It’s a great system by all accounts. The Penta system, which has been around for ten years, allows operators to open and close curtainsiders quickly and seamlessly without cumbersome buckles. But Erik Rogiers could see that improvements were possible.
“If an operator makes a delivery and takes out two or three pallets, they need to be strapped in again,” he said. “What we did was come up with tracking system for the floor and the roof, so goods will always be secure.”
The Penta Wave Pro and the Penta Wave Wall are the two new variants of the existing Penta Wave side sliding system. The Penta Wave Pro features steel hinges that form a continuous chain, ideal for securing cargo in the direction of travel. The steel hinges lie flat and serve as a guide when loading from the rear.
Meanwhile the Penta Wave Wall variant uses full aluminium panels connected with hinges. This system prevents cargo from getting between the stanchions and offers strong rearward cargo securing capabilities.
“These systems open like a curtain and slide like a curtain, but when closed, they hold the product like a closed van,” Rogiers said.
Because the Versus-Omega engineers are expanding and improving on a product that has already existed in the market for some time, the new systems have been well-received and sales are strong.
The company has had strong interest from Australian OEMs who are dealing with slightly stricter load security rules than other jurisdictions.
“They have and know the Penta system, but they have to strap their load each time they stop,” Rogiers said. “This is the solution they need.”
IAA Transportation 2024 in Hanover was where the two new systems were officially launched, with the Versus-Omega team on hand to demonstrate to attendees.
Another benefit to the new systems, Rogiers explained, is that all the parts are exactly the same as the original Penta. For trailer builders who use the original version, they already have the fundamentals and only need to choose the option they require.
“For them it is as simple as choosing A, B or C, similar to choosing a car with air conditioning or no air conditioning,” he said. “This makes things a lot easier for trailer builders.”
The beverage industry is the market where the Penta system is currently most popular, simply because drivers often need to make many stops, dropping small amounts, and the time spent unloading can add up.
Tyres are also another product that is helped by the system.
“Tyres are almost always in curtainsiders and they are loaded loose, not in boxes,” Rogiers said. “It can be very difficult to fix tyres in, but with this solution they can.”