Between 12-13 June, Schmitz Cargobull AG hosted members of the press at its trailer factory in Vreden, located just on the border with the Netherlands. The ostensible reason for our visit was to receive a sneak preview of the company’s newest transport refrigeration product, which will be unveiled at the next IAA Transportation in Hanover: in fact, we learned much more about the company’s plans to expand and modernise its trailer factory, where it produces the ‘S.KO’ refrigerated models and the ‘S.BO’ dry freight range.

The new plant is located next to the Utility Trailer Southeast Texas dealer location and will be operated by ‘Cargobull North America’, the joint venture established by the two companies last year.

Although it is integrating aspects of the two data platforms, Schmitz says AGS will continue to operate independently on the cold chain telematics market.

These 'S.KO COOL' reefers are installed with Schmitz’s ‘S.CU d80’ transport refrigeration units as well as its ‘TrailerConnect’ telematics hardware.

Dr Schweitzer has held the role since 1 September 2021.

The deal follows on from a framework agreement signed last year, allowing for data transfer between TrailerConnect and TIP’s fleet management platform (‘TIP Insight’).

The German trailer manufacturer established two new subsidiaries in Georgia and Kazakhstan, with the aim of strengthening its presence in West and Central Asian markets.

Following approval of the transaction by competition authorities, Berger will benefit from access to the Schmitz distribution network and associated services, including connectivity through the ‘TrailerConnect’ platform.

The German trailer manufacturer's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were positive, standing at EUR108.5m – whereas the company reported a loss of EUR15m the year before.

At the ‘Distribution Solutions 2023’ conference organised by the International Foodservice Distributors Association in Fort Worth, Texas between 11-13 September, Utility Trailer presented two trailers – the ‘625 Hybrid’ and ‘655 MultiTemp Hybrid’ – fitted with Schmitz S.CU transport refrigeration units.

Traton brands will be enabled to import trailer data to the Rio portal, and truck data will also be imported to Schmitz’s ‘TrailerConnect’ platform.

The new rounded steel body of the S.KI, which has a loading volume of 24 cubic metres and is lighter by up to 180 kg than before, is reportedly more rigid and easier to handle, thanks to redesigned cross-section and upper lips and a lower centre of gravity.