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APRIL 2015
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SPMTS
actingworldwide,”he added. “Thus the
finalworkdestination isnot so easy to
identify anddue to the long lifetimeof
the equipment, the equipment isworking
everywhereduring itsutilizationperiod.”
TransportingSPMTs across theglobe
became abit of an issue in the2000s.
Due to reclassificationofCustoms codes,
SPMTswerebeing charged a25percent
duty taxupon arrival in theUnitedStates.
This caused all sorts of problems for the
importer and exporter alikebecause it
wasn’t clearwhowas on thehook for
that large sumofmoney. Just recently
was it resolved andSPMTs can againbe
importedduty-free.
“Luckily the changeof theharmonized
codeof the self-propelled equipment is
now sorted and thenew codegivesmore
stability into theprocess again,” said
Auerbacher. “Theuncleardefined code
over the last years caused anuncertainty,
whichmade somedecisions slower and
heldback a few investment plans.”
In thepast, someof thesebigmovesnow
carriedout bySPMTsweredonewith
traditional trailers. In thisday and age,
contractorshavemoreoptions. Themore
complicated amove is, themore likely it
is tobedonebySPMT, as long as it’snot
going too far.
“The flexibilityofmodular systems
isunbeatable and as soon as flexibility
is required, there isnodifferent option
for real heavymoves,” saidAuerbacher.
“Surely there aredifferent types of
equipment available in themarket,which
however servesdifferent applications and
hasdifferent requirements, but there is a
certaindevelopment thatmore andmore
transport tasks aredonewithmodular
equipment,whichwasdonewithdifferent
trailers in thepast.”
TheSPMT technology essentially
sells itself.Goldhofer’sdomestic and
internationalmarkets continue togrow.
Their axle lines canbe seen all over the
world.
“Thehighqualityof the equipmentwith
all its technical features togetherwith the
performanceof thepeopleworking at
Goldhofer iswhat sets apartGoldhofer
equipment,” saidAuerbacher. “For each
transportation task,Goldhoferhas an
individual solution tomake the customer
successful.”
Anothermanufacturerpushing flexible
solutions isFaymonvilleout ofBelgium.
TheirnewPowerMaxmodular vehicle fills
inwhere traditional heavy-load tractors
no longerhave sufficient pulling force
tomove extremelyheavy loads. They
offer twodifferent systems, theAPMC
Enerpac entered the SPMTmarket seven years ago.
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