History

Interview with fam. Kraker

Kraker Trailers, the thread running through the de Kraker family

Sitting at the table are Ellen, Thomas and Sarah. Mother/wife, son and daughter behind Jan de Kraker. Thomas and Sarah talk about their future roles and Ellen about the role(s) she has had at the company until recently. Thomas (27) has been a sales manager at Smart Trailer Solutions in the Benelux region since 2024 and is responsible for rental and leasing. He works closely with his father.

1895 - Founding of Rijtuigenmakerij J. de Kraker

Founding of Rijtuigenmakerij J. de Kraker in Koestraat, Axel. If it is made by Kraker, it is strong and reliable.

1895

1930 - Workshop on Koestraat in Axel

Workshop on Koestraat. The company built vehicle bodies and flourished until WWII.

1930

1949 – Half a century of craftsmanship

On 10 April 1945, the company commemorated a special moment: fifty years earlier, in 1895, Jan de Kraker had founded his carriage and cartwright business in Axel. After his retirement in 1921, the company was continued within the family. Through years of craftsmanship, dedication and hard work, it grew into a thriving and respected business. In honour of this milestone, the staff presented this certificate as a token of their appreciation and respect - a tribute to the generations who laid the foundations for the future.

1949

1989 - New start, new ideas

New start: On 1 September 1989, Jan de Kraker & Jan Scheele took over the Zeeuws-Vlaamse Carrosseriefabriek. Beginning of innovative thinking.

1989

1992 - First self-supporting moving floor trailer

In 1992, Kraker delivered the very first self-supporting sliding floor trailer to Minnaard in Krabbendijke. It was an exciting moment: loaded with 32 tonnes of vegetables, the trailer was uncoupled as the ultimate test. It didn't budge an inch. Thanks to pioneers such as Minnaard, our production increased by 50% – a milestone in the development of the modern moving floor trailer.

1992

1998 – Breakthrough on the international stage

In 1998, Kraker produced more sliding floor trailers than other vehicles for the first time. Participating in the IAA in Hanover was a major investment, but it proved to be worth its weight in gold: the international attention resulted in explosive growth in orders. This milestone laid the foundation for further European expansion.

Photo: Jan de Kraker at the Udo Nagler stand

1998

2001 - The next step in the Vaartwijk neighbourhood

Due to the continued growth of Kraker Trailers, the existing workshop soon became too small. In 2000, construction began on a new, more spacious workshop in the Vaartwijk neighbourhood. In June 2001, it was officially and festively put into use, an important step in further expanding production capacity.

2001

2011 - First stone laid for the future

Until 2011, the office team worked from a bungalow on the premises. With the growth of Kraker Trailers, that space quickly became too small. A modern and functional office was built on the site of the bungalow. On 1 April 2011, Thomas and Sarah, the children of Jan and Ellen de Kraker, laid the first stone; a special family moment.

2011

2015 - Launch of K-Force: the new standard

An important milestone was reached in 2015: the introduction of the K-Force. This sliding floor trailer with screw connections instead of welded seams represented a breakthrough in sustainable and efficient vehicle construction. It was the result of years of development and innovation. The K-Force has since become the standard in Europe, with hundreds of units rolling off the production line at our factory in Axel every year.

2015

2016 - Efficiently building the future

In 2016, a major step was taken to enable the mass production of K-Force. The factory floor space was doubled and equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, such as fully automatic welding and drilling robots and an integrated painting line. This investment laid the foundation for efficient, high-quality production that matches the innovative strength of K-Force.

2016

2016 - Growth ambitions in Europe

The expansion of the site and the modern design of the factory reflect Kraker's ambition for growth. From Axel, we build innovative trailers for the whole of Europe in a smartly designed production environment.

2016

2017 – 3-in-1 kit launched: Efficiency in transport and production

In line with his vision for the future, Jan de Kraker and his team developed the innovative 3-in-1 kit principle: one finished trailer transports the parts for two additional trailers. Thanks to this smart concept, we are making significant savings on transport costs and CO₂ emissions. This is a powerful step towards efficient production and sustainable distribution of the modular K-Force trailers.

2017

2021 - Innovation: E-Force prototype

Kraker Trailers begins development of E-Force, the first moving floor trailer with a sustainable drive system. The system stores braking energy and uses it to drive the middle axle during acceleration and unloading. This innovation marks the next step in Kraker's history and is in line with the broader trend towards more efficient and cleaner transport.

2021

2021 - Establishment of Smart Trailer Solutions

Smart Trailer Solutions (STS) was established in 2021 as a logical continuation of our growth ambition and customer-focused vision. While Kraker continues to focus entirely on production excellence – building the strongest and most durable moving floor trailers – STS focuses on sales excellence: providing optimal customer service with the rental, lease and sale of new and young used K-Force trailers. With STS, we offer flexible solutions for every transport issue, whether it concerns seasonal peaks, temporary deployment or fleet expansion. In this way, Kraker and STS strengthen each other and the customer.

2021

2022 - Innovation Kraker's folding bumper

In 2022, Kraker introduced one of the most popular options among drivers: the folding bumper. This clever addition makes it easier to unload above a bunker or tipping tank. The bumper folds down, creating 15 cm of extra space, which not only makes the work easier but also safer. A practical solution that quickly conquered its place on the market.

