STAN D I N G TH E TEST OF
TIME
VALX CONTINUES TO LEAD THE CHARGE IN THE ELECTRIFICATION OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. THROUGH INNOVATION AND A COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING QUALITY, ROBUST EQUIPMENT, THE NETHERLANDS-BASED MANUFACTURER IS MAXIMISING THE RESIDUAL VALUE OF TRAILERS THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND OTHER KEY MARKETS WITH ITS ENERGY AXLES.
T
he road transport industry, in light of supply chain disruption and the need to keep essential services on the move, is as competitive as ever. While the total cost of ownership remains a top priority for fleets, attention is also turning towards the longevity, cost-effectiveness and versatility of modern trucks and trailers. When the time comes to upgrade a heavy vehicle asset, ultimately, it is the residual or resale value that will make the difference between a good investment and an incredible one. Almost a decade ago, VALX unveiled the first of its energy axles, the E2!, at the 2012 IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, Germany. Not long after this debut, VALX explored a new design involving a full-electric refrigerated trailer with a company owned at the time by Carrier Transicold and rental fleet, Twan Heetkamp. With an integrated power generation system fitted to the axles of trailing equipment, there are opportunities for fleet operators to achieve significant operational and fuel efficiencies, especially if this technology can be used to share the load of connected systems that draw electricity.
42 / G L O B A L TR A I L E R / I SS U E 6 2
As cold chain technologies matured over the years, VALX has maintained a leading edge in the reefer electrification segment by refining its energy axle portfolio. In recent months, Carrier Transicold partnered with OEM, Gray & Adams, to develop a demonstrator program
FAST FACT VALX’s dealer network currently has 2,200 service points however the OEM aims to grow to 3,500 service points in the next five years. Globally, Fuwa Group now has a total of 7,000 service points spanning the globe servicing its well established and growing customer base.
