- Schmitz Cargobull is expanding its range with the new S.BO Multi semi-trailer, designed to meet the needs of logistics operators and industrial customers dealing with variable load flows. It stands out for its versatility, payload capacity and flexible load-securing systems, making it suitable also for e-commerce-related operations.
- In temperature-controlled transport, technological development continues with the new S.CU dc90 refrigeration unit, integrated into a system that includes vehicles, telematics and services.
- The group confirms its leading position in the European heavy transport market, with an overall share of around 25% in the European Union and top-ranking roles in the refrigerated, dry, curtain-sider and tipper segments. Expansion in North America is accelerating, with dedicated production compliant with local environmental requirements.
Schmitz Cargobull is strengthening its dry transport offering with the new S.BO Multi semi-trailer, consolidating its presence in a segment experiencing growth driven mainly by the expansion of e-commerce and courier activities. This is an increasingly complex operating environment, characterised by irregular flows and constantly evolving loading requirements, which the German manufacturer addresses with a solution designed to ensure versatility and adaptability.
The new model is suitable for a wide range of applications, from palletised and general cargo to the transport of hanging garments, automotive components and bulky or loose goods. This profile makes it well suited to logistics centres, production plants and industrial applications where loading and securing requirements change frequently.
A distinctive feature of the semi-trailer is the integrated two-deck system with safety hole plates, designed to make more efficient use of the available volume even when carrying different types of goods. The two-level aluminium rails, with a length of 2,050 millimetres and a spacing of 1,200 millimetres, allow the use of a second loading deck, enabling the transport of up to 33 additional euro pallets. The safety hole plates, positioned between the rails, allow flexible and precise load securing and are compatible with numerous restraint systems, including locking bars, garment rails, tension straps and nets.
The side walls adopt a double-skin steel structure with reinforced posts. One is dedicated to supporting the two-deck rails, while the other integrates galvanised plates for the locks, creating additional load-securing points. Galvanisation ensures greater resistance to corrosion compared with painted components and helps reduce wear and maintenance requirements over time. The locks are reinforced by a fully pronounced curvature, designed to guarantee high load capacity even under intensive operating conditions.
Integrated into the Schmitz Cargobull modular system for dry transport, the S.BO Multi uses proven components from the S.BO Express, such as the aluminium slat front wall, the insulated roof and the continuous steel connecting profiles that join all parts of the bodywork. The rear section can be configured with aluminium doors or with an aluminium roller shutter door. The configuration can be completed with type B two-deck rails and a steel or aluminium base plate.
The bodywork is certified in accordance with Din EN 12642 Code XL, with a payload of 27,000 kilograms. The chassis is available in a modular, bolted and galvanised version with a rolled structure for standard transport, while for markets and applications with higher demands, with gross weights up to or above 44 tonnes, the heavy-duty X-Tough version is available. The TrailerConnect telematics system is also supplied as standard, enabling continuous and transparent monitoring of semi-trailer data.
Great attention has also been paid to operating costs. The S.BO Multi is designed to simplify maintenance activities: repairs can be carried out using standard tools or through bonding and riveting techniques, reducing vehicle downtime. From a sustainability perspective, the adoption of bonding and bending processes instead of traditional welding helps reduce energy requirements during production and CO2 emissions.
The presentation of the new dry transport semi-trailer took place in a broader context, in which Schmitz Cargobull reviewed the performance of the recently concluded financial year during the launch of the new S.CU dc90 refrigeration unit. During the press conference, the group confirmed its benchmark position in the European professional heavy transport market. Led by the fourth generation of the founding family, the company maintains leadership in four key segments: 48% of the European refrigerated semi-trailer market, 17% in dry, 29% in curtain-siders and 18% in tippers. Its overall share in the European Union stands at around 25%, with operations in 40 countries across five continents.
In the 2024/2025 period, Schmitz Cargobull produced 42,300 semi-trailers, of which 36,000 were directly financed. Turnover reached €2.161 billion, with around 6,000 employees. There are 150,000 active telematics units and, since 2020, the group has produced 38,000 refrigeration units: one in four S.KO Cool refrigerated semi-trailers is now equipped with an S.CU refrigeration unit. Over the same period, it also produced two million axles.
The new S.CU dc90 refrigeration unit, which will be presented in its final version at the next edition of the Iaa trade fair in Hannover, targets the temperature-controlled transport sector, characterised by increasingly demanding requirements in terms of reliability, operational safety and traceability. In this field, Schmitz Cargobull is strengthening its role as a complete system supplier, combining S.KO Cool refrigerated semi-trailers, S.CU refrigeration units, the TrailerConnect telematics system and customised service packages.
The S.CU dc90 fits into a strategy focused on efficiency and sustainability. The manufacturer adopts a modular system that includes diesel-powered units and fully electric solutions. With the introduction of the new R454A refrigerant in Europe, both the S.CU d80 and the S.CU dc90 can be equipped with an interface prepared for the ePto electric power take-off, enabling fully electric operation when paired with an electric tractor unit.
At the same time, international expansion continues, with increasing attention to the North American market. Following the establishment in 2023 of the Cargobull North America joint venture with Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company Llc, S.CU refrigeration units are now also produced for North America. The modular design principle allows a high degree of adaptation to local operating and regulatory conditions, including compliance with the emissions requirements of the California Air Resources Board. All units are equipped as standard with the TrailerConnect system and are used exclusively on refrigerated trailers for industrial applications.
Massimiliano Barberis
