This year, wholesaler Cotap celebrated the 85th anniversary of the family business that supplies a wide variety of floors to Dutch (r)etailers and project furnishers. A great milestone for a still dynamic company that is literally and figuratively on the move. Since this year, in addition to our own distribution transport, transport for Intergamma has also been provided. It required a rapid and adequate scale-up of business operations and the fleet. The latter happened with the help of Pacton Trailers from Ommen.
Cotap originally has its roots in ‘carpet city’ Genemuiden. However, this year also saw an important move to Zwolle, where the transport tasks had been located for several years. Now there is a new warehouse and offices there on the Hessenpoort industrial estate. As a flooring wholesaler, Cotap has been providing its own transport for the delivery of its own products for five years. Transport Coordinator Karel Timmerman of Cotap says: “At the time, we started with four trucks. However, since April 1 of this year (2025), we have also provided transport for Intergamma, the organization behind the do-it-yourself formulas Gamma and Karwei. For example, we transport products from the warehouse in Zwolle to the 389 stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. To achieve this, we had to scale up the fleet very quickly and in addition to new MAN trucks, we have this for regarding the trailers, this was done with the help of Pacton from Ommen. We purchased a series of 20 new curtainsider trailers. During the phased delivery of those trailers, we rented trailers flexibly through Pacton.”
Since 1940
Cotap was founded in 1940 in IJsselmuiden by brothers Jacob and Klaas Bakker. From rush mats, chair seats and floor coverings, the company developed over the decades into the modern flooring company of today. With a wide range of modern and durable floors, from PVC, laminate, parquet, vinyl and carpet. Sustainable equipment and works always receive attention. This is also evident from, for example, the introduction of Vloerretour, our own recycling initiative.
Cotap now coordinates – in addition to transport to its own 2,000 flooring dealers – the weekly transport from the Intergamma warehouse to each of the 389 stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. “We currently work with 35 trucks and 44 semi-trailers, 20 of which are brand new from Pacton. The trailer manufacturer we initially relied on is no longer in operation and that is how we came to Pacton, for reliable and high-quality customization from our own region,” says Timmerman.
Loading dock
The 20 new trailers for Cotap are 13.6 meters long, with a coupling pressure of 15,000 kg and a total axle weight of 27,000 kg. The chassis has been specially adapted at the rear for mounting the D’Hollandia slider tailgate, type DH-SM-20 with a lifting capacity of 2,000 kg.
The SAF air suspension includes three rigid, low-maintenance axles with disc brakes, with the rear axle equipped with Wabco OptiTurn, including Smartboard. LED lamps have been installed all around, including width lamps, stem lamps and flash lamps. The 28mm thick hardwood floor with steel omega profiles has a checker plate at the rear 50 cm for protection when the forklift enters the loading dock.
High-quality sliding tarpaulins
There are three Loadlok rails in the floor, corresponding to the rails in the fixed roof. With a storage option for Loadlok rods in the back of the trailer. There are three freely positionable sliding stanchions on both sides. The sliding tarpaulins made of high-quality double-thread PVC tarpaulin run with nylon rollers in the aluminum roof rails. The sails can be tensioned horizontally at the rear using a ratchet tensioning mechanism and at the front using a quick-tensioning closure (Quick Release). Timmerman: “We unload everything from the side, so opening and closing the curtains must go smoothly. That is why we have also opted for good LED lighting in the trailers.”
After welding, the complete chassis of the new trailers was grit blasted, then shoveled and then sprayed with a two-component primer and finished with a two-component chassis paint. The custom delivery includes tilt plank racks on both sides, a stainless steel tool box on the left, an Orlaco reversing camera, six stake sleeves in the side beam in preparation for a second loading floor, a pull-out ladder at the rear, side shielding for the axle assembly in accordance with EC regulations and in the V-groove of the edge profile two times 19 lashing eyes, with a capacity of 2,500 kg (TÜV certified).
Scale up uniformly
This summer, a new corporate identity was also introduced by Cotap. There will be plenty to see in the new head office in Zwolle for the wholesaler’s own dealers in November, during the InCotap Dealer Days. Including the beautiful fleet of custom Pacton trailers. A moment not to be missed. Timmerman: “For now, after an exciting upscaling, our logistics operation is running well. Now it is gradually becoming important to adjust the knobs here and there for efficiency and optimization. Pacton’s uniform trailers will in any case be a permanent fixture in the coming years.”

