data in real time – for more transparency, safety and efficiency as well as reduced vehicle downtime.

The new sAf Tire PiLoT i.Q. is also part of the smart Axle solution for digi talisation of trailers. i t meets the require ments of gsrii 2019/2144 and ece r-141, which will make tyre pressure monitoring systems mandatory from 2024. when the tyre pressure drops below the pre-set value, an indicator informs the driver and the tyre-inflating system automatically increases the pressure. The digitalised system prevents complete failure of the tyres, optimises their service life and saves fuel thanks to the continuously correct tyre pressure.

s chmitz cargobull wins Trailer i nnovation 2023

‘environment’ Award

• First place for the aerodynamic curtainsider S.CS ecofLeX with Power curtin and eco Pack in the “environment” category.

• New Ferry underride guard takes third place in ‘chassis’ category

Europe’s leading trailer manufacturer, Schmitz Cargobull was successful in the in the renowned Trailer Innovations Awards 2023 programme, securing first place in the ‘Environment’ category, with its aerodynamic curtainsider S.CS EcoFLEX with Power Curtain and Eco Pack. In addition, Schmitz Cargobull came third in the ‘Chassis’ category with the innovative Ferry underride guard.

launched the aerodynamic curtainsid ers of the ecogeneration last year. in practical use, customers have achieved fuel savings of more than five percent with these vehicles.

Trailer innovation 2023, the new schmitz cargobull ferry underride guard secured third place. vehicle configurations with low tyres, which are often used in combined transport, sometimes lead to damage to the rear of the unit when handling vehicles on the railway, ferry or at unfavourable ramp angles. To protect them, schmitz cargobull has developed the ferry underride guard with sliding rollers, which fulfils the high require ments of the ece r58.03 underride guard directive.

“ with the s.cs ecofLeX curtainsid er, we have brought a vehicle onto the market that makes a considerable con tribution to reducing fuel consumption and co2 emissions in road haulage,” said Andreas schmitz, ceo of schmitz cargobull Ag, prior to the awards presentation ceremony at the iAA Transportation show, at the hannover Messe, germany.

“The Trailer innovation 2023 award recognises our ongoing work to innovate. we accept the challenge of offering our customers solutions for sustainable transport that are not only practical but also pay off for the customer,” he added.

schmitz cargobull successfully

The ecofLeX with its liftable rear can now also be equipped with the slat-less Power curtain body and the eco Packan aerodynamic storage box designed to optimise air flow and realises further fuel savings. The eco Pack provides storage space for schmitz’ spare wheels, pallets and load securing equipment.

The latest award for the aerodynamic schmitz cargobull ecogeneration vehicles follows other accolades such as the german sustainability Award design 2022 and the european Transport Award for sustainability 2022 from the hUss publishing house.

in the chassis category of the

in the event of contact, the sliding rollers allow the vehicle to roll and, together with the shock absorbers in the underride guard arm, prevent severe damage to the chassis or add-on parts such as lighting supports. in this way, the new underride guard also contributes to lower total cost of ownership (Tco) for customers.

established in 2002, the biennial Trailer innovation Awards honour the best in innovative design, engineering and manufacturing in the trailer and refrigeration transport. fleet Transport represents ireland on the expert pan-eu ropean jury.

Krone has been rewarded with a 2023 Trailer Innovation Award in the “Chassis” category for its Box Liner eLTU 50 Traction Automatic. The internation al jury of 15 European trade magazines honoured the technology carrier, which will be presented for the first time at the IAA Transportation.

The key feature of the innovative box Liner Automatic is the automated pre-settings option. The driver can conveniently initiate the setting of the container chassis for the container transported by pressing a button on the remote control from the truck cab. The Krone box Liner eLTU 50 Automatic is the first multifunctional gooseneck chassis to feature automated operation at this level. i t opens up a new dimension of

TMT, based at San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), secured first place in the Body’ category with its Container Moving Floor semi-trailer. It is the first occasion that an Italian manufacturer to win this prestigious international award alongside major companies in the transport sector.

The company from the Marche region is a flagship of the made in i taly metal working industry and is a stepping stone to become a european leader.

