In the future, the former Van Hool facility will produce stainless steel tankers, whereas GRW will produce aluminium products at its own facilities, said GRW CEO Gerhard van der Merwe.

Production of Van Hool semi-trailers – which include tankers, container chassis, and flatbeds as well as conventional box and curtainsided trailers – resumed on 29 April following the intervention of GRW, together with VDL Groep, to take over the company.

No further details have been announced, except that the two partners will initially keep between 650 and 950 Van Hool workers in employment.

The South African manufacturer has begun production of silo and tank trailers at the facility in Germany, where Schmitz Cargobull builds motor vehicle superstructures.