Global Trailer November 2023

Global trailer

73

www.globaltrailermag.com ISSN 1839-5201

2023 | ISSUE 73

9 771836 520000

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INNOVATION

BUSINESS

NEWS

New Trailer Designs Refrigerated Transport Technologies Electrification Trends TPMS & Telematics

Executive Interview: Manac SOLUTRANS Event Preview Exclusive Features Market Report: Morocco

Acquisitions & Mergers Business Expansions Logistics Updates Trailer Deliveries

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COVER STORY

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TOGETHER WE GO FURTHER

Manac has been working diligently on strategic planning over the past few years to solidify and expand its dominant position as both the industry leader in Canada and a leader in the North American semitrailer market for having the most diverse product line.

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“THE PAST THREE-TO-FOUR YEARS HAS REMINDED US THAT WITHOUT THESE VALUABLE RELATIONSHIPS WE ARE VERY LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE, BUT WITH FOCUSED DETERMINATION TO ELEVATE THESE RELATIONSHIPS, WE SEE THAT THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS TO HOW FAR WE CAN GO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.”

IN THIS ISSUE

Manac CEO, Charles Dutil

BUSINESS

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SAF-HOLLAND

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MARKET REPORT

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LECITRAILER

This edition we take a closer look at Morocco.

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KÄSSBOHRER

48

JOST

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KOGEL

REGULARS

76 EVENTS

52

TMT

04 EDITOR’S NOTE

78 MEGATRENDS

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KRONE

06 NEWS

75 PREVIEW

FEATURES 26

SOLUTRANS PREVIEW This year’s SOLUTRANS trade fair in Lyon, France, will focus on shifting the commercial vehicle industry into one that has net zero emissions.

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SCHMITZ CARGOBULL

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BPW

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THERMO KING

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ZF

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DAIKIN

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WIELTON

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ASPÖCK SYSTEMS

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EDITOR’S LETTER

CEO John Murphy john.murphy@primecreative.com.au

COO Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

INTERNATIONAL SALES Ashley Blachford ashley.blachford@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR Luke Applebee luke.applebee@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALISTS

BRAIN ENGAGEMENT

Louise Surette louise.surette@primecreative.com.au Peter White peter.white@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au

PATIENTS WITH PARALYSIS ARE being recruited by Neuralink, an American neurotechnology company, to test an experimental wireless Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) which is robotically implanted. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of the BCI and the surgical robot. For those undergoing the trial, a BCI will be placed in a region of the brain that controls movement intention and is expected to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes said movement intention.

Neuralink’s objective is for people with paralysis to control a computer cursor or keyboard through thought. This study is also being conducted under investigational device exemption awarded by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2023. Individuals who have quadriplegia due to cervical spine cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may qualify.

It is important to note that this study will take about six years to complete which involves at-home and clinic visits as well as follow-ups with experts. The time commitment is intense which is understandable given what is at stake.

Imagine the possibilities, though, if Neuralink achieves success. The company

aims to harness this technology to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs and unlock human potential for tomorrow. A leap such as this could transform a workforce and open new pathways to improve efficiency and safety across various industries – particularly manufacturing and transport and logistics.

Better yet, it could help to address labour shortages by enabling personnel with paralysis to provide a service to a business even if their physical capability is limited but enhanced by BCI technology.

We truly live in exciting yet strange times.

As trailer manufacturing embraces advances in robotics right now, we could see brain augmentation lead to impressive gains in workforce productivity and capability within the next decade.

Or maybe we won’t.

Six years is a long time to conduct a trial and I’m sure it will take even longer to study the results. And that’s assuming there is no delay or disruption to the plan.

While we wait for the body enhancements of Cyberpunk 2077 to eclipse reality, we’ll focus on what is tangible for trailer OEMs, component suppliers and the supply chain.

ART DIRECTOR Blake Storey

DESIGN Kerry Pert, Louis Romero

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER Salma Kennedy salma.kennedy@primecreative.com.au

HEAD OFFICE Prime Creative Pty Ltd 379 Docklands Drive Docklands VIC 3008 Australia p: +61 3 9690 8766 f: +61 3 9682 0044 enquiries@primecreative.com.au www.globaltrailermag.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS +61 3 9690 8766 subscriptions@primecreative.com.au Global Trailer is available by subscription from the publisher. The rights of refusal are reserved by the publisher.

ARTICLES All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

COPYRIGHT Global Trailer is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in Global Trailer is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.

The opinions expressed in Global Trailer are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL ASIA CHINA Freight routes that were established in China and central Asia earlier this year are expected to boost trade growth and deliver benefits across the region.

As part of the initial trial, six trucks departed from western China’s inland city of Kashgar, crossing into Kyrgyzstan.

Loaded with industrial components, auto parts and consumer goods, the first TIR trucks on the new route successfully arrived in Uzbekistan’s second-largest city, Samarkand, after approximately 1,100km.

CEVA Logistics Managing Director of Greater China, Joanna Zhu, said the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and ChinaPakistan corridors should now see about 100 trucks a month use this route.

“CEVA will continue to optimise ground and rail product portfolios to open direct routes while strengthening intermodal capabilities,” said Zhu. “We will develop more trade lanes from China to the west and enhance trade resilience along the corridor.”

Central Asia, CEVA said, is the main passage along the Han-Tang Silk Road.

“The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Ground Transportation Corridor is an example of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative,” the company said in a statement. “The opening of a southern passage has the capacity to change the entire transportation pattern of Western China.”

The southern corridor, according to CEVA, is expected to broaden the transportation range of the Eurasian Continental Bridge.

“As more logistics parks settle in Kashgar, export companies shipping goods such as auto parts, finished vehicles, and consumer and e-commerce

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goods will greatly benefit from the new route,” said CEVA. “As the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan route becomes more established, CEVA anticipates making Kashgar a ground consolidation centre for Western China.”

In addition to the TIR solution, CEVA continues to explore and strengthen its multimodal solutions and open new direct routes as infrastructure in the region develops.

Current plans call for the ChinaKyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway to be completed in 2025 and will make it the shortest freight route from China to the Middle East and Europe. The railway, according to CEVA, is expected to span more than 500km – more than 200km in China, 250km in Kyrgyzstan and the final 50km in Uzbekistan.

Yan Zhou, Chief Representative of East and Southeast Asia, IRU, said: “IRU and CEVA Logistics have established fruitful cooperation since TIR was implemented in China in 2018. From the historic first China-Europe roundtrip TIR pilots to the recent new TIR route along the strategically important China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan corridor, IRU has been partnering with members to develop innovative trucking services under TIR. Together with our members and partners, IRU will continue to promote faster, safer and more efficient road connectivity between the East and the West.”

The transport and logistics company has also reported the launch of a TIR trucking route between China and Pakistan (Kashgar, China to Islamabad, Pakistan).

Five container trucks loaded with 79 tonnes of consumer goods departed from Kashgar, China, via the Hongqilafu Port. Covering a total distance of more

than 1,200km the trucks successfully arrived at their destination of Islamabad, Pakistan four working days later.

The launch of the China-Pakistan TIR ground transportation route, according to CEVA, further enhances the diversity and safety of logistics corridors along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The new route also strengthens Kashgar’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative to continue the construction of the national logistics hub in Kashgar and the interconnection of Asia and Europe.

Kelvin Tang, Global Cross-Border & Multimodal Leader and Greater China Ground & Rail VP, CEVA Logistics, said: “The official launch of the first ChinaPakistan TIR trucking route opens up a new chapter in diversifying logistics corridors along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and opens up new paths for trade cooperation. With the opening up of this new logistics corridor, CEVA can provide more flexible and convenient international logistics solutions for a wide range of customers, including those from the eCommerce industry.”

CEVA Logistics has been a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) since 2019.

Tang was recently awarded the IRU New Industry Shapers award in acknowledgment of his accomplishments in pioneering TIR transportation in China and promoting Asia-Europe trade.

HONG KONG Germany’s Rieck Logistics Group has taken over a 45 per cent stake in TANDEM Holding with the Hong Kong company acquiring a 51 per cent share of Rieck Sea Air Cargo Shanghai (RSACI).

This new company TANDEM Rieck

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL ASIA Shanghai Co. Ltd, which, in addition to the headquarters in Shanghai, has nine other branches in China.

“With these two transactions, we are strengthening our global commitment and especially our China business,” said Managing Partner of the Rieck Logistics Group, Philipp Strenge. “In the future, we will benefit even more from IndoPacific and trans-Pacific trade for the benefit of our customers.”

Independent logistics companies work together under the TANDEM brand umbrella, offering air and sea freight services as well as logistics solutions for global supply chains. The network is represented in more than 80 countries with 200 offices.

Rieck Logistics Group was one of the founding members in 2007, is a shareholder in the international network and, with RSACI, is the exclusive partner company for Germany.

In the new corporate structure of TANDEM Holding, Rieck Logistics Group and American CH Powell Company now each hold 45 per cent of the shares, while the Japanese Azuma Shipping has a ten percent stake. The management is made up of one representative from each shareholder.

“With this transaction we are sending a clear signal for our global entrepreneurial commitment,” said Philipp Strenge. “TANDEM Holding acts as an investor for the three partners for the operational business in Hong Kong and is involved in the operational companies in India and China.”

With this new structure, volume and sales have doubled, Strenge said.

“This will have a beneficial effect on the purchasing of capacity from carriers.”

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INDIA

SOUTH KOREA

CEVA Logistics has announced it will acquire 96 per cent of Mumbai-based Stellar Value Chain Solutions (Stellar SVC) in a bid to become a stronger player in Indian contract logistics.

With the purchase, CEVA Logistics will acquire more than 700,000 square metres of space over a total of 70 facilities in 21 cities across the country, as well as a workforce made up of almost 8,000 employees.

The deal, according to CEVA Logistics, will help it diversify its presence in India, boosting its local workforce, assets, customer roster and capabilities.

“With the addition of Stellar VCS, we will continue our strategic growth with the goal of becoming a top five global logistics player,” said CEVA Logistics CEO, Mathieu Friedberg.

“We are expanding into more key market segments and boosting our presence in this strategic country.”

Started in 2016 by Anshuman Singh, Stellar SVC has grown into a key player in contract logistics with omni-channel fulfilment services in the e-commerce, automotive, food products, consumer, fashion and retail, healthcare and pharmaceuticals market segments.

Singh will continue driving this business following the acquisition.

“I look forward excitedly to the future with CEVA, further supporting our commitment to our customers and allowing them to benefit from CEVA’s global capabilities with our knowledge of India,” said Singh.

“The shared values of our Stellar associates and those of the CEVA Logistics team will allow for a quick integration and new, global opportunities for our associates.”

Operations at DHL Express’s €131 million upgraded gateway at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport have begun.

The Incheon Gateway is the biggest DHL Express investment in the country and makes the facility the largest gateway in Asia Pacific. It has more than tripled in size, handling 3.5 times more cargo and features digitised and automated systems that are reducing delivery time of imported goods by 30 minutes.

The expansion aims to address the increasing air cargo demand at the Gateway, a result of growing overseas trade in South Korea and an increase in international express import and export with Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore, Japan, China, Australia and Taiwan.

“Between 2011 and now, the transit cargo handling volume we handled in the country grew more than threefold,” said DHL Executive Vice President of Network Operations and Aviation, Asia Pacific, Sean Wall.

“The opening of the expanded Incheon Gateway arrives at a right time, as it plays an important role to facilitate regional and intra-Asia trade, particularly for the Northeast Asian region, including Dalian, Qingdao, Wuxi, Ulaanbaatar, and Guam.”

The enhanced Incheon Gateway now boasts a gross floor area of 59,248 square metres and a handling capacity of 28,400 pieces per hour. It includes a 5.5 km-long conveyor belt and 19 automated X-ray inspection machines, helping connect global DHL hubs through seven dedicated DHL aircraft and 40 aircraft from partner airlines.

To minimise greenhouse gas emissions,

NEWS INTERNATIONAL ASIA & EUROPE the facility is partly powered by solar energy. A 1-megawatt solar power generator, the first of its kind at Incheon International Airport, has been installed, producing energy that covers roughly 30 per cent of the facility’s consumed energy, “Since its initial opening in 2009, the handling volume of import and export at Incheon Gateway has increased by more than 90 per cent in 2022,” said Country Manager of DHL Express Korea, ByungKoo Han. “With this expansion, we are confident that we can adeptly manage the surge in shipment volume and cater to the increasing demand for international express delivery over the coming decade.”

TAIWAN Global freight forwarder, Dimerco, has opened its second bonded warehouse within the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Free Trade Zone as a result of the changing supply chain strategies of major high-tech companies.

In response to the increasing number of distribution centres in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Dimerco’s new facility is part of a one-stop logistics solution for air and ocean freight, bonded warehousing and trade compliance. The warehouse is primarily aimed at hightech companies operating in Taiwan.

The company says its new location offers a huge cash flow advantage to clients, as inventory entering Taiwan can be stored duty and tax free until they are shipped out, as can finished goods manufactured in Taiwan.

“We recognised the growing trend of US-based companies seeking to establish distribution centeres in Taiwan to

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serve the APAC region,” Dimerco said in a statement. “Leveraging Dimerco’s extensive global network, we were well-positioned to establish a bonded warehouse and utilise our capabilities as a one-stop partner, handling all aspects of consignments from airfreight, ocean freight and warehousing to e-commerce requirements and last-mile custom delivery.”

The new facility spans more than 4,000 square metres and offers customised shelving options, 10 storage bays and extensive picking and packing operations.

GERMANY DSV is taking delivery of a bulk order of Schmitz Cargobull trailers via TIP Group.

The order of 320 mega curtainsiders will reportedly be used for automotive and train transport tasks.

The first unit was released from Schmitz Cargobull’s Germany factory in August.

The remaining trailers are expected to be received by the end of this year.

After six years of usage, TIP will initiate refurbishment services, effectively extending the trailers’ operational lifecycle and delivering exceptional longterm value to DSV. “We are thrilled to add a new dimension to our long-term partnership with DSV,” said TIP Deputy CEO, Arjen Kraaij.

“Our aim is to empower DSV by offering an integration of long-term maintenance and refurbishment services, supporting DSV’s sustainability ambitions and optimising their fleet performance. Both TIP Group and DSV are fully committed to turn the green transition into a success.”

The delivery of the first mega curtainsiders took place at Schmitz

Cargobull’s state-of-the-art factory in Altenberge. This was the occasion for both companies to celebrate their longterm partnership founded on shared values, innovation, and a common goal to drive positive change in the logistics sector.

When asked about the reason for choosing TIP, Flemming Steiness, Senior Director at DSV said: “TIP Group’s expertise in trailers and maintenance solutions perfectly complements DSV’s commitment to minimising our environmental impact. The configuration of the trailers and the promise of extended asset lifetime through maintenance and refurbishment align well with our sustainability ambitions.

We are excited about the environmental benefits and the overall value this partnership brings to DSV and our customers.”

TIP International Strategic Accounts Director, Paul de Jong, added: “TIP and DSV have a long cooperation together.

We are very pleased to deliver assets together with services to increase the lifecycle of the vehicles. Our partnership is built on trust and credibility, and we aim to further strengthen our partnership during the coming years.”

GERMANY BPW has announced it will convert all its 10-tonne-rated axles for 12-tonne-axleload with ECO Plus 3 bearing technology.

This means, regardless of wheel size, brake type and other structural characteristics, all BPW products in these axle load classes will have the benefits of the ECO Plus 3 bearing technology, which was introduced in 2015 in the 9.0 tonne axle segment.

