Sleipner has developed a new type of low-bed trailer that can travel across rough terrain and even in tight spaces. The compact DB45 is designed for moving surface drills and bulldozers weighing up to 45 tonnes.
The new DB45 low-bed trailer is designed to work in temperatures from -40 degrees to +50 degrees Celsius. The new model is already in production and is currently being used in the snowy conditions in Northern Finland.
"We have presented our new low-bed trailer to our representatives around the world, and it has attracted great interest. The customer base and potential are significantly larger than with our previous products. This product has been long and eagerly awaited. The experiences of the first users have been really positive," says Teijo Höylä, CTO at Sleipner.
The DB45 trailer is not permanently connected to the towing unit. It is towed by an articulated dump truck (ADT). The trailer can be connected to the ADT whenever needed, leaving the ADT available for normal tasks at other times. Connecting and disconnecting the trailer only takes a few minutes.
"The DB45 offroad trailer can access places where heavy machinery could not previously be transported. Articulated dump trucks are agile and have six-wheel drive, allowing them to be operated even in difficult terrain. The trailer wheels have a diameter of 1.5 metres, so the difference is significant compared to traditional road trailers. The big wheels offer superior offroad capabilities," Höylä explains.
The DB45 low-bed trailer is ideal for transfers of even just a few hundred metres since it is fast and safe to load. Sleipner says that its agility is a big advantage in mines and quarries, where surface drills often need to be manoeuvred into tight places. Suitable applications also include major earthmoving operations and other similar closed sites, as well as dams, airports, railway construction sites, and even long pipeline projects.
"Projects like this require excavators, bulldozers, and surface drills involving long transport distances and challenging terrain that can't be accessed by traditional equipment. Our solution provides a clear advantage in major long-term infrastructure projects that require agility and offroad capabilities," Höylä says.
Sleipner says that the DB45 low-bed trailer requires significantly less maintenance compared to traditional low-bed trailers designed for roads. The ADT-specific towing hitch is attached by bolting, and couplings for electricity and brakes are also required. Installation kits for towing hitches are available for all the most common ADT brands. Equipping an ADT with a towing hitch takes less than a day. A towing hitch can be installed on as many ATDs as necessary, allowing the trailer to be used flexibly as needed.
"If a surface drill or other machine breaks down, it disrupts the entire production plan. With our solution, a replacement machine can be brought to the location and the broken one can be transported to the workshop for safe maintenance, out of the weather and rain. In this way, disruptions to production can be minimized while at the same time increasing the utilization rate of drills and other heavy machinery," says Höylä.
