Utility vehicle manufacturer Fruehauf chooses Endur aluminium sheet from Alcoa

Utility vehicle manufacturer Fruehauf has designed a new series of tip-trailers, which, for improved strength, durability and weight-saving reasons, are manufactured using Alcoa's Endur-Al aluminium sheet. Endur-Al is 52 percent harder than a standard aluminium alloy of type 5083 H111, and 20 to 30 percent lighter than steel. Sheet made of Endur-Al is used for the floor and side walls of the AgroMax grain transporter, and for the OptiMum and the OptiMax for open construction jobs. Production of this new trailer fleet is commencing now.

Endur-Al was developed by Alcoa as material that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Performance characteristics include excellent surface hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and workability. That is why in numerous tests Endur-Al has proven itself as particularly suitable for the manufacture of floors and side walls of tip trailers. 'We chose Endur-Al because it is the most wear-resistant aluminium alloy on the market. Endur-Al is the leader when it comes to use in aluminium trailers,' says Gérard Puard, Managing Director of Fruehauf. The company intends to manufacture around 150 Endur-Al trailers this year and raise sales to 500 units annually in subsequent years.

'Aluminium tip trailers weigh roughly 20 to 30 percent less than steel constructions of a comparable thickness, strength and durability. Not only does this weight reduction raise the allowable payload by roughly a tonne on an average trailer, it also reduces fuel consumption when the vehicle is not fully loaded. For the operator this means considerably higher volume for every delivery, as well as additional cost savings for fuel,' emphasizes Bernd Schäfer, Alcoa Global Rolled Products Vice President Commercial, Global Commercial Transportation and Industrial.

Endur-Al is available globally. The metal for this application is manufactured in Alcoa's plant in Fusina (Italy). Endur-Al is just one of many special products Alcoa offers for the transportation market.