BOXmover technology in use for combined cargo transport
Since the combined transport can only work across the board, all participants must see their advantage and existing systems must be open to all participants. Only through an “open source” rail technology, which is based exclusively on the established standards (ISO container DIN 688 / roll-off container EN 20722 / WAB – loading units EN 284) as a benchmark, KLV traffic can be used in an economical system across the board.
Similar to the trend for special truck vehicles, as we can see at our partner company Scheuwimmer Fahrzeugbau GmbH from Naarn, we also see the trend in the railway sector to separate body and chassis. The current developments in the railroad sector are viewed critically, however, because in the end “only” existing special wagons are replaced by modular wagons, which on the one hand are not roadworthy without a body, and on the other hand are not suitable for road traffic due to their cubature. The market potential that can be generated for rail operations ultimately remains the same, adjusted for the changed profitability calculation.
For several years, BOXmover GmbH has been developing efficient solutions that are suitable for both trains and trucks in order to offer ideal conditions in both “worlds”. The BOXmover technology is seen as “open source” technology to connect these worlds.
The following theses can be made based on the market potential:
A.) Companies that have rail connections for production and customers already rely on rail transport. Companies that only have a rail connection with the sender or only with the recipient are the logical extension. This requires loading units that are suitable for both road and train use in order to be able to operate the pre- and post-run.
B.) The train must be an alternative to the road, not the “last option”. Companies design your equipment for optimal road transport. The task of the railways is to generate a competitive advantage with the same equipment. This happens through effective handling and by bundling the transport flows. To do this, loads of different customers have to be transported on one train. This only happens if you offer “Open Source” technology to ALL loading units.
C.) The classic bulk goods of the railway are raw materials / building materials or goods which are not divided into smaller standardized packaging units. Agricultural and mining products play an important role in this. The task here is the effective handling of the loading unit. Railway operations are characterized by the fact that one loading unit is positioned behind the other. Effective handling can only take place through a quasi self-discharge. In order to be compatible with other loading units – outside of classic rail operations – the loading unit must be suitable for both rail and truck and optimized.
D.) To be able to minimize empty runs on the train, – in the case of special wagons – the same kind of goods must be transported in one direction and in the other. (In practice, however, this is unrealistic.) Rather, similar to truck transport, an attempt must be made to design the loading units in such a way that cargo A can be transported on one transport route and cargo B on the way back – equally optimally . The key to success lies in the reduction to standardized loading units and the corresponding technical know-how to find intelligent solutions.
E.) Liquids in 7.82m SWAP – BODY containers are widely used in the chemical and food industries. These loading units can currently only be handled using a portal crane or reach connector. A small adapter on a standard BOXmover side loader can manipulate these loading units as well.
F.) Flat containers with a length of up to 7.82m, as e.g. used for precast concrete parts can also be manipulated with a BOXmover side loader and a special adapter. Until now, these loading units could only be manipulated using the gripping edges of portal cranes or reach plugs.
G.) The weight distribution is also – at 20ft / 7.45m / 7.82m ideal for rail operations or truck transport. On the road you have a maximum payload of 32 tons on the loading unit, for a SGNS 60 ″ wagon it is 70 tons for route class A or 60 tons for route class B for two loading units. The 20ft / 7.45m / 7.82m loading units are designed so that they can be transported empty or filled with light materials, even with two loading units on the truck. This reduces the handling for the empty loading units by half.
H.) In addition to the BOXmover side loader, we have developed, produced and tested a BOXmover tipping container and a BOXmover intermediate load carrier on a rail wagon specifically for all bulk goods but also all other products mentioned. Of course, we also offer the correspondingly adapted street equipment, such as container chassis, swap bodies and roll-off containers. Our customers of Scheuwimmer Fahrzeugbau GmbH are increasingly asking for the option of roll-off containers with additional functions. We already offer ISO compatibility as standard.
