Trailer manufacturer reduces product weight, improves quality with new materials

Image provided by SSAB

Situation

Trailer and tipper manufacturer Fesan Makina, based in Konya, Turkey, was using thick mild steel to produce the doors in the tipper bodies. Deformation and severe dents became a problem with heavy loads.

In addition, the trailers weighed 9 to 9.5 tons, which not only increased fuel consumption but also reduced the amount of product load the trailer could carry. The company needed to find a material that would result in stronger, lighter equipment.

Resolution

Fesan Makina decided to test using Hardox 450 steel for the side doors with supporting parts made of Strenx 700 and 960 steels. Incorporating these new materials from SSAB, the company’s new Dangal multi-

purpose loads trailer withstands harsh conditions.

The switch has reduced the chassis weight by about 1,700 lbs. According to Mehmet Baypınar, who is responsible for domestic sales at Fesan, “The change to 1.5-mm Hardox 450 from 3-mm thickness in the doors has made the vehicle another 600 kilos [1,322 lbs.] lighter just from the doors.” And the doors no longer get dented.

“After we began using Hardox and Strenx, we were able to decrease the weight in phases, first to 8,000 kilos [8.8 tons], then to 7,000 [7.7 tons], and now 6,200 kilos [6.8 tons],” remarked Selim Selvi, company founder.

SSAB