More than 100,000 refrigerated trailers on the road

Growth in refrigerated vehicle manufacturing and consumer behaviour go hand in hand. The economic growth in the transport of chilled foods and goods started in the boom years of the 1950s and 1960s and has continued up until the present day.

Growing incomes mean growing consumption and quality demands. Therefore freight carriers and logistics companies, together with vehicle manufacturers, were required to develop new concepts in storage, packaging and transport in order to develop a closed cold chain.

Schmitz Cargobull, which has been building trailers and semitrailers for the transport business since 1892, used its know-how to produce its first insulated and chilled bodies more than 60 years ago.

Since then the refrigerated vehicles - with Schmitz Cargobull’s distinctive blue elephant logo – have been setting the benchmark for refrigerated freight. Trend-setting technologies combined with the highest quality production standards have helped make Schmitz Cargobull the European market leader and today there are more than 100,000 Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated vehicles on Europe's roads.

One essential reason for the success is Schmitz Cargobull’s belief in the need for constant, customer-orientated developments which achieve more efficiency and value retention. One of the most outstanding innovations in refrigerated vehicle construction is the material FERROPLAST®. The unique feature of these panels is the vapour diffusion tightness, based on two galvanized steel surface sheets (inner and outer). These sheets also receive an extra patented surface coating at the supplier which is scratch-resistant and hygienic providing easy-care on the inside and a robust and aesthetically pleasing finish on the outside. The insulation foam between these two layer is injected in an internal factory process which is subject to the most stringent quality requirements.

In the subsequent finishing process – which uses techniques employed in aerospace engineering – the panels are glued to each other so that different wall lengths can be fabricated in accordance with customer requirements. Due to the strength of the resultant fabricated body of the cold box, a so-called short chassis can be fitted. This raises the payload and increases the efficiency of the transport. 

Further innovations from Schmitz Cargobull have helped the company to consolidate its market leading position. These innovations, which still offer, even today, a financial advantage for the customer, include:

1981: Flush, integrated load securing rails
1982: Introduction of the variable double decker loading arrangement. Previously there was space for 33 Euro pallets; with the double decker there is space for 66 Euro pallets. That means 100 percent more efficiency
1983: Freezer bridge-trains with up to 16,000 mm clear internal loading length
1984: Scuff rail tightly welded to the floor pan
1988: Manufacture of the first short chassis for more payload and greater internal loading height
1992: Quiet running aluminium floor as an option for the food distribution transport
1993: Barley grain structure instead of chequer plate - new surface structure for the aluminium floor plate
1995: Use of pre-fabricated sheets with special surface coating technology for improved surface refinement of the FERROPLAST® panels
1996: Introduction of disc brakes
1998: Introduction of the company's own ROTOS® running gear
2003: Conversion of the short chassis to bolted technology and surface galvanizing
2004: Integration of the company's own axle tube and stub axle to the ROTOS® running gear range
2007: Embedding of the coolant lines in the roof insulation in multi-temperature
vehicles
2008: Introduction of the Load Spread Program (LSP) for optimum axle load distribution

One of the on-going developments was the reduction in vehicle weight with today's vehicles (7 t) weighing about three tonnes less than at the start of refrigerated body construction. Likewise, ever more energy-efficient and value-increasing "cool box" optimisations have been realized. From rear frames, seals, ramp approach aids and the roll stability program (RSP) through to customised special solutions. Currently incandescent lamps in freezer semitrailers are being replaced by energy-efficient LED lamps. These produce less heat and simultaneously more light. This reduces the user's costs which would arise from additional running of the cooling unit.

Today there are a whole range of services available for a transport vehicle: from Schmitz Cargobull's in-house trailer telematics with comprehensive data services, through to Full service contracts, 24 hr spare parts supply, comprehensive service partner network, second-hand vehicle dealing right up to tailor-made financing. This "one stop shopping" concept helps the carrier to achieve cost transparency and offers both him and his customers pan-European security when trading in today's efficient cold chains.

(Source: Transport Weekly)