Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc. (PHIL) announced during CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 it will be using new SSAB Hardox steels in its truck bodies.
For its customized Hot Slag Bodies—part of its lineup of specialty HiVol Truck Bodies—it will use the new SSAB Hardox HiTemp steel, and for products operating in acidic environments the company will use SSAB Hardox HiAce steel.
New steel aids use in extreme temperatures
The new SSAB Hardox HiTemp steel is specially designed to withstand extreme temperature environments. As part of PHIL’s Hot Slag Bodies, it reduces necessary plate thickness while maintaining the product’s service life for increased productivity in processing applications.
“As a true custom manufacturer, every PHIL product is designed to excel in a specific application,” says Josh Swank, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PHIL. “In the past, steel mill clients requested a unique HiVol truck body to haul hot slag. Our engineers responded with the Hot Slag Body. Now, with the new HiTemp steel from SSAB, we can provide the same strength and durability with less steel, maximizing payload potential and providing our clients with a better product.”
PHIL’s Hot Slag Body is comprised of two components — an exoskeleton superstructure, which does not come in contact with molten material, and load containing pieces that do. These pieces form an overlapping structure that is loosely strapped around the body of the exoskeleton to contain the hot slag during operation. This innovative design allows for differential expansion and contraction, where a traditional body would buckle under such extreme heat. When transporting molten material, the pieces expand and contract without breaking welds, binding up or warping. When a piece is damaged or worn out, it can simply be replaced without any structural welding requirements.
The new HiTemp material improves the wear-resistant properties of a 450 Brinell steel, currently used in the Hot Slag Body, while providing the same impact, welding and machining properties as the Hardox 450 material preferred by PHIL for heavy-duty applications. It is capable of transporting materials in excess of 1,200 F (648.9 C).
This allows PHIL to use a thinner plate without jeopardizing the product’s service life, providing more payload when fully loaded. Additionally, the thinner plate lowers the overall weight of the truck when traveling empty to save on fuel and reduces CO2 emissions.
Hardox HiTemp is specially designed to withstand extreme temperature environments.
Steels for acidic environments
The recently introduced HiAce material is specially formulated to provide an optimized life in high-acid environments. With strategic employment, PHIL can provide long-lasting equipment for industries such as mining, construction and other applications working with acidic materials.
“This new material is a game changer for us,” says Swank. “Previously, when a client requested water tanks to haul slightly acidic water, our engineers were forced to add elements, such as sacrificial anodes, that allowed the tank to withstand the non-potable water’s chemical properties but didn’t provide the durability and longevity PHIL products are known for. With the introduction of the HiAce material, we can build water tanks and other products that will extend longevity in ways we could not achieve previously.”
Hardox HiAce drastically slows down the oxidation process, allowing the full hardness of the material to counteract wear, providing the same performance as Hardox 450 steel even with acidic materials. This allows PHIL to use a thinner plate without jeopardizing the product’s service life, providing more payload when fully loaded. Additionally, the thinner plate lowers the overall weight of the truck when traveling empty to save on fuel and reduces CO2 emissions.
PHIL will use the HiAce material in three unique areas — Water Tanks, HiVol Refuse Bodies and Bio-Solid/Mulch HiVol Bodies. These products haul material with a higher acidity than their traditional counterparts.
PHIL has used Hardox material exclusively in its range of custom products — including truck bodies, water tanks and trailers — since 1983. As technology has advanced in SSAB’s steel-making process, PHIL employed harder versions of the Hardox material — starting with Hardox 400 and moving to Hardox 450 in 2000, standardizing on one specific grade along the way.
SSAB Hardox HiAce steel will be used for products operating in acidic environments.
