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| Alcoa announces new product for tipper trailer construction |
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To bring these operational advantages to the highly-abrasive work environment of tipper trailers Alcoa, the world’s leading manufacturer of primary and fabricated aluminium, has announced an ultra-rugged shate material of exceptional surface hardness and abrasion resistance: Endur-Al.
Endur-Al is an advanced 5456 alloy in H34 temper that was originally developed to withstand the extreme rigours of maritime applications. Its performance characteristics: extreme surface hardness; outstanding resistance to abrasion; excellent corrosion resistance and superior workability have proved under extensive testing to be uniquely suited for the construction of tipper trailer sides and floors. These characteristics ensure a significantly longer service life, irrespective of the materials being transported – and with no protective surface coating needed, cleaning is easy and the maintenance requirement is minimal compared to steel.
Tipper trailer designs optimised for aluminium normally weigh between 20 and 30% less than steel bodies of equivalent strength, stiffness and durability. With the high-density loads normally carried, this dramatic reduction in dead weight not only increases payloads by about 1 tonne for the average trailer box, but also improves fuel efficiency when empty. For the operator, this means significantly more revenue for each delivery and/or cost savings that can allow more competitive rates.
The average one tonne reduction in the dead weight of a tipper trailer is estimated to save some 1,300 litres of diesel over 100,000 km. Over the lifespan of the vehicle, the consequent reduction in CO2 emissions is in the region of 42 tonnes.
Commenting at the launch of the material, Alcoa’s (Marketing Manager), Andrea Tonin said: “Taking primary production, operational use and eventual recycling into account, every kilo of aluminium in a large trailer saves at least 20kg of CO2. And because aluminium is so easy and inexpensive to recycle, Endur-Al bodied trailers retain consistently high residual value right up to the end of the vehicle lifecycle. Not only does this deliver financial benefits for operators, but they have the reassurance of knowing that the energy required to produce primary aluminium is ‘stored in the metal’ rather than lost.”
Available in thicknesses between 4mm and 8mm, Endur-Al is ideally suited to the construction of all styles and sizes of tipper trailer whether large or small volume, rounded or rectangular. Specially formulated for ease of fabrication as well as durability, it has high yield strength and offers excellent welding and cold bending performance.
Endur-Al is available exclusively from Alcoa, a world leader in flat rolled aluminium alloys.
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