With data, axles and team spirit to the UK

Transporting cargo that has wheels of its own – that sounds easier than it is. If you want to move cars, motorhomes, chassis, heavy commercial vehicles or agricultural machinery safely, you need more than a classic car transporter. FVG from Wildeshausen therefore sees itself as a specialist in "self-rolling load". Instead of standard solutions, the company builds vehicle transporters that cover everything from passenger cars to combine harvesters.

With this specialization, the company, which was only founded in 2014, is successfully on a growth course; Customers in 23 countries already rely on transport solutions from FVG. Now a particularly demanding market is being added: Great Britain. The first vehicles are already in use with customers in London and Manchester.

This is because the British market follows its own rules. In addition to deviating vehicle dimensions, the focus is primarily on braking performance: operators must reliably prove the effectiveness of the brake system during safety inspections. For FVG, this meant adapting existing concepts, developing new solutions – and at the same time mastering an environment in which documentation, brake data and digital monitoring play a central role.

The approval process is strict and required additional evidence, supplementary documents and special brake tests. It was not only the technology that was decisive, but also the ability to respond quickly and reliably to queries.

This is where BPW came into play. FVG has been relying on BPW low-loader axles for 17.5-inch tyres for years – in a segment in which reliability, spare parts availability and service count worldwide. This partnership gained new significance for the UK project. With the iC Plus chassis system and standard telematics networking, BPW is providing a solution that is not only robust, but also provides data for ongoing operation.

This transparency is particularly advantageous in the UK. iC Plus enables the use of EBPMS – Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System – in conjunction with telematics. The system continuously monitors the trailer's braking performance during operation, analyses suitable braking processes on the basis of EBS and telematics data and uses this to generate reports on braking performance. This allows deviations to be detected at an early stage, maintenance to be planned more in line with demand and recurring roller brake tests to be reduced. In the UK, BPW markets the solution under the name Brake Trac Pro.

Personal support was at least as important as the technology for FVG. With Martin Eisele as well as Caren Freudenberg and Bernd Rhein, BPW had permanent contact persons who reliably coordinated documents, technical queries and coordination and closely monitored the project throughout the entire implementation. When the British authorities demanded proof or needed answers at short notice, BPW was quickly reachable – even outside normal times. "Especially in demanding export projects, the details are often decisive. That's why we support our customers not only with chassis technology, but also with know-how, documentation and short response times," says Martin Eisele.  

A supplier relationship turned into a joint venture: FVG contributed the special vehicle construction, BPW the expertise for chassis, brakes and documentation. In addition, BPW has been present in Great Britain for decades – including its own subsidiary with on-site assembly in Leicester. For vehicle manufacturers like FVG, this means local proximity, market knowledge and the certainty that the after-sales service also works.

For FVG, the effort pays off twice. The first vehicles are rolling, customers are satisfied, and the experience from Great Britain strengthens the company for other markets and type approvals. Market entry in Great Britain thus becomes a blueprint: Anyone who wants to move rolling cargo internationally needs flexible vehicle concepts, digital chassis technology and partners who take responsibility.