Tuesday 1st June 2004

Not so HGV

Plastic trailers could be the future of trucking

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British engineers have designed reinforced plastic trailers for trucks with the aim of making lighter lorries. Scientists and engineers developed the lightweight trailer made from special plastic composites that are much lighter than conventional steel chassis, yet are just as strong. It means trucks could haul heavier payloads and the total number of HGV journeys needed would be reduced.

The lightweight trailers could revolutionise the trucking industry, saving millions of pounds in transport costs.  Trucks transporting lighter goods would have lower kerbside weights, thanks to the lightweight trailers, and therefore use less fuel.

 

Prototypes of the ultra-light impact resistant polymer trailers are already being tested as a result of the ROADLITE project, part of the Government-backed Foresight Vehicle initiative. The initiative aims to ensure Britain’s position as leaders in high technology in the automotive sector.

The lightweight design uses advanced fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials and sandwich construction technologies. The trailers are made using a vacuum infusion technique. The first was 300kg lighter than its steel equivalent and capable of withstanding 23-tonne concentrated loads. A second prototype was 400kg lighter.

Test trailers have been extensively tested at Leyland’s Technical Centre in Leyland, Lancashire. The prototypes are all flatbed trailers and the research engineers say they can make even more impressive weight savings if box trailers were built.

Further research is currently underway. Gerry Boyce, Manager Director of Euro-Projects, said: "We will continue to work with the technology and there are plans to produce more trailers in the future.

More than 400 UK companies and universities have been participating in the industry-backed initiative, known as Foresight Vehicle, led by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Link: www.foresightvehicle.org.uk

[Pesmo]

As a former transport manager my view is that they need to save about 2 tonnes before anyone in the industry is interested and even then it might be for special uses only . A 400kg saving would never justify the increased cost and/or risk of something new. Hauliers are very conservative.

Aluminium Chassied trailers were tried some years ago with significant weight savings but they never sold well for various reasons and steel is the chassis of choice to this day

[cptsideways]

400kg's is 1% of a trucks weight, so hardly a worth the extra cost.

But overall a good idea

[stackmonkey]

cptsideways said:

400kg's is 1% of a trucks weight, so hardly a worth the extra cost. But overall a good idea

What extra cost? The article doesn't mention it. I agree in principle that prototypes are expensive, but costs will reduce in production, as with cars etc.

[phase90]

400kg may not seem like much, but it means that a lorrie can haul (and charge) for 400kg more cargo. THAT pays for it.