The bunk that increases the hauliers’ profits. Aluminium instead of steel. More load, decreased environmental impact.
“An aluminium bunk weighs about 50 kilograms less than a steel one”, says Kjell Jonsson. “A haulier who drives eight runs a day with a ten-bunk trailer can increase his daily capacity by at least 4 tons. If the timber truck is on the road 250 days a year, then it is 1000 tons more. The increased payload gives more environmentally friendly transports and the pay-off time is shorter.”
Traditionally, timber bunks – the base and the stakes – used to be made of steel. The base is fastened to the frame of the truck and the trailer. The stakes hold the timber in place. A 24 metres long hauling train has from six to ten bunks, depending on the kind of timber that is transported.
“Of course, there was a certain resistance against aluminium in the beginning”, says Kjell Jonsson, the CEO of ExTe, a company of Färila, Sweden that has increased its sales from 20 to 120 million kronor in ten years. “Could the light-weight structures really manage to carry the heavy timber and to resist the impacts during loading and transport?” Kjell continues: “Sapa’s expertise in field of extrusion technology, welding and strength has a great value for us. Sapa prepares the prototypes. We test them in our testing stations at the factory and then in test vehicles for several years. Today our products are sold in about 30 countries.”
“With the S series stake we have gone one step further”, adds Kjell. “It is tapered, narrowing towards the top like a flagpole. This is an aerodynamic form that results in a reduced fuel consumption. The stake leaves more space for the timber at the top and also weighs less. This entails additional environmental profits.” The many years long co-operation with Sapa has been extended.
Today Sapa delivers a complete product, ready to be installed. The S series stakes are slotted. Both the stake and the base are welded and anodised.
(Advertisement of Sapa Profiler AB, 2006-2007)
Updated: 2007-11-26