The innovative elements of the container Moving floor trailer consists of applying the moving floor to a steel

Krone box Liner Automatic: 1st place in the “chassis” category

user-friend liness, combined with improved process times in the terminal

as well as in the depot. i t also saves a considerable amount of time for each container lift operation, which in turn significantly lowers costs for the operator. for the port drayage, the efficiency is expected to increase by about ten percent. This makes it possible to replace six trailers with conventional container chassis with five trailers with the box Liner Automatic.

compared to the standard procedure, the new box Liner Automatic technology from Krone represents a quantum leap. All of the previously required manual activities performed by the driver to

adjust the container chassis are now a thing of the past. for the driver, this not only represents reduced physical strain, but also significant safety improvements.

in the “concept” category of Trailer innovation 2023, the Krone eTrailer took second place. The Krone eTrailer reduces diesel consumption and co2 emissions of the tractor unit by 20 to 40 percent.

The two award-winning innovations are part of Krone’s overall “Mission beyond Zero” concept, a new generation of trailer transport solutions that combine digitalization, automation, sus tainability and electri fication to significantly reduce the co2 emissions of semitrailers.

container. in this way, the transport of bulk material will no longer require external means to lift or tip the container, but simply drive the moving floor. The same tractor-unit that transports the container will undertake loading and

unloading without the need for other vehicles.

The award-winning trailer will be exhibited at the iAA Transportation from 20 to 25 september hall 25 stand c26.

cold chains can save lives - how danfoss & Thermo King accelerate delivery of critical components and goods for the covid-19 vaccine

The launch of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in December 2020 led to great relief around the world and was greeted with hope after the virus had affected almost all aspects of life for most of the year. While public discourse focused on the lack of production capacity, another major challenge came into play: the safe transport and storage of vaccines at very low tem peratures. Unfortunately, this issue is still highly topical in 2022. The summer wave combined with the extreme heat and an upcoming fourth vaccination in autumn continue to require increased vigilance and reliable refrigerated transport.

despite the adverse conditions, Trane Technologies, with its strategic Thermo King brand, and danfoss have joined forces to play a critical role in maintaining the cold chain and delivering life-saving vaccines.

Thermo King has long been a global leader in refrigerated transport and storage of food, medicines and other sensitive, perishable goods. This often involves the use of the powerful, adaptable superfreezer solution, which has been co-designed and built with danfoss since 1996 to achieve ultra-low temperatures and optimal preservation.

The superfreezer is typically used for sea transport of sushi-grade tuna, but also for biopharmaceutical products such

as blood plasma and other pharmaceuti cal agents, as well as biological samples. i t ensures consistent temperature control, prevention of microbial decay and efficient storage and transporteven under challenging conditions such as high ambient temperatures, frequent door openings or long operating times.

The superfreezer is a cascade system with two refrigeration circuits, each with its own compressor, refrigerant and inline components, both controlled by a common advanced controller. each superfreezer unit relies on danfoss inline components such as expansion valves, solenoid valves, regulators, dehydrators, sight glasses, pressure switches, contractors, etc. to ensure smooth and reliable operation of the refrigerant and to maintain the correct cryogenic temperature.

The covid -19 mrNA vaccines, with their unique ultra-cold temperature spec ifications - down to -70 degrees celsius - are ideal for the superfreezer. however, the equipment had to be slightly modified to reach and maintain the extremely cold temperatures. danfoss components played a crucial role in this process.

Many rural hospitals, doctors’ surgeries or clinics do not have access to suitable temperature-controlled storage facilities. rural regions often do not have a suitable infrastructure to ensure

the required cold chain. The situation is also particularly critical in third world countries, where vaccination rates are still far too low, even one and a half years after the first vaccines were approved. To reduce the spoilage of life-saving vaccines, active refrigeration like the Thermo King superfreezer is the ideal solution.

“To meet the demands of shipping and storing vaccines worldwide, we had to customise the units and produce them quickly,” says francesco incalza, President of Thermo King eMeA. “This meant we had to source additional components supplied by danfoss in an extremely short time.”

danfoss received its first component order from Thermo King in late 2020, and production was immediately up and running. As the components are manufactured in several factories around the world - in denmark, Poland, china, Mexico and india - each factory had to follow the same strict production schedule to meet the demand for the superfreezer.

“The entire supply chain had to be accelerated,” said carlos Zamudio, senior director of global accounts at danfoss. “instead of a normal eight-week process, production became a three- to four-week process,” Zamudio said. “The entire supply chain worked together to produce the parts needed for the

superfreezer. All danfoss factories worked together to supply Thermo King and subcontractors with parts.”

initially, the factories had to source sufficient raw materials, which was a challenge due to shortages in the market. “ we were able to leverage our relationships with our suppliers,” says Jason Pederson, global Key Account Manager at danfoss. “ we made sure we had enough manpower to complete production. when total customer demand exceeded our production capacity by 25%, we prioritised the products we made for the superfreezers.”

