Saving fuel and thus reducing CO2 emissions is not only good for the environment, but also for a company's profitability. A company from Münsterland has developed a truck trailer with an aerodynamic rear end that makes just that possible.
Find out more about the innovation from Münsterland on this page.
Schmitz Cargobull AG from Altenberge is Europe's leading manufacturer of semi-trailers, trailers and motor vehicle bodies for temperature-controlled freight, general cargo and bulk goods, with an annual production of around 61,000 trailers and around 6,900 employees. From the Münsterland region, the company developed a comprehensive brand strategy at an early stage and consistently set quality standards at all levels: from research and development, production and service contracts to trailer telematics, financing, spare parts supply and used vehicle trading.
The logistics sector is booming, with more trucks on Germany's roads every year. In 2018 alone, more than 250 million load journeys took place in Germany with large trucks and tractor-trailers. With several billion kilometres travelled per year, trucks thus account for a large share ofCO2 emissions in the transport sector. It is therefore all the more important that large trucks save diesel and thusCO2. The Münsterland-based company Schmitz Cargobull, manufacturer of semi-trailers and trailers, has therefore been looking for ways to make this possible. Schmitz Cargobull's goal: to offer customers a flexible vehicle solution that can be easily adapted to the required load volume.
The special feature of the newly developed EcoGeneration is its aerodynamic design. The roof of the trailer slopes down towards the rear. This reduces air turbulence and air resistance. The highlight is a height-adjustable rear end. The driver can raise or lower the rear within ten minutes with a lift system, without any additional tools.
With the EcoGeneration trailers, logistics companies can save fuel and reduceCO2 accordingly, while retaining the same utility of the trailer. The system can be combined with other fuel-saving, aerodynamic measures such as spoilers.
The feedback from pilot customers has been positive. One haulage company tested the trailer for three months and even noted a fuel saving of around eleven percent for journeys with the rear lowered. In addition, the professional drivers report that the aerodynamic trailer is safer and more pleasant to drive. The haulage companies can thus work more economically in a competitive market. Saving fuel and thusCO2 is worthwhile both for the hauliers and their customers - and for the environment.
As a regional joint initiative, Enabling Networks Münsterland supports companies and universities in the Münsterland region in developing innovations, implementing them and finding the right partners for the project. In order to show how innovative and at the same time cooperative Münsterland already is, the project also went in search of innovative cooperation projects from the region. The results are presented on this page. The Enabling Networks Münsterland project is funded by the European Union and the NRW Ministry of Economics as part of the ERDF call "Regio.NRW".
