P&O Ferrymasters, the market leading supplier of freight management solutions, has upgraded its trailer fleet with the acquisition of nearly 500 new models from Schmitz Cargobull.
The order includes specially modified 'coilers', curtainsiders, reefers and Megas.
With the exception of the 'coilers,' which are made in Germany, all of the trailers will be built at Schmitz Cargobull's UK manufacturing facility at Harelaw, just outside Newcastle upon Tyne.
Andrew Morley, Schmitz Cargobull UK Ltd's sales and marketing director, commented: "We have worked with P&O Ferrymasters for a number of years now and are delighted to have secured this order for such a broad variety of products."
The Germany-built 'coilers' are capable of carrying up to 27 tonnes of steel safely and securely. A 'well' runs the length of the trailer's floor to hold the steel coil firmly in place and rubber matting within the 'well' helps prevent movement during transportation. When products other than rolls of steel are to be carried, an easily-fitted and removed steel plate covers the 'well.'
The new additions to P&O's curtainsider fleet will operate out of the company's various United Kingdom and Ireland sites, while the new Megas and reefers will be mainly deployed in Benelux, the UK and France.
Charles Galbraith, P&O Ferrymasters' Fleet Engineer Director, commented: "We have used Schmitz Cargobull products for some years and have always been impressed with the build quality of the trailers. The company also offers a good deal of advice when it comes to specifying the most appropriate product for the job – and were particularly helpful when it came to the specification of our 'coilers'".
www.cargobull.com
About Schmitz Cargobull
Schmitz Cargobull (UK) Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the German-owned Schmitz Group, the biggest manufacturer and supplier of semi-trailers in Europe. The Group produced some 50,000 units during the 2006/7 business year at manufacturing plants in Germany, Spain, Lithuania and Great Britain. This figure is forecast to rise to 100,000 units by 2010. The UK factory is situated at Harelaw, County Durham and employs over 350 personnel involved in the design, manufacture and sales of refrigerated, dry freight and curtain-sided semi-trailers specifically for the UK and Eire markets.