Nowatzki Logistik: special freight transport with the Actros

In the transport sector, most customers are located in the Hildesheim region. The manufacturer of the curved parts, Transnorm System, is located only a few kilometres away. "Here, traditionally there are a lot of companies that do not offer standard goods or services, but highly specialised products in one way or another," says Nowatzki. "That explains why we positioned ourselves right from the start as problem-solvers and quality leaders." The drivers travel in Germany and just over the border in neighbouring countries. In many other countries, there are fixed partner freight companies working. Most of the freight business is done directly. "We distinguish ourselves from the classical system freight business." Outside the consolidated freight system, each consignment can be given individual attention. "The trucks are coordinated with precision to take on and deliver each consignment, particularly fragile cargo, and it is not endangered by a number of combined consignments or reloading. At the delivery destinations, we give priority to return loads from the suppliers of our customers, so we can function as a procurement logistics provider too."

One of the customers in the region is GreCon Dimter Holzoptimierung. The company's manufacturing facility is located in Alfeld/Leine, at the "Fagus" works. The premises, a Gropius building built in 1911, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Höveling the driver, however, is only interested in the cargo he has to load on to the trailer of his drawbar combination: many metres long and weighing tonnes, it is a component of a finger-jointing machine for furniture manufacture. One of the staff members of the manufacturer slowly lowers the monster by crane. Just a few centimetres above the platform, the driver uses all of his strength to move it into the right position – before he expertly and carefully goes about securing the load.

Whether it is a finger-jointing line, goods in sacks that are difficult to secure, or a drinks machine: the cargo is secured by an innovative system that the Nowatzkis developed in collaboration with body manufacturers. Essentially, it consists of a number of perforated rails lengthwise and crosswise, together with reinforced, removable aluminium boards on the platforms. "A conventional body has about ten attachment points left and right. That means there are always securing belts running through the cargo area, which is a waste of space," explains Carsten Nowatzki. The perforated rails incorporate a total of about 600 points for belts and wedges or for safety nets, which we also developed ourselves." That means that each piece can be secured in the best way possible with no space wasted, and be free standing if necessary. Loads with different heights can stand next to each other too. For example, Höveling has placed slatted crates next to the curved conveyor belt parts. "A good example for how we also transport conventional cargo," says Nowatzki: "We also use double-decker systems. This mixture enables us to use all the truck capacity, making us cost-effective."