Trailer axle demand outstrips expectations at Schmitz Cargobull 26 September 2011

Schmitz Cargobull is reporting that more than 250,000 of its bespoke trailer axles have been manufactured since they were developed in 2005 – far exceeding initial expectations.

"When production began, the plan was to equip approximately 30 to 40 trailers per week with the new axle," explains Olaf Schütte, head of production at Schmitz Cargobull.

"But as word spread among customers of this product [an integral part of the company's ROTOS running gear], the demand rapidly increased to up to 90 axles for 20 to 30 trailers a day," he continues.

The reason, he says is heavy-duty daily trailer usage. "A trailer can only run day and night when all of the components are a perfect match. And that is what the customer expects."

Currently, 80% of all trailers manufactured in the company's Altenberge plant, and some 60% to 70% of all Schmitz Cargobull trailers, are being specified with the ROTOS-enabled axle.

"The running gear has an influence on both maintenance costs and fleet uptime for operators, so the manufacturing process must undergo constant, strict quality auditing," states Schütte.

"To guarantee quality, we ensure that all wheel bearings, brake discs, brake callipers, pneumatic suspension components and shock absorbers are delivered by world-class manufacturers," he adds.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Schmitz Cargobull (UK) Ltd

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.