May 31, 2024 8:02 CEST 6 min read
Since upgrading to Hardox® 500 Tuf wear steel, ITC has reduced the weight of its tippers and containers by 35 percent. The result is lighter, more durable products, and ultimately increased payload capacity for its customers.
ITC (International Trailer Company) was founded in 2010, in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It manufactures tippers, tankers and containers in various types and sizes, which are used for the transportation of construction waste.
The company takes pride in working with premium materials when manufacturing its products, and has been a SSAB customer since 2013. In 2022, ITC replaced the mild steel used in its scrap tippers with Hardox® 500 Tuf wear steel, with very positive results.
“We saw a remarkable reduction in weight – from 16 tons in the final product to 10.5 tons. This has made a significant positive impact for the end customer in terms of reducing their operational costs, such as diesel consumption and tire expenses,” says Ayman Aljabarti, CEO of ITC.
Equally good results were seen when ITC replaced the mild steel used in its scrap containers with Hardox® 500 Tuf: from 2.3 tons in weight in the final product to 1.5 tons.
Since manufacturing its first container in 2011, ITC has grown rapidly in the construction waste transportation sector. Today, the company has over 100 employees and offers more than 16 different products for construction waste.
When ITC first began working with SSAB, it was using Hardox® 400 wear plate before upgrading to Hardox® 450 wear steel. More recently, the company’s 60 cubic meter scrap tippers, which were previously manufactured with 6 mm/8 mm mild steel, have been updated to 4 mm Hardox® 500 Tuf. And their 20 feet long scrap containers, which were manufactured with 5 mm/6 mm mild steel, have been replaced with 3 mm Hardox® 500 Tuf. And the results speak for themselves – more than 30 percent weight reduction.
“The utilization of Hardox steel in our products enables us to achieve a significant weight reduction and this will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the end customer in the product's lifespan and the weight the trailer can carry,” says Ayman Aljabarti.
“For us, the best thing about SSAB is that it’s not just a supplier, it’s a partner.”
Ayman Aljabarti, CEO of ITC
Due to the nature of the materials being transported, ITC’s tipper bodies and containers need to be able to withstand tough operating conditions and demands. Fortunately, Hardox® 500 Tuf wear steel is highly resistant to both dents and cracks. According to Mohammed Khatib, SSAB’s Regional Sales Manager, upgrading from Hardox® 450 to Hardox® 500 Tuf can increase the lifespan of ITC’s products by 40%.
Yet, despite the toughness and hardness of Hardox® 500 Tuf, the material is still very user-friendly in the workshop, and is just as easy to cut, bend and roll as Hardox® 450.
“There’s an environmental benefit too because the tipper body is very light, which contributes to lower fuel consumption,” says Mohammed Khatib.
For ITC, working with SSAB has many benefits, which extend far beyond the superior quality of its steel. For one, SSAB provides dedicated technical support on material selection, bending and welding. The two companies have also collaborated and optimized products together, and SSAB has helped train ITC’s engineers in manufacturing and fabrication skills.
“For us, the best thing about SSAB is that it’s not just a supplier, it’s a partner,” says ITC’s CEO, Ayman Aljabarti. “Whenever we come across a product that aligns with our aspirations and meets our customers’ needs, we take it to SSAB, who always provide us with engineering updates that we incorporate into our products. Currently, we're conducting research with SSAB to develop a new product using materials other than Hardox, where we will integrate Strenx high-strength structural steel.”
ITC has been a member of the Hardox® In My Body customer program since 2023. According to Ayman Aljabarti, this is a recognized mark of quality for their equipment as well as a guarantee of good design practices and the use of genuine Hardox® material.
“Our collaboration with SSAB, which began in 2013, is indicative of its ongoing nature, with a commitment to maintain a strong partnership moving forward. Hardox In My Body is well known and helps us convert prospects to customers in new areas,” he concludes.
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