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.
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 seventeen 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 percent reduction in weight in comparison to steel, and around 15 percent 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 pay load, i.e. greater loading capacity and, consequently, lower transport costs as well as reduced fuel consumption.
An overview of some LAMILUX products:
- For external use on vehicle roofs or the outer side wall: LAMILUX SUNSATION® is the long-awaited revolution in the field of fibre-reinforced composites. The new gelcoat technology with 20-fold higher UV stability compared to standard GRP expands the horizon in terms of image, appearance, maintenance, and value. Even after many years in the sun, LAMILUX SUNSATION® looks like new. No dulling, no difference in gloss and no colour difference after removal of decals from surfaces: LAMILUX SUNSATION® sets a new benchmark in the quality standard of glass fiber-reinforced plastics. In artificial weathering tests, such as according DIN EN ISO 4892-2, LAMILUX SUNSATION® demonstrates absolute resistance. Even after 15 to 20 years of real weathering, LAMILUX SUNSATION® retains its rich colors and maximum gloss. The results of the tests confirm the revolutionary development for GRP exterior applications. An additional benefit: the new gelcoat technology can be combined with almost every LAMILUX products. Whether it´s the most sophisticated look, the highest impact resistance and damage tolerance or the lightest in lightweight construction. LAMILUX SUNSATION®, the new GRP standard in the sun, is perfectly equipped for any external application, no matter how demanding. The new development at the market for glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GRP) not only impresses costumers, but also impressed over three juries of renowned awards after it came on the market in the middle of 2022: German Innovation Award, AKV Prize for Innovation and German Design Award.
- For indoor applications: LAMILUX High Impact features the impact resistance and surface appearance of painted metal face sheets, low thermal conductivity and elastic workability of thermoplastic materials. If goods are loaded and unloaded by a forklift truck, for example, there are very often impacts against the inner wall. LAMILUX High Impact can withstand this and displays no signs of damage.
- For external use on the vehicle roof or the external side wall: LAMILUX Woven Roving Gelcoat is particularly well-suited here, as its gelcoat sealer provides outstanding resistance to UV light and weathering. LAMILUX HG 4000 is also a particularly attractive and customisable material alternative for outer wall cladding.
- For floor areas: LAMILUX Anti Slip provides anti-slip protection and soundproofing. The extremely robust resin and glass fibre composite, on whose surface a layer of quartz sand or granite granulate is applied during the lamination process, ensures that goods do not slip and thus prevents damage to the vehicle and the transported goods. The material has another great product benefit: Used as flooring, LAMILUX Anti Slip significantly minimises rolling noise during loading and unloading, thereby achieving sound insulation values below 60 db(A). This significantly reduces noise emissions and facilitates round-the-clock loading in noise protection zones.
- LAMILUX Woven Roving Gelcoat translucent provides additional light incidence through the vehicle roof. The material’s transparent property enables daylight to stream into the dry freight trailer interior, highly useful when loading and unloading.
