A meld of the mind

Munich played host to one of the largest logistics trade fairs in the world, accordingto the event organisers, with 2,374 exhibitors gathering a crowd of around 64,000 people.

Transport Logistic 2019, which was held 4-7 June, has seen a notable surge in international interest, specifically among the exhibitors present at the event, according to Messe München Managing Director, Stefan Rummel.

“We saw strong growth from China, where the number of exhibitors almost doubled by 30 to 64, he says. “As part of the Silk Road Initiative, Chinese companies are increasingly looking for cooperation partners in Europe.”
Talk of driver shortages was a prominent talking point at the fair, according to Rummel. He added that in addition to striving for more attractive working conditions, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help in the long-term, potentially forming more transparent and efficient supply chains.

Federal Minister of Transport, Andreas Scheuer, contributed to a panel discussion on the major challenges affecting the logistics industry, emphasising the need to make growing traffic flows even more efficient, affordable, digital, environmentally friendly and climate friendly.

Regarding the global economy, Frank Appel, CEO of transport and logistics company, Deutsche Post, remains optimistic, stating that although current US-China relations are currently not conducive to this, goods are finding their way despite customs disputes.

Connecting industry with innovative componentry

JOST, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vehicle connection systems, modules and components for trucks and trailers, made its presence known with a focus on innovative products and intelligent assistance systems.

At Transport Logistic 2019, the equipment specialist presented its automatic KKS Comfort Coupling System, which according to Head of Marketing, Holger Koch, is the basis for future generations of autonomous vehicles.

“The KKS offers greatly increased safety, as manual procedures such as cranking and connecting or disconnecting electrical connectors and air hoses are no longer required,” he says.

The Modul E-Drive electric landing gear was also on show, which is reported to offer significantly higher comfort, work safety and efficiency.

At the trade fair, JOST showcased the only axle in the world with a housing that stores compressed air for the brake system and pneumatic suspension – the DCA AIRMASTER. ROCKINGER with a tried-and-tested RO*50E towing hitch, which is characterised by its robust, low-maintenance design and its simple and safe operation.

The proven ROCKINGER release lever principle prevents incorrect coupling caused by the locking process being triggered too early or by jerky coupling, as is necessary when using a standard pin lifting system, according to Holger.

Paff pneumatic remote operation is in its second generation. JOST also brought its organic high-performance lubricant for fifth wheel couplings, ball bearing turntables and kingpins.

“The biodegradable lubricant is ideally formulated for use in combination with the LubeTronic 5Point minimal lubrication system, providing a very environmentally friendly solution to the issue of lubrication,” Holger says.  “Our diverse range of advanced products give our customers from the transport sector clear added value.”
To make the trade fair doubly attractive for commercial road transport decision makers, BPW offered a range of exclusive maintenance, telematics and intelligent brake deals.

This trend of maximising the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over the lifetime of commercial vehicles is something that BPW is fully embracing with its suite of products from trailer maintenance contracts with telematics incentives to brake lining wear sensors that function continuously and without contact.

The BrakePadMonitor allows hauliers to proactively schedule service appointments instead of changing brake linings too early or too late, which according to BPW, can often cause costs to skyrocket.

As a global market leader for trailer axles and running gear systems, BPW is at the forefront of digitisation, networking and electromobility. Its latest innovation, the iGurt, uses standard lashing straps to create an intelligent load securing system. An easy-to-use buckle equipped with sensor technology simply clips onto the straps and constantly measures the preload and reports any changes immediately. In another solution, the ‘digital seal’ from Idem Telematics provides security for the rear portal doors by monitoring the door contact non-stop.

“All of the innovations are intuitive to use and reduce typical causes of errors and costs in day-to-day transport operations,” according to Ralf Merkelbach, Head of Key Account Management for Major Fleets in Europe at BPW.

“On top of this, they can also be networked with the cargofleet 3 open telematics platform from Idem Telematics. This not only brings transport companies greater transparency than ever before, but also provides new documentation options for transport,” he says.

The AirSave tyre pressure control system that BPW is showcased in Munich also offers this networking option.
The BPW subsidiary, Idem Telematics, exhibited a new version of its telematics hardware in the form of the TC Trailer Gateway PRO, which enables wireless networking with sensors and devices in the trailer, which is reported to lead to a simpler and cheaper installation due to improved cable management.

“We are making it even easier for transport companies to get started with telematics and to then expand the applications gradually according to their needs,” says Idem Telematics Managing Director, Jens Zeller. “We are therefore providing a truly modular telematics concept because it grows flexibly in line with requirements and can incorporate expansions and changes at any time.”

