Family firm BCW – Berlaarse Constructie Werken – based in Berlaar has been designing and building trailers for more than 40 years. With its wide range of motorbike trailers, tippers, box trailers and machinery carriers, BCW focuses mainly on the B2B market.
“Sirris simplified the current design and pinpointed areas for improvement.”
Lasting quality at an affordable price was the objective for BCW as it went about optimising an existing trailer model, a tipper with a complex structure and several crossmembers. The Berlaar-based firm had two main goals. Firstly, the construction needed to be simpler and lighter: a streamlined design not only looks better but is also more economic. Secondly, it wanted to consider using alternative materials and components. For example, wear-resistant aluminium snap-on panels make assembly easier, while adapted suspension enhances driving comfort.
With this checklist in mind, Sirris devised a new, simplified concept for the BCW tipper. The focus was on the chassis and suspension, the choice of material and the design of the crossmembers linking the various parts together. Using computer simulations, Sirris analysed what effect different types of load and driving conditions would have on the simplified design. The computer animations identified a number of areas where the existing design could be improved.
Sirris was able to take BCW’s tipper design to the next level without costs spiralling. A simplified chassis made from light but strong material, a simpler, more aesthetically appealing structure with fewer crossmembers and welding...just a few adjustments that will benefit both BCW and its customers. BCW will also need to adapt its manufacturing methods in order to bring the new model to market, and has again chosen Sirris to assist it with this vital follow-up project.