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Tilburg-based Kuijpers Group recently purchased 35 Pacton tri-axle Flex-XL container trailer chassis. These chassis are highly versatile and multifunctional thanks to the mechanic extending frame. The chassis will be delivered in phases. Kuijpers Group Operations Director Ron de Dreu: "Kuijpers Group and Pacton are both traditional family businesses. As a result, the process, communication and delivery were all just as pleasant as I had expected. Both our companies care deeply about flexibility and short lines of communication.”
The Flex-XL is just one of the trailers in Pacton's successful Container X-press range. Thanks to the diligent design and the use of high-quality steels, the trailer has maximum stability and a low empty weight. The Flex-XL is highly versatile and can be used to transport containers of all sizes with optimal axle load distribution. The Flex-XL comes with extensive options, which means the trailers can also be equipped to transport tankers, 45-foot containers and reefer containers (with a generator set). With all these options to choose from, customers can always put together their own bespoke Flex-XL chassis.
Extending head
The chassis for Kuijpers Group have an extended length of 13.9 meters and a retracted length of 9.3 meters. With a tongue weight of 16 tonnes and the 27-tonne gross axle weight of all three axles, the rated gross vehicle weight comes to an impressive 43 tonnes.
The chassis behind the gooseneck consists of a three-part telescopic central main cylinder, which is welded to the various twistlock arms. Thanks to the twistlock connectors and extendable design, the trailers can be used to transport containers of all sizes. The chassis can be extended at the head, wheelbase and behind the axle assembly, made possible by simple, mechanical controls. 20-foot containers can be mounted short or centrally, but the trailers can also accommodate two 20-foot containers, a single 30-foot container, or a 40-foot container with tunnel. The Flex-XL chassis delivered to Kuijpers Group are even compatible with 45-foot containers. For transporting 45-foot containers with euro corner castings or 13.6-meter swap containers, the extendable front is equipped with removable positioning aids.
Rich in features
The maintenance-free mechanical landing gear from Jost Modul has a capacity of 2x 12,000 kg, with two speeds and slide-tilt feet. The BPW air suspension consists of three rigid low-maintenance axles with drum brakes, with a technical load capacity 9,000 kg per axle, with a raise/lower valve, left in front of the axle assembly.
The front axle is equipped with a manually operated axle lift. The six steel rims - 22.5 x 11.75 - come with black, semi-circular plastic mudguards, with anti-spray mud flaps behind the first axle. The axle assembly is also equipped with side shielding.
The container chassis feature lighting all around, with 2 Aspöck Europoint III multi-chamber rear lights with integrated triangle reflectors, 2x3 yellow LED side lights, 2 lights on rubber bases at the rear, 2 white LED wide-beam lights at the front, 2 license plate lights and 2 work lamps at the rear.
1,000 Rental vehicles
Kuijpers Trading purchases and sells commercial vehicles, while Kuijpers Rental offers its customers maximum fleet flexibility. Finally, Kuijpers Repair is a universal partner for fleet repair and maintenance. The group has access to its own garages at its Tilburg and Rotterdam branches, which employ 20 specialists who also provide fleet maintenance services for third parties. In total, Kuijpers Group employs 35 people, spread across the three specialisations. Anywhere from 800 to 1,000 vehicles pass through the Trading unit every year, most of which are used vehicles in excellent condition.
Kuijpers Repair was founded in 1998, followed by Trading in 2010 and Rental in 2011. In 2020, Kuijpers Rental opened a regional rental hub in Aalsmeer.
The Rental division provides customers throughout the Benelux area with flexible equipment rental services, one-day rentals to 36-month full-service leases and from luxury passenger cars to heavy trucks and trailers of all kinds.
In total, Kuijpers Group's rental fleet consists of some 1,000 vehicles, with 650 trailers, including container chassis, refrigerated trailers, curtainsiders and flatbeds. The Group also has a wide range of rental trucks, box vans and delivery vans. Kuijpers is committed to providing the most efficient support possible. Thanks to its own workshop and trained eye for purchasing vehicles and equipment, Kuijpers Rental can offer barely used, high-quality equipment at a competitive rate.
Versatile rental vehicles
The new Pacton container chassis will largely serve to expand Kuijpers’ fleet, while some old chassis will be replaced. The new chassis will be seamlessly integrated into the current rental fleet of about 200 container chassis. It is important for rental chassis to be as versatile and multi-functional as possible, while also being robust, long-lasting, and low-maintenance. As many as 25 of the new Pacton chassis were immediately contracted to a loyal Kuijpers customer, the lucky beneficiary of Pacton’s brand-new bespoke solutions. Ron de Dreu expects that this initial order will spark a lasting relationship with Pacton: “I had already worked with Pacton in the past, but this was the first time for Kuijpers Group. It is a wonderfully robust, bespoke, Dutch-made product that oozes quality.”