THE newest ideas in European trailers were on display for five days in November at TRAILER 2001, the international exhibition that focuses on the cargo carrier, not the power unit. Held every-other year in Kortrijk, Belgium, this ninth edition of the biggest all-trailer show in the world featured more exhibit space (375,000 sq ft) and more registered visitors (24,000) than ever before. Some 53 brands of truck trailers were on display.
Visitors came from 36 different countries, including many from North America and Asia, and they had no trouble understanding at least one of the four official languages: Dutch, English, French and German (DEFG).
Kortrijk is no out-of-the-way place. It is located only 60 miles from Brussels, the capital of Europe, 30 miles from historical cities such as Bruges and Ghent, 60 miles from the big port at Antwerp, and 20 miles from Lille Metropole in France.
The Trailer show is sponsored by SAV, the Flemish and Brussels trucking trade association originally founded in 1933 and headquartered in Ghent. The next edition, TRAILER 2003, will be held November 21 to 25, 2003. For information, call 011 32 92 10 82 10.