Knapen Trailers

What Knapen Trailers does

Knapen Trailers B.V. is a specialist Dutch manufacturer of moving floor trailers, founded in 1984 by Piet Knapen in Deurne, Netherlands and wholly owned by Krone Commercial Vehicle Group since June 24, 2019. Its product range addresses bulk and general cargo transport through four core platforms (NEXT, HDX, EXSIDE, EXTREME), supplemented by the 2023 KX agricultural variant co-developed with KRONE and proprietary subsystems such as the self-supporting chassis, the hydraulically powered moving floor, the 9-tonne Knapen HD AXLE (developed with Gigant), and the PowerSheet automated tarpaulin system. Core technology spans robotic welding on a solar-powered production line, with manufacturing and assembly concentrated at the Theo van Doesburgstraat facility in Deurne.

The company's go-to-market is built on a certified European dealer and service partner network spanning 25+ countries (Germany, Austria, UK, Nordics, Baltics, Iberia, Benelux, CEE, plus Israel), supported by an internal after-sales team, a dedicated Knapen Parts e-commerce storefront for spare parts, and a compliance function covering warranty, software updates (SUMS), and Code 95 driver training. Revenue streams combine custom-built trailer hardware sales (quote-based per unit), spare-parts e-commerce, and after-sales service contracts, with primary customer segments in transport and logistics, waste and recycling, agriculture, and wood/forestry operators. Knapen holds the position of European market leader in its category, anchored by category-defining inventions (first European moving floor trailer in 1984, self-supporting chassis in 1988, EXSIDE concept in 2020) and the 2021 Trailer Innovation Award for the EXSIDE design.

Ownership, structure, and scale: privately held under Krone Commercial Vehicle Group with the group containing multiple wholly-owned BVs (Knapen Trailers B.V., Knapen Trailers International B.V., Knapen Service B.V., Trailned B.V., and Stapelstenen B.V.); a headcount band of 251-500 employees; financial figures including revenue are not publicly disclosed. Operations remain independent within the Krone family, leveraging Gigant's axle engineering and Krone's commercial vehicle scale while preserving the Knapen brand identity across European markets.

Name

Knapen Trailers

Legal name

Knapen Trailers B.V.

Website

https://knapen-trailers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Knapen Trailers B.V. is a Dutch specialty manufacturer of moving floor trailers serving European transport, waste, agriculture, and general-cargo operators through four core platforms (NEXT, HDX, EXSIDE, EXTREME) and a 25-country certified dealer network, wholly owned by Krone Commercial Vehicle Group since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Moving Floor Trailers

NAICS

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715)

akta.pro primary industry

Semi-Trailer Manufacturing (Dry Van/Reefer/Tanker/Lowboy) (IMACAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (Dry Van/Reefer/Flatbed/Tanker) (IMACABAH)

Keywords

• Moving floor trailers
• Commercial vehicle manufacturing
• Bulk transport trailers
• Heavy duty trailers
• Trailer after-sales service

Headquarters

HQ city

Deurne

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trailer Sales: Knapen Trailers designs and manufactures custom moving floor trailers sold to transport companies, waste management firms, agricultural businesses, and logistics operators across Europe. Trailers are produced to order without technical risks. Four main product lines: NEXT (standard all-rounder since 1984), HDX (heavy duty for rough terrain), EXSIDE (fully openable side doors with 12.9m opening), and EXTREME (for scrap and heavy waste).
2. Spare Parts Sales: Spare parts are sold through the Knapen Parts web store (www.knapen-parts.com). Certified service partners hold most standard parts in stock for quick turnaround. Parts include original replacement components for all trailer models.
3. After-Sales Service and Support: After-sales support including warranty services, technical training (Code 95 driver training, technical training for dealers and service partners), software updates, and technical documentation. Available 24/7 for breakdowns and emergencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Knapen Trailers designs, manufactures and services custom-built moving floor trailers for the European commercial transport market. Its four core product lines — NEXT (general all-rounder), HDX (heavy duty for rough terrain), EXSIDE (fully openable side doors) and EXTREME (scrap and waste) — are produced to order at its solar-powered, robotically welded factory in Deurne, Netherlands, and supported through a certified dealer and service partner network with an online spare parts store.

Product overview

Knapen Trailers is a specialist manufacturer of moving floor trailers, offering four distinct product lines: NEXT (the all-rounder for general cargo and bulk transport), HDX (Heavy Duty version for rough terrain and off-road use), EXSIDE (innovative side-door model with 12.9m opening, winner of the 2021 Trailer Innovation Award), and EXTREME (ultra-robust model for scrap and waste transport). All trailers feature the proprietary moving floor system and self-supporting chassis construction invented by Knapen. The company also produces the KX agricultural variant in collaboration with KRONE. Core technologies include the hydraulically-powered moving floor system and the HD AXLE component developed with Gigant. All trailers are robotically welded using solar energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEXT: Standard moving floor trailer model with rugged functional design, robotic welding, and proven quality since 1984
• HDX
• EXSIDE
• EXTREME
• PowerSheet

