Kässbohrer Developments in Sustainbility of General Cargo and Cold Chain Transportation

10 January 2024

Leading semi-trailer manufacturer Kässbohrer highlights ‘together to the next 125 years’, underlining the importance of a wide ecosystem of innovation and partnerships to advance the trailer industry towards sustainability. 

During 2023, Kässbohrer contributed to the advancement of sustainability in general cargo and cold chain transport with developments in longer heavier vehicles and electrification. 

Unique in its competence in manufacturing to meet the needs of all sectors of logistics, Kässbohrer is competent to meet all its customers’ unique transition needs to more sustainable transport. Leading the intermodal sector with its award winning unrivalled range, Kässbohrer’ longer heavier vehicles SEC ( Super eco combi) and Intermodal combinations are on road since November 2022. Kässbohrer’s E-Reefer is a step towards advancing sustainability in cold chain transportation realized in partnership with BPW and Thermoking is launched in 2023. Kässbohrer is actively working with its stakeholders advancing electrification of trailers in scope of traction support for trucks. 

Kässbohrer’s SEC developments includes theMega Curtainsider Long Heavy Vehicle Combination with CodeXLS K.SCS M DE and DOL XS 18. Kässbohrer has applied the dynamic wheelbase application to the 32.5 m combination to allow for the vehicle to turn safely in exiting infrastructure. Kässbohrer Super Eco Combi aims at less CO2 emissions and for more sustainability in general cargo sector. The combination has been successfully tested in Netherlands through out 2023 with findings to be discussed to inform policy. 

Kässbohrer offers longer heavier container chassis vehicles in Finland. Kässbohrer’s robust Lightweight Container Chassis K.SHG L with higher payload capacity enabling lower fuel consumption with a light chassis design is combined via dolly reaching A- double combination. Kässbohrer engineered the chassis to be easily maneuvered on existing roads, the finest example of design and engineering excellence. 

To support the lower carbon transition of Cold Chain sector Kässbohrer electrified its reefer K.SRI with BPW e-power axle in combination with Thermoking refrigeration unit. K.SRI F already presents many features for operational efficiency and carbon savings with its multi-temperature transport enabling partition wall and double deck option for 66 euro pallet capacity is augmented with electrification. 

The axles on the vehicle, the BPW module, generate energy from the rotational motion of the wheel, similar to a dynamo, and store it in a battery for demand-driven power supply of the refrigeration unit, working flawlessly with Thermoking cooling unit. Combination of Kässbohrer reefer’s top performing insulation already lowering fuel consumption and BPW-Thermoking system presents the most optimized option in the market. 

The E-reefer reduces carbon footprint by saving on fuel and enables reduction on maintenance costs, contributing to efficiency and sustainability of operations. 

Formally announced during Nufam Fair 2023 in Karlsruhe, Kässbohrer continues to advance electrification of trailers with its stakeholder ZF. With the aim of developing traction support for the trucks for fuel savings as well as range extension on electrifed trucks, Kässbohrer commits to invest its proven innovation capability, engineering competence to advance the technical integration challenges of the new system safely and efficiently. 

Together to the next 125years, Kässbohrer advanced trailer technology to take its customers business to the next level while addressing industry’s urgent challenges.