As in Formula 1, the hub with the

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL EUROPE stepped bearing can be disassembled and assembled quickly via a central axle nut and without special tools such as pullers, according to BPW. If the wheel bolts are loosened beforehand, the brake disc can be ‘popped out’ of the caliper with a flick of the wrist after pulling off the hub. With drum brakes, the complete wheel-hub unit can even be removed and all brake components can be replaced directly.

Compared to the previous versions, according to BPW, this third-generation bearing technology offers fleet operators other advantages, especially in terms of serviceability, operating costs and mileage.

The large number of common parts between the individual axle types of the ECO Plus 3 generation simplifies spare parts stocking and parts identification for customers and when servicing, the same operations are and tools are used, providing a faster workflow.

Meanwhile, BPW is offering the 5+3 year ECO Plus warranty for all ECO Plus 3 units in the on-road and standard off-road range. The warranty is extended by a further three years following the mandatory service check after five years, an offer that applies across Europe and without mileage restrictions.

GERMANY Logistics company, LIT, has further diversified its services, acquiring Gübau Group.

The move, retrospective from 1 January, 2023, is expected to help LIT strengthen its market presence in the automotive and hazardous goods sectors and diversify its expertise.

In addition to the two companies, Gübau Logistics and Gübau Service GmbH, the

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subsidiary, Vetra Spedition GmbH, will also be transferred.

“The Gübau Group is an absolute expert in the automotive and chemical industries,” said LIT Speditions Managing Director, Simeon Breuer.

“Through the takeover, we see several synergy effects in the automotive sector and a strengthening of dangerous goods expertise in the Rhine/Ruhr metropolitan region.”

Gübau’s brand will remain in place and it will continue as an independent unit within LIT with a fleet of 40 towing units, 35 trailers. Martin Möhrmann remains Managing Director and all 150 employees will continue to be employed.

“We are convinced that in the LIT Group we have found a strong partner for the future of our company and our employees. Our goal is to continue to develop successfully,” said Möhrmann.

“With LIT we have the necessary clout for this.”

GERMANY L. Stroetmann Lebensmittel has reaffirmed its longstanding partnership with Thermo King to decarbonise its supply chain.

Stroetmann has begun testing delivery vehicles with different powertrain technologies, and Thermo King’s electric Frigoblock refrigeration, as it looks for solutions for its future fleet and new fresh food logistics centre, currently under construction.

The trucks being evaluated are hydrogenpowered Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell and electric Mercedes-Benz eActros, both featuring Frigoblock FK25i units, and a trailer equipped with Frigoblock HKe unit and Thermo King AxlePower energy recovery system.

“To find the right solutions that would seamlessly work with these trucks and trailers ensuring reliable, efficient and purely electric refrigeration, we worked with our longstanding partners at Thermo King and Frigoblock,” said Stroetmann Division Manager Operations and Logistics, Franz Gerhard Jungkamp.

“Their expertise in electrification, bespoke approach and commitment helped us to put these vehicles on the road and hopefully find what we hope to be flexible and future-proof solutions for our fleet.”

GERMANY Equipment specialist, JOST, has announced two strategic acquisitions to bolster its agriculture product portfolio and regional reach.

JOST has agreed to acquire 100 per cent of the share capital of Taxi Brazil Holdings B.V., the Netherlands – the sole shareholder of Crenlo do Brasil Engenharia de Cabines LTDA (Crenlo Brazil) as well as another purchase agreement to acquire LH Lift Oy, Finland.

JOST is reported to gain immediate access to the Brazilian off-highway and agricultural machinery industry, one of the biggest agricultural markets worldwide, With the acquisition of Crenlo Brazil.

With LH Lift, JOST adds three-point linkage and hitches to its product portfolio, enhancing JOST’s offerings to agricultural customers.

Together, these two companies further strengthen JOST’s strategic position in the global agricultural machinery industry, increasing JOST’s value as an international supplier to agricultural OEMs. Headquartered in Guaranésia, Brazil,

P

T v s a

EUROPE Crenlo Brazil has been producing applications for the agricultural, mining, construction and forestry machinery industry in Brazil for over 23 years. It counts a wide range of major global bluechip original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) active in Brazil among its customers.

Crenlo Brazil owns and operates a versatile, best-in-class manufacturing facility in the state of Minas Gerais, which offers promising operating leverage opportunities and will serve as the manufacturing backbone for JOST’s off-highway activities in the Southern hemisphere.

The experienced management team, with in-depth know-how and significant expertise in the Brazilian construction and agricultural machinery market, will remain part of the organisation after the acquisition, supporting JOST’s strategy to grow into the sizeable Brazilian off-highway and agricultural market, accelerating JOST’s profitable growth in the region.

Future synergies will result from JOST’s ability to leverage Crenlo Brazil’s engineering and production capabilities to manufacture and market its agricultural front loaders and implements as well as further agricultural products

Perfectly effective

in Brazil.

LH Lift, a family-owned company, was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Laukaa, Finland. It has production sites in Finland and China. The company supplies products to OEM tractor manufacturers in Europe, Asia and South America. The portfolio comprises three-point linkages and hitches as well as front linkages for tractors. LH Lift’s portfolio perfectly fits JOST offering to the agricultural tractor industry and can be scaled up significantly by leveraging the existing market presence of JOST Agriculture businesses. In addition to the sales synergies to be generated by

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL EUROPE using JOST’s wide distribution channels to market LH Lift’s products, JOST will be able to fully consolidate LH Lift’s production plant in Ningbo, China, into JOST’s already existing production facility in the same city.

“The acquisition of Crenlo do Brasil and LH Lift are key steps towards JOST’s strategic expansion in the agricultural machinery market,” said JOST CEO, Joachim Dürr.

“With these acquisitions and our investments into a new factory in Chennai, India, we significantly expand our global presence in South America and Asia and strengthen our market position in Europe.

“At the same time, we expand our product portfolio with new products with a significant growth potential worldwide. The two acquisitions will initially increase JOST’s consolidated sales by about EUR 100 million and bring additional opportunities to rapidly grow our off-highway business with new emerging cross-selling opportunities.

“Together, we will transform JOST into an even more attractive partner for agricultural OEMs, able to provide and service customers with a wide range of innovative products and systems worldwide, thus reducing the complexity of supply chains for our global customers.”

The integration of these two companies will generate additional synergies in manufacturing, product development and purchasing as well as in the joint commercialisation of products.

“Together with JOST, we will be able to significantly boost our market presence in Brazil, widening our current offerings to OEM customers and providing them with JOST’s market leading products,”

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said Crenlo do Brasil COO, Rafael Belardo Filho.

“My team and I look forward to this exciting opportunity to bring Crenlo do Brasil to the next level under JOST’s ownership.”

Timo Viiki and Eero Viiki, founders and owners of LH Lift, said: “JOST is an ideal industrial partner, who also has deeply entrenched contacts with OEMs just as we do. By bundling our know-how with JOST’s sales channels, we can reach even more customers and develop customised solutions that meet the special, unique requirements of agricultural professionals worldwide.”

The agreed purchase price for these businesses combined corresponds to an enterprise value of €56 million.

Crenlo do Brasil and LH Lift complement JOST not only strategically but also financially. For the fiscal year 2023, the two companies together are expected to generate sales revenues of about €100 million and an adjusted EBITDA between €10 million and €12 million.

The integration of Crenlo do Brasil and LH Lift into JOST’s group of consolidated companies is expected to take effect as of 1 September 2023.

PORTUGAL Spain-based trailer builder, Lecitrailer, has expanded its aftersales support network in Mangualde, Portugal, with a 36,000-square-metre site.

The official opening ceremony was held 17 June 2023 with more than 200 Portugese transport professionals in attendance.

This aftersales service base features a chassis straightening rack, shot blasting booth, paint booth, brake tester, laster tyre alignment system and repair pits.

The Mayor of Mangualde, Marco Filipe Pessoa de Almeida, was present at the event and emphasised the important investment made by Lecitrailer in the area, generating jobs and industrial activity.

Lecitrailer General Manager, Carlos Leciñena, echoed the Mayor’s sentiments and said the new facility will bolster support for Portugese customers.

Karlos Martínez, Sales Director of Lecitrailer in Spain and Portugal, highlighted the durability and profitability of the wide range of Lecitrailer semi-trailers for transport companies, also explaining that in the Mangualde assembly line, the curtainsiders can be bodyworked, with the consequent cost savings for customers.

Finally, Antonio Carvalho, Lecitrailer’s Sales Manager in Portugal explained the advantages for carriers of the new aftersales service base, as well as the training and experience of the team of technical staff at the base, where, in addition to repairing trailers and semitrailers, customers can find both new and second-hand vehicles and the LT Store spare parts shop.

With the start-up of the new after-sales base, there are now seven Lecitrailer aftersales bases with a combined surface area of more than 500,000 square metres, five in Spain in Zaragoza, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville, one in France, specifically in Lyon, and the last one in Mangualde, Portugal.

SPAIN Spanish logistics operator, Logista, has increased its stake in Transportes El Mosca by 13.33 per cent.

Logista acquired 60 per cent of the

EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST company in 2022 as part of a gradual increase in stakes, up to 100 per cent over three years.

El Mosca is a Spanish logistics company specialising in multimodal transportation, providing national and international land, sea and air freight services. It manages a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles and has 1,100 employees distributed among its 12 premises, both in Spain and abroad.

Logista said this acquisition strategy will strengthen the company’s position in the national and international transportation sector for the food and pharmaceutical industries, making it the second operation in the full-load controlled-

temperature sector in Spain.

El Mosca’s operations are highly specialised in terms of handling both dry goods and also controlled-temperature, frozen, controlled-atmosphere and hazardous goods, for both full and consolidated cargo.

“Increasing our stake in Transportes El Mosca represents another step in our diversification and growth strategy,” said Logista CEO, Íñigo Meirás.

“With this operation we continue to consolidate Logista’s position in temperature-controlled transportation and complements our existing capacities in value-added services for our clients.”

DUBAI The 28th United Nations’ conference on climate change, being held in Dubai this December, has appointed Kuehne + Nagel as its official partner.

The global logistics company will be the sole ground handler responsible for steering all logistic activities on-site, such as building country pavilions and stages for panel discussions. In addition, the team will support participants in their end-to-end and local logistics needs, from international freight-forwarding, customs clearance and warehousing, to venue delivery.

“We are proud to have been appointed

NEWS INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AMERICA for this important conference,” said National Manager UAE and Oman at Kuehne+Nagel, Damian Raczynski.

“Kuehne+Nagel is well-known in the events and exhibition space in Europe, and this appointment underpins our efforts to further develop this segment in the Middle Eastern area with great infrastructure to accommodate this industry.”

The partnership can also be attributed to Kuehne + Nagel’s portfolio of lowemission solutions and its commitment to its science-based emission reduction targets, the company said.

SAUDI ARABIA As part of a NEOM city Saudi Arabia project, Kuehne + Nagel has secured a contract from wind turbine supplier, Envision Energy.

The freight task involves the transportation of 190 wind turbine generators (WTG – approx. 1.4 million tonnes) and 67 tower sets.

This major project is expected to be completed in 2025.

A team of more than 100 project logistics professionals, vessel chartering experts, transport engineers, drivers and riggers, will work together to ensure the success of the operation.

A dedicated office has been established in the city of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, to coordinate teams at NEOM’s port and the wind farm site.

NEOM ‘new future’ is a special economic zone in the northwest of Saudi Arabia and is intended to become a model for sustainable urban living powered entirely by renewable energy.

One of the best-known NEOM projects is ‘The Line’, a carbon-neutral linear smart city currently under construction

on the Red Sea. When completed, the NEOM wind farm will generate 1.67 GW of renewable energy to power the plant of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, the world’s largest facility for producing hydrogen on a large scale.

“This is a major milestone in Kuehne + Nagel’s Roadmap 2026, our new strategy that we presented in March this year,” said Kuehne + Nagel International CEO, Stefan Paul.

“We see great potential in providing solutions for renewable energy customers and the NEOM project is a testament to our logistics expertise in this high-growth field that supports the global energy transition.”

KUWAIT Logistics company, Agility, has reported second quarter earnings of 14.2 million KWD (approximately €42.3 million), down 11.7 per cent from the same period last year.

Net profit, the company said, was impacted by higher interest rate expenses, resulting from a general increase, as well as an increase in debt required to finance Agility’s acquisitions last year. It’s EBITDA, however, increased 63.4 per cent to 60.5 million KWD (approximately €180 million).

“We’re pleased with our growth and performance this quarter and we continue to see good results in our operating businesses due to organic growth and our acquisitions in 2022,” said Agility Vice Chairman, Tarek Sultan.

“Global equity markets performed better this quarter, reflecting in our investments segment. Nevertheless, we continue to take a longer-term view of our strategic investments.

“We also continue to look for opportunities to drive and unlock value for our shareholders, customers, employees and communities.”

MEXICO Transportation company, Fultra – the parent company of Fruehauf Inc. – has acquired East Manufacturing.

With the purchase, Fultra will be adding the company’s manufacturing capabilities which include aluminium flatbed, drop deck, dump, round bottom and refuse trailers as well as steel dump trailers and aluminium truck bodies.

“We are thrilled to welcome East Manufacturing to the family,” said Fultra CEO, Jorge Martinez.

“East really fits with our vision to be the trusted solutions partner for the commercial vehicle market in North America. We are confident that our employees and communities as well as customers, dealers and suppliers, will benefit from our combined strengths.”

Tom Wiseman will take over the helm of East, as CEO of both East and Fruehauf, a subsidiary of Fultra.

“East will continue to operate as a standalone entity with all existing management and employees as a key to moving forward,” Wiseman said.

“We will build on East’s strengths combined with group synergies to deliver even greater value to our customers and dealers.”

US ‘Cargobull North America’ Joint Venture is reported to unite North American and European trailer innovation.

Among industry leaders and stakeholders at the International Foodservice Distributors Association’s 2023 Solutions

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Krone

NORTH AMERICA Conference on 11 September, Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company and Schmitz Cargobull announced the inception of Cargobull North America and unveiled new, state-of-the-art Trailer Refrigeration Units (TRUs).

Utility Trailer is the exclusive North American distributor of Schmitz Cargobull’s latest TRU technology on its 3000R line of trailers. Combined with Utility’s proven innovations and its powerful dealer network, Cargobull is primed to help TRU technology take a giant leap forward in North America.

“It was only natural for us to enter talks with Utility Trailer,” said Schmitz

Cargobull Chairman of the Board, Andreas Schmitz.

“They have in-depth market knowledge and a comprehensive dealer network, and, as we’re both family-owned-andoperated companies, Utility and Schmitz Cargobull share many of the same values.

“I am very much looking forward to our collaboration. Above all, I am convinced that together we will provide added value to North American customers and revolutionise the market.”

Schmitz Cargobull claims to be the market leader in TRU technology in Europe, with 30,000 TRUs currently on the road and a proven track record

of success. The new lineup coming to North America on Utility’s 3000R reefers includes the 625 single-temperature and 655MT multi-temperature hybrid TRUs. Fully electric, TUV-homologated models with battery-recuperation axles are coming soon.

The TRU technology unveiled this month already meets California’s stringent emission standards for 2030. It’s also compliant with California Air Resources Board (CARB) ultra-low-emission TRU (ULETRU) regulations without using a problematic diesel-particulate filter (DPF) or exhaust-gas-recirculation valve.

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL NORTH AMERICA a loading dock, operators will lower emissions while maximising cooling efficiencies.

“Our joint venture with Cargobull further positions Utility Trailer as a global leader in sustainability, fuel efficiency, and emission reduction,” said Utility President and CEO, Jeff Bennett.

“We don’t just want to be the biggest, but also the best, holistic destination for everything reefer customers need, from strong and lightweight boxes to energy-efficient TRUs and high-tech telematics—all in one trailer.”