BPW also sees cause for celebration in the field of electromobility: the eTransport electric drive axle is now being installed mainly in municipal special-purpose vehicles that are being converted from diesel by the specialist company Paul Nutzfahrzeuge in the German town of Vilshofen an der Donau. More and more companies and institutions are said to be working towards an electric transport breakthrough.

Tyres, aerodynamics and trailer security

Celerity DRS is a European distributor of PSI automatic tyre inflation systems for commercial trailers and has recently expanded its portfolio to exclusively distribute the Airtab drag reduction system.

Sustainability by reducing fuel consumption and emissions, as well extending the lifecycle of tyres, are essential for future-proofing road transport equipment, according to Celerity DRS. The Airtab is designed to alter, control and smooth the airflow around a vehicle to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.

Meanwhile, Tyre Pressure Management Systems (TPMS) for commercial road transport fleets are rising in popularity, following Giti Tire’s official TPMS launch in the UK earlier this year. The Singaporean company has its roots in the tyre industry that dates back to 1951. It currently has eight production centres in three countries, including a newly opened factory in South Carolina, US.

Germany’s TireMoni provides truck and bus TPMS, including sensor technologies, remote SMS warning functionality and an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for individual TPMS solutions.

Trailer builders like Krone also presented their own TPMS for commercial vehicles. Krone’s system is linked to Krone Telematics and features two sensors per axle and are mounted on the rim of the tyre valve – the sensors measure tyre pressure and temperature per wheel and transmits the signals to the telematics unit in real-time.

Global technology company, WABCO, aims to improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles. One of its latest products is OptiLock – a locking system that secures trailer loads. The concern the company is addressing is trailer vulnerability, specifically the issues that fleet operators face when parked, at a service station or driving on public roads where trailer breaches are said to be commonplace.

Optilock is a range of high-quality mechanical and electronic locking systems that are reported to be tailored to suit most vehicle applications. They are also designed to ensure freight arrives at its destination intact, on-time and uncontaminated.

WABCO says that theft is not the only threat caused by an unsecured door – modern freight hauliers also need to be prepared to guard against the substitution of genuine goods with counterfeits, the transportation of unregistered goods and even the risk of inadvertent human trafficking.

WABCO OptiLink solutions are reported to provide more than a record of guardianship. For example, by preventing temperature changes due to unauthorised opening of refrigerated vehicles.

The ELB-Lock is an electronic door lock system that supports a flexible multi-stage security concept. It has wireless operation capabilities for additional measures of protection.

Refrigeration

The Vector HE 19 (High Efficiency) temperature-controlled trailer system from Carrier Transicold is an ultra-modern design that delivers a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 30 per cent, creating a 10 per cent saving in weight, cuts noise by 3 dB(A) and is reported to offer up to 15 per cent savings in maintenance costs.

Carrier Transicold, which operates in Germany as Carrier Transicold Deutschland, is a part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.

“The new Vector HE 19 is a huge step forward for trailer refrigeration,” says Carrier Transicold Director – Central Europe, Andreas Wallmeyer. “It delivers huge performance advantages for our customers in just about every area.

”The unit combines current innovative technology, like the all-electric E-Drive TM system, with new technology designed to significantly improve our customers’ fleet efficiency, performance and sustainability.”

Carrier Transicold has improved its Vector range, optimising the internal architecture and redesigning it to increase sustainability and efficiency. The Vector HE 19 system combines the E-Drive technology with an improved multi-speed engine design, bringing fuel savings of up to 30 per cent when compared to the existing Vector 1950 – the equivalent of saving 5.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually. Due to a lighter frame, compressor and fans, the overall weight of the unit has been reduced by 82kg, increasing payload potential. It is also 3 dB(A) quieter than a standard Vector 1950 unit, making it around 50 per cent quieter in operation.

The Vector HE 19 unit features the latest components, including a new, Stage V compliant diesel engine with electronic engine control. It also calls on the proven performance of a hermetic compressor and economiser, as well as the efficiency of a microchannel heat exchanger condenser, which delivers a 40 per cent increase in refrigeration capacity during pull-down, while reducing the chance of refrigerant escape by 50 per cent.

A redesigned upper airflow management creates a much more efficient airflow, helping to ensure the integrity of the cold chain. This is primarily achieved through a larger condenser air inlet opening and a change in the evaporator air flow orientation, helping to maximise the Coanda effect – the phenomena of a jet flow remaining ‘attached’ to a curved surface. The system also features a single, ultra-efficient evaporator fan, which helps to improve heat exchange throughout the evaporator.