Products and services

• NEXT Moving Floor Trailer The all-rounder moving floor trailer with rugged functional design, offered since 1984 and relaunched as the NEXT in 2016. Features fully robotically welded construction, self-supporting chassis design, and the lightest weight in its class. Sold to transport and logistics operators across Europe through certified dealers.
• HDX Heavy Duty Moving Floor Trailer Heavy Duty moving floor trailer for rough terrain and off-road use, with extensive reinforcements throughout the chassis and body. Available with steel or aluminium chassis and marketed as the lightest Heavy Duty moving floor trailer on the market. Targets construction, demolition and agricultural operators working in difficult conditions.
• EXSIDE Moving Floor Trailer Moving floor trailer with fully openable side doors offering a unique 12.9-metre loading width. The mid post between side door openings slides completely to the side to create an uninterrupted opening, and a liftable upper beam adds 30 cm of working height. Winner of the 2021 Trailer Innovation Award. Designed for general cargo, palletised loads and forestry products.
• EXTREME Moving Floor Trailer The ultimate safe alternative to large-volume scrap tipper trailers, made from exceptionally wear-resistant steel. Designed for transporting heavily abrasive materials including scrap metal, rubble, bulky waste, end-of-life vehicles and construction debris. Features fully self-supporting construction and is approximately 500 kg lighter than competing scrap tipper trailers. Targets waste management and recycling operators.
• Knapen KX Moving Floor Trailer Moving floor trailer series launched in 2023 in collaboration with KRONE, equipped as standard with specific agricultural options ideal for versatile field use and universal agricultural applications such as maize, straw, grain, sugar beet and compost transport.
• Knapen After-Sales Service and Support After-sales service offering including warranty processing, technical training (Code 95 driver training plus dealer and service partner training), software updates, technical documentation, and 24/7 emergency breakdown support delivered through an internal after-sales team and a certified European service partner network.
• Knapen Parts Spare Parts Store Online spare parts store selling original replacement parts for Knapen moving floor trailers. Available 24/7 to fleet operators and certified service partners across Europe for fast parts turnaround.

Quantifiable outcome

• Self-supporting chassis increased volume from 80 m³ to nearly 90 m³ and reduced own weight to 7,980 kg (1988)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GigantcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Knapen developed the Knapen 9T HD AXLE in cooperation with Gigant, a partner within the Krone family. With over 60 years of experience in designing and manufacturing axles and specialization in HD axles for heavy-duty applications, Gigant was the ideal partner to create the Knapen HD AXLE. The axle uses proven Gigant technology including SKF bearings, Haldex disc brakes, and Jurid brake pads, adapted specifically for Knapen moving floor trailers.
• Trailerpartner AScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Trailerpartner AS is the Norwegian dealer for Knapen Trailers. They collaborated with Knapen to build a unique EXSIDE Long-HGV combination for a Norwegian transport company, featuring a 25.25m vehicle combination with over 147 m³ loading volume.
• Krone Commercial Vehicle GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2019On June 24, 2019, Krone Commercial Vehicle Group acquired 100% of the shares of Knapen Group. As the European market leader in moving floor trailers, Knapen became part of one of Europe's largest and leading trailer manufacturers and a global agricultural machinery company. Knapen operates totally independently under the Krone umbrella while benefiting from group resources for future expansion opportunities in both sectors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Cargo Floor: Dutch designer and manufacturer of hydraulic moving floor drive systems used across the trailer industry, including Knapen. Adjacent as a critical technology supplier (and therefore enabler / competitor-in-spirit) for the European moving floor trailer category.

Broad incumbents

• Humbaur: German trailer manufacturer producing utility, tipping, and platform trailers plus car/horse transporters. Comparable on European dealer channel, premium German manufacturing positioning, and vocational trailer customization approach.
• Kögel Trailer: German semi-trailer manufacturer producing dry van, reefer, platform, and tipper trailers. Comparable on European fleet relationships, vocational trailer specialization, and dealer-driven sales model.
• Wielton Group: European trailer group producing tippers, curtainsiders, container chassis and semi-trailers across multiple plants including Langendorf and Tisvol. Comparable through its broad European footprint and dealer network, similar to Krone/Knapen's route-to-market model.
• Schmitz Cargobull: Europe's largest trailer manufacturer with a broad semi-trailer portfolio (dry van, reefer, tipper, container chassis). Highly comparable to Knapen's NEXT platform and a benchmark for European fleet-dealer economics and aftermarket monetization.
• Lamberet (Lamberet Vehicles Industriels): French refrigerated and specialty trailer manufacturer. Comparable through its specialty-trailer focus, European dealer network, and customization-heavy build-to-order production model akin to Knapen's four product lines.

Regional players

• Tırsan Treyler: Largest trailer manufacturer in Turkey with growing European footprint. Comparable on product breadth across tipper, curtainsider, and platform trailers serving waste, agricultural, and general cargo fleets similar to Knapen's segments.

Direct peers

• Krone Commercial Vehicle Group: Parent company and Europe's largest trailer manufacturer with overlapping dry van, reefer, and container chassis product lines. Direct comparison because Krone itself produces moving floor and tipping trailers in adjacent categories, plus it owns Knapen and sets the strategic roadmap for the group.
• Fliegl Fahrzeugbau: German manufacturer of tippers, dump trailers, and moving floor trailers. The most direct competitive peer, producing moving floor / walking floor trailers in similar agricultural and waste use cases to Knapen's NEXT and EXTREME.
• Talson Fahrzeugbau: German/Dutch manufacturer specializing in curtainsider and box semi-trailers. Comparable geographic concentration in DACH and Benelux regions, similarly serving European transport, paper-roll, and general cargo fleets overlapping with EXSIDE and NEXT buyers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqoIiJZDgI44r5DkNPtouuw
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• Xx.com/knapentrailers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knapen Trailers