Additional advantages of the new Utility and Cargobull North America TRUs include a Hatz industrial diesel engine with fuel-sipping common-rail injection, a reliable hybrid powertrain, fully embedded shore power, and noise-dampening options that come standard for quieter loading docks and the quietest diesel operation available in North America.

“Both Utility Trailer and Schmitz Cargobull rely on the same recipe for success: Our company culture as familyrun trailer manufacturers drives us to continuously develop the best trailer technology and supply customers with an entire eco-system, including services, telematics, and optimum cargo space availability,” said Andreas Schmitz.

“The fact that Utility Trailer selected our energy-efficient units in competition with other global transport refrigeration unit suppliers confirms the quality of our products and development work.”

With the Schmitz Cargobull TrailerConnect telematics system, CBNA is entering the North American market with the most advanced offering available. The system allows customers

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to monitor and control the temperature, fuel consumption, vehicle position and other important parameters of their refrigerated vehicles in real time. The advanced telematics unit with LTE communications and global roaming is integrated as standard on every TRU from CBNA. A press conference with Cargobull North America was held on 11 September 2023.

The technology enables a stateof-the-art front end and the use of mobile applications for iOS and Android smartphones from drivers to dispatchers to fleet owners. As an open system with extensive cyber security, it gives customers the choice of how they want to utilise their data.

From ERP systems to truck telematics to third-party providers or even their transportation management systems, the customer is a data owner and can choose to route their data via a simple API. In addition, telematics offers monitoring of the premium ABS modulators with all fault codes, tire pressure, door status and predictive maintenance, as well as intelligent remote control of the CBNA refrigeration unit.

US North American commercial vehicle and freight forecasting company, ACT Research, has announced the appointment of a chief economist.

Former former Deputy Chief Economist, International Markets, FX and Commodities for General Motors Company, David Teolis, will join the firm in October.

“We are pleased to welcome David to ACT Research and look forward

to his contributions to our economic and commercial vehicle analyses and publications,” said President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research, Kenny Vieth. “His past work experience and perspective will make him a true asset to the ACT Research team.”

Teolis previously had a 28-year career with General Motors where he, most recently, was responsible for providing economic analysis, forecasting longterm new vehicle sales, and conducting special studies for the economies of South America, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Prior to joining General Motors, David was the recipient of the Herman Kahn Fellowship in International Political Economy from the Hudson Institute where he worked on issues related to NAFTA and telecommunications deregulation.

“I am thrilled to be joining a strong team at ACT and am looking forward to getting to know our customers, their data needs, and how I can contribute to the publications and services we offer,” said Teolis.

US ‘Trailer builder, Wabash, has officially opened its advanced dry van trailer manufacturing facility in Lafayette, Indiana.

Announced in July 2021, production on the expansion began several months ago. Once the plant is fully operational, the company said it will double production with the same facility footprint and workforce.

“The opportunity for this renovation was more than just adding capacity,” said Wabash President and CEO, Brent Yeagy.

SOUTH AMERICA & OCEANIA “It was about incorporating targeted automation to improve safety and the worker experience in a more operator friendly design. At its core it was about investment in our future.”

The facility is expected to produce an additional 10,000 dry van trailers annually, the full impact of which the company expects to see in 2024.

“We’ve created an advanced manufacturing environment unlike anything in the trailer industry,” said Yeagy.

BRAZIL ‘Randoncorp credits internationalisation and diversification of portfolios and markets for its second quarter success.

The transport equipment company registered a consolidated net revenue of 2.8 billion BRL (approximately €515 million) in the second quarter of 2023.

Consolidated EBITDA grew 22.8 per cent when compared to the same period last year, reaching 444.4 million BRL (almost €81 million). EBITDA margin increased 290 basis points, closing at 16 per cent.

While sales volumes of auto parts to OEMs were at below the average levels over the last two years due to the reduction in truck production in the country, the aftermarket for auto parts is heated, and semi-trailer segment continues with good demand from the agricultural sector and fuel tanker lines, the company said in a statement.

“Once again, the consistency of results throughout the first half of the year showed the assertiveness of our strategy,” said Randoncorp’s CFO, Paulo Prignolato.

“Specifically, when we analyse the second quarter scenario, the reductions

in demand in some product lines were mitigated by the good performance of others, as well, the increase in international exposure of our companies has been fundamental to offseting the challenges of the domestic market.”

AUSTRALIA Dubai-based company, DP World, has announced Nicolaj Noes as its new Executive Vice President for Oceania.

Noes was most recently the Managing Director for global towage provider, Svitzer, and brings to the role more than three decades of experience in the maritime industry working in Asia, Europe and Australia.

“With his depth of experience in the maritime industry, his passion for serving customers, his commitment to develop and inspire his team, Nicolaj is the perfect leader to take DP World forward and accelerate the company’s growth opportunities across Oceania,” said CEO and Managing Director for DP World, Asia Pacific, Glen Hilton.

Noes will be responsible for overseeing DP World’s business in Oceania and driving its ongoing transformation into an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider, the company said. He succeeds Andrew Adam, who left to pursue other opportunities.

AUSTRALIA New fleet equipment continues to roll in as Linfox invests in modern vehicles, rail containers and handling equipment to support its growing national freight task and safeguard Australian supply chains.

With more people and freight on the road, Linfox is consistently replacing outdated vehicles and equipment to protect drivers, customers, communities

and the environment.

According to Linfox President Fleet and Procurement, Ray Gamble, ongoing fleet renewal means the latest safety and technology features are always available at Linfox to provide essential protection throughout the supply chain.

“Linfox’s strong relationships with our fleet suppliers and our willingness to invest for growth allow us to design better, more bespoke transport solutions that move the nation’s freight in a more sustainable way,” he said.

“These are particularly important as our customers evolve, especially those with specialised product needs such as bulk fuels, mining and resources.”

According to Linfox, it also improves fuel efficiency, lowers maintenance costs and minimises vehicle downtime.

As part of its fleet investment, Linfox is waiting on a substantial order of almost 1,100 rail containers.

The order includes both ambient and temperature-controlled refrigerated containers backed by the latest monitoring technology.

The 20- and 40-foot container investment will reportedly bolster Linfox’s containerised freight capability which aligns with its efforts to move more freight from road to rail.

“Designed to be easily carried across different transport modes including heavy vehicles, trains and ships, containers are vital for Linfox’s intermodal offering,” a Linfox spokesperson said.

“The refrigerated containers will transport temperature-sensitive items such as food and pharmaceuticals, with integrated and tracked cooling systems that maintain a specific temperature range throughout the journey.”

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TOGETHER

WE GO FURTHER

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COVER STORY

MANAC HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON STRATEGIC PLANNING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO SOLIDIFY AND EXPAND ITS DOMINANT POSITION AS BOTH THE INDUSTRY LEADER IN CANADA AND A LEADER IN THE NORTH AMERICAN SEMI-TRAILER MARKET FOR HAVING THE MOST DIVERSE PRODUCT LINE.

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arlier this year Canada-based OEM, Manac, saw a transformation of its branding to better reflect its long-term vision. The new slogan ‘Together we go further’, according to Manac CEO, Charles Dutil, embodies everything the trailer builder is working towards with an emphasis on long-term partnerships. “‘Together’ is referred to in so many contexts such as together with our employees, together with our customers, together with our suppliers and just as importantly together with our communities,” said Dutil. “The past three-to-four years has reminded us that without these valuable relationships we are very limited in what we can achieve, but with focused determination to elevate these relationships, we see

that there are no limitations to how far we can go when we work together.”

Manufacturing is at Manac’s core. It engages in continuous improvement across its processes and challenges the status quo, rewarding those who bring innovative ideas to the table.

“We continue to make major investments at all five of our production facilities to optimise efficiency while delivering the highest quality of trailers with the support of our 1,500 team members,” said Dutil. “Our main facility located in Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada, is very likely the most flexible manufacturing facility in this industry. Our local team can produce a variety of products including steel and combo flatbeds, log trailers, low bed trailers, chip vans, dry vans, and reefer vans. Our vast product offering along with our flexibility to personalise trailers is an important aspect for our many long-term customers. It is not unusual to see us produce a single axle 28’ trailer, followed by a 53’ quad-axle open top chip van, a 60’ tandem heater van and finish up with an eight-axle custom van for the Michigan market, all in the same day on the same production line.”

In the years to follow, it is possible that 60’ vans will become a reality in many parts of Canada. The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has been working on a pilot project for

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several years now with a limited number of permits being issued under similar restrictions as the long vehicle combination program currently operating across most of Canada. Results of this pilot project will be made available later this year and will be reviewed by Ontario and other provinces to determine the long-term feasibility of 60’ trailers.

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“In anticipation of a gradual adoption of 60’ trailers, we need to make the necessary investments to our van manufacturing plant and our new and existing service centres to be able to accommodate these longer trailers,” said Dutil. “Having a source of electricity in Quebec that is 100 per cent renewable from hydro power, we are investing in a three-phase upgrade at our main plant that will allow us to efficiently produce 60’ vans, increase our overall production capacity and streamline the overall production process all the while not increasing our carbon footprint.”

Manac’s strategic planning also identified an opportunity in the refrigerated trailer market and subsequently for the past few years it has invested heavily in research and development for its new Coolwing reefer trailer that was introduced into the market in 2022.

“Manac is known in the industry to have the most durable trailers on the market and that is no different with our reefer trailer,” said Dutil. “However,

COVER STORY

customers asked us to provide them with the most eco-efficient long-lasting reefer with a weight to strength ratio that will allow them to load some of the heaviest payloads, in some of the harshest environments in Canada but still have a competitive weight that allows them to run into the southern US. Our team worked diligently to provide our customers with the most ‘environmentally friendly’ refrigerated van in North America with 30 per cent less global warming potential compared to polyurethane (summer-frozen conditions). We challenged traditional manufacturing methods that use polyurethane as the main insulating property and realised that the best insulation is a polystyrene block foam insulation that we incorporate in a multilayer ‘sandwich’ design. This non-hygroscopic insulation will not degrade over time like other insulating agents used in the industry, providing our clients with a much higher R-value throughout the life of the trailer with the added benefits of not seeing increased weights since polystyrene will not absorb any water, even if exposed, and has a much higher compression rating than traditional reefer trailers. We use this material in our floors, walls, roof, and rear doors in an overall design that minimizes thermal bridges.”

Another key element to the Manac difference and its success over the years has been its customer-centric focus and ability to support the road transport industry with a network of company owned service centres.

“Being based in a somewhat rural and remote region of eastern Canada, we initially started with a service centre in the Montreal, QC, Canada area and in 2000 we constructed a facility in Toronto, ON, Canada,” said Dutil. “Since then, we have added additional sales & service facilities in the west end of Montreal, constructed a brand-new facility in Moncton, NB, Canada last year and have started construction on another new facility in Quebec City. Later this year we will complete the renovation and expansion of our Toronto service centre and in 2024 we will commence construction of our newest service centre on well-located land that we purchased in Winnipeg MB, Canada. Each of these investments have been made with the goal of providing exceptional customer service to our partners with an eventual coast-to coast service network across Canada.” www.manac.com

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HOPE & DESPAIR

ALL THE BEST LAID FISCAL PLANS MEAN NOTHING WHEN DISASTER STRIKES. LIKE SO MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO HADN’T BEEN SPARED FROM THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. LONG-STANDING INTERNAL PEACE AND STABILITY WAS PROVING HELPFUL BUT NOW, IN THE WAKE OF A DEADLY EARTHQUAKE, THE ARAB COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO DIG EVEN DEEPER TO WEATHER THIS LATEST TRAGEDY.

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6.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Morocco in September, killing an estimated 3,000 people. The World Health Organisation reports that more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster.

From rescue and recovery, survivors and government officials now face rebuilding, a difficult task considering many villages, located in the Atlas Mountains on the outskirts of Marrakesh, were completely wiped out.

On top of being the deadliest earthquake Morocco has seen in 60 years, according to the World Bank, the natural disaster could lead to an eight per cent loss in GDP which would account for about $10.7 billion USD. Experts say there will be both a short and long-term negative economic impact, predicting they will spread through trade networks and supply changes and have a spill over effect on business activity. They suggest that the extent of the earthquake’s economic impact will depend on Morocco’s ability to reallocate resources towards reconstruction.

Inflation pain

This all comes in the wake of a two-year inflation shock that hit the country quick and fast. The kingdom had, up until recently, comfortably dealt with an average of no more than 1.5 per cent inflation over the past 20 years. Like many other countries, that changed.

Morocco inflation rate for 2022 was 6.66 per cent, a 5.26 per cent increase from 2021.

It hit a peak of 10.1 per cent in February, a three-decade high.

Following the standard rule book, Morocco responded with interest rate hikes – three consecutive rises totaling 150 basis points.

But leaders were becoming increasingly concerned about food price levels, which some argued were as expensive as European capital cities. Food prices started to hike in 2022 on

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the back of the worst drought to hit the country in more than 40 years. It affected market supply, causing prices to rise to dramatic levels and was especially felt in the first months of 2023, with food prices rising at an annual pace of 18.4 per cent at the end of February.

In June, in response to these conditions the Morocco’s central bank, Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), announced that it would not raise interest rates, but aimed to maintain stability by keeping the key rate unchanged at 3.0 per cent.

Pre-earthquake

The Moroccan government’s take on the economic state of the Kingdom before the earthquake had contradicted the economic establishments. In fact, the Higher Commission of Planning’s head, Ahmed Lahlimi, said that inflation in that country was no longer an imported phenomenon, but caused by internal market conditions.

He was quoted as saying, “inflation should be considered a structural and domestic truth and we should adapt to is much like drought.”

While projections have drastically changed,

MARKET REPORT

exports had been predicted to decrease by 2.8 per cent, mainly driven by lower sales of phosphate and derivatives, but were anticipated to rebound with 6 per cent growth in 2024, supported by increased shipments from the automotive sector.

Import volumes were forecast to rise by 2.9 per cent in 2024 due to an increase in purchases of finished consumer goods and capital goods.

All of that has now changed, with the future looking much more uncertain.

Looking to the future

Days after the earthquake, members of Morocco’s Parliament convened to create a government fund for earthquake response at the request of King Mohammed VI. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said that the government was committed to compensating victims and helping them rebuild. Enaam Mayara, the president of Morocco’s House of Councillors, said that it would likely take five or six years to rebuild some affected areas.

One sector that will be hit hard is tourism. A

huge money earner for the Kingdom, it was expected to continue its recovery since Covid – a 14.9 per cent increase in revenues in 2023. Marrakesh, which includes a UNESCOlisted historic centre, is Morocco’s tourist capital. Although international flights are still arriving at Marrakech, Morocco’s Tourism Observatory is concerned that the economic impacts of the disaster could reduce visitor numbers to the country for the rest of the year.

But in what has been seen as a much-needed win, The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank announced the annual meeting of the two global institutions would proceed in October in Marrakesh as planned, despite the disaster. The event will bring between 10,000 and 15,000 people to the city and a vital tourist dollar injection.

Meanwhile, Morocco has been forced to lean on other countries for financial aid.

Officials have recently met with Germany to discuss reconstruction projects, while, in a joint statement on Sunday, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Commission, France, India, and the African Union said they would “support Morocco in the best possible way.”

They said: “We have been and continue to be committed partners of Morocco, supporting the authorities as they have built an inclusive and resilient economy with strong institutions.”

They also promised to provide all the necessary support for any urgent short-term financial needs and for the reconstruction efforts. “To this end, we will mobilise our technical and financial tools and assistance in a co-ordinated way to help the people of Morocco overcome this terrible tragedy.” www.globaltrailermag.com

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EVENT PREVIEW

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SELL-OUT BRINGING TOGETHER MARKET PLAYERS FROM ACROSS THE HEAVY AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY, THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS TRADE FAIR IN LYON, FRANCE, WILL FOCUS ON SHIFTING THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY INTO ONE THAT HAS NET ZERO EMISSIONS.

