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A team from Alcoa’s Hungary based Auto and Truck Structures business has delivered bespoke lightweight aluminum truck bodies to Sip-Well within a three month turnaround time.
Constructed from aluminium extrusions, castings and plate from Alcoa Kofem, the truck bodies aim to save weight, while increasing payload for Sip-Well, a Belgian home and office delivery company.
Aside from a short delivery deadline, Sip-Well also requested special features for its two water delivery trucks. Specifications included double wide rack roll-up doors covering two bays each, a compartment for coolers and specially designed thin walls between the bays to make maximum use of the body length.
“Alcoa Auto and Truck Structures worked closely with Sip-Well from concept to design and product,” said Alcoa Auto and Truck Structures Director Business and Applications Development Commercial Vehicle Dr Holger Haddenhorst.
“For these new truck bodies, we also incorporated a new safety feature. Foldable steps also function as a warning system with sounds and lights, in case the driver forgets to close any of the six side steps before departing. This required creating and then adding a well thought out safety system for early warning in case the side steps accidentally open during driving."
The additional safety system is now also available to other customers with similar requirements.
“We are very pleased with the new aluminium truck bodies. With the weight savings the aluminium provides, we were able to increase payload productivity, plus add a special safety feature,” said Sip-Well Logistics Director Jorgen De Pelsmaeker.
Sip-Well has since ordered four more truck bodies from Alcoa Kofem.
Alcoa Auto and Truck Structures supplies truck bodies to customers worldwide. Serving the aerospace, automotive, packaging, construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, Alcoa produces and manages aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina facilities, bringing design, engineering and production capabilities to its customers.
