English - Nooteboom Giants on the Road Magazine English - Nr. 4 - 2017 | Page 46
GIANTS ON THE ROAD
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NOT JUST IN THE NETHERLANDS MORE VARIETY
Based on the positive experiences in the Netherlands the ballast
trailer was, aft er some very strong lobbying by Nooteboom and
their customers, approved in other European countries too.
Belgium, Germany and Great-Britain followed the Dutch example
fi rst and in 2004, aft er years of negotiations, the ballast trailer
concept was approved in France too. But the ballast trailer has
also found the way to countries such as Denmark, Italy, Poland,
Austria, Spain and Switzerland. However, the permitted legal loads
are diff erent in every country and that’s why various versions of
the ballast trailer have been developed, ranging from four to seven
axles. With their current programme of ballast trailers Nooteboom
has a solution for every country, adapted to meet the regulations
that apply. Th e maximum gross weight of the fi rst ballast trailers were calculated based
on 10 tonnes per axle. In the nineties it became possible to increase this to 12
tonnes per axle with exemption. Th e version with 12-tonne axles was completely
redesigned, which resulted in a lighter, stronger semi-trailer with more load
capacity. Th e trailers were given a new name too: OVB (Oplegger (semi-
trailer)-Vlak (fl at)-Bestuurbaar (steered)). Th e fi rst version was the OVB-64-S.
Th is 4-axle semi-trailer was shorter, more manoeuvrable and lighter than the
previous version. Th anks to the higher maximum legal axle loads, the OVB-64-S
could load around 60 tonnes. By 1995 it was the turn of the 6-axle version, with
a completely new design. Th e OVB-102-06 was equipped with hydropneumatic
suspension and had a larger suspension stroke for better distribution of the axle
weights on uneven surfaces. Th e OVB-102-06 can load 85 tonnes and for years
this was the favourite ballast trailer of the crane hire companies.
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With its 12-tonne axle load the 6-axle Manoovr Ballast Trailer is ideal for the transport of crane sections and ballast of the latest LTM 1450
Owing to the efforts of Nooteboom the Ballast Trailer was approved in other European countries too