Logistics company Decoster & Cie owns the companies Knulog srl and Tof sarl that operate respectively from Belgium (Soignies) and France (Fougerolles) in the very specific sector of the transport of cryogenic products: medical oxygen, technical oxygen, nitrogen , argon CO2 and chemicals. Their experience in handling and transporting cryogenic products allows them an authorized opinion about LNG. So the fact that after testing a Scania LNG tractor for 18 months they decided to purchase three additional ones for their operations means a lot.
Decoster & Cie has 12 vehicles in Belgium and 11 in France. The Belgian fleet is 100% Scania. Knulog's transport starts from its main loader in Seneffe to supply customers in Belgium as well as in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. Their customers are hospitals, oxygen cylinder distributors, fish farms, pharmaceutical, metallurgical, agrifood companies and heavy industries.
In 2019 the Company decided to purchase the first Scania R410 LNG for the Knulog's fleet. “Initially, this acquisition was motivated by a desire to test an alternative solution in a sector that we feel is in full evolution while taking care of our image,” explained Jacques Cannuyer, Administrator of Knulog and Tof "It was also about anticipating the green orientation that our main charger is taking. In use, I quickly noticed that the higher investment required for this vehicle and its generator compared to a conventional tractor was clearly offset by lower fuel costs. Moreover, even if the road tax remains applicable on the Walloon side, there is purchase aid for this type of vehicle. So the investment is already profitable after three years! So many reasons that by next July we will have replaced three other diesel tractors in our fleet with Scania LNGs. This development is all the more justified for us as LNG supply stations are developing more and more. "
“We dedicate these vehicles to medical transport where we work with 20 and 30 foot chassis and where the routes are clearly defined as well as the refueling points. While our first R410 LNG is focused on Belgium, the three new ones will tour Brittany, Alsace and the North of France, including Paris. "
Used to relying on Scania Finance for its acquisitions, Knulog generally works on a five-year buy-back for its S650 and S450 fleet. With an average of 100,000 to 130,000 km per year, Scania LNGs are intended to remain in the fleet for 6 to 7 years.
“You have to realize that in our transport niche, vehicles must always be operational, 52 weeks a year, including public holidays. We have the necessary exemptions for this. Scania responds to this need for reliability and availability both in terms of products and service. We have entered into maintenance and repair contracts for these vehicles, which are essential in our activity, and which are covered by the Scania Charleroi and Scania Péruwelz dealers. "
Source: Scania Belgium