New approaches in intermodal transport

Current data underlines the fact that containers will also continue to play a key role in the global transport of goods in the future: 38 million containers are currently in circulation worldwide. 98 percent of all packaged goods arrive at or leave Germany’s largest sea port, Hamburg, by container. And the current RWI/ISL Container Handling Index (Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Shipping Economics and Logistics) peaked in October 2018 at 134.6 points. “In this current climate and in response to our customers’ wishes, we decided to re-introduce the container semi-trailer chassis into our product range,” explains Andreas Schmitz.

The demand for container chassis seriously declined during the economic and financial crisis of 2008/2009. Schmitz Cargobull ceased production due to substantial overcapacity in the market. “Demand has now recovered. We are seeing an annual market volume of between 9,000 and 12,000 vehicles per year,” says Sales Director Boris Billich.

“Schmitz Cargobull will offer three vehicles from the S.CF range: S.CF Gooseneck 45‘ Euro Light, S.CF Gooseneck 45‘ Euro and S.CF Gooseneck 40‘ LX. Our key markets are Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavia. However, the vehicles will be available everywhere. Sales, configuration and customer service will be fully handled by Schmitz Cargobull”, explains Boris Billich.

“Schmitz Cargobull will handle the research and development of the new container chassis. We have found a competent production partner in Koluman Otomotiv Endüstri and concluded a cooperation agreement with them,” reports Chairman Andreas Schmitz. The production volume is set to be 1,000 units per year by 2021.

Koluman Otomotiv Endüstri is also a partner of Daimler and has many years of experience in the production of commercial vehicles. “We regard our trust-based cooperation with Schmitz Cargobull very positively,” explains Kaan Saltik, Chairman of Koluman Otomotiv Endüstri. “Our common values and quality standards are an excellent prerequisite for an efficient partnership.”

Andreas Schmitz: “The production process will be fully configured to meet our standards to guarantee the quality customers have come to expect from us. Our customers will receive genuine Schmitz Cargobull vehicles.”