The German trailer manufacturer has unveiled a €50 million investment plan aimed at upgrading its Vreden production site, located in North Rhine-Westphalia. The project seeks to enhance production capacity and improve environmental sustainability through the adoption of advanced technologies and digitalised processes. The initiative includes the construction of a 4,500-square-metre hall designed to accommodate a fully restructured assembly system. The new technologies will enable the production of up to 40 refrigerated vehicles per shift, reducing production times from 15 to 10 minutes.
In addition to boosting production capacity, the site will see the expansion of the supply centre located at Große Mast and will play a pivotal role in the Datenfabrik.NRW project. This programme, focused on creating data-driven factories, aims to integrate digital innovation into manufacturing processes by leveraging advanced simulations to test and refine operations before implementation.
Sustainability measures include the introduction of electric tractors and a doubling of parking areas to improve both internal and external logistics. With this investment, Schmitz Cargobull positions itself at the forefront of the industry. Founded in 1892 in the Münsterland region of Germany, this family-owned company produces approximately 60,000 vehicles annually, employs over 6,000 people, and reported a turnover of around €2.4 billion in the 2023/24 financial year. Its international production network currently comprises ten facilities across Germany, Lithuania, Spain, England, Turkey, Slovakia, and Australia.
Massimiliano Barberis
