Tipper design > Manufacturing advantages of Hardox® wear steel in tipper bodies
Differences between mild steel and high-strength Hardox® wear steel
The illustration below shows an example of an upgrade from mild steel to Hardox® 450 and Strenx® 700 MC.
By minimizing the amount of stiffeners and using other methods of stiffening, like bending, the number of components was slashed from 50 to 19 parts. In addition, the weight savings resulting from this upgrade are 51 percent and the estimated emission savings are 3 tonnes (3.3 tons) CO2 per body.
Illustration of how a tipper made of mild steel (left) can be upgraded to a much more efficient one using high-strength steel (right).
In the graph below, the cost of the old version can be compared with the new version in high-strength steel. Although the initial material cost is higher for high-strength steel, its use in manufacturing brings both labor and cost savings. Both welding and cutting costs are lower than with the old design, which is typical since the thickness of a plate in high-strength steel can often be reduced. During cutting, the thinner the material is, the more easy and time-efficient the process.
In some cases, the manufacturing costs related to Hardox® steel are not lower. However, the lifespan of the product is also crucial to consider. By minimizing the number of parts, fewer welds and joints need to be used. Welds are often subject to fatigue and can thus decrease a product’s service life.
Example of relative production costs for an old design container vs. a new design container.
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