In Europe, side curtain trailers are extremely popular and are the main equipment for efficient logistics transportation. In recent years, numerous domestic trailer factories have turned their eyes to the side curtain trailer and tried to promote the corresponding products, but they have not been widely used. So, why is the side curtain trailer "not acceded to the soil" in the domestic market?
What is a side curtain trailer? What are the advantages?
In the 1950s and 1960s of last century, hurdle board and grille trailers were the mainstream products in the European transportation market, and then in the 1970s and 1980s, canvas began to be covered on the hurdle board and grille trailers to transport goods. In the 1990s, side curtain semi-trailers began to be gradually popular.
Side curtain trailer, also known as soft curtain trailer, on the shape structure and ordinary van trailer are similar, but around the enclosure material and internal structure, its sides are mostly USES a soft tarpaulin flexible material, such as above with guide below with locking equipment, can push the side flaps to cargo at any position, meaning that all sides can open. The top is also a "bar + tarp" style, which can also be completely opened.
On the inside of the tarpaulin, mobile columns and crossbars are arranged, which can be moved back and forth and up and down at will. When moved to a suitable position, it can be locked and fixed, similar to the function of the skeleton. If the tarpaulin on both sides is removed, it looks like a barrel-type trailer. In order to reduce the weight of the vehicle, the common beam material is normally wood or aluminum alloy material.
Why can the side-curtain trailer become the main force of freight transport in Europe? What are the advantages?
1, light weight. The side curtain trailer uses curtain cloth instead of other trailer box material, coupled with the internal structure is mostly aluminum alloy material, at the same time the application of air suspension technology, weight is lighter, compared with ordinary grille or van trailer, can be 3-4 tons lighter.
2, easy loading and unloading, superior efficiency. Because the top of the side curtain trailer and the curtains on both sides can be fully opened, multiple forklifts operate at the same time, and the loading and unloading efficiency is higher. In addition, it adopts the standard pallet transportation, which can maximize the use of space, and the distribution of goods is also more reasonable, which can average the load to each axle and reduce the excessive wear of a part of the chassis.
Why is it restricted in China? The result of multiple causes
See here, you may have such a question, since the side curtain trailer has so many advantages, why not fire in the domestic? Numerous Semi Trailer Manufacturers have predicted that "with the development of standardized and efficient logistics, side-curtain trailers may become the mainstream in the future".
In fact, whether foreign well-known enterprise schmitz, crow, or domestic cimc, music, etc., have been in the domestic market shows his side curtain products, and with technological development, the domestic side curtain car market development is more mature, both columns, shade cloth, sliding locking device, etc., has a perfect mature supply chain.
Technically speaking, there is no problem with the technical reserve of the side curtain trailer in China, but why is the side curtain trailer still "acclimatised" in the domestic market after several attempts? But also from the following aspects of reason analysis.
1. Limited application scenarios. The domestic and foreign transportation environment is different. European transport has formed a standardized and palletized transport mode, and the efficiency of forklift transport and loading is relatively high. However, the proportion of pallet transport in the domestic transport market is extremely low, and pallet standards are not unified, so the side-curtain trailer cannot give full play to its advantages.
2. Excessive use cost. The inner track of side curtain trailer is more precise, once there is collision damage, the maintenance cost is relatively steep. In addition, the side curtain trailer is aimed at efficient logistics, so the chassis configuration is relatively steep, such as air bag suspension, hollow frame, etc., the overall price may be more costly than the ordinary trailer.
3. Some card friends have doubts about its support. Although there are columns and horizontal columns on the side of the side curtain trailer to fix, numerous card friends doubt that its strength can not be comparable to the bar type and van trailer, especially when there are accidents such as sharp turns on the road, whether the side curtain can bear the impact is still unknown. Similarly, whether the quality of the curtain can withstand the wind and sun, all kinds of rubbing, is also the card friends hesitate.
● Editor's Note:
Undeniably, the advantages of side curtain trailer are extremely prominent, and this is the reason why it can be the main force of logistics transportation in Europe. However, it is difficult to popularize in China, not because the product is not excellent enough, but because it is not suitable. As we all understand, domestic road transportation is still in the development stage of low cost and low efficiency, and there is no power or financial support for equipment upgrading. Possibly in the future, when logistics transportation is more standardized and efficient, side-curtain trailer can also usher in the spring in China.