Spirit into next century
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• Crane Fruehauf has developed an all-aluminium bottomloading 38,000-litre petroleum spirit tanker semi-trailer that is designed for operation well into the next century.
It debuted at this week's Tankcon show, alongside a new design 27,000-litre milk tanker semi-trailer with stainless steel subframe and a 34m3 Senalu design powder tanker.
The spirit tanker is the result of an extensive market survey which shows that many of the 38-tonners with the major fleets are to be replaced soon.
As many of them work around the clock to average over 160,000km a year, Crane Fruehauf applied CAD and finite element analysis to identify five design criteria: improved reliability; stability; finish and styling; and weight reduction.
The design eliminates the old steel sub-frame, using an aluminium undermount for the air suspension which is integral with the tank structure.
Its king-pin mounting plate is also part of a mainly aluminium fabrication.
To improve stability, the wheeltrack has been increased by 50mm to 2,082mm with wider air-bag and suspension trailing arm centres, all of which has helped lower the semitrailer's centre of gravity.
To improve on the aesthetics Crane Fruehauf uses moulded GRP side and rear hose lockers with a new rear valance, all attached to an aluminium spaceframe.
Neat features include moulded rear steps and side cabinets with fold-under doors.
Complete with aluminium wheels and landing legs, the new design tares out at 5,700kg — some 250kg lighter than existing models.