Van Huët: non-craneable inloader made craneable 

The path toward Net Zero is full of challenges. Like transforming a Van Huët glass inloader from a non-craneable into a craneable cargo for rail transport. Emons’ R&D team is constantly busy trying to find new and alternative ways. All meant to improve our technology, competitiveness, and environmental impact. This time, they put into their minds to move part of our glass loads via train and, as usual, they succeeded. 

The successful experiment is the result of a collaboration between the vehicle transport company VEGA which provided its r2L (roadrailLink) system and the Emons Group. And the collaboration managed to optimize the inloader for rail transport. 

r2L is a system that consists of a platform onto which the trailer is driven and that can be lifted by a terminal crane onto a train wagon. In short, the system is a sort of adaptor that allows a crane to lift a trailer that does not have the necessary characteristics to be lifted. 

The challenge for Emons was to modify the inloader gooseneck for the connection on the train wagon. The solution was a hydraulic system that would allow the gooseneck to move up and down according to the type of transport. Up for road trips, down for train journeys.  

It took two years of careful measurements, testing, and development. In the end, our last test in Tilburg was a complete success and our modified glass inloader, completed with our patented e-push system, was ready for boarding. 

Let’s face it. Our business is of a kind that, despite our most strenuous efforts, always implies some degree of pollution. Moving goods of whichever kind on the road always means emitting CO2.  

Van Huët inloaders are lighter than other trailers, therefore they can load up to 23% more volume and save quite some CO2 emissions. Many of them use LNG fuel, thus saving more emissions. It is undeniable, however, that moving part of our loads via railroad can reduce our CO2 emissions even more.  

With this last successful development, another step on the green path to zero emissions is done, and at Emons, we are looking forward to making many more.