The transport and logistics company Klaus Baum, based in Eupen, Belgium, is phasing out 20 old semi-trailers and has ordered 25 new ultra-light SDS 390 RoadRunner Coil Ultra Light coil semi-trailers from Fliegl.
Klaus Baum Transporte’s fleet now comprises 55 articulated lorries and 10 jumbo trailer combinations. Fourteen Fliegl trailers have also been in service for around three years, including three-axle SDS 390 RoadRunner Ultralight Coil semi-trailers. Why Fliegl? “Above all, it was the really low unladen weight that won us over – on the one hand, of course, because of the payload, and on the other, because you have to move significantly less weight on empty runs,” explains Managing Director Andy Baum. The proximity to the long-standing Belgian Fliegl dealer, Sylvain Bonni of B-Trailers in Herstal, and his close collaboration with the Fliegl factory in Triptis were also factors in the decision to work together.
The low unladen weight, starting at 5,460 kilograms, is achieved in part by the frame made from special steel, which is manufactured using an ultra-lightweight construction method. The frame holes are first cut out using a laser and then deep-drawn, which ensures high stability whilst keeping the weight low. Over the years, Andy Baum had used semi-trailers from several competitors, including lightweight trailers from Austria, but he was not always convinced by their quality. “Then we tested the Fliegl semi-trailers and they made a good impression. So we ordered 25 of them straight away and are phasing out 20 semi-trailers from another manufacturer,” reports the managing director.
Klaus Baum Transporte transports a wide variety of goods and therefore requires vehicles that can be used flexibly. This is where the ultra-light coil semi-trailer comes in handy:
“We regularly transport steel coils, so we specifically use semi-trailers with coil troughs for this purpose. At the same time, we transport a wide range of other industrial goods, including sheet metal bundles, potting compost, bark mulch and chemical products. It is therefore important to us that our semi-trailers are versatile and can meet a wide variety of transport requirements.”
The 8,040-millimetre-long coil trough features 8 coil supports and various lashing eyes around the trough; the 30-millimetre-thick floor, made from screen-printed Finnish birch panels, is suitable for a forklift axle load of up to 5,600 kilograms.
Fliegl’s ‘Blitz’ canopy is fitted for rapid loading by crane; the roof opens in a flash, providing access to the loading area, and the canopy opens particularly smoothly and 390 millimetres further forward compared to semi-trailers from other manufacturers. Furthermore, it does not feature any plastic parts at all; instead, Fliegl relies on robust spring steel. Thanks to the robust ‘Roof non-elastic’ design, in which the roof strut – made from a high-quality aluminium alloy – does not flex, even lateral loading with tall goods is possible without any risk of collision.
At the rear, the patented I-Lock door latch is used; here, the latch’s hooks engage directly into a laser-cut opening in the frame, thereby eliminating the need for the usual counterpart and making damage completely impossible.
Another advantage is the 10-year warranty against frame rust-through offered by Fliegl. In addition, the corner stanchions are hot-dip galvanised and particularly durable, as are the air spring arms of the lift axle, which are situated at the lowest point and are constantly exposed to dirt and moisture. The new trailers will cover an average of around 120,000 kilometres per year for Klaus Baum Transporte, mainly in the Benelux countries and Germany.