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trade fair for haulage and urban transport professionals, SOLUTRANS 2023 promises innovation and information, with a heavy focus on sustainability and growing opportunities within that sector.

The event, running from 21-25 November, and promising an array of exhibitions, programs and presentations, will take over 90,000 square metres of exhibition space at Lyon’s Eurexpo building, including an outdoor demonstration area. There will be more than 1,000 exhibitors and brands representing 57 countries.

The program for the event has five major themes it will be focusing on.

• Urban deliveries – new solutions from heavy and light commercial vehicle manufacturers will be on display for those interested in alternative delivery models for increasingly restrictive city centres. A ‘cargo bike’ space will be created, including a test track to demonstrate the suitability of the concept.

• New energies – as part of SOLUTRANS’ mission, it will offer an overview of all the energies available and their key applications as the industry looks to tackle the challenge of decarbonising transport.

• Tyres – in partnership with SPP, the expo will be hosting a ‘Tyre Village’ to inform visitors of the latest in tyre technology and the innovations that can make them last longer and cost less.

• Retrofit – showcasing the art of improving what already exists, retrofitting specialists will be on hand to raise awareness about its benefits, as well as teaching how to determine its suitability.

• Automated vehicles – the expo will be highlighting the technologies that will lead to self-driving heavy commercial vehicles in the future. Advanced driver assistance, which is ever developing, will be part of the line-up.

Organisers are calling the SOLUTRANS event the largest gathering of heavy goods vehicles in Europe and, as the only event of its kind in the sector, will welcome the biggest names in trailer and semi-trailer manufacturing in the world. www.solutrans.fr

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EFFICIENT A N D SUSTAINABLE SCHMITZ CARGOBULL IS UNVEILING NEW PRODUCTS TO ITS PORTFOLIO INCLUDING THE CURTAINSIDER S.CS X-TOUGH AND THE DRY FREIGHT VEHICLE S.BO PACE AT THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS EVENT IN LYON, FRANCE.

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he robust S.CS X-TOUGH curtainsider semitrailer was specially developed for France and countries with a total weight of 44 tonnes and fits seamlessly into the Schmitz Cargobull chassis range with galvanised and bolted chassis.

It has cross beams in the chassis structure, which add strength and robustness.

The stability of the chassis is particularly evident with rear loading and high frequency of forklift loading.

The chassis can be combined with various equipment options, such as the slatless POWER CURTAIN or the SPEED CURTAIN quick-opening tarpaulin. Schmitz Cargobull offers a 10-year warranty against rusting through on all galvanised parts in the chassis. Thanks to the galvanisation, the chassis is corrosion-resistant and offers optimum protection against rusting through.

The new dry freight box S.BO PACE will be introduced to the French market for the first time at Solutrans 2023. The vehicle is primarily aimed at transport companies in the parcel and dry freight segment. It is certified according to DIN EN 12642 Code XL and offers a wide range of options, such as load securing rails, a translucent roof, a tail lift and two different door variants, either with a roller shutter or aluminium doors.

The body is made of innovative STRUKTOPLAST panels. Thanks to the lightweight, honeycomb-shaped panels, each trailer weighs around 700kg less than comparable vehicles

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in this segment. The trailer can be equipped with numerous load-securing components for securing packages, e.g. package safety tarpaulin, lashing straps, etc. The floor load capacity is 5.4 tonnes as standard and can optionally be increased to 7.1 tonnes or 8.0 tonnes if heavier loads have to be transported.

In addition to the two new products, the tried and tested S.KO COOL refrigerated semitrailer and the new S.KI tipper trailer will also be on show at the fair. The S.KO COOL refrigerated semitrailer is equipped with the Schmitz Cargobull S.CU V2MultiTemp transport refrigeration machine and has a partition wall for different temperature ranges. Additional safety is provided by the new TL4 electronic door locking system and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

With the new frame and body generation,

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SOLUTRANS PREVIEW

the new Schmitz Cargobull S.KI tipper trailer not only impresses with its improved payload capacity of up to 280 kilograms (50 kg chassis, 180 kg body, 50 kg frame), it also impresses with its improved operability and its consistent and reliable product quality. The vehicle exhibited at the fair is equipped with a hydraulic rear wall flap and a sliding roof. The integrated optional onboard weighing system allows the driver to determine and document the vehicle’s payload directly at the loading site. For the French market, a special “Limited Edition” will be introduced especially for Solutrans. About 20 S.KI tipper trailers can be ordered directly and are available immediately for interested customers.

In addition to the vehicles on display, the new digital equipment options will also play a decisive role on the Schmitz Cargobull stand F 122 in Hall 4, as these are making an ever-greater contribution to cost efficiency and work safety. All Schmitz Cargobull semi-trailers are equipped with the Schmitz Cargobull TrailerConnect telematics

system as standard ex works.

Schmitz Cargobull is taking the next step in the digital transformation of the transport and logistics industry and is the first and only trailer OEM to install telematics in nonrefrigerated vehicles as standard. www.cargobull.com

COME VISIT US AT THE SOULTRANS EXHIBITION IN HALL 5 - C138 www.tmtinternational.it | +39 0735 56 82 85 | info@tmtinternational.it

BLAST FROM THE PAST REFLECTING ON BPW GROUP’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY AND THE EXTRAORDINARY CHANGES THE INDUSTRY HAS FACED, THE COMPANY’S MANAGING PARTNERS MARKUS SCHELL AND ACHIM KOTZ SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS. How would you describe the industry and what is it like working within it from a personal perspective?

Markus Schell: The transport industry is literally always on the move. Megatrends such as digitalisation and sustainability but also other factors like dependence on the energy markets, political conflicts such as the Ukraine war and stricter legal regulations have an influence on change and development in our industry.

Achim Kotz: Despite all these challenges, it feels good for us as a company to actively shape the change in the transport industry. I am already the fourth generation to run the family business. BPW has continuously developed in a dynamic environment and that´s what we will do also in the future.

What is BPW’s strongest asset?

Markus Schell: In terms of products, we as BPW Group offer important key technologies

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Achim Kotz, personally liable managing partner of BPW Bergische Achsen KG.

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and 90s the BPW engineers took their inspiration from pit stops in Formula 1. They asked themselves how the replacement of brake wear parts on trailers could be made easier, safer and above all faster. The result of this is our ECO Unit and the BPW ECO Principle, which enable rapid disassembly and assembly of the entire bearing unit via a central axle nut.

What is the fundamental company value that has carried the business through the years?

Achim Kotz: For many generations, BPW follows the same values: integrity, honesty, diligence, decency, respect, lawfulness, loyalty, responsibility, long-term thinking and reliability. They define our marked loyalty to employees as well as to customers and market partners. They guide us in the development of new ideas as well as in the further development of our company. And they are evident in our sustainable commitment to society and the environment.

What impact has BPW had on the manufacturing and the transport industry in general?

Markus Schell, personally liable managing partner of BPW Bergische Achsen KG.

for economical, efficient and safe transport. As a system partner, we supply vehicle manufacturers with trailer running gears and brakes, electric drive solutions as well as lighting, fastener and superstructure technologies, plastic technologies and telematics. We have supplemented this portfolio with comprehensive mobility services for transport companies. This also includes a welldeveloped spare parts trading network, through which we ensure the reliable and fast supply of spare parts for all relevant commercial vehicle brands in many countries around the world.

Beginning with our own foundries for cast parts through the production of trailer technology, to the distribution of spare parts, we cover all stages of the value chain in the transport ecosystem – which is certainly unique within the industry in this form.

Achim Kotz: Our strength as a company is that we are still owner-managed today. As a 100 per cent family-owned business, we don’t think and act in quarterly terms, but in terms of generations.

Continuity, reliability and trust are values that characterize our relationship with customers, partners and above all, our employees.

Can you name one game-changing product that really put BPW on a new level and why?

Markus Schell: With our ECO Unit, BPW has certainly set a benchmark in the industry for trailer axle operation and maintenance. Back in the 80s

Achim Kotz: Even though the exact number can hardly be determined today, around 2,000 patents have their origins in our business in Wiehl over the last 125 years. Incidentally, the ‘P’ in our company name stands for “patent axles” – this shows that the development of pioneering running gear solutions has always been very important to us.

Markus Schell: But BPW was also a pioneer in many areas on the process side. In 1983, we were the first company in the branch to introduce documented manufacturing, making it possible to trace a product through every stage of its production. And in 2018 we were one of the first commercial vehicle suppliers to be certified according to IATF standard 16949, thus setting new quality standards.

What are you personally most proud of when you think of BPW?

Achim Kotz: In 125 years, BPW has developed from a small forge workshop with 12 employees into an internationally active Group of companies. We have 55 subsidiaries in 27 countries, and almost 7,000 employees now work within the BPW Group. In spite of this growth, we have always remained true to our roots: Since its foundation, BPW has had its company headquarters at Ohlerhammer in Wiehl.

Markus Schell: Regardless our consistent success, we always manage to surprise the industry with pioneering new products: Most recently, we have primarily demonstrated our innovative strength in the areas of electrification and digitalisation. In 2016 with the electrically powered axle eTransport, where we discarded traditional thinking patterns about combustion engines and turned the axle into the engine compartment.

Or with our generator axle ePower, which generates electricity while driving to provide electrical power for cooling units. Recently, together with our telematics experts from idem telematics, we also launched the new running gear generation iC Plus into series production, paving the way for AI-supported maintenance management.

What does the future hold? What are your biggest priorities going forward?

Achim Kotz: It remains a turbulent time in the transport and logistics industry. It is almost impossible to predict where the industry will be in five years’ time. So it is important for us to continue to develop partnerships with our customers and to engage in dialogue with them. What drives them? What challenges do they face? And how can we best support them in getting goods from A to B efficiently, safely and sustainably? Together with our customers, partners and employees, we will continue to actively drive forward the transformation of transport. www.bpw.de

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MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE,

POSSIBLE HAVING NOW BEEN IN HIS THERMO KING POSITION FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, DWAYNE COWAN TALKS TO GLOBAL TRAILER ABOUT DECARBONISATION, ELECTRIFICATION AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE INDUSTRY HAS IN REDUCING GLOBAL FOOD WASTE.

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ith every success comes the opportunity, and some might even argue the obligation, to make a difference and right a wrong. At least that is the direction Dwayne Cowan is taking as he guides Thermo King in his role as President, Europe, Middle East, Africa.

The wrong, in this case, is food waste, a global scourge considering we live in a world where hundreds of millions of people go hungry daily.

“We have an important role to play in cutting food waste,” said Cowan. “Globally, 30 per cent of food is lost or wasted, while 1.3 billion people experience food insecurity. This is where our industry can make a difference. Having an efficient and sustainable cold chain reduces food waste and helps to put food on tables across the world. This is where we need to step up.”

This ideology comes under a very large environmental, social and governance umbrella which goes beyond just cutting emissions, although Cowan notes that is very much the current priority.

For Thermo King and its parent company, Trane Technologies, the road to net zero is multi-layered and addressed with a variety of strategies, commitments and initiatives, but the message is quite clear.

“Sustainability is undoubtedly front and centre for the transport industry,” he said, reiterating the fact that Thermo King is investing heavily in this area. Industry-wide, we must continue to focus on zero emission innovation.”

This is particularly true for Cowan. With the European market under his leadership, he sees first-hand the fast pace to which the European Commission is toughening legislation. Zero emissions zones (ZEZ) are becoming mainstream with plans in place, for example, to create 35 ZEZs by 2030 including 26 in the Netherlands.

“We have of course been aware of this direction and have been investing heavily in electrification—alongside other sustainable fuel sources such as hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVOs),” Cowan said.

‘Our hybrid refrigeration systems for trucks and trailers T-Series Hybrid, UT Hybrid refrigeration systems, Advancer A-Series and SLXi seamlessly switch between diesel and electric mode, allowing transporters to operate in inner cities, residential areas and low emission zones with the unit’s diesel engine turned off.

Our Advancer-A series refrigeration unit for trailers has the lowest environmental impact of any trailer refrigeration unit available on the market, globally. The Advancer’s unrivalled electrical and fuel efficiency contributes to a lower CO2 footprint – 50 per cent less emissions

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Dwayne Cowan.

than previous available options.

We are advocates of zero emissions regulations, at the pace of availability and scale for our customers’ operations.

“Customers want to test the new electrical units, prove their ease of use, and reliability of the fleet management systems,” he said. “They also need time to evaluate the infrastructural needs and changes to their operation to ensure seamless integration.”

Thermo King’s sustainability plan

In 2021 Thermo King announced the company’s all-electric portfolio, branded ‘evolve’ and its commitment to invest more than $100 million over the subsequent three years to deliver a fully electric product in every segment of the cold chain in EMEA by 2023.

This year, Thermo King has been actively working on developing an electric unit within the truck segment with an interface to access the power from the battery of the vehicle and are now moving to take this technology to larger trucks. With small trucks

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it has launched a new platform, E-500, that is fully compatible with the latest electric chassis.

Meanwhile, its engineers have been working on a fully independent solution for its trailer portfolio – the AxlePower solution. Collaborating with BPW, Thermo King has developed a system that electrically powers the refrigeration component by reusing the energy typically lost on the road, capturing it and storing it in a battery.

“We’re confident that together with BPW we have created an innovative and world class energy recovery system which delivers immediate and longterm sustainability benefits while also helping cut day-to-day operating costs.”

The AxlePower system is currently being trialled in the field with different customers operating different applications and different trailer refrigeration units.

The results so far show that the energy generation system has only a marginal impact on the tractor fuel consumption. As an additional bonus, the driver’s well-being is shown to improve thanks to considerably reduced sound and vibration levels.

This development and other projects, including the company’s zero-waste to landfills goal and its goal to become net-positive with water use in water-stressed locations, are all part of Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments and its pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company’s emissions reductions targets have been externally validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative.

Also included in Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments is its Gigaton Challenge – a pledge to reduce customers’ greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons (or, 1 gigaton).

interested in asset tracking and real time visibility.

“Electrification brings a significant transformation in our products and how we create value for our customers” he said, “an electric product is not just a mechanical design, software and connectivity are just as important. This means devices are smarter and once you have smart devices, the possibilities are endless”. Thermo King has led the way in connectivity for transport refrigeration. Today the company has connectivity solutions across their product range. Cowan continued “This year we went beyond our refrigeration units and released a new feature called Trailer Assist Premium in our TracKing platform. This new feature allows Thermo King TracKing™ customers to leverage EBS, odometer, axle-load and TPMS data and further optimise their trailers’ uptime, maintenance and fuel efficiency. With easy access to comprehensive information about the status of their refrigerated trailers via TracKing™, customers will be able to act and react to operate more efficiently, avoid unscheduled downtime, reduce fuel consumption and create more sustainable transport.

But we also found other opportunities to serve our customers” he added, “We launched a 24 x 7 monitoring service run by Thermo King refrigeration experts. Our monitoring teams utilize machine data, take remote actions or orchestrate field actions, delivering increased uptime and cargo safety for our customers.”

Dealer Networks

Thermo King’s dealer network provides multi-language, 24-hour a day support to any vehicle on the road. Its focus, says Cowan, is to make sure its dealer management system provides dealers with the right facilities and skills to support customers. Current goals include ensuring the network is fully high voltage and electric ready.

The future

Decarbonisation is obviously the biggest focus in the industry and will remain so for some time to come, but there are other significant trends to consider as well, including digitalisation.

Embedding digitalisation into the solutions for customers ensures end-to-end connectivity, helping to ensure visibility for them across the entire supply chain.

