SCHMITZ CARGOBULL AXLE PRODUCTION EXCEEDS 400,000 UNITS
Popularity of Schmitz Cargobull axles continue – part of the tried and tested ROTOS® running gear.
Eight years on from the launch of Schmitz Cargobull’s own trailer axles in 2005, the company has reported that more than 400,000 axles have been manufactured and incorporated in its in-house trailer production.
Trailer running gear has a particularly significant impact on both maintenance costs and fleet uptime for a vehicle operator, so its ongoing development has been stepped up by Schmitz Cargobull. Additionally, the company has worked to optimise its axles to ensure perfect tracking and high suspension comfort combined with the safety features offered by innovative driving stability and braking programmes.
Schmitz Cargobull’s Head of Production, Olaf Schütte, emphasises the high quality standards: "Every wheel bearing, brake disc, brake calliper, pneumatic suspension and shock absorber we use is sourced from world-class manufacturers. As the uptime of trailers is strongly dependent on the running gear, our manufacturing process undergoes constant, strict quality auditing."
The ROTOS® running gear is manufactured by Schmitz Cargobull at its extensive production facility in Altenberge, Germany, where curtainsider and platform semi-trailers are also built. From here, axles are also supplied to production plants in Vreden, Gotha, Toddin, Panevėžys and Zaragossa. Currently, approximately 80 per cent of all trailers manufactured in Altenberge are equipped with Schmitz Cargobull's own axle, and around 70 per cent of the company’s total trailer production.
In recent years the axle production volume has levelled off at approximately 90,000 units annually.
Primary features of the ROTOS running gear with the Schmitz Cargobull axle include the maintenance-free bearing, an innovative ventilation system for the disc brakes, the weight-optimised brake calliper, the multi-ride-height pneumatic suspension for every ramp height along with the standard trailer EBS with RSP (Roll Stability Program). In addition, the EBS unit enables comprehensive operating data recording and transfer for the trailer telematics system, tyre pressure and brake pad wear monitoring and load monitoring.
As a variant to the tried and tested ROTOS running gear, the newly developed Schmitz Cargobull self-steering axle was presented at the IAA Show in September 2012. Its cornering characteristics – particularly when driving in tight turning circles, where damage to the tyres can often come about due to contact with the inside kerbs on roundabouts – is significantly improved thanks to the self-steering axle. A further advantage of the system is the reduction in tyre wear, as abrasion is significantly reduced when using a guided axle. In addition, this also leads to a reduction in fuel consumption.
ends
Editor’s notes:
Schmitz Cargobull (UK) is a subsidiary company of the German-owned Schmitz Cargobull Group, the biggest and leading manufacturer and supplier of semi-trailers in Europe. The Schmitz Cargobull Group has manufacturing plants in Germany, Spain and Lithuania and employs over 4,500 people. In the last financial year (2011/2012), Schmitz Cargobull had a turnover of approximately €1.639 billion and produced more than 43,000 trailers.
A number of additional services complete the company profile: Cargobull Finance for leasing and lease purchasing; Cargobull Parts & Services for vehicle servicing and spare parts; Cargobull Service Partners for repairs and maintenance; Cargobull Telematics for trailer telematics and Cargobull Trailer Store for used trailers. Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated units are constructed using the company’s FERROPLAST® Thermo Technology modular steel-skinned panels to keep loads at the desired temperature.
Visit Schmitz Cargobull UK’s dedicated online press room at http://news.cision.com/schmitz-cargobull
Press Contact UK:
James Keeler
Garnett Keeler PR
Tel: 020 8647 4467
Email: james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
Company Contact Europe:
Gerd Rohrsen, Head of Corporate Communications
Andrea Ewering, Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 2558 811321
Email: andrea.ewering@cargobull.com
SCB/058/13
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