Things are moving fast for Yannick Van de Cruys, manager of Kempense Plintencentrale bvba in Beerse. He founded the company late last year, invested in his production line during the first few months of this year, and is now driving around with Belgium’s very first aluminum trailer to deliver to customers.
The Kempense Plintencentrale specializes in cutting baseboards and moldings from ceramic tiles and natural stone for tile dealers and tile installers. “I had been working as a tile setter for 10 years when a company in Beerse that cut baseboards went out of business. We conducted market research, and it was clear that we had to jump on this opportunity. Normally, baseboards are also produced by foreign tile manufacturers, but to respond more quickly to specific customer requests, our professional clients want a local provider. We launched the company at the end of last year, and we spent the first three months of this year setting up our production line.”
Extra Payload Capacity with an Aluminum Trailer
In order to transport the floor tiles and ceramic baseboards, I also had to invest in a multifunctional commercial vehicle. “The materials I transport are quite heavy. I have a BE driver’s license, and there aren’t many options for transporting heavy materials with that license. I was willing to get a CE driver’s license, but given the administrative red tape, the medical exams, and the annual refresher courses that come with it, I started looking for an alternative vehicle that could be driven with a BE license. That’s how I ended up at LMJ Construct in Turnhout. Carl Van Gorp explained several options to me, including a tractor-trailer combination that, with a BE license obtained before 2013, allows you to tow up to 8.750 metric tons of gross vehicle weight. With a pickup truck and trailer, I could transport 3 metric tons, but with the aluminum trailer I ordered from LMJ, I can load just under 5 metric tons. After all, the aluminum trailer is much lighter than a steel one, which creates an extra 400 kg of payload capacity—and that’s a nice bonus. You can compare it to a pro cyclist: they also save on every extra gram of weight. After all, I want to organize the transport of my baseboards and tiles as cost-effectively as possible.”
Easy to disconnect
The Kempense Plintencentrale doesn’t yet have enough customers to require the transport of heavy equipment every day. “Right now, we make deliveries one to two days a week. I can also use my tractor for my daily commute. I can easily unhitch the aluminum trailer and replace it with my dump trailer for hauling rubble. That way, with just one tractor, I have three work vehicles, and I drive whichever combination I need.”
Easy to maneuver
“My trailer has a fairly simple design, without tailgates or sliding tarps, just to maximize its payload capacity. The open trailer is also much easier to maneuver than, say, a closed van, where you have to rely on the side mirrors. Now I can simply look over the side of my trailer and have a much better view of my surroundings. It also has a tight turning radius, which makes it easier to drive.”
Aluminum trailer from LMJ Construct
The aluminum trailer is imported exclusively for the Belgian market by LMJ Construct. The Turnhout-based company is collaborating with the Polish firm Konar on this project. Konar is internationally renowned for manufacturing curtain-sided trailers, specifically freight vehicles designed for high-volume transport. Konar’s vehicles are particularly popular in the Scandinavian countries.
