Fliegl proves time and again that individual equipment and series production are not mutually exclusive. The example of L.I.T AG from Brake now shows how many years of trusting cooperation can lead to large orders.
For more than 30 years, L.I.T AG has been a major player in the logistics business. At 66 locations in 14 countries, 3000 employees ensure smooth transport operations. With 1100 trucks, 3000 swap bodies and around 1000 of its own trailers, the company is on the road throughout Europe. In the course of the Gigaliner introduction about five years ago, L.I.T became aware of Fliegl because the dollies for the long train were built in Triptis. What began with small orders developed over the years into a trusting cooperation that even led to joint optimization of the trailers.
Arwed Butterweck is head of the L.I.T branch in Baunatal, he knows which vehicles are needed in the fleet, he initiates orders for dozens or even hundreds of new trailers. His colleague Sebastian Dreblow in Brake is responsible for trailer management and is the one who, as a master automotive technician, criticizes when the material is not right. "The other manufacturers build off the shelf and don't move when you have special requests. Especially in mass production, it's difficult to change processes or adapt a product," says Butterweck. But that's exactly what is needed, because every customer has special requirements for the vehicle. It's fitting that Helmut Fliegl has earned a reputation for responding individually to customer requirements. The boss is a tinkerer, always looking for a solution, for clever details that make his trailers better. Quite a few innovations are first seen at Fliegl, then at trade fairs and a little later at the competition, says Butterweck.
Butterweck and Dreblow know their fleets, their customers, and their respective loading situations. "Details were important to us, so we sat down with Helmut Fliegl and his designers and very specifically planned our dream trailer," Dreblow reports. For example, L.I.T made the experience that damage to the front of the trailer often occurs during RoRo loading in the port on England transports. The solution: an additional sliding plate now protects against collision damage, and the supply connections are now also protected by a plate. Reinforcements on the outer frame and welded pallet stops also provide protection and stability. "The I-Lock door latch is also a super feature, as is the sturdy roof bar. With some other manufacturers, the roof first bends 10 centimeters when the stanchions are out; with Fliegl, nothing moves," Butterweck says. The lightning canopy also works "tiptop," but there was room for improvement in one area: "We had the tarpaulin opening at the lower front changed so that no wind can blow in."
"Most of the managing directors wear suits. Helmut Fliegl is always out in production and still gets his hands dirty. That doesn't happen very often anymore," Butterweck says appreciatively. Short official channels, a good team that builds good products, delivers reliably and quickly - even in the current tight material and personnel situation. All this results in regular orders and large quantities: More than 150 trailers from Triptis are now in use for L.I.T and its subsidiaries, including 8 dump bodies, 15 container chassis and 30 ADR chassis. This was recently followed by a major order for 100 curtainsider semitrailers of the SDS 390 MegaRunner type with the aforementioned equipment and optimizations.
