Environment

Kässbohrer is nominated in Trailer Innovation 2021 in the category “Concept”. Nominee innovation, Kässbohrer Curtainsider K.SCX L with Dynamic Wheelbase for 14.980 mm length is making difference with its optimal wheelbase chassis design for uniform and safe load distribution leading to road safety and its innovative system integration with control systems for ability to turn on EU standard road curves and is the first of its kind solution.

Kässbohrer’s K.SCX L with dynamic wheelbase for 14.980 mm length is nomited because of its optimal wheelbase chassis design for uniform and safe load distribution leading to road safety and its innovative system integration with control systems for ability to turn safely on EU standard road curves. The ability to turn safely EU standard road curves with 12.50 m outside 5.30 m inside dimensions with the newly legislated 14.98 m vehicles is a first of its kind solution.

Since 1990[1], the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report EU has been committing to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG). Reduction of GHG targets and action plans have evolved with the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2015 Paris Climate Agreement resulting in The European Green deal and the subsequent proposal of changes to the existing EU Climate Law to enshrine the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 into law on March 4^th, 2020. The law states revised carbon emissions targets for 2030 of 50-55% cut on GHG and a road map to 2050 net carbon emissions target.[2] GHG emissions from road transport of heavy duty vehicles account for 6% annual carbon emissions of the EU.[3] As a responsible industry, all stakeholders have been developing environmentally friendly solutions for years, including longer trailers or trailer combinations with higher load capacity to minimize carbon emission per ton of load transported.

With the use of longer vehicles up to 31,50 m, efficiency gains, and fuel savings of 25%[4] can be achieved making longer trailer combinations a key solution item as the industry is endeavoring to meet the carbon emissions targets. However, this immediate solution has challenges in terms of trailer technology and limitations in terms of the existing national and international road infrastructure due to the infrastructure’s inability to accommodate longer road vehicles[5]. Within this perspective 14.98 m vehicles have been authorized in Germany by the Federal Ministry of traffic and digital infrastructure on 19th September 2019 with a list of permissible motorways, federal roads, and district roads that these vehicles can use detailed to the street by the district[6].

European Commission and civil bodies are detailing road safety as key issues to be addressed with the society’s transition to longer heavy haulage vehicles.[7]

Kässbohrer 14.98 m curtainsider with dynamic wheelbase design addresses fully both road safety and the limitations of current infrastructure

[1] https://climatepolicyinfohub.eu/european-climate-policy-history-and-state-play

[2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/european-green-deal-communication-annex-roadmap_en.pdf https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/eu-climate-action/law_en

[3]https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/heavy_en#:~:text=Lorries%2C%20buses%20and%20coaches%20are,to%20increasing%20road%20freight%20traffic.

[4] VDA Verband Der Automobilindustrie Report, ‘’Lang-Lkw in Deutschland und Europa –aktueller Stand und weiteres Vorgehen’’ September 2019

[5] https://www.bast.de/BASt_2017/DE/Verkehrstechnik/Fachthemen/v1-lang-lkw/lang-lkw_node.html

[6]https://www.bundesanzeiger.de/ebanzwww/wexsservlet?session.sessionid=9a1857cb9c679d0e02a730f7a6a49e03&page.navid=detailsearchlisttodetailsearchdetail&fts_search_list.selected=29c884fa26569684&fts_search_list.destHistoryId=99380

[7] https://www.eaclubs.org/road-safety-and-96-53-ec

Expert trailer manufacturer Van Eck has taken the 3rd place at Trailer Innovation 2021 Award category “Environment” with the innovation Smart Rollerbed Vehicles with NMLU (New Modular Loading Unit).

Van Eck is the only trailer manufacturer to design and produce its own rollerbeds. Since 1983 Van Eck has been expertly producing rollerbed box and curtainsider vehicles, that are of the highest quality, impeccably designed and manufactured to function with precision, presenting unparalleled operational efficiencies in air cargo business and in special general cargo applications. Van Eck also has the expertise to transform any trailer into a rollerbed vehicle with rollerbed platfom vehicles custom-built for special uses.

Taking its inspiration from air cargo like loading and unloading efficiencies as well as packing standardization and warehouse management ease of use, Van Eck expert team had been working in European commission backed Horizon 2020 project developing smart loading units namely NMLU – new modular loading unit to streamline all general cargo packing loading, unloading and documentation process like the air cargo business.

Smart rollerbed vehicles with NMLU are a new concept and have the vision to transform the logistics system with fast automated loading and securing of cargo. Next to those operations, smart rollerbed vehicles with NMLU also provide betterment directly in warehousing operations and at large in railway, ferry and aircargo operations. The practicality and safety side of this concept addresses health and safety issues during loading operations, including COVID risk.

For NMLU’s to present the efficiencies, calculated to be %20 loading capacity increase, and overall system efficiency of 50%, the trailers that will work with NMLU’s need to have rollerbed systems. The quality of rollerbeds, as well as the trailers, the precision fitting and durability under all conditions of use guarantee the success of the overall NMLU enabled system. All these qualities are presented in Van Eck box, curtainsider, and recently developed rollerbed 45ft containers focusing on the efficiencies that can be quickly generated in intermodal transport. As intermodal transport is the most similar to air cargo logistics systems among other general cargo logistics and warehousing, it is envisioned intermodal logistics with central hubs of train stations and ferry docks would be the starting point to implement the NMLU system transformation. Recently developed Van Eck rollerbed 45ft container is the first step in general implementation and initial commercialization of the project.

Smart rollerbed vehicles with NMLU’s load capacity efficiencies not only contribute to lowering the CO2 emission but also reduces waste to further contribute to sustainability by eliminating the need for plastic and box packaging.

As the expert manufacturer in producing precision and high-quality trailers fitted with its in-house design and manufacture rollerbed, Van Eck has taken the first steps to transform the general cargo operations ecosystem by providing the most efficient high quality and durable rollerbed vehicles that can seamlessly work with NMLU’s to the market. Van Eck is proud to continue to support this eco-friendly system beyond initial innovation to full commercialization.

Kässbohrer 14.98m Curtainsider with Dynamic wheel base nominated Trailer Innovation Awards 2021

Trailer Innovation 2021 3rd Place Van Eck Smart rollerbed with NMLU