Norfolkline operates logistics services from locations across Europe, providing ambient and refrigerated transportation of packed goods by road, rail, and sea to a wide variety of clients.

To keep pace with growth within the chilled and frozen distribution side of its business, the company is currently expanding its refrigerated trailer fleet and, as part of this process, has recently taken delivery of a number of new trailers and placed additional orders for extra vehicles with Schmitz Cargobull.

The trailers will work out of Norfolkline's Belfast facility and will be used to service several large food retail customers on routes throughout the UK and Ireland.



With environmental concerns a key consideration for Norfolkline and its clients, the company approached Schmitz Cargobull to produce a trailer that could increase load capacity and reduce environmental impact.

"We wanted a trailer that would enable us to enhance our service to our customers and make a positive contribution towards road congestion and the environment," explains Mervyn McIntyre, Equipment Manager, Norfolkline.

By increasing the trailer's height to 4.65 metres (with an interior floor to roof height of 3.3 metres) and incorporating a double deck storage system, Schmitz Cargobull has allowed Norfolkline to carry a higher volume of palletized loads within the same overall vehicle footprint. As a result, Norfolkline has been able to reduce the number of journeys that it makes while still providing the highest levels of service to its customers.

The trailers - which feature the latest Thermoking SLX fridge unit - have been built at Schmitz Cargobull's UK production facility at Harelaw, close to Newle upon Tyne using Schmitz Cargobull's pioneering and patented bolted and galvanized production technique. The bolting process removes the need for any welding and, therefore, results in consistently high product quality and greater production flexibility. The galvanizing operation, meanwhile, ensures that there is no corrosion within the joint when two parts of the trailer are brought together.

The refrigerated trailer box units themselves are constructed using Schmitz Cargobull's Ferroplast modular steel-skinned panels to keep loads at the desired temperature. The easy to clean box unit makes the trailer particularly suited for the transport of foodstuffs.

99 per cent of the materials used in the production process is recyclable - another important environmental consideration which influenced Norfolkline's purchase decision.

"The new trailers will make an important contribution to the greening of our clients' supply chains," says Mervyn McIntyre.

Norfolkline has specified Schmitz Carobull products for several years. "We have always been impressed with the build quality and after-sales support the company offers," explains Mervyn. "Furthermore, because we are a pan-European logistics services provider, we feel comfortable dealing with a partner that can support our assets throughout Europe," he adds.

Editor's notes: About Schmitz Cargobull
Schmitz Cargobull (UK) is a subsidiary company of the German-owned Schmitz Cargobull Group, the biggest and leading manufacturer and supplier of semi-trailers in Europe. The Group has manufacturing plants in Germany, Spain, Lithuania and Great Britain. The UK factory is situated at Harelaw, County Durham, where refrigerated, dry freight and curtain-sided semi-trailers are developed and produced. A number of additional services complete the company profile: Cargobull Finance for leasing and lease purchasing; Cargobull Parts & Services for vehicle servicing and spare parts; Cargobull Service Partners for repairs and maintenance; Cargobull Telematics for trailer telematics and Cargobull Trailer Store for used trailers. Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated units are constructed using the company's FERROPLAST® Thermo Technology modular steel-skinned panels to keep loads at the desired temperature.
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