“Supply chain resilience is also key in a changing world,” he says. “Companies need to be able to respond quickly and effectively to fast moving economic, technological and market changes to minimise disruption.”

Going forward, Cowan is optimistic about the future of the industry, and is dedicated to leading by example with adopting and scaling industry-changing technology and solutions.

He sees Thermo King contributing heavily to this movement.

“We will continue to deploy our comprehensive approach to not only electrification and decarbonisation, but also our expertise in digitalization and connectivity,” he says.

“We are making what was once the impossible, possible – bringing our purpose to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world to life.”

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Visitors at this year’s event will see Thermo King’s latest commercially available solutions.

These will include: • A dvancer-e – an all-electric, engineless and power agnostic trailer refrigeration unit that can operate with several different power sources for zero-emission trailer refrigeration.

• AxlePower.

• E-500e: a 100 per cent electric powered flagship unit in the E-series range for urban deliveries.

• Frigoblock FK2: all-electric transport refrigeration unit for rigid trucks and ideal for sustainable and powerful multi-drop urban distribution.

Telematics

A trend Cowan is seeing is customers becoming more

Find Thermo King at SOLUTRANS at Hall 4, FO86

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SAFE SOUND AND

GLOBAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, ZF, IS PUTTING SAFETY FIRST AT THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS TRADE FAIR IN LYON AS IT SHOWCASES ITS LATEST INNOVATIONS THAT ARE LEADING THE INDUSTRY.

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F’s message is loud and clear. The German technology company wants “zero accidents” and it has put together the best in research and development to get there.

“Towards zero accidents” will be one of the themes at this year’s SOLUTRANS event and its products on display will include tyre pressure monitoring and intelligent braking systems.

Along with a focus on zero accidents, ZF’s products also represent its dedication to zero emissions and zero efficiency losses as it remains steadfast in its goal of helping steer the transportation industry to wards being more sustainable, safer and smarter.

Here are some of the products that will be on show.

OptiTire – towards zero accidents

An advanced tyre pressure monitoring system, OptiTire is available with a variety of sensor options, including internal strap- or valve-mounted sensors, to cover all rim sizes and applications. The system can monitor up to 20 rolling wheels and two spare wheels with one ECU and enables range extension with additional OptiTire ECUs. It is also compatible with major OEM dashboards and other ZF telematics systems.

OptiTire is compliant with United Nations regulation ECE R141 and is part of the Advanced Driver Assistance System set that helps improve road safety in line with regulatory requirements.

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Intelligent Braking Platform

SOLUTRANS will feature ZF’s Intelligent Braking Platform, the company’s most advanced solution offering standardisation and common components which enable lean production and simplified warehousing. Multi-voltage capability and generic communication protocols improve OptiTire internal sensors and ECU.

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coupling procedures and replaces the conventional two-button Park Release Emergency Valve (PREV). The new PRV offers an intuitive, one-handed operator interface for parking and shunting, as well as simplified installation.

Electrified trailer

vehicle connectivity, while scalable variants from basic iABS to premium iEBS are applicable to a wide variety of different trailer types worldwide.

The focus is on iEBS and Park Release Valve with the intelligent electronic braking systems that bring intelligence and safety to pneumatically and mechanically suspended trailers. iEBS integrates the emergency function with ABS-controlled emergency braking and quick drive-off after parking, enhancing safety and uptime. Other advantages are improved vehicle control thanks to Rollover Stability Support as well as intelligent 3-dimensional axis acceleration sensing. iEBS comes in combination with a unique Park Release Valve (PRV). The PRV features a patented single-button design to improve control of trailer

Also, to be digitally showcased will be the Electrified Trailer Solution – ZF’s latest version of its pioneering concept to electrify the trailer. The ZF electrified trailer solution is made possible by integrating ZF’s AxTrax 2 electric axle with a modular battery system box for recuperation and traction support. Thanks to its ability to recuperate energy from braking, the system can effectively convert a heavy-duty diesel truck into a hybrid vehicle, generating up to 16 per cent fuel and CO2 savings, while the optional plug-in variant can save up to 40 percent. The trailer also provides benefits for zero-emissions electrified heavy trucks by extending their range.

Along with products and live demonstrations, ZF will also provide digital presentations.

Among them will be the SCALAR EVO Pulse – ZF´s trailer health monitoring telematics with real-time access to operational data for optimising trailer maintenance and uptime.

Intelligent Trailer Program which uses the intelligent connection of braking system, sensor technology, suspension, and chassis control to enable more than 40 advanced trailer functions.

ZF will be located at passage 34 A026 (between hall 3 and 4) at SOLUTRANS (Lyon Eurexpo) from 21-25 November.

ZF will be located at passage 34 A026 (between Hall 3 and Hall 4).

www.zf.com/cv

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DIESEL OR ELECTRIC?

FOR NOW, YES TO BOTH!

IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE THE SHIFT TO SUSTAINABILITY HAS FACED MORE HURDLES THAN MOST, DAIKIN TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION IS HELPING LEAD A COMPLICATED SECTOR, ALL WHILE GIVING CUSTOMERS THE OFFERINGS THEY DEMAND. DAIKIN WILL BE ON HAND AT THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS TRADE FAIR PRESENTING ITS EXIGO PLUG-IN HYBRID CONCEPT.

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chieving zero emissions in the transport industry has transformed from an ambitious aspiration to rapid progress. However, the transition has been challenging for the intricate refrigerated transport segment, due to various limiting factors. Despite being a newcomer to the temperature-controlled road transport sector, Daikin already stands out as a prominent manufacturer of marine container refrigeration units.

Daikin’s approach to sustainability is both practical and comprehensive, deviating from the conventional path taken by most competitors.

“Electrification is not just about removing a diesel engine and replacing it with an electric motor,” said Daikin Transport Refrigeration business unit leader, Evren Akçora.

“We need to consider the whole ecosystem, including electrical infrastructure available to heavy trucks in both distribution and long haul.”

Daikin’s sustainability strategy, according to Akçora, is pivoted towards electrification without losing sight of the main mission of the industry: transporting temperature-sensitive food and pharmaceuticals safely, without compromising the integrity of the cold chain.

“The goal is to ease our customers into electrification without creating any range or autonomy risks that would threaten the cold chain. After showcasing our engineless electric concept in IAA 2022, and exchanging thoughts with the key industry stakeholders, we came

Evren Akçora.

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to the conclusion that it is too soon for engineless refrigeration,” he said. “Ironically, by keeping the dedicated engine to ensure temperature control in all circumstances, we believe more customers will be interested in switching to electric refrigeration, thus a higher positive impact to the environment.”

By removing one of the main barriers of entry, that is the autonomy risk, Daikin aims to make a real impact on the decarbonization of the industry.

This approach is what led Daikin to consider a plug-in hybrid solution for the current decade, taking a page out of the playbook of carmakers, proven to achieve emission reductions without the anxiety surrounding autonomy under battery, and how to charge them.

Daikin Transport Refrigeration Product Manager, Marco Napolitano, said this concept is only possible with the unique design of Exigo.

“Exigo, utilising the Daikin inverter technology, enables best-in-class energy efficiency, reducing the energy consumption under battery power by more than to 25 per cent based on average usage,” he said.

“Customers can already experience the superior Daikin efficiency with any 400VAC power source, whether it be the grid or a battery. Our aim is to build on this architecture and develop the intelligent algorithm to switch between engine and battery power seamlessly, just like a hybrid car does, in order to further optimise energy consumption, as well as entering low emission zones. We are working on offering a battery pack that will complement the unit design, which is soon planned to enter the field

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EXIGO E1500 HIGHLIGHTS •

15kW true capacity both on the road and the grid.

•

ull variable speed maximising energy F efficiency.

•

Future compatible with plug-in hybrid.

•

Highest cooling power in frozen applications.

•

High resolution graphical user interface.

•

Lightweight and low-noise design.

•

,000-hour service interval for reduced 3 maintenance downtime.

•

T wo-year telematics and 24/7 maintenance included as standard.

testing phase.”

Unlike conventional trailer refrigeration units, Exigo provide the same cooling performance under engine or electric power, eliminating any impact to the cold chain.

Daikin’s disruptive plan does not end there.

“We are working on making all Exigo units whether sold in the past or now, to be upgradable to this intelligent plug-in hybrid concept, as long as there is space in the trailer chassis for the battery pack,” said Napolitano.

Exigo offers minimum total cost of ownership and maximum peace of mind courtesy of its reliability, reduced energy consumption, optimised airflow and reduced maintenance and down-time. Exigo, already claiming industry leading electric efficiency, is planned to get a plug-in hybrid upgrade to provide electrification without anxiety, for maximum autonomy.

Exigo, with the hybrid concept revealed in SOLUTRANS in November 2023, is one of many Daikin innovations in taking a step into a zero-emissions future. Daikin Environmental Vision 2050 is the company’s overarching goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to netzero by 2050, throughout the entire lifecycle of its products. Within Daikin Europe there is also an environmental research department focused on achieving a 30 per cent emission reduction by 2025, taking 2019 as a base year.

Soon after SOLUTRANS, Daikin will start the field trial of its plug-in hybrid concept, to get it ready for commercial launch in 2024.

As for the long-term vision of eliminating internal combustion engines altogether, Akçora said there is no simple or single way forward, but he would like to see the industry, regulators, and the supporting infrastructure stay in close cooperation.

“By innovating together, we can leverage our expertise,” he said. “We can develop solutions that will bring us to zero-emission transport refrigeration both in distribution and long haul.” www.daikin.eu

QUICK TO

MARKET THE FRENCH FRUEHAUF AND GERMAN LANGENDORF OF THE WIELTON GROUP WILL BE PRESENTING ITS LATEST TRAILER TECHNOLOGIES AT SOLUTRANS.

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t this year’s SOLUTRANS event, which will be held 21-25 November in Lyon, France, Wielton Group will be presenting six different vehicles.

“This year at SOLUTRANS, we will be showcasing our stand modern solutions from Fruehauf, which are the answer to the modern challenges of the transport industry,” said Wielton Group CEO, Mariusz Golec. “There will also be solutions from other Wielton Group brands at the fair such as Langendorf, which will present its product, as well as Aberg Connect with its telematics solutions and Aberg Service with its aftersales service offer.”

The French semi-trailer manufacturer bases its business on innovation and a close relationship with its customers. It constantly monitors their needs and suggestions, comprehensively responding to them and creating tailor-made products. At the same time, it keeps in mind continuous development and the need to develop and implement ever new solutions to its portfolio.

Fruehauf will once again take the opportunity offered by the SOLUTRANS fair to

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present its latest solutions to a wider audience. This year, it will present an extensive range that responds to the diverse needs of the transport and logistics industry. The French manufacturer will showcase six products that can be used for both traditional, construction and intermodal transport. It will also present the logo in a new design.

“We are delighted to once again participate in the SOLUTRANS fair, which is an excellent opportunity to meet our customers in person,” said Fruehauf SAS Commercial and Marketing Director, Phillipe Le Pochat. “Customers are impressed by our wide range of products combined with the multitude of configuration options, enabling us

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to meet their diverse needs. As Fruehauf we will show our new logo for the first time on a range of high-quality products, including an ergonomic semi-trailer with an electrically raised roof and sliding sides. In the products, we have focused on optimal solutions to improve the safety and comfort of professional drivers while supporting the decarbonisation of transport.”

Visitors to the Lyon fair will have the opportunity to see at the Fruehauf stand a wide range of proven products equipped with modern, customer-oriented solutions. One of these is a versatile curtain semitrailer equipped with a fast-opening Quick Slide curtain and electric roof. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a Dhollandia tail-lift and a Neorali box. These solutions significantly improve the ergonomics of the drivers’ work and, above all, increase the safety and comfort of vehicle use. This solution includes just three belts and sliding pillars, allowing the side of the semi-trailer to be opened in less than two minutes. The sliding roof, on the other hand, is steered by remote control. When folded down, it has a length of just 1.6m. Fruehauf curtain semi-trailers are characterised by high quality, durability and reliable road holding. The modern frame and body construction ensure the semitrailer’s high strength. The chassis has been protected against corrosion with a hot deep galvanised coating.

With a standard length of 13.62m and a payload of 34 pallets, the semi-trailer offers maximum loading potential (up to 38 tonnes GVW). The vehicle is agile and easy to manoeuvre in the site environment, thanks to the Tridec steering system. The semi-trailer is equipped with a telematics system from the Aberg brand owned by the Wielton Group.

Another product that Fruehauf will showcase at the fair is a closed box semi-trailer equipped with 270° cameras, a BÄR tail lift and Easy Up rolling doors. The semi-trailer is designed to optimally secure the cargo being transported and to ensure safe transportation. The solution developed by Fruehauf provides drivers with an optimal view of the current situation, eliminating blind spots, through the use of 270° cameras. What’s more, when a vehicle turns to change direction or avoid an obstacle, the side cameras provide the driver with a clear view, making manoeuvring easier. In addition, the semi-trailer features a large load box volume and a maximum interior height of up to 3,100mm, enabling the transportation of larger cargo. The semi-trailer can accommodate up to 33 pallets, and the mechanically

welded chassis and reinforced rear frame with lift-up doors guarantee the durability and stability of the entire vehicle. The semi-trailer is available with two twin axles or three single axles, guaranteeing a maximum payload, of up to 38 tonnes GVW. The closed-box semi-trailer is equipped with a TPMS system from Aberg, a member of the Wielton Group. The threeaxle flatbed with steering axle and pneumatic forklift is another Fruehauf product presented at Solutrans. It meets diverse transportation needs, from standard to the most specialized, thanks to a multitude of equipment options. It has a mechanically reinforced welded chassis, which makes the vehicle perfectly suited for intensive and long-term operation. At the same time, the semi-trailer is distinguished by excellent manoeuvrability and less tire wear, thanks to its steering axle. This solution is particularly important in cities and construction areas with limited space for manoeuvring. The vehicle is also equipped with a pneumatic forklift and with a 1t ballast for forklifts up to 3.2 tonnes empty weight to facilitate the unloading and loading of goods. The Fruehauf-branded curtain semi-trailer, closed box semi-trailer and flatbed semi-trailer will be on display at booth G086 in Hall 4.

Another product presented by Fruehauf in Lyon is a container semi-loader for transporting 40’ containers. It has a strong and durable design that ensures excellent load weight distribution and the ability to operate in difficult conditions of use.

Fruehaf will also introduce its Optisteel tipper with an electrical roof and rear camera. This is a lightweight vehicle designed for the toughest conditions. Thanks to the construction of the load body in HARDOX steel, the structure features high strength and durability. The volume of the cargo box is in the range of 22-27 metres cubed. The vehicle has high abrasion resistance while maintaining maximum payload capacity. In addition, the semi-trailer is equipped with an electrical roof that opens automatically when the tipper lifts for unloading.

This prevents damage to the roof when the door is opened. The roof closes automatically when the truck is moving at speeds higher than 15 km/h. With this modern system, the driver saves time and prevents the risk of driving with the roof open. The tipper also has a rear camera, which increases safety when manoeuvring the vehicle and unloading/loading.

In turn, the German manufacturer will present the SATÜ 30 RM-Smart low-loader at SOLUTRANS. It is a versatile machine for transporting construction machinery. This extendable, three-axle semi-trailer can be used with both two-axle and three-axle tractor units. It is equipped with a wheelboxes and excavator handle recess. The semi-trailer weighs just 10.9 tonnes (unladen), with a loading length of 9,300mm and a payload of 37.1 tonnes.

A wide variety of construction machines can be transported thanks to telescopic loading board extensions of up to 225 mmper side. Handling is also made easier by the rear loading ramp with the hydraulic shifting device, which can be controlled independently for the left and right sides.

