LAG Motorcoach
Encyclopedia
LAG Motorcoach was the North American subsidiary of LAG Manufacturing Company, of Bree, Belgium
.
s, especially dump and stainless steel
and aluminum tankers. In 1974, a neighbouring firm convinced LAG to diversify into products for passenger transport. After some initial hesitation, LAG introduced a small series of school- and mixed-use buses. By the end of the decade, a dedicated LAG Bus division was created.
The Galaxy 300T was introduced in 1979. It was built on a Renault
or Volvo
chassis, with a DAF or MAN engine. It was also offered later on DAF or Scania
chassis. An integral version was available from 1982. In 1984 the Panoramic 350T was introduced, also as a unibody coach or on others’ chasis. It achieved modest success as an export model luxury touring coach, primarily in the United States because of its relatively low price. The main difference between European and North American LAG coaches was the third (tag) axle on the latter. The lavatory’s position was also optional in America, as it could be located mid-ship on the lower level, or at the rear of the passenger area. In either instance it reduced passenger capacity by four, rather than the more common two seats.
In 1989 the 3-series was replaced by the EOS 100. In the summer of 1990 LAG spun off its coachbuilding operation as the EOS Coach Manufacturing Co. and sold it to nearby manufacturer Van Hool
, which also produced both buses and tank trailers. Under Van Hool management, the product line was expanded:
The EOS line was phased out in 2001-2002, when Van Hool transferred production of its own T9-series coach into the Bree plant.
Bree, Belgium
Bree is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Bree had a total population of 14,503. The total area is 64.96 km² which gives it a population density of 223 inhabitants per square km...
.
History
LAG is a Belgian company founded in 1947 by two brothers, Lambert and Arnold Geusens, hence the name. The two started by manufacturing construction machinery, but soon moved into semi-trailerSemi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
s, especially dump and stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
and aluminum tankers. In 1974, a neighbouring firm convinced LAG to diversify into products for passenger transport. After some initial hesitation, LAG introduced a small series of school- and mixed-use buses. By the end of the decade, a dedicated LAG Bus division was created.
The Galaxy 300T was introduced in 1979. It was built on a Renault
Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks is a French truck manufacturer with its corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it has been owned by Volvo Group since 2001....
or Volvo
Volvo Buses
Volvo Buses is a subsidiary and a business area of the Swedish vehicle maker Volvo, which became an independent division in 1968. It is based in Göteborg....
chassis, with a DAF or MAN engine. It was also offered later on DAF or Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
chassis. An integral version was available from 1982. In 1984 the Panoramic 350T was introduced, also as a unibody coach or on others’ chasis. It achieved modest success as an export model luxury touring coach, primarily in the United States because of its relatively low price. The main difference between European and North American LAG coaches was the third (tag) axle on the latter. The lavatory’s position was also optional in America, as it could be located mid-ship on the lower level, or at the rear of the passenger area. In either instance it reduced passenger capacity by four, rather than the more common two seats.
In 1989 the 3-series was replaced by the EOS 100. In the summer of 1990 LAG spun off its coachbuilding operation as the EOS Coach Manufacturing Co. and sold it to nearby manufacturer Van Hool
Van Hool
Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard van Hool in Koningshooikt, nearby Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe...
, which also produced both buses and tank trailers. Under Van Hool management, the product line was expanded:
| Model | Type | Discontinued |
|---|---|---|
| EOS 80 | short low-height body | late 2000 |
| EOS 90 | short version | early 2001 |
| EOS 90L | 12.8 metres (42 ft) lengthened version | mid 2001 |
| EOS 100 | 1994 | |
| EOS 200 | restyled EOS 100 | early 2003 |
| EOS 200L | restyled EOS 100 12.8 metres (42 ft) lengthened version | mid 2002 |
| EOS 230 | 3-axle 12 metres (39.4 ft) mainly for the UK | unknown |
| EOS 233 | 3-axle 13.6 metres (44.6 ft) long version | mid 2002 |
The EOS line was phased out in 2001-2002, when Van Hool transferred production of its own T9-series coach into the Bree plant.
LAG today
In 1996, the Dutch company Burg Industries BV purchased LAG Trailers NV. In 2010 the Flemish company employed approximately 500 employees, and had an annual production of over 2,000 vehicles of all types.External links
- Official site
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAG