English - Nooteboom Giants on the Road Magazine English - Nr. 4 - 2017 | Page 46

GIANTS ON THE ROAD ■  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. ■  46 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