“ we were able to respond quickly,”

says Zamudio. “everyone understood the importance of what we were doing. Thermo King relied on us to deliver the components on time. Throughout the supply chain, many companies worked together to ensure the vaccines could be delivered and stored.”

“i t was critical that there were no delays in production or shipping,” incalza stressed. “The support of danfoss was instrumental in ensuring that we were able to transport this critical cargo through all the countries in europe and to many remote locations around the world. The fact that we were able to respond quickly and efficiently to a crisis

of this magnitude is a testament to the strength of partnerships like this.”

After all components were airlifted to Thermo King, the superfreezers were quickly assembled and ready for their life-saving cargo - becoming a vital part of the first mass immunisation and pop-up clinics. due to the urgency, Thermo King transported the parts by air freight from danfoss’ manufacturing and distribution sites in europe, North America and Asia Pacific to Thermo King in china.

The last two years have been challenging, but also educational. Thermo King has decades of experience and played a role in safeguarding past vaccines such the one used during the ebola outbreak in west Africa, and over the past two years has accumulated a wealth of experience that is vital as infections and variant formations continue to rise. The corona pandemic is unfortunately more topical than ever and society must prepare for further follow-up vaccinations. here, a fast and safe vaccine distribution must be guaranteed to help overcome this pandemic once and for all.

Text: rob van dieten – rob@fleet.ie

No doubt that during the development process of the new Crafter van, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Design Team led by Albert-Johan Kirzinger, were ‘California Dreamin’!

The platform, body shape and styling of the high roof crafter panel van was an obvious base for a mobile leisure version and that’s exactly what transpired in the shape of the grand california. This flagship, premium model slots into the 6-metre (3.5 tonne) class and unlike the smaller california based on the Transporter, comes complete with bathroom. Accommodating four people, there is a large sleeping area in the rear

With larger skylight, aluminium ladder and two reading lights in the Grand California 600, it can hold up to 150kg of weight and ample space for two children. The slatted base can be pulled out at the touch of a button and the optional over-cab bed includes a larger skylight with mosquito nets and blinds.

section, as well an innovative star gazing, high bunk bed over the cab area. fully integrated inside the bodyshell, the grand california is now one of

big Moments and great Adventures with the volkswagen grand california

windows both at the back and on the sides and the large skylights above the double bed in the rear and the living area. Noticeable too is that all of the camper windows are fitted with cassette blinds and flyscreens. for the driver’s cab there is also a new blackout concept. one interesting feature is that there are no light switches to be found in the bathroom – the lights come on auto matically via motion detectors. Up to 110 litres of fresh water can be carried, while the waste water tank holds 90 litres. The ‘black’ content cassette is easily accessible from the exterior side pod.

The installation of the bathroom is a big bonus, incorporating a sink, mirror, shower, storage and toilet, all within a waterproof, drainable shell. i t also comes with a standard connection at the back

There is plenty of space for storing luggage under the rear bed. Access via the rear wing doors is an extra-handy feature.

Comfort is just one of the great features of the compact rear bed. When tried out a pleasant experience was recorded.

The main light above the upper cabinets, a working light above the kitchen and dining area lighting create a homely feel.

a trio of camper van offerings from volkswagen, joining the long established regular california and the compact caddy california, launched in recent years.

every aspect of the grand’s design is well thought out and built to a high standard that will ensure durability and long life service. The white cabinet trim in the grand california has enabled Albert to create a living area with a bright, spacious atmosphere. This is boosted by the pop-open camper

Five air vents evenly spread the warm air generated by the 6kW system throughout the interior. The system also stores 10 litres of warm water for the kitchen and wet room.

The Grand California 600 comes with an optional 104W system at the front of the roof, to supply the second battery and help it to remain self-sufficient depending on how strong the sun is.

of plugs and sockets to keep them charged.

grand california does not come short on safety spec either, with numerous driver assistance systems. They including front Assist surroundings monitoring system with city emergency braking function, Lane Assist to help the driver stay in lane, blind spot Monitor for changing lane, rear Traffic Alert for reversing out of parking spaces and Park Assist for steering into them, the sen sor-controlled side protection system, Adaptive cruise control and the rear view reversing camera.

The wet room

to

For instance, the basin can be folded up while you are using the shower

and pieces are secured on the shelves to stop them from falling down. The folding mirror can be secured in

The motion sensor

on the indirect lighting and vanity lights automatically. There is also a quadruple storage solution for towels. And to protect the wet room from overflowing water, it comes with two drains including a dirt trap and odour trap.

