25 more efficiency

January 2019 – Schmitz Cargobull is the first trailer manufacturer in Europe to produce single-piece FERROPLAST side walls for refrigerated box bodies with a total length of 16.80 metres. The full-length side walls are produced at Schmitz Cargobull’s Lithuanian plant in Panevezys. In January 2019, Boris Billich, Sales Director Schmitz Cargobull, presented the first box semi-trailer to the Russian company X5 Retail Group N.V.

“25% more length means 25% more pallets, 25% fewer runs, lower fuel consumption and, thus, lower CO2 emissions – meaning significantly more efficiency in the day-to-day transport business,” states Boris Billich. “With the new manufacturing process, we offer customers real added value”.

With the new foaming line at the Lithuanian plant, the side walls can now be manufactured in one single piece for the full length. Customers benefit from the increased strength of the refrigerated box body, as well as optimised insulation. Space for 41 pallets provides a large transport volume while simultaneously reducing the number of transport runs. In addition, the body can also be mounted on a short chassis. This reduces the unladen weight and increases the payload.


To address the diverse legal requirements, Schmitz Cargobull is constantly developing country-specific solutions. As part of its project business, Schmitz Cargobull has long supplied markets such as Russia and South Africa, where total lengths of up to 20 metres are permissible, with refrigerated box trailers offered in custom lengths up to 16.80 metres. Until now, the sidewalls of these “extra-long” trailers were manufactured by combining several FERROPLAST panels. Schmitz Cargobull once again sets the standard for market-oriented customer solutions with this new production process.

“With the new 16.8 metre semi-trailer, we want to introduce a new transport format between the individual distribution centres and establish this within the group’s overall logistics process”, explains Kirill Kuzmenko, Director of Transport at the X5 Retail Group.

The X5 Retail Group N.V is a leading Russian food retailer and is regarded as one of the pioneers in the logistics and distribution sector. Schmitz Cargobull and the X5 Group share a 13-year partnership. During this time, the X5 Group has purchased around 1,200 refrigerated vehicles from Schmitz Cargobull.