One of the key components in the Vector HE 19 is Carrier Transicold’s forward-thinking, all-electric E-Drive technology that works by removing the mechanical transmissions found in conventional belt-driven equipment and converting the unit’s or truck’s engine power into electricity via a generator, which drives the refrigeration system. Another benefit is a sustaining refrigerant containment for a projected average annual leak rate of only three per cent.

For fleets looking for a significant reduction in emissions, the new Vector HE 19 unit will also be available as an engineless option. The engineless trailer will be energised either by the truck’s engine through the Carrier Transicold ECO-DRIVE power module or through the trailer’s axles, which, when connected to a generator, can be used to supply a battery that subsequently powers the system. In standby mode, the unit still provides up to 14,800-watt cooling capacity, which equates to 85 per cent of the system’s total capacity. By removing the cost and weight of the diesel engine entirely, the all-electric Vector HE 19 unit presents a cost-effective way to meet tightening inner-city emissions regulations.

The new trailer system has been designed with the operator in mind and improves on the current generation product in every area, even down to its new APX control system using Controller Area Network (CAN) technology, which allows multi-speed engine control and management of all actuators and sensors to optimise refrigerant flow and temperature control. Carrier Transicold integrates, for the first time in Europe, a large screen graphical display improving user experience.

The Vector HE 19 unit is available in up to three different compartment configurations and provides high and constant levels of heating to all compartments thanks to the E-Drive Technology that significantly improves temperature regulation for multi-temperature operation.

With new developments in cold chain management, Schmitz Cargobull showcased its S.KO COOL SMART refrigerated body with electric S.CUe cooling unit. The OEM says it is equipped with the TrailerConnect telematics system as standard and features a digital temperature recorder and other functions designed to improve the transparency and efficiency of trailer fleets.

The S.Cue is reported to ensure efficient and environmentally friendly transportation of cooled goods. It is said to operate completely emission-free and is intended for the distribution of both refrigerated and ambient goods.

In a joint collaboration between Liebherr and Krone, the Cool Liner, fitted with a new Celsineo cool system, made for a prominent display. Following requests from logistics firms to maximise the reliability and cost-effectiveness of refrigerated transport, Celsineo provides a patented technology that enables modularity, scalable performance and redundancy.

Conventional cooling units have a central refrigeration circuit, according to Krone, and when it fails it can negatively affect temperature-sensitive cargo. The Celsineo, however, addresses this flaw by spreading cooling capacity across three indentically structured plug & play refrigeration modules (each contains a separate, hermetically sealed refrigerant circuit with just a few components). The target temperature set in the trailer can be maintained by just two modules. The route can therefore be completed, even in the event of an unlikely failure of a module, without negative consequences for the cargo.

Developments in trailer building

Known for its heavy duty and special vehicles, Ulm-based Kamag Transporttechnik presented the new generation of its Wiesel swap body transporter at the trade fair.

The manoeuvrable lift transporter has reportedly been designed for rapid handling and transporting of swap bodies around logistics yards and terminals.

The vehicle, according to Kamag, stands out due to its flexible adaptability to accommodate different parking heights. It also features a high level of driving safety and runs with low fuel consumption.

Kamag Transporttechnik, part of the Transporter Industry International (TII) Group, has sold more than 2,000 Wiesel swap body transporters, mainly in the DACH region. In major logistics companies, the Wiesel is also being used in France, Italy and Poland. The OEM expects demand to grow in other European markets in the future.

The Wiesel is being successfully used at the logistics yards of numerous customers, according to Kamag. These include well-known logistics companies, mail-order businesses, postal and parcel service providers as well as many industrial companies.

“With the Wiesel, we help our customers to organise their intralogistics processes more efficiently and more cost-effectively,” says Jürgen Dirr, Area Sales Manager and responsible at Kamag for the swap body transporter business.

Kamag is adamant that the Wiesel is a leading solution for in-company handling operations and is constantly being optimised. There is now an emission-free version complete with electric drive as well as driverless, self-navigating vehicles that are currently being piloted with customers.

On the lighter end of the trailer building market, Schmitz Cargobull exhibited the S.CS universal X-LIGHT curtainsider semi-trailer, which has been further optimised with a reduction in chassis and body weight. With an unladen weight from 4,975kg, the X-LIGHT curtainsider offers a higher payload without compromising on quality or strength when compared to its predecessor.

The trailer builder also flaunted its award winning EcoDuo vehicle concept, which was designed to be ecological and economically efficient. The combination is two standard trailers connected via a dolly which is then coupled to a prime mover. Schmitz Cargobull asserts that by reducing fuel consumption, as well as the CO2 emissions per transported tonne, this combination helps to reduce traffic, relieve strain on roads and bridges and can also mitigate driver shortages.