Aberg Connect develops telematics solutions and tyre pressure monitoring systems for Wielton Group products. It has solutions designed to monitor the condition of vehicles in real-time. In addition to GPS location, it provides information on the current status of many technical parameters of the semi-trailer, i.e. tyre pressure, axle load, mileage, or current speed. It responds to the needs of transport companies in the field of fleet management and monitoring - not only does it make it easier to operate and maintain the proper condition of vehicles, but most importantly, it increases the safety of drivers and goods.

Meanwhile, Aberg Service is present wherever the Group’s customers need it. Thanks to modern solutions, it takes care of preventative maintenance of vehicles, and when this is not possible, it manages the repair process so that customers can continue driving in the shortest possible time. The company has started producing replacement parts and components under the Aberg brand and launched the Aberg Navigator Platform for service partners.

Visit Fruehauf and Langendorf at SOLUTRANS – hall 4, stands G086 and G104. www.wielton.com.pl

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THE ART OF LIGHT ANSWERING THE CALL FOR LIGHT WITH BOTH NEW AND TRIED AND TESTED PRODUCTS, LIGHTING MANUFACTURERS, ASPÖCK SYSTEMS, WILL BE ILLUMINATING THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS TRANSPORT EXPO IN LYON, FRANCE.

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or more than 45 years Aspöck Systems has been lighting up Europe’s roads and highways. This November it will be showcasing exactly how it does it, as an exhibitor at one of the continent’s most preeminent transportation trade fairs.

The Austrian company offers lighting solutions for both light and heavy vehicles, from concept, all the way to a ready-to-assemble product. Two of its products in particular will be on show at SOLUTRANS. Ecoled III

Aspöck Systems’ newest energy-efficient rear lamp has, like many rear lamp models, become lighter and slimmer. Fully LED, it is the perfect combination of earlier truck trailer market designs. Both the Ecoled III’s design and engineering was done entirely in Europe, with product coordination taking place at company headquarters in Austria and produced at its largest production site, found in Portugal.

Taking the design far beyond what installation regulations require, the Ecoled III’s taillight features a large homogeneous light area known as Glowing Body technology that consists of a diffusely luminous solid body, which creates a three-dimensional impression. This makes the rear lamps more visible to other road users, especially at night.

Ecoled III rear light.

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The swivel range.

It is also more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent lighting.

The retro-reflector triangle’s distinctive appearance is an Aspöck visual trademark which sees it moved outward to the left and right rear lamps, giving the taillight area even more space.

The two taillights are also programmed to be team players – connected in a cross circuit – to counteract possible failures.

In the 24-volt version, the EcoLED III is equipped as standard with ISO pulse 13207 and a control for flashing side marker lamps. The chemical and scratch-resistant lens is also welded, putting the rear lamp in the highest protection class, while the predetermined breaking point on the mounting bracket of the outline marker also prevents damage.

LIGHT IS THE NEW LARGE. Workpoint II work lamp.

Workpoint II

The assembly options of the Workpoint II work lamp series are arguably limitless. The mounting bracket is made of high-quality steel, and can be assembled so it is completely invisible, while the swivel range can go from negative 35 to 100. This LED work lamp series is made of a powder-coated aluminium cooling element with corrosion resistance, and because it has been positioned further back, the frame provides additional protection against damage.

Even at the maximum luminous output, the power consumption remains low while the performance is high, with a light intensity of up to 4,000 lumens and 5700 Kelvin – similar to sunlight. The fact that it is vibration-tested, shock resistant up to 52g and has successfully completed a 480-hour salt spray test are all testaments to the sturdy design of the new work lamp and ensures it fulfils the highest protection class. One of the prerequisites for the entire range of Workpoint II products was that it could be fully integrated in the Aspöck wiring system.

The series will also soon be expanded. The Workpoint II Advanced will be available in two performance classes, 2,000 and 4,000 lumens, for close, or long-range illumination. The Advanced series has inherited many features from the basic series as well as an impactresistant lens and an improved corrosion resistance housing. It also has electromagnetic compatibility properties which prevent interference with sensitive devices. Markedly individual, this product manages a seamless interplay of function and appearance, with enough room for customised requests from customers. www.aspoeck.com

ABOUT ASPÖCK SYSTEMS

KÖGEL LIGHT PLUS

ü maximum payload* ü proven fuel savings* ü tested stability

Owner and CEO, Karl Aspöck •

Key figures for 2022/2023 sales volume

•

€165 million sales at Austrian HQ | 390 employees

•

€230 million sales volume of the Aspöck Group | 1,400 employees

•

Export quota 94 per cent

•

8 sales subsidiaries | 4 production locations

*for more information see: www.koegel.com/CO2

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BETTER TOGETHER THE SAF-HOLLAND STAND AT THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS EVENT WILL LOOK MORE ROBUST AS IT CELEBRATES ITS CORPORATE MERGER WITH HALDEX. THE EVENT PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE NEWLY EXPANDED COMPANY AND ITS AMPLIFIED OFFERING.

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quipment specialist, SAF-Holland,will have double the products at this year’s SOLUTRANS event in Lyon, showcasing its trailer axle and suspension systems alongside the brake and suspension systems from its recently acquired subsidiary, Haldex of Sweden.

The highlight of the expanded company exhibit – which will be found in Hall 3 AO15 – is a series production version of its SAF TRAKr axle, which recuperates kinetic energy from braking into electrical power to feed on-board systems such as fridges and tanker pumps.

Starting from drive speeds of 15km/h, torque passes from both wheel ends along split camshafts, through a 1:14 ratio gearbox to spin a 20kW generator. High-voltage DC electricity can then be fed directly to on-board power consumers or to batteries, helping reduce the parasitic loads on the vehicle’s fridge, vehicle internal combustion engine or electric drive.

The TRAKr axle – of which only prototypes have been previous shown in France – will sit alongside other products, including SAF-Holland’s MODUL axle, fifth wheels and V.

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Orlandi towing components. It is based on the SAFHolland Entra-disc axle, meaning spare parts and service know how are readily available.

Meanwhile, Haldex will showcase its latest trailer EBS braking system EBS+4.0, the LifeSeal+ brake actuator, its recently launched TEM+ trailer emergency module, and its new TPMS 2.0 system, which complies with the new European Union directive on tyre pressure monitoring systems, due to be announced in 2024.

It’s an exciting time for the freshly expanded company, which has begun the process of bringing Haldex into the fold with a number of sales functions.

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Trailer-users, trailer OEMs and aftermarket clients in France can now speak to the SAF-Holland team, in French, about both brands. Having a single point of contact and a single supplier, for two big brands in trailer chassis systems, offers a huge benefit to clients, the company says.

Business is concentrated at SAF-Holland’s base in Ablis, near Paris, where 25 staff carry out sales, technical support, service and back-office functions in the trailer and aftermarket divisions.

“So far, the process of integration has been very smooth,” said SAF-Holland France Managing Director, Jean Baghdad.

“We already know our Haldex colleagues, as we have met them at trade shows, and through customers. We have the same understanding of the market, which for me is very important, so integrating Haldex into the SAF world is easier, as we are focusing on the same issues concerning customers and markets and have a shared focus on product quality and a culture of strong customer service.”

The Ablis, France site houses a 5,000 sqm logistics facility that is able to hold spare parts produced in SAF-Holland factories in Germany, and in Italy, products by V.Orlandi, a corporate subsidiary, are held.

Haldex, meanwhile, continues to run its production facilities for kits in Weyersheim, in the west of France, independently of SAF-Holland.

The next step in unification of the French operations will be bringing together service, Baghdad says, as both brands continue to currently offer separate warranty claims and servicing networks.

“We are looking to optimise these networks to be more complementary in terms of service, and geographically as well,” he said.

More than 150 independent workshops in France are approved by SAF-Holland to work on its products, having completed a technical audit, and many of those now work with the company’s newly acquired brand.

“It’s the same situation with Haldex,” Baghdad said – adding that he predicts even more synergies will soon be established especially within the trailer chassis product line. “We now have to work together to have only one network that is bigger.”

In terms of the integrations of systems in vehicles, such as combining telematics and trailer EBS systems, SAF-Holland expects even better harmonisation, especially as SAF-Holland and Haldex engineers begin working together on combined products.

“We are already working together to combine axle and suspension systems, telematics and EBS control into one intelligent unit,” said SAF-Holland Management Board Chairman, Alexander Geis, following the acquisition of all outstanding Haldex shares in March. “With innovative products and solutions in the areas of connectivity, electrification and autonomous driving, we will proactively shape the transformation of the transportation industry.”

With two leading European commercial vehicle brands now united, and coming together to meet French customers this autumn, SAF-Holland is confident that the future looks bright for commercial trailers. www.saf-holland.de

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LECITRAILER’S STEADY

SUCCESS

HAVING LED THE SPANISH MARKET FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, LECITRAILER HAS GARNERED A REPUTATION FOR HAVING A VAST AND VERSATILE RANGE OF VEHICLES THAT MEET THE EUROPEAN DEMAND FOR COMPLEX SEMI-TRAILER CONFIGURATIONS.

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ecitrailer has been manufacturing vehicles that offer an innovative and efficient solution for more than 30 years and the Spanish OEM always ensures it meets the personalised requirements of its clients, something it says is ingrained in its DNA. Along with manufacturing vehicles that give operators both safety and longevity, Lecitrailer sells second-hand vehicles and has a large stock of original spare parts for all its brands.

All its offerings, the company said, are complimented by its in-house, aftersales services.

Representative of its growth and ongoing success, Lecitrailer recorded 26.88 per cent market share in the first half of 2023 with its main product categories in Spain being curtainsiders, vans, container carriers, trailers, platforms, steel tippers and reefers. Its Evolution model reefer has made it the market leader in this category in 2023, thus far.

With 57 per cent of its products being exported, it isn’t surprising that the Lecitrailer brand is the third most popular in France with almost 11 per cent market share and is currently a market leader in Portugal with a 26.35 per cent share. It has also consolidated its position as a benchmark manufacturer in other markets such as Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

With so many countries to service, each with its own set of parameters, regulations and legislation, flexibility in design and manufacturing is a must for Lecitrailers, especially when it comes to configurations.

“Production flexibility allows Lecitrailer to adapt its vehicles to the characteristics and regulations of each and every one of the countries in which it markets its vehicles,” Lecitrailer said, adding that all its semi-trailer chassis have been subjected to the cataphoresis process (KTL). This ensures a uniform coating of 50 microns over the entire surface, the highest chassis protection on the market, which offers a 10-year guarantee against corrosion perforation.

Another of its competitive advantages is its after-sales service bases, where it repairs every type of semi-trailer, covering all different brands. In fact, Lecitrailer is the only manufacturer in Europe that dedicates 30 per cent of its workforce of 1,000 employees, to the repair, maintenance and sale of spare parts.

This is done through facilities located in three countries – Zaragoza, Madrid, Barcelona,

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FAST FACT This year a Lecitrailer’s Evolution P400 Multi x3 reeefer was chosen as Spain’s semi-trailer of the year, the fourth National Transport Award it has won.

Valencia, Sevilla, Lyon (FR) and Mangualde (PT) – and comprising a footprint that covers 500,000 square metres. Its most recently opened centre is in Mangualde, Portugal. They are all open 16 hours a day.

Each service base is known for being customer oriented and are equipped with advanced repair technology including chassis straightening racks, shot blasting booths, paint booths, brake testers, laser tyre alignment systems and repair pits.

These aftersales bases don’t just provide servicing, with customers able to access the LT Store which provides spare parts as well as personalised advice and expertise.

Lecitrailer’s service bases provide more than 30,000 main brand spare parts and offer delivery services to individual premises with delivery vehicles equipped to ensure safe, efficient and quick delivery and unloading. www.lecitrailer.es

THE WIDEST AND MOST FLEXIBLE RANGE MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO YOUR WISHES WITH Reefers EvoLuTion

Dry Freight Vans AbsoLuTe

Curtainsiders XL ELiTE

Tippers K-LimiT

City Trailer

Platforms

Container Carrier

Trailers

Meilleure qualité.

Meilleure qualité. Épaisseur de 50 microns. Épaisseur de 50 microns.

Meilleure qualité.

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Higher quality. Épaisseur microns.

Thickness of 50 50 microns. Épaisseur de de 50 microns.

Better visualapparence appearance.

Meilleure visuelle.

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Excellent uniform finishing Excellente finition uniforme sur Excellente finition uniforme sur on the entire surface.

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Une Une plus plus grande grande durabilité. durabilité.

Meilleur système Meilleur système anti-corrosion anti-corrosion Salt-spray test 1,000 hoursdu marché avec garantie du marché avec garantie anti-perforation.

Maximum protection guaranteed. anti-perforation.

Steel condition after 1,000 hours of salt-spray test:

Meilleure apparence visuelle.

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Excellente finition uniforme sur Excellente finition uniforme sur toute la surface. toute la surface.

Une plus grande durabilité.

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Meilleurdurability. système anti-corrosion Greater Meilleur système anti-corrosion du best marché avec garantie The anti-corrosion system on the du marché avec garantie market guaranteed anti-perforation. anti-perforation. anti-perforation.

Processusprocess. plus respectueux de Greener Processus plus respectueux de l’environnement. l’environnement.

Processus Processus plus plus respectueux respectueux de de l’environnement. l’environnement.

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www.lecitrailer.com +34 976 462 121 | Camino de los Huertos, s/n Apdo 100, 50620 Casetas, Zaragoza (Spain)

10,000 m2 of KTL plant, 10 tanks of 210 m3

TOGETHER TO THE NEXT 125 YEARS

KÄSSBOHRER TEAM MEMBERS FROM THREE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WILL UNITE IN LYON, FRANCE FOR THE 2023 SOLUTRANS EVENT WHERE THEY WILL SHARE THE GERMAN SEMI-TRAILER MANUFACTURERS LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH ELECTRIFICATION, EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION BEING AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA.

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ässbohrer have come up with its very own word to describe what it does. ‘Enginuity’ for the manufacturing company is a combination of engineering excellence and customer centric ingenuity which meets the unmet needs of all transport sectors.

This includes general cargo, cold chain, construction vehicles with tippers and platforms, complete tank and silo range for liquids and bulk goods, a range of low beds for heavy and abnormal goods under 100 tonnes as well as an intermodal product range with award winning container chassis and swap bodies.

At this year’s SOLUTRANS trade fair, Kässbohrer’s fourth year in attendance, it will share its latest company developments, including advancement in transport sustainability with longer heavier vehicles, new intermodal product ranges as well as electrification alongside an exhibition of Kässbohrer’s high-quality vehicles.

Here is what visitors can expect to see.

K.SSL 38

Kässbohrer’s exhibition vehicle, the K.SSL 38 is a non-tipping silo with maximum payload and is getting noticed thanks to its lightweight design, stability under various road conditions, fast and efficient discharge and high safety functions. With refined design and wheelbase, the K.SSL 38 provides manoeuvrability even under challenging road conditions.

K.SLA HS

Also being exhibited is an extendable low bed with hydraulic gooseneck access ramp which ensures efficiency and flexibility for the varied transportation needs within the road construction industry. The ramp means can transport two working machines in one operation while the 10-tonne lashing rings, container locks, vertical and lateral pillar pockets enables easy and safe load securing.

K. SCH

These robust curtainsider semi-trailers with KTLcoated chassis are ideal for both road and intermodal transportation. It has strong hardwood floors, suitable for safe transportation of a wide range of cargo and preferred by Mediterranean customers and is backed up by the patented multi-point K-FIX Load Securing system. All Kässbohrer curtainsiders

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are certified in accordance with Code XL standards and for option DC 9.5 + Beverage Certificate K.SPS XS

This light platform semi-trailer is engineered to offer the highest payload capacity with minimum tareweight of 5.800 kilograms without compromising on performance thanks to its KTL coasted robust

chassis. With coupling height starting from 980mm to 1.200mm, K. SPS XS offers operational flexibility and its design accommodates precisely placed Eumos certified pillar pockets, lashing rings as well as container locks. It is Code XL certified and expertly transports a wide variety of loads from construction materials to general cargo and container transportation.