Heating and water heating: This can be optionally

run on diesel and electric. This means that only one gas cylinder is needed which saves weight.

for an external shower (with adjustable water temperature) making life on the campsite just perfect. An electrically powered step, which moves out in front of the sliding door, makes getting in and out easier, while a two-part mosquito net in the door is likewise part of the standard specification.

with two swivel seats at the front and a double bench seat in the living area, a large detachable dining table provides ample room for the four people to sit down to dine together. The kitchen fittings include a pull-out 70-litre fridge with freezer compartment (accessible from outside as well as via the sliding door), a twin-hob gas cooker, a sink and diverse drawers, pull-out storage com partments and tip-up shelves.

The younger folk will love the slide-out overhead bunk bed, usefully it’s not too intrusive when extended out, allowing for others to enjoy some ‘quiet time’. This quality period can be done outside too, thanks to the awning, camping table and foldable chairs (stowed inside the back doors) provided. on the other side of one of the doors is the bike rack. Just be careful when closing this door, mind your head! solar panels are a useful addition on campervans, helping to generate enough electricity to supply the mobile household’s needs when parked up. sure enough vwcv is on the ball here, with an optional sun panel on the roof. To ensure all of the electronic entertainment items can be fully operational, there are plenty

while on tour, the crafter proved effortless to drive, just a bit of wind noise from this high roofed rectangular box while on the motorway. Not an issue when cruising away from the primary routes. didn’t feel any shakes, rattles or hums, no more than when driving any van. Just the tones and tunes from the accompanying happy campers!

The only thing that could be changed from an internal design perspective would be to replace the gearshift lever and surround casing with a dial switch on the dash, thereby freeing up more space for cross cab access.

when officially launched at the caravan salon in germany in 2018, grand california appropriately marked 30 years of the ‘california’ movement, which three generations later have chalked up nearly 200,000 unit sales. well done to Albert and his crew!

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie

sPE c cHE ck

Make/Model:

Power:

Torque:

Transmission:

o

o

fuel

Unladen

Central

At the IAA Transportation 2022 show in Hannover, Germany Thermo King launched its new UT-R undermount refrigeration systems.

Thermo King develops UT-r Portfolio for Undermount Truck and drawbar Trailer Applications

*New UT-r self-powered and hybrid undermount refrigeration systems for rigid trucks, drawbar trailers and high-loaders deliver increased efficiency, lower noise and reduced total cost of ownership

bution, long distance transport of goods and raising ambient temperatures are driving the customer need for reliable, high cooling capacity refrigeration units

customers. featuring an electronic Throttling valve (e T v ) as standard. The UT-r units operate with reduced engine speeds for optimized performance and lower noise.

“The new UT-r units are 3db(A) quieter than the incumbent range,” he added. “in real life, this difference means that the noise perception of two new UT-r units operating side-by-side equals the noise generated by a single predecessor unit.”

The new design also facilitates better access to serviceable components and contributes to extended maintenance intervals. combined with the increased reliability, this translates into up to 40% lower service costs for the transporters when compared to the legacy units.

The new UT-r portfolio includes single and multi-temperature refrigera tion units for undermount applications on rigid trucks, drawbar trailers and high-loaders. New design and applied technologies deliver increased efficiency, better reliability and durability, and sig nificantly lower noise than the legacy range, meeting the needs of customers operating in inner-city, city-to-to-city, pharmaceutical and airport catering dis tributions.

Thermo King UT-r units are available as NrMM stage v compliant diesel-pow ered systems, or in hybrid version. The UT-r hybrid can seamlessly switch between diesel and electric mode to reduce emissions and fuel consumption and increase flexibility of operations allowing the trucks to enter cities’ low and ultra-low emission zones.

“Multi-drop operations in city distri

to ensure the safety of their cargo,” said  davide Previsdomini, Product Manager Truck at Thermo King. “ we designed the brand-new UT-r units with these factors in mind and added more features that not only offer the highest cooling capacity in the segment but do so with reduced noise and lower cost of ownership for trans porters.”

The new UT-r platform is based on a new compressor from Thermo King T-series units con tributing to highest cooling capacity in this market segment according to ATP standards (Accord Transport Perrisable), and lower Tco for

for ease of installation and optimized chassis space, the new UT-r units are also smaller when compared to the predecessor range, with width reduced by 200 mm. The weight of the unit is also even 40kg lower allowing customers to carry more cargo payload during every delivery journey.

Text: rob van dieten - rob@fleet.ie