Other curtainsiders that garnered a lot of interest at Transport Logistic was Krone’s Profi Liner with the Safe Curtain – a load securing curtain reinforced with high-strength steel strips – and the ‘comfort’ variant of the Mega Liner. Due to these innovative side curtains, vehicle operators can reportedly open the trailer in under 30 seconds, significantly cutting loading and unloading times.

In the spirit of pushing innovation even further, Eastern German OEM, Fliegl, showcased its latest innovations in trailer design, including the Fliegl Blitz canopy top for curtainsiders. This is a new roof structure that exclusively uses spring wire rather than plastic. The wire is reported to be considerably sturdier, does not become brittle due to material fatigue and meets the demands of the full vehicle lifecycle can even be recycled.
Fliegl also exhibited its Clever, Light, Guided (CLG) Mega Dolly, which features a coupling height of around 920-950mm, which is reported to be ideal for maintaining a compact and flat statutory height limit of four metres.

The CLG ‘principle’, according to Fliegl, involves the use of a rigid under-coupled drawbar that joins the CLG dolly to the prime mover using conventional tyre couplings. The stable slewing ring prevents the semi-trailer from swaying, while the extended traction bar and pivot point which is moved far back to the rear optimises handling.

Talson from the Netherlands has earned a reputation as a leading box manufacturer and one of Europe’s most renowned air cargo semi-trailer builders. The company brought its upgraded 7.45 aluminium swap body to Munich, emphasising environmentally-friendly intermodal transportation.

First produced between 1990-2000, Talson’s 7.45 aluminium swap bodies are upgraded to meet current requirements for lighter weight and robust trailing equipment – in line with EU sustainability targets.

The T.SWAU BK is said to make a difference with its weight that is on average 750kg lighter than other products on the market, according to Talson. Its modular design and aluminium composition eliminates the need for sourcing primary production raw materials while helping to protect the world’s resources.

The box body is manufactured using a special aluminium sandwich design. The modular aluminium side panels comprise six separate plates that are riveted to aluminium omega profiles allowing cheap and fast repairs when needed. Being a lightweight and high-quality material, the aluminium has good UV resistance (non-yellowing) and is easy to clean due to low dirt adhesion. This trailer is also equipped with a multifunctional Talfix load securing system and is suitable for double-deck applications enabling multi-level loading with 700kg capacity per one metre.

Back in Germany, local OEM, Kögel, presented two trailers in the atrium at the east entrance at Transport Logistic.

One was a new variant of the Kögel Trucker Trailer. The KTT is reported to be the outcome of an opinion poll that Kögel conducted with professional drivers at the Truck Grand Prix, the Wolfsmeile festival and at motorway services. Kögel asked what makes the perfect trailer for truckers? At the trade fair, the KTT was fitted with the Kögel FastSlider quick opening and closing system. With this system, Kögel has responded to drivers’ needs for shorter loading times and provided a quicker, easier and safer handling method for both loading and unloading. Many other optional helpful functions round off the NOVUM generation trailer, which has been adapted in line with drivers’ requirements.

The newly developed lightweight semi-trailer container chassis with a central extension was also present. The Kögel Port 45 Triplex also made its début at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018. For transport logistic 2019, Kögel’s engineers fine-tuned the chassis for an even lower tare weight. With a tare weight of just 4,450kg in its basic form, a technical gross weight of 41,000kg and a fifth-wheel load of 14,000 kg, the container chassis is said to be ideal for transporting 20’, 30’, 40’ and 45’ ISO containers as well as 40’ and 45’ Highcube containers.

The OEM’s third exhibit was the new NOVUM-generation Kögel Cargo Rail. This rail-loadable variant also has the optimised external frame profile and the improved body that characterises the NOVUM generation. As well as making the Kögel Cargo Rail even more robust, these features simplify handling in daily use. In addition, the Kögel Cargo Rail of the NOVUM generation features a high level of customisation possibilities, and can be adapted to the specific requirements of forwarding companies. With a low tare weight starting from 6,350kg in the basic version, it is reported to be cost-effective to drive.

Fast Fact
At Transport Logistic 2019, 2,374 exhibitors from 63 countries were present, which was a 10 per cent rise from 2017 (2,162). Around 64,000 visitors from 125 countries attended the event, which saw an increase of five per cent (2017: 60,726), whereas 30,000 came from abroad. The fair covered 10 halls and an outdoor area – a total exhibition space of 125,000-square-metres. The top 10 exhibitor countries to Germany were: Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, France, Poland, China, Austria, Spain, UK and Czech Republic.

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