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DOUBLE DUTCH
Page 62
Page 63
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Trailer manufacturer Van Eck Group isn't a household name in the UK. It exports reefer and box trailers by the dozen rather than hundreds and thousands, but that could all be about to change.
Double-deck trailers have become familiar equipment on UK trunking,and UK trailer manufacturers have been willing and able to meet this need.With such fierce competition in the UK semi-trailer producers have revelled in niche sectors, leaving the traditional market to those building cheaper bread-and-butter trailers.
But what about those companies that work internationally and run general haulage both ways over the English Channel? The main problem to maximising loads is the Continental 4.0m height restriction. Low-profile tyres provide one way to boost load space and UKbased Somi Trailers developed a split level system that uses the space between the landing legs and the front trailer axle to increase load capability by as much as 35%. Ekeri Trailers launched a double-deck box trailer on a standard trailer chassis with side loading. Both these solutions adhered to the 4.0m limit.
But now Van Eck has taken this concept a step further, with its box and reeferTripleflecks double-deck loading systems offering 2.6m of loading floor with an upper loading height of 1.0m and a lower deck ceiling of 1.8m.The four sections of upper deck are raised hydraulically.
It's a triaxle trailer with individual wheels, rather than axles, identical to the trailers used to transport glass. incorporating ECAS air suspension which allows the entire trailer to be lowered to ground level.
To help load the upper deck there is an interior tail-lift fitted between the rear doors and the back axle which drops to the floor, combining with an exterior tail-lift.
Individual wheelboxes provide a 1.6m gap between them (equivalent to two Euro pallets) with cross roller-beds behind this gap allowing pallets to be pushed tight against the right angle with the wheelhouse and the side wall of the trailer.
There is a 250mm ground clearance with this system and the whole structure, which meets the 4.0m height limit, weighs in at approximately 9.0 tonnes and offers an extra 60% carrying capacity.
Straight or step-frame U K custome rs, used to taller double-deck systems built with straight or step-frame trailer chassis, have taken a keen interest. City Link has ordered some, and four off-shoot triple-deck products have joined the Cranleigh Freight Services fleet for intern& tional work.These trailers have four individual internal decks in a box trailer because it handles general freight that rarely comes in regular sizes.
To meet UK demands Van Eck is willing to build higher as the system is adaptable — drawbar versions have been built for DHL.The production target is -100 units a year, which is an increase of 10% compared with the company's overall production output. It already ships 25 u/o of its production to the UK. •