Radical fifth by Fontaine
Page 9
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• Fontaine is introducing what it claims to be the first sliding fifth wheel capable of being bolted on all chassis without a subframe or mounting plate.
The Euro-Slider is 60kg lighter and, coupling at 174mm above the chassis, is 37mm lower than its existing standard fifth-wheel unit, which includes a subframe. According to Fontaine it is also 20mm lower than rival products_ Lowering the height at which the tractive unit couples is important as it allows operators to fit bigger cube semi-trailers, says managing director Ray Bryan (see feature on hi-cube semis, pages 34-36).
US-owned Fontaine set up its European operation in Poole, Dorset a year ago and has sold about 2,500 fifth wheels so far. It plans to start manufacturing in the UK within the next 12 months.
Fontaine fifth wheels are being fitted to a Kuwait Petroleum order for 42 Scania 38-tonners.