A trailer that is stronger, yet lighter?
Hapert Trailers, the innovative trailer manufacturer by origin, is once again the first in the market to introduce a new innovation.
Hapert presents the composite trailer floor
At Hapert Trailers, innovation is a continuous process. We are happy to take you along in that journey. We already showed this composite trailer floor to you in March 2022 at De Groene Sector Vakbeurs in Hardenberg. Now that this floor has become reality, it is something we at Hapert Trailers can only be proud of.
Because sustainability is one of Hapert’s core values, we are exploring the possibility of replacing wooden floors with composite in the long term. For now, Hapert offers the composite trailer floor as an option. Wood is a beautiful material, but it is also very heavy. Composite is half the weight, lasts longer, is more sustainable and is easy to recycle.
The composite trailer floor is produced locally, can be recycled endlessly and has resulted in a significant weight saving for the trailer. In addition, a composite floor lasts much longer than a wooden floor. Calculated over the total service life, and in addition to all the benefits mentioned earlier, the composite floor is also the most cost-effective option.
There are also several simple repair options for the composite trailer floor. But when the floor eventually reaches the end of its life cycle, the composite floor can be fully processed and reused for various applications. Hapert proactively invests in the sustainability and circularity of its products and processes, and this is another valuable contribution to that ambition.
What is composite?
Composite is a sustainable, high-quality combination of materials. Composite is so strong and lightweight that it can replace common materials such as wood and/or metal. The new floor consists of thermoplastic composites with outer layers of glass fibre and polypropylene. It is a high-tech developed composite made from long glass fibres in a polypropylene (PP) matrix.
Composite is built up like a kind of lasagne: layer by layer from fibres. Using these two materials, a sustainable, extremely strong and lightweight panel is created. The core of the composite floor is built from a honeycomb structure, with a cover layer on both sides. The package is fused together to form one strong unit. The supplier of the composite panels has its origins in the anti-ballistic world. That is why this cover layer is built in a way similar to what is commonly used in bulletproof vests.
Extensively tested
At Hapert Trailers, we choose to test all innovations extensively. The same applies to the new composite trailer floor. We have thoroughly tested the floor under common usage conditions, including impact, tensile strength, shear load, wear and climate conditions.
We are convinced that buyers will ultimately be better off with the composite trailer floor. The trailer will be a few percent more expensive to buy, but this is offset by its long service life and lower fuel costs. A plywood floor weighs ten to fifteen kilos per square metre, while composite weighs four to six kilos. The use of composite can make an enclosed trailer around 250 kilos lighter in total and a tipper with a steel floor even around 120 kilos lighter. With a lighter trailer, you can drive more economically and generate fewer emissions.