E-commerce focused cargo control offerings from Kinedyne

Cargo control system maker Kinedyne LLC noted that many of its latest products are going to be particularly well-tuned to dealing with the demands of e-commerce, according to Paul Wolford, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing.

“E-commerce is changing the way shippers move their goods and the delivery speed expectations of both consumers and commercial customers – and that’s creating new cargo challenges,” he explained during a press event at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show this week.

“In the beginning, e-commerce had the greatest disruptive effect on end-of-the-line, also known as ‘final-mile’ or ‘last-mile’ delivery activities,” Wolford added. “But now companies throughout the supply chain are looking for ways to minimize transportation costs for cargo as it moves more swiftly throughout multiple transportation modes.”

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Kinedyne's double-decking system.

To that end, Kinedyne is bringing cargo control systems used extensively in Europe to North America as the firm feels those products will help supply chains optimize the "speed, cost, and efficiency" of controlling cargo as it transitions from its "original state" – as a raw commodity – to a” high-density” state in distribution centers and warehouses before finally reaching a “low-density” state as goods are delivered through the last mile to businesses and consumers.

Those cargo control offerings include:

A load-rated curtain-side system: This curtain-wall system with a reinforced structural profile turns a lighter-weight flatbed trailer into one with dry van cargo-carrying capabilities. The system is suitable for trailers up to 53 ft. in length, Wolford noted, and allows for rapid access to cargo space on both ends within mere seconds. It can handle palletized cargo, double-decking, rack-mounted goods and the transport of beverages. The 30,000-lb. load rated curtain walls also provide a high degree of securement force, he added.

Double-decking system for curtain-side applications: This enables users to optimize the cargo capacity of the load-rated curtain-side system, with configurations supporting between 13,000 and 24,000 lbs. on their second loading levels.

Fast-access curtain-side systems for straight trucks: This particular curtain-side system is specially designed for fast and repetitive city distribution and short truck bodies of up to 28 ft. Kinedyne said. The cargo space can be swiftly opened, accessed from both sides and closed again within seconds and can be combined with a sliding roof and rear doors, creating a totally open cargo access environment.

Quick-release curtain-side system for standard and tapered bodies: This flexible quick-release latching system is particularly well suited for truck bodies that are tapered at their top, noted Kinedyne. Skewed body construction often occurs when unique cargo must be accommodated, such as beverage and glass truck applications. This ergonomic system replaces cumbersome buckle closures and heavy roll-up doors that require stretching and straining to close.

Patented ultra-smooth sliding roof system: It features patented folding plates that can be paired with

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Kinedyne's roof sliding system.

an extended range of aluminum rails or combined with other curtain-style rapid-access products. The sliding roof makes the loading and unloading of long cargo easier, allowing for the use of over-head cranes. Users can choose between a traditional rear-to-front sliding roof or a sliding roof that opens and closes at both ends. Special patented security accessories are also available, the company said.

Kinedyne noted that all of its curtain-side and retractable roofs are equipped with patented roller technology that makes opening and closing them faster, safer, and less ergonomically challenging.

The three-roller design includes a steel horizontal roller that ensures effortless sliding and prevents the curtain from binding even when being briskly opened and closed, it said.

Wolford added that Kinedyne tapped the resources of its sister company, Wistra Cargo Control, and one of its European suppliers, Versus-Omega, to develop and then bring some of those systems – especially the load-rated curtain-side system – to North America..

“Popular in Europe, load-rated curtains become part of a vehicle’s overall load securement system; saving time, weight and fuel, while providing sideways restraint to otherwise fully secured loads up to the curtain’s stated rating,” he explained.

“Our rated curtains will display their load rating as either allowable weight per pallet width, allowable weight per pallet space or total payload of evenly distributed pallets across the entire deck space,” Wolford added. “Forward and rear cargo restraint must still be provided by headboards, tailboards and other traditional load securement methods.”