I.) The BULK and ROCK containers specially developed for the construction and mining sector are “half pipe containers” with a maximum permissible total weight of 38 tons. All container properties can be combined with each other, so that you can choose from three sizes (15/20 and 25m³ loading volume), from different flap openings (hydraulic or manual) and from different versions (with bottom flap and / or hinged rear construction). The container width is either 2,550mm (European swap body) or 2,438mm (ISO container). With the ISO width, a removable – dustproof cover is possible.
All of these developments together would be an ideal overall concept for getting more substrate on the railroad in the long term without being in direct competition with existing rail transports.
BOXmover GmbH assume the following premises:
♦ Combined cargo traffic can only work if the
loading units are optimized for both rail and truck transport. Here, three types are discussed, the ISO container, the swap body and the roll container.
The necessary art is to bring these three types together so that all three types can be manipulated on the same wagon and with the same handling equipment. BOXmover GmbH offers the right solution for this.
♦ Existing structures are increasingly used. Terminals can serve as empty container depots and main handling account points, the sidings as decentralized handling hubs. It must be irrelevant for the loading unit whether the transshipment takes place with a container crane, with a reach stacker or with a side loader. Depending on the traffic volume, you will choose the right equipment. Regional logistics providers and the “reason” of the shippers should be increasingly used for pre-and post-carriage, as well as for the provision of loading units. In the medium term, the loading company should also be the owner of the loading unit. Then the company can freely choose the mode of transport (truck / train or other). This increases the quality and strengths of the established rail operators – not least because of the environmental considerations.
♦ All other solutions that require a special type of loading unit and / or an adaptation of the wagons are counterproductive for a nationwide implementation, since one cannot assume that a dominant position in the entire transport industry (train & truck) would be sustainable.
♦ Only standardized container wagons (SGNS 60 ″) or similar are used on the railway side. In principle, all container wagons are suitable without any modification. Even with different handling equipment, a continuous transport chain must also be guaranteed to third party equipment.
♦ The BOXmover tipping container complies with the ISO standard and is designed for bulk goods of up to 36 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Due to its corner construction, the container differs significantly from all other containers on the market and thus enables a modular, flexible design. Regardless of whether the container is equipped with double wing doors, a rolling device or a folding door. The container is screwed together from modules and thus guarantees cost-effective production and easy repair if damaged. The side walls can be opened and can thus also be used for loading on the train side (not only on a ramp or on the floor). The container has the same load securing measures as are known from the truck sector, because the innovative corner construction of the BOXmover tipping container allows the gaps to be designed more freely. All longer loading units (over 20ft ISO size) up to 7.82m total length also have an ACTS rolling system as standard in the BOXmover tipping container.
♦ ATCS systems are used especially in the agricultural, mining, but also in the waste disposal industry and in the regional distribution of goods. Swap bodies are used for finished products and pallet goods. With minor adaptations (especially the conversion to ISO corner fittings), an ATCS unit, which is very widespread in agriculture, becomes railway equipment suitable for rail.
In classic chassis construction, BOXmover also offers significant solutions through “production-oriented design”:
- 20ft – tilting chassis in rigid or sliding cylinder design to be suitable for side loader envelopes.
- 20ft – (7.45m & 7.82m) – heavy duty chassis.
- 45/40/30 / 2x20ft fixed or telescopic container chassis. (Also with the newly developed front locking system, which enables high cube container handling with a side loader – also from the competitor.)
- Sled trailer for ACTS roll-off containers.
With the developments of BOXmover GmbH, but also through the experience in special vehicle construction at Scheuwimmer Fahrzeugbau GmbH, BOXmover GmbH offers the possibility of “open source” combined cargo traffic. The established rail transport companies benefit from their nationwide presence in the home market and the opportunity to cooperate with other logistics providers, EVUs or carriers at home and abroad.
Imagine a single wagon or group of wagons in which it is insignificant where and how the SGNS 60 ″ container wagon was loaded and by which railway company, because everyone can unload it anywhere. Either with a gantry crane, reach stacker or side loader.
Be innovative too and become an independent BOXmover with the technologies of BOXmover GmbH!