Collett & Sons Ltd, has proudly announced the latest addition to its specialist heavy transport fleet with the acquisition of a new 350 Tonne capacity modular side girder bridge system (SGB). This strategic investment marks a significant milestone by expanding the company’s ability to handle high and heavy cargoes across the UK and will initially service a long-term contract moving transformers from Stafford to Ellesmere Port.
This Greiner-engineered trailer joins Collett’s diverse fleet of girder bridge systems, sitting perfectly between the company’s existing 150 Tonne, 250 Tonne and 550 Tonne capacity trailers. Described as the ‘missing piece of the puzzle’ it offers a versatile solution to meet a wide range of heavy transport demands.
Designed for improved flexibility, the 350 Tonne girder bridge features fully interchangeable ‘Neck’ and ‘Deck’ beams. This modular design allows the system to be configured for varying axle combinations, ranging from 2 x 8 to 2 x 18 rows, depending on the load dimensions and the structural capacity of the route. By combining different beam components, the side deck length can be adjusted from 3 to 18 metres, providing exceptional adaptability for complex transport requirements, even in the most challenging conditions.
One of the standout features of this system is its ability to accommodate several transformer loading methods in accordance with their manufacturer specifications, including:
- High shoulder/trunnion support (High Deck)
- Low shoulder/trunnion support (Low Deck)
- Full bottom support (Cross Beam)
- Toe support (Inside Beam Toe)
This flexibility helps mitigate the eternal industry-wide challenge of ‘headroom’ when transporting high and heavy loads, enabling more efficient and feasible route planning.
The girder bridge also incorporates a unique ‘Z’ beam connector, allowing the neck beams to link directly to specially designed loads, eliminating the need for deck beams entirely and effectively transforming the configuration into a Schnabel-type loading profile when required.
Additionally, the girder bridge features a hydraulically adjustable internal loading aperture, ranging from 1.8 to 4.6 metres. Its full hydraulic system also enables deck height adjustment with a stroke capacity from ground level up to +1.9 metres. This functionality provides the flexibility to raise or lower the trailer deck as needed, facilitating safe navigation under bridges and helping reduce the extensive need for removing street furniture, a key consideration in urban heavy haulage.
This new system is already long-term contracted to support the transport of 35 high-value transformers, each weighing up to 325 Tonnes, from Stafford to Ellesmere Port. This latest investment reinforces Collett’s position as a trusted leader in the transport of oversized and abnormal loads and underlines the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering engineered logistics solutions with safety, precision and innovation.
David Collett, Managing Director at Collett & Sons, commented:
“This is the fourth girder bridge to join the Collett fleet and with our existing 150 Tonne, 250 Tonne and 550 Tonne units, this new 350 Tonne Greiner sits comfortably in a Sweet spot in the market and truly is the ‘’missing piece of the puzzle’’, strengthening our heavy transport capabilities and giving us even greater flexibility to meet the evolving demands of our clients.”
Collett’s continued investment in modern, flexible and high-capacity equipment ensures their clients receive tailored transport solutions, no matter the complexity.
