i DAN trailers ers n the OK by Iep van
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der Meer • Dutch trailer manufacturer D-tec plans to sell its Ultra lightweight trailer as the main product in a UK sales and service network.
The Ultra uses a Swedish high-tensile steel lattice frame to give an all-up weight of 4,120kg for a three-axled flatbed with steel wheels and airtanks but no spare wheel. With aluminium wheels and airtanks the weight can be reduced to less than four tonnes; the tilt variant weighs in at 5,240kg.
The flatbed trailers have a neck of 210mm; the tilt version has a 120mm neck. Despite the low weight, the GRP-reinforced floors can cope with forklifts with axle weights of up to five tonnes—but special attention needs to be paid to loading to ensure there is an even spread.
Jan Sterk of D-Tec says: "The first of these trailers are three years old and we have a lot of experience with them. Ferry work is hard on the trailers but there is no more damage on the lightweights than on conventional trailers. We chose the special Swedish Domex steel instead of aluminium because now everybody can repair the trailers when there is damage. The difficulty for us is that we can only get this steel in plates— we have to make our own U and L bars out of it."
The complete trailers are galvanised so they do not need to be painted.
D-tec has built 30 flatbeds and 20 tilts; it is negotiating with another Dutch firm for a UK sales/service network. SPECIFICATIONS Length: 13.60m. Width: 2.50m.
Fifth-wheel height: 1.2m Wheelbase: 7.7m Axles: 3x 9.0-tonne ROR; model, TE 9010QMXE. Braking: Wabco two-way system. Tyres: Bridgestone 385/65R22.5s. Suspension: Weweler air suspension. Finish: Galvanised steel. Warranty: One year for the complete trailer.