Perfect interaction: TII SCHEUERLE builds modular K25 combination with specific load securing features for August Alborn

• August Alborn has purchased several SCHEUERLE K25 axle lines, continuing a six-decade relationship with TII SCHEUERLE.

• The K25 modular platform vehicles were chosen for their technical qualities, price-performance ratio, and transport safety features.

• The collaboration with RUD resulted in a unique load-securing system, enhancing transport safety for heavy and bulky loads.

• The K25 axle lines offer high stability, a low loading area, and the largest track width available for pendulum axle vehicles.

• The MAN TGX 41.640 8x4/4 tractor unit, equipped with MICHELIN tires, was tested under adverse conditions and met high-performance expectations.

• The MAN TGX features a powerful drive train and braking system, ensuring reliable transportation even under challenging conditions.

Heavy goods haulier, August Alborn, has purchased several SCHEUERLE K25 axle lines thus continuing the over six decades-long business relationship with TII SCHEUERLE. According to Managing Director Helmut Alborn, the decisive factors in the purchase decision were the technical qualities of the modular platform vehicles, price-performance ratio and, in particular, the great willingness of the TII SCHEUERLE team to implement the company's high requirements regarding transport safety. The development of this unique very efficient load securing system was the result of a close collaboration with RUD, a renowned specialist in sling and lashing equipment.

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“I want to be able to sleep soundly – despite the demanding transport tasks we carry out for our customers on a daily basis,” said Helmut Alborn, Managing Director of August Alborn. The fourth-generation family-run company from Dortmund specialises in the transport of heavy and bulky loads such as machinery, plant, bridge elements, transformers and rail vehicles. Services also include company relocations and heavy assembly work. In addition to a fleet of mobile cranes and heavy-duty vehicles, Alborn also maintains lifting platforms with a capacity of up to 1,440 tonnes. Furthermore, the company has its own engineering department and stores more than 1,500 tonnes of steel for modular constructions.

Helmut Alborn is now expanding his fleet with a number of K25 axle lines along with a slab deck and frame deck in order to transport transformers and rail vehicles, primarily with unit weights between 80 and 130 tonnes. The order includes transport modules with two to six axles. Combined together, they provide the heavy-load logistics provider with generous payload reserves. “After all, we don’t know what challenges we will have to face in the future. Through the modular K25 axle lines, we are now equipped for accommodating loads of up to around 180 tonnes on the road and up to around 400 tonnes in-house, and can already offer our customers a range of additional services," explained Helmut Alborn.

SCHEUERLE K25 ensures a high level of transport safety also for loads with complex requirements

The company boss opted for modular platform vehicles from TII SCHEUERLE because of their exceptional performance, outstanding price-performance ratio, and high degree of vehicle stability as well as driving stability. The multifunctional axle lines are specially designed for loads with a high centre of gravity. In spite of the large and robust 19.5-inch tyres, the K25 offers a low loading area of 875 millimetres when lowered which means loads can be easily driven underneath whereby the K25 can also be used when every inch of height counts. The track width of 2,100 millimetres is currently the largest available for pendulum axle vehicles and the external width of 3,000 millimetres also ensures greater stability than is usual on the market.

“I also prefer single tyres to a twin-tyre arrangement. Here, the operator can quickly detect a gradual loss of tyre pressure and take appropriate measures to prevent a tyre blowout," explained Helmut Alborn. He also praised the particularly torsion-resistant frame of the K25 modules. This has a special significance for August Alborn with regard to the axle lines. The heavy load specialist also makes no concessions when it comes to load securing and insists on lashing equipment and attachment points that feature particularly high performance reserves.

Helmut Alborn: “Investment in safety features and options pays off”

For this purpose, in addition to the standard lashing points with lashing capacities of 20,000 decanewtons (daN), Alborn uses the ACP-Turnado from RUD, currently the strongest screwable lashing points on the market complete with an M36 thread and a minimum strength of 25,000 daN in conjunction with Quality Class 12 lashing chains which likewise are supplied by RUD. According to Helmut Alborn, this combination ensures the lowest possible physical strain for the operating personnel allied with the greatest possible level of transport safety. The screwable versions can also be removed if they are in the way of the load. In order to use the heavy-duty lashing points, adjustments to the vehicle were necessary to ensure the safe transfer of the high forces into the frame.

TII SCHEUERLE worked closely with RUD throughout to realise the correct attachment points and frame strength. “The cooperation between RUD and TII SCHEUERLE worked exceptionally well,” explained Helmut Alborn. In principle, the company boss does not make any compromises when it comes to safety and does not shy away from additional expense. “These are the kind of investments that really pay off. Every accident we prevent saves us a lot of money,” he argued.

Close to customers – efficient implementation

“Our experience has shown that, in Pfedelbach, we always find industry experts who take our concerns very seriously. We don’t just feel good there, we feel very well looked after,” he extolled. Helmut Alborn also has a long-standing supply relationship with RUD as the lashing specialist has always proven to be a reliable and constructive partner who understands the needs of the company.

Confidence in the technology is further strengthened by the fact that TII SCHEUERLE, together with RUD as well as MAN, manufacturer of Alborn's tractor unit, and Michelin, supplier of the vehicle tyres, thoroughly tested the heavy-duty combination in the presence of Helmut Alborn before delivery took place. This included tests under adverse weather conditions and with a test load of 250 tonnes. The combination of MAN TGX and SCHEUERLE K25 even had to accommodate a 450-tonne overload of ballast and thus an axle load of 24 tonnes without incurring any damage.

The MAN truck tractor, MICHELIN tyres and the K25 comfortably met Helmut Alborn's high expectations. Vehicles with special requirements require tyres that can meet these tough challenges and Helmut Alborn has been relying on MICHELIN for a long time. With their particularly robust carcasses and high mileage, MICHELIN tyres are the right choice for operators who value efficiency and longevity.

Terminal tractor with extremely powerful drive train

Even regarding the tractor unit, the heavy-load logistics provider relies on a very special design with high power reserves and load-bearing capacity: a MAN TGX 41.640 8x4/4 with 471 kW (640 hp) performance and 3,000 newton metres (Nm) of torque which can be increased to 4,740 Nm when driving off. For this, the MAN Tipmatic torque converter clutch of the TGX is fitted with a torque boost. This performance is suitable for wear-free pushing and shunting loads with a total weight of 500 tonnes while safely negotiating gradients of up to 1.6 per cent. “The engine power reliably ensures that transportation can start even under unfavourable conditions and that there are no breakdowns,” explained Helmut Alborn. For safety reasons, the braking system is equally powerful, consisting of the reinforced Turbo EVB engine brake and Intarder III which together generate 980 kW.