Sustainable and Innovative Transport Solution for Tractor Roofs

19.06.2023

In collaboration with agricultural machinery manufacturer Fendt, Fried has developed a new logistics concept for the transportation of tractor roofs. With the aim of making logistics more efficient and cost-effective, the project involved designing specialized racks to facilitate the transport of thousands of tractor roofs per year, as well as further optimizing the delivery processes.

Aims and Challenges

The project focused on the upper and lower parts of the roofs for the new generation of narrow gauge tractors in the Fendt 200 V/F/P Vario series. The goal was to develop an innovative transport concept for the efficient and safe delivery of tractor roofs. The biggest challenge was to design a rack that could carry two different variants of tractor roofs, which differed in shape and size. Additionally, the rack needed to be modular and space-saving to minimize logistical effort. Furthermore, since the roof parts significantly contribute to the vehicle’s final appearance, special attention was given to packaging and transporting the roofs in line with the high quality standards expected by customers.

Another key aspect for a sustainable and innovative transport solution was minimizing the use of additional packaging materials. “With older models, the parts had to be meticulously wrapped in plastic film and additionally secured to avoid damage,” explains logistics planner Fabian Herreiner, who, on behalf of Fendt, led the design of the transport racks and the development of the new logistics concept.

Development Period of 1.5 Years

The project for the transport solution ran parallel to the component development for over a year. To meet this challenge, a multitude of experts from logistics, supply chain, quality management, assembly, and design were involved in the development of the new specialized racks through close collaboration between Fendt and Fried. As part of a transport test, the loaded carriers shuttled back and forth between the manufacturing site and the logistics site multiple times. This exchange ensured a highly satisfactory end result for all parties involved: a robust and versatile rack that could be used for both upper and lower roof parts in various size variants.

One Rack – Multiple Functions

The racks are welded from steel tubes and feature integrated aluminum panels for the loading documents. The system incorporates sophisticated mechanics to prevent the load from shifting, thus protecting it from damage. The rack carrier is based on a unified platform for all variants. Depending on the application, it is equipped with the respective modules to accommodate upper or lower roof shells. Specifically developed foam carrier modules are used for the upper roof parts, while the lower roof parts are secured with additional movable mounting points. The brackets can be easily adapted to the respective component size, allowing for a particularly simple and individualized loading process. This is especially crucial for just-in-sequence delivery.

All Benefits at a Glance

The new rack is particularly flexible as it can accommodate both variants of tractor roofs. It is also modular and space-saving in design, enabling efficient storage. The well-thought-out fixations of the parts within the rack are a significant advantage during transportation. These fixations were further optimized during the project, with a focus on delivery.

“We receive both variants of upper or lower roof parts in one rack, exactly in the sequence in which we assemble the roofs on the assembly line according to our customers’ orders. That is the major advantage we achieved in this project,” summarizes Mr. Herreiner.

“Due to the universal solution for both roof geometries, the racks can also be used for future generations of roofs without the need for developing a new transport concept. This not only saves time and money but also conserves resources,” adds Marko Travner, who led the project at Fried Kunststofftechnik.

Creative and Individual Solutions at Fried

Fried Kunststofftechnik provides individual solutions for a wide range of customer requirements, from design to manufacturing and packaging. The family-owned company applies its expertise and creativity to develop cost-effective and robust solutions for complex tasks. The new logistics concept is indeed a significant milestone, as it enables a notable improvement in the transportation process and thus delivers great value to the customer.

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