IRTE Events

Schmitz Cargobull Trailers

Delegates heard from Schmitz Cargobull managing director Paul Avery, who delivered an excellent presentation on the company, which included its fascinating history, international growth and major product developments.

The firm was established in 1892 in Alternberg, Germany, and first began producing semi-trailers in 1935, before expansion in 1969 led them to build a plant in Vreden, Germany.

Its UK story began in 1991, with the takeover of the York trailer facility at Harelow. Production peaked in 2007, when the company produced some 60,000 trailers, but with the onset of the global economic downturn, production fell to under 13,000 in 2010. Since then, having implemented some difficult restructuring decisions, production is steadily growing again - with predicted annual trailer build to be around 60,000 units again within the next few years.

With a renewed focus on sales and service, Schmitz Cargobull trailers are now produced in Spain, Germany and Lithuania, and its product range includes refrigerated freight, dry freight and tippers, along with many general cargo trailers.

To conclude, Avery detailed recent improvements to the range, which incorporates lighter and more fuel efficient products, such as improved curtain sides, which do not require many fasteners (thus saving loading time).