Kässbohrer will be located in Hall 4, stand G122. www.kaessbohrer.com

ECOLEDIII

WE WELCOME YOU TO HALL 3 | BOOTH C029

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ECOLED III tail light cross wiring progressive direction indicator

aspoeck.com

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PIONEERING PROGRAM FROM NEW INNOVATIVE PRODUCT INFORMATION, TO LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, JOST IS TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS YEAR’S SOLUTRANS TRADE FAIR TO SHOWCASE ITS GROUND-BREAKING SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE OFFERINGS.

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he exchanging of ideas and the opportunity to educate will be the theme at the JOST stand in Lyon, France, this year.

Welcoming an international audience to the SOLUTRANS trade fair, JOST experts will be on hand to showcase a comprehensive range of products from innovations like the Drawbar Finder, to longstanding products including the Modul landing gears. Systems such as the KKS automatic coupling system, with the new King Pin Finder, will have live demonstrations, while the first JOST Truck Stop Corner will offer visitors practical animations, illustrating the importance of maintenance and technical knowledge of JOST products.

“We are pleased to be represented once again at SOLUTRANS, where revolutionary ideas and comprehensive information in the commercial vehicle industry from all over the world come together,” said JOST France Managing Director, Frédéric Ménestrot. “JOST will present intelligent assistance systems for drivers, special green products that are weightoptimised, as well as proven solutions that increase the efficiency and safety of a transport fleet.”

backwards and assists drivers when changing trailers – preventing accidents and damage.

The King Pin Finder will be live in operation in the outdoor area of SOLUTRANS. Drawbar Finder

Also being exhibited at the event is the Drawbar Finder which involves a camera sitting in a central and protected position above the towing hitch, preventing misalignment of the drawbar eye. By providing both horizontal and vertical guidance, it enables precise coupling, which in turn raises efficiency and helps prevent accidents. The driver no longer needs to get out of the truck to check that the drawbar eye is aligned correctly.

KKS automatic coupling system

The KKS enables drivers to safely and quickly, couple and uncouple semi-trailers via remote control, without leaving the driver’s cabin. The driver is guided through the entire process, with sensor technology providing live information at every step. For example, the support plate sensor indicates that the trailer plate is touching, and the position of the king pin is also monitored by sensors.

Alongside the exhibit at the stand, there will be daily demonstrations at the SOLUTRANS outdoor area.

King Pin Finder

The King Pin Finder supports the coupling process by sending images to the dashboard in the driver’s cabin. Securely integrated into the fifth wheel coupling, it enhances both safety and convenience by allowing the driver to find the ideal coupling height and to manoeuvre the tractor perfectly. A live camera image is displayed in the driver’s cabin when driving

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Modul landing gears

JOST landing gears are versatile and their flexible, modular design makes it easy to adapt to customer requirements, from standard implementations to specialised applications.

JOST will present several highlights from its Modul family of landing gears at SOLUTRANS. Those include OPTIMA (the weight-optimised landing gear for long-distance transport), Modul B as an E-Drive version (additional reinforcement and electric motor for universal application) and Modul CS (for liquid and bulk tippers).

JOST will also present Modul CA, an especially

SOLUTRANS PREVIEW

light aluminium landing gear which offers a weight saving of 41 kg compared to Modul B, as well as the newest and lightest member of the landing gear family, the aluminium drop leg FA027, with a total weight of 37 kg per set.

series to its axle portfolio which ensures maximum flexibility for every transport application because they can be combined with suspension systems from the DLS range. The drum modular axle combines a robust tubular axle with a modular leaf spring system, which can be adapted to match the customer’s individual specifications. The DMA’s most striking feature is the external brake drum design, which allows the brake linings to be replaced without having to disassemble the wheel hub – making it extremely easy to service and maintain.

CSA Command Steer Axle

Tight depots, narrow city streets and a 16.5-meterlong trailer– these are all challenges that push conventional axle systems to their limits and need a command steer axle.

Following the successful market launch of the CSA with the 9-tonne version, a 10-tonne axle has been added to the portfolio in 2023. The CSA 10T can be used in all conventional steering systems whether mechanical, hydraulic or electronic. Its low roll radius has a positive effect on the actuation force, which is up to 70 per cent lower than that of comparable axle.

ROCKINGER RO*50 BNA

As a further highlight, JOST will exhibit the ROCKINGER RO*50 BNA towing hitch with remote control at SOLUTRANS. This towing hitch was developed for the French market and this special, second-generation hydraulic damping system, with a by-pass system, prevents play of the drawbar eye on the pivoting pin, ensuring low wear and maximum driving comfort.

RO*RS CM75 Rear Tail System

The RO*RS CM75 Rear Tail System is a new and wholistic solution from ROCKINGER. The system consists of the cross-member RO*CM75N, the side plates SPUB and the rigid underrun bar RO*RUB75.

TRIDEC TRITRONIC

DCA WEIGHTMASTER PLUS

Reducing emissions, protecting resources and maximising efficiency were the key aims when developing the lightest axle in its class. The optimised structure of the entire axle reduces the trio weight by 51 kg. In combination with the optional Weight Optimiser 27, the air bellows support with a lightweight aluminium tail end structure, further weight savings of 27 kg are possible in the trio. The highlight of DCA WEIGHTMASTER PLUS is its wheel head with optimised weight, wear properties and performance. This includes the new DCA X7 brake, the lightest brake in its segment.

As a developer and producer of axle and manufacturer-independent steering systems, TRIDEC offers not only mechanical, but also hydraulic and electronic steering systems for trailers.

TRITRONIC, which will be presented at SOLUTRANS, is a wireless trailer management system for heavy-duty transporters and is a supplement to the hydraulic TRIDEC steering and suspension systems. It offers the possibility of operating several functions on the trailer, such as steering, automatic toe-in and ride height control by a single remote control.

TP-O low swivel axle suspension

Another solution especially for low loaders is a new swivel axle suspension, TP-O Low, which opens a new market for independent trailer manufacturers. With suspension travel of 600 mm, the TP-O Low offers the lowest ride height of 12-tonnes per axle line, combined with a greater steering angle than any other suspension solution.

JOST World stand: Hall 3 / stand A011.

Drum Modular Axle

JOST has added the Drum Modular Axle (DMA)

www.jost-world.com

W W W.G LO B A LT R A I L E R M AG .C O M / G LO B A L T R A I L E R / 4 9

MULTIMODAL

SUCCESS KÖGEL IS PRESENTING ITS PRODUCT RANGE WITH A FOCUS ON FRENCH CUSTOMER NEEDS AT THE SOLUTRANS TRADE FAIR IN LYON. AMONG THEM IS A VERSION OF THE KÖGEL CARGO WITH A SPECIALLY REINFORCED FLOOR THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE MARKET.

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version of the Kögel Cargo specially adapted to the needs of French customers is one of the highlights at SOLUTRANS. This has a particularly robust wooden floor, which also withstands high mechanical loads and noticeably reduces the resulting wear and tear on the trailer. Omega-shaped steel profiles are inserted between the individual wooden segments in the longitudinal direction of the trailer. In case of damage, the wooden planks can be replaced individually. In addition, the omega profile floor offers an even higher forklift axle pressure of 8.0 instead of 7.2 tonnes. This means that even a heavy forklift truck – as is customary in France – can drive from the rear into the trailer to load it, but without putting undue strain on it.

Kögel is also presenting the Kögel Multi Container Stop (MCS). The innovative, particularly convenient and safe container locking system revolutionizes the transport of swap bodies of all designs on the road. The MCS eliminates the need for conventional container locks, the so-called twist locks, at the front of the swap body. Here, the load is secured exclusively by positive locking, the demonstrably best form of load securing according to the German DIN EN 12642.

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In contrast to the container locking systems widely used on the market, the Kögel MCS can be used in a self-explanatory manner. Operating errors are ruled out, as the front stop no longer needs to be operated at all. High-cube containers automatically strike the front of the cross beam when they are placed on the ground and are thus secured by positive locking in accordance with the standards. The tunnel in the container secures the load to the side. ISO containers without a tunnel are secured by means of a pin on the top of the MCS, which absorbs the forces in the direction of travel and laterally to the direction of travel.

Meanwhile, there is no need to adjust the front mountings, pins or stops on the front of the container chassis in order to secure the different container types. Operating the conventional twist locks is also a strenuous job for the driver due to their heavy weight. On top of that, handling the side extensions, swivel arms and other components takes a lot of time.

With the Kögel MCS, this is no longer necessary in this form. The possibilities for operating errors and injuries are also reduced.

The locks at the rear are designed as usual. They take over the load securing against the direction of travel and help to absorb the forces that occur laterally. The combination of Kögel MCS at the front and conventional locking devices at the rear of the chassis means that the driver needs at most

SOLUTRANS PREVIEW

half the time to secure the swap body.

With the MCS, Kögel makes the transport of swap bodies easier and increases the attractiveness of environmentally friendly multimodal transport.

The system is available for all container chassis of the current technological generation, for the Combi trailer series and for all platform vehicles from Kögel.

At SOLUTRANS, Kögel will be demonstrating the Multi Container Stop on a Port 45 Duplex container chassis with front and rear extension for ISO and highcube containers of sizes 20’ to 45’.

All Kögel Port models are also based on the latest chassis generation. Likewise, all container chassis with front extension now have Kögel’s own lightweight and low-maintenance front extension.

Due to the changeover, they weigh considerably less.

The weight advantage over the previous versions is up to 700 kilograms in the basic version.

Intelligent lightweight construction, as practiced

by Kögel, is a key technology that enables more sustainability and a favourable CO2 footprint in transport and at the same time offers the vehicle operator economic advantages - just as Kögel

promises with the slogan ‘Economy meets Ecology’. This is because the extra payload either leads to a lower CO2 footprint per transported tonne or reduces the fuel consumption of the tractor unit if the payload is not fully utilised. Due to their low dead weight, all Kögel trailers and in particular the special lightweight vehicles of the Kögel Lightplus series therefore not only offer more payload on the road, but they also save diesel and thus reduce the CO2 footprint.

Thanks to Kögel’s clever modular system, customers can also order the Kögel Lightplus with various superstructures and in numerous industry versions. This means that the lightweight trailer can also be used in a wide range of transport sectors. Despite the payload advantage of around half a tonne compared to the Kögel Cargo models, which are already light in the industry environment, it offers the reliability and solidity to which all Kögel models are accustomed.

This also applies to the Kögel Lightplus Rail, the first rail-loadable trailer in lightweight construction. The vehicle offers a weight advantage of up to one tonne compared to comparable standard versions and thus combines the economic and ecological advantages of lightweight vehicles with the use of the environmentally friendly transport mode of rail. In its basic configuration, the Kögel Lightplus Rail weighs only 6,060kg, 300kg less than the conventional Kögel Cargo Rail version. With the help of optionally available lightweight components, the tare weight of the Lightplus Rail can be reduced to up to 5,750 kilograms. This is an outstanding value, because trailers that can be loaded by rail are usually significantly heavier than pure road versions. However, the higher tare weight reduces the trailer’s payload. Kögel will also be presenting its range of value-added services and trailer telematics systems in Lyon. www.koegel.com

STOP & LEARN Hall 3 stand A015

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The Haldex Academy brings all of its knowledge and learning to your fingertips allowing you to select the course most relevant to your needs.

Visit www.haldex.com and choos one of the available option: E-learning, webinars, and face-to-face

www.haldex.com

ITALIAN ARTISTRY

TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTMANSHIP MINGLE SEAMLESSLY IN AN ITALIAN FACTORY NOT FAR FROM THE ADRIATIC SEA WHERE TMT TANKS & TRAILERS TAKE THE ART OF MANUFACTURING TO A NEW LEVEL, ALL WHILE KEEPING SUSTAINABILITY A TOP PRIORITY.

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The three Ps are what TMT Tanks & Trailers uses to remind itself where it comes from and where it is going – Product, People and Passion.

This might explain why this Italian OEM has become known to be especially innovative in its approach to design and exceptional when it comes to materials and workmanship.

“It’s through these three values that TMT has created the determination to create unrivalled products,” said TMT International CEO, Alfredo Spinozzi. “Our ultimate goal is to give our customers maximum value.”

Founded in 2014 by two brothers, it has grown from a small workshop to a 75,000-squaremetre facility, employing more than 70 people. It has the capacity to build about 300 trailers per year but is rapidly increasing that output.

TMT’s product line consists of moving floor semi-trailers, moving floor containers, container chassis and tankers and while quality is its focus, so is customer relationships, with a network

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of sales agents throughout Italy, providing after-sales services and specialised repair and assistance centres.

The OEM has customers throughout Europe but is looking farther afield, with a goal of consistently providing trailers all over the world. It will be on hand at this year’s SOLUTRANS trade fair in Lyon with a number of offerings to showcase. Here are a few of its top products: Conchiglia moving floor

Its self-supporting frame is made of high-strength Strenx 700 steel which guarantees strength and lightness.

It is a flexible vehicle suitable for general cargo transport, from packages to bulk materials with its load capacity of 92 m3 and an internal useful length of 13.400 mm.

This model can be equipped with side doors, both right and left, of 6200 mm each, interposed by a fixed central column to ensure stability.

From the side doors it will be possible to load all kinds of panels, boxes, profiles and palletized material as well as bulk material with maximum certified safety.

Conchiglia moving floor - Intermodal version Vehicle whose use is allowed for loading on rail and ship equipped with special reinforcements for lifting welded to the frame and on the bodywork, protection plates and bumpers with automatic

SOLUTRANS PREVIEW

pneumatic handling useful to facilitate the unloading of goods in particular places and to the coupling of the semitrailer to the wagon, suitable for intermodal.

The TMT highway-railway intermodal moving floor semi-trailers are compatible with P400 sections and C-D-E-F-G-H-I wagons with a 98 cm support element. The “Hupac” approved version complies with UIC 596-5.

Scrigno

Flexibility is what makes this semi-trailer with sliding doors standout from the rest. It can accommodate the most diverse loads which means, on return, operators are reducing empty runs.

With a side loading width of 12,060mm and a continuous loading height from 2,540mm, it is possible to load long items without any problems.

When opened individually, the folding doors allow partial unloading.

to include a steel perimeter using Hardox 450, which is an abrasion-resistant material. The semi-trailer is reinforced in the rear, so it is the ideal vehicle for transporting both metal and non-metal scraps.

Moving floor container

Winner of the 2023 Body Category of the Trailer Innovation Awards, this container is a unique design and one of the company’s flagship products.

A 45’ high cube with an open top pallet, it features an opening roof and automatic unloading moving floor technology which can be used for highway, sea and railway transport, supporting weight of up to 7,100kg.

The load compartment for palletised cargo is ideal for both large-volume freight, groupage as well as mixed cargo.

Hybrid/plug-in moving floor

Aciarium moving floor

A semi-trailer equipped on the second axle, this product has a generator that charges a battery installed on the vehicle when braking, providing an emission-free system. The battery is used to power the semi-trailer’s remote management systems, including the moving floor controls, meaning it doesn’t depend on the truck to function. The battery is recharged while the vehicle is moving, but it is also possible to recharge the battery by plug-in. Operators can use all the functions of the semi-trailer remotely, from the control of the moving floor to the extra components.

