US-based trailer aerokits company Freight Wing plans to launch its range of aerokits in South Africa with its local partner, designer and manufacturer of fibreglass refrigerated and dry freight vehicles Serco, following its success in the US market where it has supplied in excess of 100 000 aerokits.

Increasing fuel costs have forced companies to place greater emphasis on improving trailer aerodynamics as a way to reduce fuel and carbon emissions.

Freight Wing has created the Aeroflex System, which is described as the ‘complete solution’ to trailer aerodynamics, as it combines skirts, gap and tail fairings.
US Freight Wing COO Coty Hollifield attended a breakfast in April, in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, to give a presentation on Aeroflex. He explained that it helped reduce wind drag under a trailer and was particularly suitable for vehicles travelling long distances.

“The South African market is a fair way behind the European, UK and US markets in terms of embracing fuel-saving aerokits for trailers. We expect interest in the solution will grow as it proves itself to local transporters,” says Serco MD Clinton Holcroft.

He notes that there is a gap in the South African market for the aerokits. “Local suppliers of aerokits have focused mainly on aerokits for trucks and truck tractors but there is little available for trailers,” adds Holcroft.

The lightweight flexible plastic panels used on the side skirts of trailers are resilient in the event of contact with fixed objects, have a smooth finish and provide an ideal surface for branding with a potentially attractive payback, he notes.

“The aerokits will achieve maximum savings for long-distance semitrailers, as the higher the average speed travelled, the higher the fuel saving potential,” Holcroft says, adding that the kits mostly benefit logistics, transportation and delivery companies.

He highlights that the US products are tried and tested and have been certified to ensure their fuel saving potential. The product is particularly suitable for the local South African market owing to its durability and light weight, given the challenging local terrain and heavy loads often carried.

Hollifield says the side skirts have, in independent testing in the US, achieved savings of 7.45% and, as a result, have grown in popularity as transporters look for a competitive edge.
Freight Wing has formally tested the Aeroflex product on a Serco trailer at the Gerotek vehicle testing facility, in Pretoria. Conditions for the test were stringent and in line with parameters required in the US.

The test was undertaken over a two-day period and monitored variables such as tyre pressure, trailer and truck weight, driver habits, temperature and wind speed to ensure accurate measurements of the fuel consumption with and without the aeroflex skirts fitted.
At 80 km/h, a minimum saving of 2.5% fuel was achieved. “This percentage is significant because such a saving can result in a payback period of less than 12 months,” notes Holcroft.
During the testing, Serco picked up some ideas to fine-tune the fitment to achieve a result more in line with the proven fuel savings achieved in the US. “We are now in the process of refining our fitment techniques, which we believe will get fuel savings close to our target of 5%,” says Holcroft.
Serco has devised a return on investment calculator, which is available on the com- pany’s website, to enable customers to gauge the sort of payback they could achieve with the Aeroflex fairings.
Holcroft says Aerokits for a semitrailer will cost around R17 000, providing return on investment in less than 12 months. The company believes that saving on running costs while going green is made easier with the Aeroflex solution.

“We would really like to grow the market for trailer Aerokits in South Africa so as to offer our local customers a competitive advantage by reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. We want to ensure that the local market keeps abreast of global trends in reduc- ing carbon emissions,” concludes Holcroft.