Cold-chain storage and transport specialist McCulla Ireland, has bolstered its fleet with the addition of 33 new S.KO Cool Smart refrigerated semi-trailers.
The final cohort of trailers are now on the road, cementing a partnership between the two businesses that is into its second decade.
The order is made up of single and multi-temperature trailers which are made to a bespoke specification for the family-owned haulier.
The semi-trailers also feature Schmitz Cargobull’s TrailerConnect telematics system and are built on a galvanised Modulus bolted chassis.
The chassis has been designed for both strength and durability and comes with a 10-year warranty against rust-through on all galvanised parts.
Brian Beattie, McCulla Ireland operations director, said: “We took our first two semi-trailers from Schmitz Cargobull in 2008 having been exclusively with another manufacturer before.
“The trailers we’ve had in the years since have all proved to be robust products with great longevity and build quality.”
Beattie added: “We had an issue a few years back and they fixed it very quickly. The customer service they provide is excellent, and the level of attention you receive from their team throughout the process is impressive. It really is a partnership.”
McCulla Ireland, which has its headquarters in Lisburn, near Belfast, operates three cold-stores across the island of Ireland with a combined capacity to house 15,000 pallets. It also provides value-added services, including blast freezing and tempering.
Its operation, which sees it moving everything from frozen chips to high-end pharmaceuticals, involves sending unaccompanied trailers across the Irish Sea.
A key factor in McCulla choosing Cargobull is the segmented design of the trailers, which means that when damage occurs, during sea crossings for example, the company’s in-house technicians can simply replace the affected panels rather than the whole side.
The partnership will also enter a new chapter later this year, with the arrival of a new pharmaceutical specification S.KO trailer, which features advanced load security.
It will be fitted with a double deck loading beam system, which will allow 66 pallets to be transported per load to service the requirements of one of McCulla Ireland’s customers.
