Special semi-trailer combination developed and produced for Van Egmond Potgrond by Kraker Trailers
Kraker Trailers has supplied a custom-made semi-trailer combination to Van Egmond Potgrond. Van Egmond was very clear about what they wanted: a Scania truck with a Kraker superstructure and a Kraker trailer behind that, both with a moving floor.
Family company with a long tradition
Van Egmond Potgrond is a family business through and through. It was founded at the beginning of the previous century, and since then it has passed from generation to generation. Since 2014, the day-to-day management of the company has been entrusted to Lysia van Egmond, great-grandson of the founder. The company supplies substrates and raw materials to nurseries, garden centres and also to peers in the potting soil sector. Van Egmond is also active in the import and export of peat. The peat is imported from the Baltic States and Scandinavia, among others, and is transported by ship to the ports of Amsterdam, which has also served as Van Egmond Potgrond's home base since 1997. Supplies are delivered to customers in the Netherlands and Belgium using the company's own fleet, which consisted until recently of five vehicles: 
four Kraker semi-trailer combinations and one Kraker trailer. With the delivery of this new semi-trailer combination, the fleet has been extended to six vehicles. Van Egmond has opted for Scania trucks without exception.
The new semi-trailer combination was built entirely to customer specification, resulting in a Scania R500 with a Kraker moving floor and a 3-axle Kraker trailer, also with a moving floor. The total capacity of the semi-trailer combination is 95m3. 
The choice for a semi-trailer over a tractor-trailer combination is a deliberate one (i.e. instead of a tractor-trailer combination) because Van Egmond often has to unload in confined and tight spaces. The trailer can then be disconnected, while still allowing for the maximum possible volume to be transported in one go. The height of the semi-trailer combination has also been adjusted to 3.60m instead of the standard height of 4m for the same reason, i.e. limited space. The doors are double hinged, again to reduce space requirements. The fact that the third axle of the truck is steered means that almost all loading and unloading locations can be reached with this semi-trailer combination.
Van Egmond transports products in bulk, in big bags or in big bales on pallets in quantities that vary from customer to customer. The semi-trailer combination allows for deliveries to multiple customers in a single trip. The semi-trailer and trailer are both equipped with a moving bulkhead and cargo separation tarpaulin, allowing several products to be transported at the same time while keeping them separated.
Van Egmond and Kraker Trailers are no strangers to each other as the first contact between the companies dates back to 2004. Director Lysia van Egmond understands exactly why there has been such a long-standing relationship between the two companies: "Kraker Trailers develops and builds reliable and aesthetically pleasing equipment. Currently, we deal with Kraker, matters are handled entirely according to our wishes."
Scania is the standing supplier for trucks to Van Egmond. The semi-trailer combination was finished and prepared for delivery at Scania Sassenheim. The options fitted by Scania include extra lighting on the truck, e.g. spotlights, work lights, rotating lights and flashlights in the grill. A 220V inverter is mounted in the cabin.
The result of the joint efforts by Kraker, Van Egmond and Scania is a fully custom-built semi-trailer combination that fits in seamlessly with Van Egmond's specific transport needs.