With INGENIOS, Schmitz Cargobull is putting its chassis portfolio on a new technical footing. The new platform combines high load-bearing capacity, robust design, low kerb weight, long-term corrosion protection and ease of repair. “The INGENIOS chassis are designed for gross vehicle weights of up to 44 tonnes and offer an increased floor load-bearing capacity of 8.0 tonnes, up from 7.1 tonnes, compared with the previous standard MODULOS chassis,” explains Vera Flinkert, Product Manager for the General Cargo product line. “This enables the transport of heavier general cargo, whilst the robust construction is also designed for intensive rear loading and forklift operations of up to 12 tonnes, and features enhanced resistance to denting in the rear area.”

The design is based on a newly developed cross-member concept, which improves the floor’s load-bearing capacity and reduces the number of floor joints. A new longitudinal member profile with a continuous top chord increases bending stiffness and reduces chassis deflection. Modern cold-joining techniques such as riveting and clinching preserve the galvanised finish of the components and ensure a stable and particularly repair-friendly design. “The chassis therefore remains permanently protected against corrosion, which helps to maintain the vehicle’s value in the long term. Furthermore, individual components can be replaced quickly and cost-effectively as required, which reduces downtime caused by repairs,” emphasises Flinkert.

During the development of the INGENIOS platform and the two chassis variants, MEGA and UNIVERSAL, particular attention was paid to making optimum use of the vehicle’s height and ensuring a high level of vehicle compatibility. On the MEGA chassis, the neck height is just 80 millimetres as standard, whilst on the UNIVERSAL chassis it is 115 millimetres. This allows for additional load volume to be utilised whilst maintaining a total height of four metres.

Furthermore, the designers have increased the swing clearance. On the MEGA chassis, this meets the requirements of ISO standard 1726-2 and can be optionally increased by a further 100 millimetres. The extended free play is available as standard on the MEGA DB chassis. This increases vehicle compatibility and makes it easier to use with a variety of tractor units, whether powered by diesel or alternative fuels.

At the same time, the developers were able to reduce the unladen weight by around 100 kilograms compared with the previous MEGA chassis, which translates into a correspondingly higher payload. Furthermore, all INGENIOS chassis are fully galvanised and come with a ten-year warranty against perforation by rust. This high level of robustness and low unladen weight are complemented by a long service life and long-term value retention.