SSAB, a specialty steel maker headquartered in Sweden, says Argentinian trailer manufacturer Acoplados Salto has seen a 30% boost in sales since it started using SSAB’s Strenx performance steel and Hardox wear plate in its trailers.
Salto, which has made trailers and semi-trailers for half a century, switched to SSAB’s steel seven years ago in a move that also boosted customer satisfaction and demand, the company said.
“Acoplados Salto uses hot-rolled and cold-rolled Strenx performance steel and Hardox wear plates in the trailers,” said Sergio Andriano, plant manager at Acoplados Salto. “As a result of using SSAB’s lightweight steel we have gained new clients who are enthusiastic about the material.”
Salto’s products include curtain-side trailers, hopper wagons and flatbed trailers. Compared with a few years ago, customers can carry heavier loads, which increases productivity and efficiency, SSAB said. The lighter the trailer is, the more products it can carry.
“The lightweight material from SSAB has enabled us to reduce the weight of our units by 1,800 to 2,000 kilograms (4,000 to 4,400 pounds), depending on the product. This has translated into a greater load capacity for our clients,” Andriano said.
Juan Manuel Pierce, head of the design department at Acoplados Salto, helped developed the new lightweight products. He says the main advantages of using SSAB’s materials is their reduced weight and high level of safety. Though the material is lightweight, it’s robust and doesn’t crack when in contact with hard surfaces or harsh conditions, making it safer for heavier loads.
“The use of Strenx 700MC and 700CR, as well as Hardox 450, has helped us achieve a product that is highly resistant to wear and tear while at the same time reducing thickness,” Pierce said. “The best properties of the SSAB steel enable us to improve the design of our products.”
Since December 2017, Acoplados Salto has been a member of the My Inner Strenx program.
“Through My Inner Strenx, we have integrated new knowledge about the SSAB materials to constantly improve our production,” Pierce said. “The help and support we receive from SSAB includes technical advice on how to use the material, soldering, welding, cutting it and bending it.”
Andriano also sees another advantage to My Inner Strenx membership.
“Having the My Inner Strenx logo on our units represents quality products,” he said. “It’s something the client values, knowing that the unit is made with SSAB lightweight material. They know its qualities.”