2022

2024 - Appointment of Co-Chief Executive Officers

On 1 January 2024, Alain Hiel and Stephan Willemstein were appointed co-CEOs of Kraker Trailers. With their focus on innovation, process control and team development, they are strengthening the foundation for sustainable growth. This step marks the separation between production excellence (Kraker) and sales excellence (STS), a clear course towards an even more effective organisation.

2024

2024 - Expansion of the paint shop

To meet growing demand, Kraker Trailers commissioned a second paint line in 2024. This expansion significantly increases the capacity of the paint shop, allowing more trailers to be finished each week without compromising on quality.

2024

2024 - Innovation: Moving Smart

In 2024, Kraker launched the Moving Smart telematics system. Sensors collect data on trailer performance and send it via 5G to a proprietary platform. Using the Kraker dashboard, fleet managers can track their trailers in real time and receive smart alerts in the event of malfunctions. This is an innovative step towards smarter, safer and more efficient transport.

2024

2024 - 35th anniversary

In 2024, Kraker Trailers celebrated its 35th anniversary, as did Jan de Kraker's leadership. He took over the company in 1989, when it was already known as Kraker Trailers. A good moment to look back on our history, which goes back even further: the museum in Axel even has a Kraker carriage from earlier times on display.

Read the entire history

2024

2025 - Sustainable energy for the future

In 2025, Kraker Trailers commissioned a large-scale solar power project at its site in Axel. With the installation of 900 solar panels and a smart energy system with storage capacity, a large part of the energy requirement is generated sustainably. Thanks to this solution, production continues to run reliably, even in the event of grid congestion. A logical step towards energy-efficient and future-proof business operations.

2025

What our customers have to say

Hertleer Transport: a sporty transport company in every way

Hertleer Transport of Bassevelde/Assenede has a long history when it comes to transport. In the 1950s, grandfather Hertleer started the company, using just a horse and cart to fill silos on farms. When the third generation took over running the company, they took a number of decisions, including use of the first moving-floor trailer. Those decisions are what made the company what it is today - a flexible and reliable transport company with 9 Kraker moving-floor trailers in its fleet.

Strong bond between Reuss Transporte and Kraker Trailers

The Reuss Group is a loyal Kraker customer that has been purchasing Axelse sliding floor trailers for many years. Georg Reuss, founder of the company, looks back on the history that Reuss and Kraker Trailers have built together.

First self-supporting Kraker moving-floor trailer built by Kraker Trailers for Minnaard

‘Can you build a moving floor trailer like this for us?’ Zeeland is home to a group of transport companies with one big thing in common – Kraker Trailers. One of these companies was Minnaard Transport, the buyer of the very first self-supporting moving floor trailer that Kraker ever built. A story of trust, loyalty and honesty.

Vehicles have been travelling from Axel to Nisse for decades

The contact between Bosman Transport in Nisse and Kraker Trailers goes way back. Jan de Kraker has been at the helm of the Axel plant for even longer. Back in the day, Bosman was purchasing tippers from the ‘old’ Kraker.

Bosman’s specialisation lies in transporting mostly bulk agricultural products and products on pallets. The operational area is Western Europe. Bosman uses both K-Forces and tippers.

K-Force: a great move for Kraker Trailers

De Dobbelaere Transport and Kraker Trailers are a common thread in each other’s existence. For more than 30 years, Frans de Dobbelaere has purchased a new Kraker every five years on average. De Dobbelaere is not a large transport company, but an important customer for Kraker nevertheless. And that’s because of the bond between owners Frans and Jan. ‘Jan listens to what you have to say and really acts on it,’ says Frans.

Interview with Co-CEOs

Stephan Willemstein and Alain Hiel on innovation and leadership

A lot has changed at Kraker Trailers in recent years. New people have started and existing teams have evolved. Smart Trailer Solutions, an existing business unit, has expanded by taking over the sales, rental and marketing activities of Kraker Trailers. Another big change is the appointment of Alain Hiel and Stephan Willemstein as co-CEOs of Kraker Trailers. Together, they manage and have full responsibility for Kraker Trailers.

What makes Kraker unique?

Kraker Trailers combines Dutch pragmatism with technical innovation. Our trailers are designed for maximum efficiency, safety and service life. With the K-Force, we are setting a new standard in Europe. What really sets us apart? Our focus on the customer. Every solution starts with practical experience and is built on craftsmanship and a clear long-term vision.

Stories from our colleagues

Frank Koolmees is already a veteran of Kraker

Some people are completely at home where they are. Frank Koolmees is one them. He has been a familiar face at Kraker Trailers for 24 years and there are few who do not recognise him. Over the past decades, Frans has witnessed all the important developments at Kraker Trailers up close. Frank reflects on the past 24 years and those still to come. If Frank is clear on one thing, it’s this: ‘I will stay at Kraker Trailers until I retire.’

Krijn spent 23 years of his life at the Vaartwijk in Axel

Sometimes, life turns out differently than expected. Krijn de Bree originally trained as an electrical engineer and joined a Belgian company where he learned to weld. He worked there from 1982 to 1992. He did welding work on the company’s vehicle fleet and delivered groceries around Westdorpe, something he was quite happy doing for several years. In 2000, he decided it was time for something different and made the move to Kraker Trailers.

After all, my heart is in the transport industry

Simon Kolijn reflects on the many years he worked at Kraker Trailers. In 1989, he wanted to stop driving his lorry but continue to work in the same industry, one way or another. That way turned out to be in production at Kraker Trailers. Read Simon Kolijn's story, an enthusiastic driver who ended up in trailer construction until his retirement.