AA Diesel Truck Bodies in Australia is extending the life of its custom-made truck bodies with Hardox steel from SSAB.
The family owned truck body manufacturer, based in Doveton, Victoria, estimates its end users enjoy an extra 10 years of product life with Hardox steel compared to a body using 350-grade steel.
“Hardox steel bodies are generally more expensive, but when you take their longevity into account, we get so many orders that we have a huge amount of work, because people know that it’s money well spent,” said Arnel Siskovic, AA Diesel’s managing director, and the son of company founder Alija Siskovic.
Hardox steel body units also are 10% to 20% lighter, helping increase payload capacity, SSAB said.
“We started using Hardox wear plate because Australian people, who use tippers and trucks that experience hard work to the body, have noticed that it’s the best material,” Alija Siskovic said. “People are pleased. They ask us which material we use for the body, and as soon as we say that it’s Hardox from SSAB, they’re happy to order.”
AA Diesel previously experimented with incorporating Hardox 500 Tuf but currently uses Hardox 450 steel as its main building material, the company said.
With Hardox steel in the truck body, the company has gone from 8- to 6-millimeter plate in the floor, and from 6- to 5-millimeter plate in the sides. Arnel Siskovic says they’ve also seen higher secondhand values for truck bodies with Hardox wear plate.
“AA Diesel Truck Bodies has got trucks that have had Hardox steel bodies for five or six years,” he said. “The paint might have a few scratches here and there, but the structural part is intact. It’s still very straight, with no dents, no damage, and the floor is still very flat, ready to continue carrying big loads.”
AA Diesel also is a member of SSAB’s Hardox In My Body customer program.
“We’re very proud to be a Hardox In My Body member,” Arnel Siskovic said. “Truck drivers know now when they see the sticker that it’s a quality truck body, that it’s endorsed. They know that they’re getting the best.”