Lincolnshire-based trailer manufacturer Martrans introduced its walking-floor trailer, which is aimed at the asphalt and aggregate markets.
Chris Berridge, MD of Martrans parent company Paneltex, says the trailer will target markets dominated by the 8x4 tipper such as the tarmac sector that delivers to road building projects.
"The trailer is ideal for confined, reduced-height access locations such as tunnels, where traditional tipping trailers are unable to work. Its ability to carry high-temperature and ambient loads also makes it perfect to handle contrasting back loads, " he says.
Although the moving-floor trailer offers increased safety, compared with an 8x4 with a tipper body, the capital investment for a trailer, tractor unit and specific tipping gear is significant.
Berridge is keen to emphasis the trailer's 27-tonne payload compared to the 20.5-tonne payload maximum associated with 8x4 tippers.
Martrans has built the Domex-steel chassis, and added the Keith Walking Floor V unloading system, with Ryton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne-based bodybuilder Aliweld, building a double-skinned body that uses a hydraulic rear door and a double-skinned Dawbarn hydraulic sheeting system. It has a 7.6-tonne kerb weight.