Demountables for pan-European use
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At the Turin commercial motor show in November Italian makers are expected to demonstrate several prototype demountables incorporating the German standards. At the same time an announcement is expected to confirm the introduction of the country's first domestic "piggy-back" train, planned for a 520-mile route between Milan and Bari. The operating concept, based again largely on the German model, will enable Italian operators to use their vehicles solely as collection and delivery units at railheads while the trunk journey of the "intercambiabili" is made by rail.
The service is now being prepared by the Societa Ferpac which has been instrumental with the French Novatrans and German Kombiverkehr groups in extending "combined transport" across international frontiers. While a major contribution towards standardization in Italy will come from Officine Zorzi, of Treviso, licensees of certain Ackermann designs, more growth is also expected in the use of non-standard containers, many with built-in lifting legs and hydraulics. This is attractive to users because any normal platform vehicle can be used for road transport. The method is of particular interest to own-account users who are employing the self-lifting bodies as a useful adjunct to short term storage and subsequent distribution.
Typical equipment for this type of operation is now built by Rolfo Spa, of Bra, Cuneo, and has a steel-framed and panelled body with side and rear doors. Integral lifting gear is powered generally by a small air-cooled Lombardini petrol engine in a "Luton" extension. The equipment also permits the van-body to be left at a loading bank when the hydraulics facilitate perfect levelling.