ECS’ new EN 12642 XL curtainsider trailers operate with dual fifth-wheel ride heights of 1050mm and 1200mm, reflecting the intermodal transport solutions firm’s explicit position as a trade gateway between the EU and UK and a specialist in trade with the latter, said co-CEO Pieter Balcaen.Full chassis galvanisation with an eight-year corrosion warranty, five pairs of load-securing restraint straps to suit the roof tracks, and 385/55 premium-brand tyres were integral to the solution designed and delivered by Tiger Trailers. Safety was also an important part of the specification, with yellow stripes identifying the 4m line, a reflective rear livery, a blind spot sticker and mega trailer warning decals.
“Following problems with other trailers in the past, relating to tyre sizes and especially quality and durability issues, we turned to Tiger Trailers and were impressed from the outset with their open and transparent style of business, the level of support provided throughout the briefing, production, delivery and aftercare stages, and the high quality of the finished product,” commented ECS’ Technical Fleet Manager, Jonas Van Den Broucke.
ECS operates an asset portfolio of more than 10,000 containers plus 600 dry and 200 refrigerated trailers, and its order from Tiger Trailers is the first in further planned batches over the next four years. The operator’s sizeable and specialised technical team will domestically maintain its new curtainsider assets, which were promptly commissioned into service at ECS’ harbour locations, linking the firm’s continental and UK warehouses with end customers including many leading supermarkets.
In May 2017, ECS acquired supply chain service provider 2XL, forming a one-stop-shop European logistics group.
Head of Immo projects & investments, Didier Moeneclaey, who was instrumental in the contract with Tiger Trailers, commented: “We are very happy with the quality and detail of our new mega trailers. Tiger’s team listened carefully to our brief and delivered a solution that contributes to ECS fulfilling our expansion strategies as we become even stronger as a post-Brexit trade gateway.”