TAV supporting the development of HCT combinations
HCT (High Capacity Transport) refers to vehicle combinations that are larger or heavier than conventional road transport combinations. Finland is one of the European pioneers in HCT transport, with longer and heavier combinations already forming an established part of domestic freight operations. As HCT vehicle combinations become more common, transport capacity increases and larger volumes of goods can be moved in a single journey. At the same time, greater demands are placed on coupling devices and related equipment.
TAV closely follows developments within the transport industry and works together with transport operators to ensure that our products meet both current and future requirements. In Finland, the maximum permitted gross combination weight increased to 76 tonnes in 2013, and the maximum permitted vehicle combination length was extended to 34.5 metres in 2019. TAV has been involved in this development since the earliest trial phases.
Vehicle combinations exceeding 25 metres in length, identified by the familiar PITKÄ sign, are now a common sight on Finnish roads. As vehicle combinations grow longer and heavier, the loads placed on couplings, drawbeams and accessories also increase. In HCT operation, correct sizing, durability and reliable performance in changing driving conditions are essential.
TAV has supplied coupling devices for a number of HCT combinations with gross combination weights exceeding 80 tonnes and, in some cases, approaching 100 tonnes. We have participated in several HCT development projects as a coupling device specialist, beginning at a stage when new vehicle configurations and higher gross weights were still being tested in real-world operation. This has provided valuable insight into the loads experienced by coupling systems and the direction in which industry requirements continue to develop.
The knowledge gained through these projects is also applied to product design and development. Practical experience and customer feedback help us understand how coupling devices perform in everyday operation and what transport professionals expect from them today and in the future. This enables us to develop coupling solutions that meet the requirements of both current and future vehicle combinations.
The TAV220 drawbeam and TAV50D-V3 coupling are good examples of this approach. Both products have been designed specifically for heavy vehicle combinations and demanding transport applications. Both feature a D value of 220 kN and a Dc value of 160 kN. The TAV220 is intended for heavier-than-standard vehicle combinations, while the TAV50D-V3 has been developed specifically for dolly applications where exceptional durability and operational reliability are required.
The design of both the TAV220 drawbeam and the TAV50D-V3 coupling benefits from experience gained through HCT combinations and their increasing gross weights. While these products are designed for today’s HCT combinations, their dimensions and load capacity have also been developed with future requirements in mind. As vehicle combinations continue to evolve, coupling devices must be able to handle higher loads without compromising safety or reliability.
More than a decade of experience with HCT combinations has shown that practical, reliable solutions quickly become part of everyday transport operations. Customer feedback, real-world experience and long-term product development continue to help us create solutions that transport professionals can rely on, both today and in the HCT fleets of tomorrow.
