Schmitz Cargobull to combine in-house vehicle components as executive package deals including full service contracts.
For years Schmitz Cargobull (SCB) has been a trendsetter for adding in-house value in vehicle manufacturing. Examples of this are the company first offering their own trailer axle, followed by in-house electronic data transmission, their own cooling unit and even their own tires, whereby the latter are badge engineered as a Hankook product wih SCB signet. So a full offer from a single source has been available for the past four years in the case of SCB’s showpiece: the cooler. Meanwhile, the clients traditionally also have the free choice of falling back on desired products of other suppliers for the individual equipment features of their trailers.
But now the Munsterlanders are planning to top this. By means of the so-called executive package they want to make their clients’ decision to go for the in-house SCB products even easier.
Complete package S.KO Cool Executive with full service contract
SCB is therefore combining the cooling component T.KM One with the refrigerated box S.KO Cool to the complete package S.KO Cool Executive. Included is a full service contract from SCB Parts & Services for the cooling unit. Also added is a telematics package including temperature recorder and proactive monitoring. The latter provides surveillance with integrated warning signals for the driver and vehicle owners, in the event of unscheduled idle times. The advantage according to the SCB experts: perfectly coordinated components and a consistently seamless chain of information.
The engineers have also tackled the evaporator introduced in 2014 again, reducing the duration of the defrost cycle up to 50%, according to SCB. The executive package will also be available for curtainsiders of the S.CS Universal series from the IAA on. The curtainsiders with standard structure launch on the Rotos axle and the SCB tires. Added are also a full service package including tire- and trailer service, Europe-wide breakdown service as well as a telematics system. The latter offers a basis for an extremely useful further extra: a telematics-monitored tire pressure monitoring system.
SCB extends the kit with a biaxial dolly
SCB has also continued work on their technology. This especially includes measures that appear to make production methods more efficient. SCB now glues the curtainsiders’ floors with a special permanently elastic high power glue, leaving a mere six screw connections per base plate, which serve as fixation during assembly. The glue then fixates the plates and is supposed to be suitable for all temperature ranges as well as enabling a high impermeability. Moreover, this raises the stacker axle load per base plate to 7,5 tons. For the more urgent clients: according to the manufacturer, a trailer can be configured and set up out of the Executive Curtainsider Kit within 18 hours.
And what about actual vehicle premieres? SCB extends the construction kit by the biaxial dolly called „DO 18/L-2“, which compiles a long truck out of towing vehicle and semitrailer. The dolly has 385/55 R 22,5 tires as well as a rotatable coupling; the axles are fixed – an easy as well as cheap solution. The dolly is suited for all semitrailers of the Universal series; the hitching height is located at 1.050 to 1.100 milimeters. The gross train weights range from 40 to 60 tons.
SCB advertises with more precise assembly
Moreover, SCB now offers the Mega with rolled Genios chassis instead of the former welded construction. Which is more an advantage for the low-energy and time-efficient manufacturing than for the clients. SCB advertises the fact that this prevents weld warpage and that the components can be assembled with more precision. In the case of the Mega, the frame will be built even lower (1.000 milimeter loading height on the axle assembly thanks to the low bulk of carrier and air suspension) which lowers the semi to a less critical total height.
Obviously, the SCB engineers also looked beyond their factory gates, and analysed the market as well as the competition. What another manufacturer has been offering for some time, is now also available from the Munsterlander company: namely a reconversion kit for mega-semis called Varios Convertible. This allows the S.CS Mega with three meter clearance to be converted to a standard curtainsider of the Universal series, which increases the resale value.
PIN-protected auto-lock disk for valuable transports
Other manufacturers already offer a PIN-protected auto-lock disk for valuable transports. SCB’s new door latch is called LS 3 and is based on a not directly visible locking system concealed in the superstructure. An electronic combination lock rules out unauthorized access. The code for the lock is sent to the driver’s cell phone (rolling code) via the shipping agent’s disposition, or the driver knows the PIN and is able to enter it in the control element on the box body bulkhead. A PIN-code controlled input lock for the operating panel of the cooling unit on the reefer is also available.
Less obvious but all the more effective is the new ramp protection for semitrailers of the S.KO series. Four spring bearing stainless steel rollers prevent creases on the vehicle when the driver docks onto the ramp too roughly. The solidly constructed rollers as well as a damper unit mounted behind them serve this purpose. It directs the impact forces into the semi’s chassis. The rollers also work should a forklift collide with the truck’s superstructure.
