Glass-reinforced plastics – the all-rounder for safe transport
Every day, tons of different kinds of freight, cooled or unrefrigerated are transported from A to B worldwide. The reliable and efficient transport of goods at an ambient temperature, so-called dry freight, requires safe, robust and particularly light material face sheets. The transport containers are usually permanently connected to the respective dry freight trailer and can be used to transport all types of goods with the exception of liquids and are available in different sizes depending on the service provider. The dry freight trailers must withstand many influences during their journey and secure the goods against slipping, for example – side walls, floors and roofs made of glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GRP) help with this.
GRP is the all-rounder for dry-freight trailers in the commercial vehicle industry, particularly the composites from Lamilux, Europe’s leading producer of high-tech glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GRP). Produced in a continuous, industrial-scale flat sheet process, these lightweight materials provide optimal stability whilst also being extremely light construction elements. Lamilux inspires customers from the dry freight industry worldwide with its production reliability, wide range of application options and consistently high quality.
GRP for safe, stable and robust dry freight trailers
Fibre-reinforced composites are incorporated as face sheets in roofing, flooring and side walls. These materials provide major advantages over conventional materials such as aluminium and sheet steel thanks to their strength, low weight and durability. Fibre-reinforced plastics are also extremely non-corrosive, weatherproof and UV resistant, all of which ensures a long-lasting, attractive appearance. The high degree of quality which has been certified on numerous occasions and the material properties that ideally cater to the respective applications have aided in maintaining the company’s leading position in the international market for fibre-reinforced composites.
Certified products with quality guarantee
The certification of Lamilux test methods by the German testing institute TÜV Süd is a confirmation of the application-specific, high quality of Lamilux GRP. Lamilux commissioned TÜV Süd to appraise and inspect most of its laboratory and testing facilities to ensure consistently high, flawless quality. At the end of the detailed, comprehensive certification process, the TÜV specialists had assessed 17 analysis, measurement and test methods with regard to their usefulness and validity for quality assurance and product development. This allows Lamilux to reliably assure quality in its end products based on a wide range of tests. The specialist in fibre-reinforced composites tests its products during mechanical, chemical and climatic tests in state-of-the-art laboratories.
Robust protection against hail and stone damage – yet lightweight
One of the greatest advantages of Lamilux GRP is certainly its extreme hailstone and impact resistance. Thanks to the high material rigidity and an extremely low deformation tendency, this is the greatest advantage when used in the roof, but also in the outer wall of trailers. While hailstones cause visible and permanent dents in roof and side wall materials such as aluminium or competitors’ GRP, Lamilux’s fibre-reinforced plastic sheets usually withstand this phenomenon unscathed.
Furthermore, a vehicle’s tare or dead weight can be substantially reduced by using fibre-reinforced plastics. Use of GRP can lead to a 40% reduction in weight in comparison to steel, and around 15% in comparison to aluminium. Construction elements in roofs and side walls are able to feature a slimmer design as fibre-reinforced plastics provide a strong reinforcing effect. The reduction in weight produces a direct benefit for truck operators as a result of increased payload, i.e. greater loading capacity and, consequently, lower transport costs as well as reduced fuel consumption.
Cover photo: Lamilux
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