TMT’s Aciarium moving floor semi-trailer is 91 square metres and can hold 33 Euro-pallets. Built

www.tmtinternational.it

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TECHNOLOGY

TRIUMPH THE FUTURE WILL BE ON FULL DISPLAY AT THE KRONE’S SOLUTRANS STAND AS THE GERMAN TRAILER MANUFACTURER SHOWCASES ALL THINGS DIGITAL WITH ITS KRONE 360° TRAILER SERVICE, AIMED AT MAKING OPERATORS AND FLEET MANAGERS’ JOBS A LOT EASIER.

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ringing its customers closer through intelligent transport solutions is Krone’s theme at this year’s SOLUTRANS trade show in Lyon, France, as it showcases its various systems that manage data services simply and transparently.

“The focus of the Krone 360° Trailer Service is on digitalisation and networking with our customers,” said Commercial Vehicle Group Head of Service, Ralf Faust.

“We are working every day to find new and improved ways for our customers to expand the service and to make all topics, data and products available and orderable digitally.”

All Krone’s digital solutions are bundled under the umbrella title of ‘Krone Intelligent Transport Solutions’.

Telematics Portal

Krone Telematics is setting new standards in data management. Krone will present the services it has developed that enable customers to easily access their telematics data from anywhere. For this, Krone uses an open and downward compatible standard push interface, ensuring a high degree of flexibility. There are currently more than 250 outgoing interfaces serving customers’ requests.

Krone Telematics has expanded its range to also include ‘Self Service’. This enables simple and transparent data transmission to all connected systems, making data exchange between Krone Telematics customers, third-party providers, or customer-specific offers, easier and more efficient. The convenient selection and deselection of vehicles and different data packages, such as GPS, EBS or temperature data, makes it easy for the customer to keep everything under control.

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To ensure the security of the data, Krone performs an automated generation of the transparency report.

In this way, accidental data leaks or misuse of telematics data are safely averted.

Smart Capacity AI

This intelligent space recognition system can quickly and reliably identify where load capacity is free on a vehicle. Using Smart Capacity View technology to monitor the load space in the trailer via camera, the images are transmitted to the Krone Telematics Portal via the Krone Smart Collect telematics unit.

Here, the dispatcher can track the trailer in real time and view the loading area. The high-resolution images enable the dispatcher to recognise any damage to the goods or the vehicle – even in the dark and with the trailer closed.

Smart Capacity AI takes over at this point, evaluating the images and detecting possible damage and improper load securing, and then determines the available loading area in metres.

The space requirements of load lots is transferred

SOLUTRANS PREVIEW

in real time to the dispatcher and to the transport management system. To enable haulage companies to use this information in a targeted manner, Krone provides the data on request. Free pallet spaces are automatically detected and can also be transferred to freight exchanges, together with the current location.

In addition, possible transport orders are suggested.

Meanwhile, all loading and unloading processes are documented with location and time stamps.

Spare parts online shop

Within the Krone spare parts service, digitalisation goes hand in hand with telematics. The online shop offers approximately 70,000 orderable spare parts with graphics and photos for identification.

Customers can simply upload their vehicles and select the appropriate spare part. For parts requiring explanation, Krone experts are available by phone or email. Articles can also be ordered without a chassis number using the article number, designation or photo, while the ‘check use in vehicle’ function can be used to ensure that the correct part has been selected.

It is also possible to order using the QR code.

Scanning the code takes the customer directly to the vehicle-specific spare parts catalogue.

Trusted tyre comfort

Tyre technology has allowed Krone to offer a new tyre generation – KT231.

The new trailer tyre, with 5-tonne load capacity,

has a robust base, a reinforced carcass and a widened tread. It features low rolling resistance and is characterised by short braking distances and a long service life.

Other features include suitability for regional and long-distance traffic, as well as high performance, even in wintry conditions. The tread depth of 18mm ensures that high performance is maintained throughout the entire service life and offers a cost advantage of up to 35 per cent.

Smart tyre monitoring system

In time for upcoming legislation, Krone will be presenting its Smart Tyre Monitoring System. From next July, all commercial trailers over 3.5 tonnes will have to have an active Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in accordance with the new legal regulation.

Krone’s Smart TPMS not only transmits tyre pressure data and temperatures from inside each wheel to the driver of the tractor unit, but also to the fleet manager. It offers a variety of user-defined alarms for different scenarios and both sudden and gradual loss of pressure can be detected through the system.

Monitoring tyre pressure can increase fleet efficiency by providing the manager with an overview of the entire fleet. The ideal tyre pressure can reduce fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions, while high costs such as tyre wear or bursts can be avoided.

Smart Assistant

The Krone Smart Assistant system allows the transfer of the technical status of a particular vehicle from any location, all through a handy QR code and a smart phone.

This allows fleet managers to get an up-to-date overview of the operational readiness of a fleet at any time using a plug-and-play solution that doesn’t require any investment or training. Simple to use, after scanning, the trailer check takes place in the language set in the mobile phone, through an event-driven dialogue.

The results are transferred to the customer portal, while the software immediately detects and documents changes and damage to the trailer, as well as defects such as missing pallets or missing lashings. This concept also enables older trailers, without telematics equipment, to be effortlessly integrated into the digital Smart Assistant customer portal. www.krone-group.com

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WORLD EVENTS

HVTT

19-20 JULY Brisbane, Australia The 17th International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Transport & Technology (HVTT17) will take place jointly with the 9th International Conference on Weigh-InMotion (ICWIM9) on 6-10 November 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. The theme for the joint conference is Technology Convergence 2023 – Setting the Wheels in Motion: Reimagining the Future of Heavy Vehicles, Roads and Freight.

SOLUTRANS 2023

21-25 NOVEMBER Lyon, France This year Solutrans is focusing on urban delivery, new energies, tyres, retrofit and automated vehicles. www.solutrans.eu

www.sclarabia.com

BREAKBULK

MIDDLE EAST 2024 12-13 FEBRUARY Dubai, UAE Since 1989, this event has delivered conference programs and a networking environment for supply chain professsionals. www.middleeast.breakbulk.com

WORK TRUCK WEEK 2024

5-8 MARCH

Indiana, US For more than 20 years, this event has gathered the people who design, build, use and maintain the commercial vehicles and equipment around the world. www.worktruckweek.com

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KEEP A LOOK OUT Transport India Expo 2024 17-19 January 2024 New Delhi, India www.smartmobilityindiaexpo.com

TRANSPORTERTAGE BERLIN

30 NOVEMBER 3 DECEMBER

Berlin, Germany See special vehicles, trailers and more at this trade fair. www.transportertage-bb.de/die-messe

Mid-America Trucking Show 2024 21-23 March Louisville, Kentucky, US www.truckingshow.com Intermodal South America 2024 5-7 March São Paulo, Brazil www.intermodal.com.br CV Show 2024 23-25 April Birmingham, UK www.cvshow.com Intermodal Asia 22-24 May Shanghai, China www.intermodal-asia.com

ELMIA LASTBIL 2024

21-24 AUGUST

Jönköping, Sweden An international exhibition for the transport industry with a focus on haulage. www.elmia.se/en/lastbil

IAA Transportation 2024 17-22 September Hanover, Germany www.iaa-transportation.com MEGATRANS 2024 18-19 September Melbourne, Australia www.megatrans.com.au Innotrans 2024 24-27 September Berlin, Germany www.innotrans.de

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MEGATRENDS

FLAUNTING EV MUSCLE

PEPSICO HAS SHARED SOME RARE INSIGHTS INTO ITS NEW ELECTRIC SEMI RIGS AND HOW ITS EMPLOYEES ARE RESPONDING TO THEM.

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ulti-national food and beverage company, PepsiCo, is running 21 Tesla Semis, some up to 700km a day on regional haul routes, out of its Sacramento, California, distribution centre.

It is one of 10 fleets selected for the NACFE’s Run on Less E-Depot year-long study, which is focused on fleets with large numbers of electric trucks and the infrastructure a depot needs to maintain them. The organisation hopes to learn and share best practices for scaling electric trucks at depots from one or two, to more than 15.

PepsiCo’s facility, as shown in the 12-minute video, features solar-powered collection technology that helps feed 700-kW chargers. These are used for the Tesla Semis already operating out of the facility but are also servicing electric yard trucks and a fleet of Ford eTransit service vans.

Currently, the facility is about halfway through its conversion to electric trucks. Additional charging capabilities will be added as needed to satisfy the demands once the fleet is 100 per cent electric.

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“Battery electric vehicles are essential for us, and it’s really grounded in our duty cycle,” said PepsiCo Transformation and Strategy Director, Amanda Devoe.

“We feel that the battery electric vehicle is the most advantageous in our decarbonisation strategy.”

The Sacramento distribution centre, which is leading the company’s charge into electric vehicles, is the first of many PepsiCo is planning to build across North America. The company’s overall goal is to reach a 75 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2040.

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ON THE QUEST TO BECOMING THE FIRST TRULY GLOBAL ORGANISATION IN THE HISTORY OF TRAILER MANUFACTURING, CIMC VEHICLES HAS LEARNED THAT STAYING TRUE TO A GRAND VISION DOESN’T PRECLUDE STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY.

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uddling through the longest recession since the turn of the century, Russia has racked up a sizeable budget deficit and is on track for yet another year of negative growth. Meanwhile, the prospect of fiscal relief is growing distant, with oil in a bear market after closing below $40 a barrel in August – theoretically making for a highly dramatic narrative in the lead-up to the largest transport industry gathering on the planet.

But if you ask Denis Krivtsov, head of Russian OEM, Tonar, the country’s fragile economic state doesn’t necessarily mean it will become as prominent a topic as it was in 2014, when the Ukraine conflict and the annexation of Crimea were still fresh in mind and the European Union (EU) put an abrupt hold on west-east trade.

According to Krivtsov, much of the western trailer community has since found

new growth potential in the heart of Europe and the still-sprawling east of the continent, leaving Russian businesses alone in dealing with what could be the most severe market slowdown in a decade or two. As a result, he says it is now up to the domestic transport equipment community to consolidate ahead of the parliamentary election in mid-September, which is hoped to give the battered economy a much-needed boost.

“The Russian economy hasn’t really improved much since the last instalment of IAA. In fact, many local businesses have since folded as they simply refused to learn from the last crisis,” he explains – pointing to the EU’s recent decision to prolong economic sanctions against Russia until 31 January 2017.

[Story & Interview by Sebastian Grote]

avid Li, General Manager of CIMC Vehicles, the trailer building arm of China’s International Marine Container (CIMC) Group, isn’t quite what you’d expect of a man who has built a €1.93 billion industrial empire from the bottom up.

Distinctly humble in his bearing and refreshingly unpolished in his language, the industry veteran is enveloped in an aura of authenticity and adventure that is much more Silicon Valley than Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (the official jargon for a giant business incubation area the Chinese government has set up across the bay from Hong Kong to help local businesses connect more easily with the western world).

As such, there is nothing imperious about Li laying out his plan to build the world’s first international trailer building company – only genuine excitement in an idea so captivatingly grand that it would arguably suit an intrepid start-up more than an asset-rich manufacturing firm operating FAST FACT in a time of extreme economic volatility.

CIMC Vehicles’ US subsidiary, Understanding the phenomenon that is Vanguard, is currently finalising CIMC Vehicles is therefore not so much a construction of a second factory in question of mapping out the business itself Trenton, Georgia. The €32 million as it is one of getting to know the man manufacturing plant will eventually employ 400 people and produce behind it – a scenario akin to US start-up 10,000 semi-trailers annually.

Tesla, which is largely dependent on the

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In August 2016, the Financial Times publically wondered whether Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was intending to drive everyone else in US retail crazy. The reason: Bezos is on a mission to re-define the classic concept of retail logistics. Instead of outsourcing the whole process, he set up a complex in-house transport network that has been aggressively expanding its reach, capabilities and capacity in the logistics and distribution arena over the past year or so. As part of the process, the Seattlebased company is now operating thousands of trailers emblazoned with Amazon’s logos acrosss North America. In Europe, Amazon is expanding rapidly as well, potentially making it a key talking point of the next IAA.

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A KEY TALKING POINT OF THE 2014 IAA COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW, THE BRUISED RUSSIAN ECONOMY HAS FAILED TO TURN ITSELF AROUND IN TIME FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF THE ICONIC EVENT. WILL IT STILL CONTINUE TO OWN THE CONVERSATION, THOUGH? [ Story by Sebastian Grote ]

ALBEIT A SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS EXPENSE, VISITING A TRADE SHOW LIKE IAA IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN COMMERCIAL ROAD TRANSPORT IN THE FLESH – A KEY ADVANTAGE IN THE DIGITAL AGE. [ Story by Sebastian Grote ]

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rom wireless connectivity to electric mobility, the digital world is slowly infiltrating every aspect of commercial road transport. Yet although high technology is expected to dominate the conversation at this year’s IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Germany (see page 52), it will be people that ultimately set the narrative. In fact, there is a distinct irony to the rise of technology in the manufacturing, according to best-selling US author, Daniel Pink, who has found that forging personal relationships is becoming ever more important as skill-sets evolve and demand more cognitive proficiency.

So-called ‘thought jobs’, as Pink puts it, require a higher level of creativity, problem-solving prowess and out-of-the-box thinking, meaning that in order for a business to be successful, leveraging the unique human element behind each employee is key.

FAST FACT According to Russian Economy Development Minister, Aleksey Ulyukaev, the country’s economy is set to grow in the near future, as “the situation in the real sector of economy is improving and the dynamics of industrial production are positive”.

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As such, he says fostering personal relationships in real life, for example in the context of a trade show, will ultimately help businesses become more profitable.

In line with Pink’s assumption, Global Trailer has selected ten prominent individuals that have the potential to put their mark on the 2016 edition of the largest global transport industry gathering – either by attending it or as the subject of intense discussion. www.globaltrailermag.com

ALEXANDER DOBRINDT, GERMAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Germany’s Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Alexander Dobrindt, is slated to officially open the 66th IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover.

Dobrindt recently made headlines in Germany when he proposed self-driving vehicles in Germany should be fitted with a black box that is able to record specific details of an accident, much like in the aviation industry. According to newswire, Reuters, his proposal would require drivers to stay seated in front of the steering wheel, even tough they may not have to pay attention to traffic or actually steer. Despite that cautionary measure, Dobrindt approved six German cities – Hamburg, Munich, Ingolstadt, Düsseldorf, Dresden and Braunschweig – to become testing grounds for self-driving vehicles as part of a US$89 million (€80 million) project.

İIFFET TÜRKEN, KÄSSBOHRER As the Executive Board Member responsible for Business Development at German OEM Kässbohrer – which is part of the Tirsan Group, the largest trailer manufacturing company in Turkey – Türken is considered one of the most influential personalities in European trailer building, and one of the most powerful women in the global transport equipment industry. The now 44-year-old joined the Tirsan Group in 1996 after graduating from Bogaziçi University in Istanbul and has since been stirring up Europe’s trailer building landscape – helping establish the Kässbohrer brand amongst the top ten in Europe.

PETER SIJS, TIP TRAILER SERVICES Overseeing the procurement processes for a 71,000-unit strong fleet that covers some five billion kilometres every year, Sijs, Services and Sourcing Operations Leader Europe at TIP Trailer Services, is considered one of the most influential people in Europe’s transport equipment industry. Having to replace up to 15,000 trailers annually, TIP Trailer Services spends an average of €30 million per year on parts alone – prompting Sijs to work closely with component suppliers and OEMs to leverage the latest in technology and develop new strategies to create competitive advantages. Most recently, he collaborated with German braking specialist Knorr-Bremse on the development of the company’s awardwinning iTAP system with FleetRemote functionality.

W W W. G LO BALT R AI L E R M AG. C O M / G L O B A L TR A I L E R / 5 9

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