Van Hool

Van Hool [ vɑnɦo ː l] is a Belgian manufacturer of commercial vehicles for city buses, trolley buses, coaches and trailers, chassis and tank containers. The company was in Koningshooikt (near Lier ) by Bernard Van Hool in 1947.

In February 1957, with Fiat an agreement for the supply of diesel engines and mechanical components such as gearbox and axles signed. The company has developed from a coachbuilder to full-fledged manufacturer of complete lines and coaches, which carried the brand name of Van Hool - Fiat. In addition, however, the company remained a renowned coachbuilder what this further expansion enabled. 1981, the agreement was terminated with Fiat. The collaboration between Van Hool and Fiat has been very successful at the beginning: the 100th Van Hool - Fiat - bus was in August 1958 already passed and in July 1961, the 500th Van Hool - Fiat - coach.

Some buses are made entirely of Van Hool. As a supplier of drive axles and act Cummins and MAN. Gearbox supplied by ZF and Voith. In essence, however chassis from Mercedes -Benz, Volvo and Scania are used.

Van Hool manufactures 15 bus and 13 coach types.

Here is an overview of the low-floor buses:

Overview of low-floor buses with alternative drive system:

Worldwide Van Hool has approximately 4000 employees and annually produces about 1,200 buses and 4,000 semi-trailers and tank containers, the export rate is over 80 % (as of 2012).

Important bus networks with Van Hool vehicles

• Since 1991, the airport bus to the airport, Algiers, including since 2012 the largest airport buses in the world
• Busway lines Mettis in Metz Since 2013