The benefit of printed curtainsiders

With rail transportation rapidly gaining popularity as a sustainable alternative to road transportation, the demand for (technically) durable rail vehicles is also growing. So too, are these so-called "Shimmns" for steel coil transport.

Brasserie Goudale (Arques, France) distributes its beer brands with TSA Transports in Calais. Over the past years, both brewer and transporter agreed that they would change their side-curtains to the high-quality standard that our SolidskinTec printing process provides, improving their marketing appearance and durability on the road.

With a fleet of over 1000 electric vehicles, the successful online supermarket Picnic won the hearts and minds of the Dutch consumer. The eye-catching electric vans with printed sidecurtains with SolidskinTec, address a fundamental flaw in online grocery shopping and delivery; its impact on carbon emissions. We’re happy and proud they chose our printed side curtains with SolidskinTec.

Since the introduction of the new corporate identities of Zandbergen and Ambrosius in 2015, about two hundred trucks have been equipped with Solidskin side curtains. A conscious choice: besides SolidskinTec printed curtainsiders, other types of printed truck side curtains have been on the road to test their quality and sustainability. According to Erik Zandbergen, director and fleetmanager, Solidskin offers an unrivaled quality.

The exposure of materials on trains requires extreme robustness. Besides the challenging conditions the textiles are exposed to, such as rain, wind, and UV-radiation, they must also withstand the copper deposit created by the grinding of the current train collector against the overhead contact line. Very aggressive cleaning methods are needed to remove this deposit from the materials. Our printing technology is dirt resistant and does not break in this challenging cleaning regime.

In 2010 Smurfit Kappa started driving with side curtains printed and protected with SolidskinTec. Seven years later more than 200 of these curtains are (still) driving and look great with their high-gloss finish and deep black appearance. Smurfit Kappa embraces the sturdy quality and cost-reducing low maintenance of a Solidskin truck curtain.

Van Houweling Transport recognizes the importance of the appearance of their car park as a tool for their reputation management. With side curtains printed with SolidskinTec, they can easily maintain their high-quality appearance for years to come.

With a fleet of over 50 trailers, FLO Palettes - Groupement FLO chose to print their curtainsiders with SolidskinTec. For many years, these trucks have been a well-known sight in France.

Some pictures from our partner TOLDOS URCA, S.L (Spain) for Estrella Galicia on this Kögel Trailer GmbH. The design is printed with our SolidskinTec printing process and is the choice of the strongest brands across Europe. The high-quality print and deep blacks and varnishing effect really make the design stand out and it will for years to come.

Grupo Logístico Arnedo is the leading national transportation company in Spain. With printed SolidskinTec side curtains fitted by Toldos Urca, their fleet of 240 trucks is protected against the harsh Spanish sun and heavy roads. The dirt-repellent characteristics also mean that the company can reduce the cleaning program of the curtain-siders.

A full-color truck side curtains are a perfect way to profile a product or service to the public. To create a compelling message and utilize the opportunities to their fullest, there are a few things to consider when coming up with the design. Here are 8 points to consider when designing curtain sides for lorries.