Knapen Trailers: Durable zinc flake fasteners and RFID inventory
Knapen Trailers (based in Deurne, NL) manufactures sliding-floor trailers that are exposed to harsh weather year-round. To fight corrosion, Knapen uses a unique range of zinc flake–coated fasteners supplied by Fabory. Every week, Knapen’s production floor handles thousands of these special fasteners: around hundreds per trailer, used throughout the chassis, floor frame, upper structure, and various components.
The power of zinc flake protection
Johan van Hommelen, strategic purchaser at Knapen, explains why this coating is critical: “Our trailers, and therefore the fasteners used, are exposed to the elements year after year. The impact of the weather on these materials is significant.”
Unlike standard zinc-plated bolts, zinc flake fasteners have a thin, non-electrolytic coating that provides high corrosion resistance without adding much thickness. This ensures bolts fit and perform well even in tight tolerances, while greatly extending their lifespan against rust.
Smart inventory with RFID technology
To manage the large variety and volume of fasteners, Knapen leverages an RFID-based stock management solution with Fabory. Each bin of fasteners is tagged; when supplies run low, the system automatically signals an order. “The entire ordering process, including the zinc flake fasteners, is managed through this system,” Van Hommelen notes.
This means Knapen always has the right fasteners on hand without manual ordering, saving time and preventing any assembly delays. In short, Fabory’s combination of specialized fasteners and smart inventory ensures Knapen’s trailers are built tough and on schedule.
Interested in the benefits of zinc flake fasteners? Learn more.
