Logistics company, Sturm, has specified a Cool Liner from Krone to protect the integrity of the goods it delivers.
The Cool Liner, according to Krone, features a flexible air duct, liquid-tight floor pan and stainless steel rear closures, resulting in a versatile and robust solution for transporting food and pharmaceutical products.
The Sturm fleet currently use five Cool Liner Duoplex Steel Cool Liners in a double-deck configuration and plan to acquire additional Krone refrigerated trailers.
Michael Beyer (Forwarding and Fleet Management) and Michael Sturm (Workshop Management) explained the numerous advantages of the innovative Krone vehicles.
For six years now, Krone Regional Sales Manager, Claus Peter Hütten, has been supporting Sturm in all aspects of Krone trailers. For Beyer, in addition to the quality of the refrigerated boxes, it is above all the good spare parts supply that is an outstanding service and the fast and unbureaucratic problem handling that characterise the partnership with Krone.
“And if something doesn't fit, then I simply speak openly with Krone,” said Michael Sturm. “Then we can quickly find a solution together.”
All maintenance, service and repair work as well as all legally required inspections of the trailers are carried out in the in-house – Krone certified – Sturm workshop in Kaarst.
The Krone Cool Liners for Sturm were built in double-decker design as well as with pallet boxes that provide space for 36 Euro pallets. The weight-optimised aluminium rims on all refrigerated trailers also reduce the tare weight of the trailers and thus ensure an even higher payload.
Meanwhile, the continuous chassis is reported to be designed so that the tractive forces are transferred to the frame. This, Krone said, protects the box body during coupling and uncoupling. Also when docking to the ramp, the incoming forces are absorbed by the chassis. The diagonal bracing of the rear end transfers the forces into the longitudinal beams of the chassis which protects the box from compression. The smooth exterior of the trailer does not require any additional connecting elements and is therefore ideal for labelling. It is also easy to clean and can be repaired quickly and easily if necessary.
Underride guard and lighting supports complete the vehicle. They are mounted in a protected position and can be replaced. The position lights are also protected in the rear portal. Robust impact protection elements protect the rear when docking. Several stainless steel rollers with shock-absorbing core are installed for this purpose. A buffer strip below the container door provides additional protection. The buffer strip consists of 15 rubber profiles (individually replaceable).
The stainless steel rear portal is designed to fit the lock and ramp. Side-mounted door hinges allow an optimum door opening angle, Krone said. Four door locks are optionally available. A stable, spring-supported door stop reliably secures the door.
Another practical solution from the Krone engineers: the plastic fuel tank that supplies the cooling unit with diesel. It is mounted in a protected position between the landing gear. The open design enables easy filling and level monitoring. Four LED lights under the roof provide adequate illumination of the interior of the body. The door contact switch for the interior lighting reacts without contact and can be combined with Krone Telematics.
Another highlight is the construction of the floor pan. The aluminium chafing angle is bonded to the side walls and welded to the one-piece floor panel to make it liquid-tight. The standard low-noise aluminium base is reported to meet the Piek guidelines. It also makes sense to use the stable aluminium spacer profiles, which protect the sensitive front wall and ensure optimum airflow through a large profile cross-section.
The air duct flexibly mounted on the ceiling distributes the cold air evenly in the trailer and is also suitable for use with double-deck loading.
An optional LED fuel gauge, according to Krone, provides information about the fuel level of the cooling unit. Galvanised tubular steel brackets are standard equipment to protect the sensitive cooling technology. Optionally available: ventilation flaps in front and rear wall. By using the ATP-certified Krone TR temperature recorder via telematics, the conventional temperature recorder on the front wall of the trailer becomes redundant. Carriers and dispatchers are able to send temperature records to their customers as PDF files via the Krone Telematics Portal – before the cargo arrives at the customer's premises. This also avoids unnecessary waiting times for the driver, since the document can already be checked before arrival. Krone Telematics together with the Krone temperature recorder thus serve as a multifunctional device. In addition to the familiar telematics data, the temperature data is also recorded and transmitted, which according to Krone, saves time and money.