Schmitz Cargobull expands into light commercial vehicles with V.KO DRY van bodies

Europe's biggest trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull is expanding its product offer to include bodies for light commercial vehicles for the first time as part of a new focus on 'last-mile' logistics.

The new V.KO DRY van bodies have been specifically designed to meet the challenges faced by suppliers and service providers from the booming online home delivery market, providing efficient urban goods transport with low maintenance requirements.

Alan Hunt, Managing Director, Schmitz Cargobull UK and Ireland, says: "We've got decades of experience in box body and dry freight trailers and we're a flexible business that pre-empts market changes. The growth in online shopping has turned our attention to last-mile logistics and we're keen that operators of light commercial vehicles can benefit from our trademark light and robust build quality that offers huge potential to reduce costs."

Schmitz Cargobull's V.KO DRY van bodies will be supplied as modular kits to European commercial vehicle OEMs, and can be built by two people within two hours. The box body kit consists of completely new custom-developed GRP sandwich panels with a PU foam core. At just 20mm thick, the panels are light yet robust, meeting the DIN EN 12642 Code XL standard for maximum load security.

A translucent roof and two-wing doors are included as standard, and optional extras such as access ladders are also available.

Loads can be secured using airline rails – built as standard at the factory. Custom load securing elements, such as lashing bars or combo-anchor rails, are also available. Load securing rails can be ordered in a height of 900 mm, or two rails in heights of 600 and 1,200 mm.

Additionally, operators will be able to call on the support of Schmitz Cargobull's pan-European support network of more than 1,300 service partners. The Schmitz Cargobull service network guarantees availability across Europe of original spare parts, complete spare part documentation and a complete aftersales programme.

V.KO DRY van bodies are expected to be available for the UK market during Q2 2017.