Euroflat-Rail
Development of a rail-compatible, multifunctional lightweight container for cost-sensitive bulk products from the agricultural and forestry sectors
The consideration of product-specific solutions for bulk goods in intermodal transport has largely been neglected, except for minor partial solutions. With the exception of specialized designs, such as the various types of tank containers, containers have not been significantly further developed for alternative applications. In collaboration with a project partner, a road-compatible system for truck roll-off systems made from lightweight hybrid construction components was developed for use with wood products.
Different physical properties apply to rail transport, however, so the Euroflat-Rail project aims to develop a completely new lightweight container system suitable for road, rail, and inland waterways. Wherever possible, existing technology already available in industry should be utilized to create a compatible and easily implementable product. The market requirements for such a container must be taken into account, and the handling of this container system in intermodal transport must also be considered during development. For technical calculations, TU Dresden is involved in the project.
Essentially, three core objectives of the research project can be defined:
- Preparatory studies: market analyses, objectives, requirements, and the state of the art of existing container systems
- Preparation of a specification sheet, development of a maintenance and servicing concept
- Technical calculations: calculation and simulation using lightweight materials
