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JOLIET, ILL. – Hendrickson put the shine on the industry’s first mirror-finish,
non-metal bumper with the introduction of the HENDRICKSON AERO BRIGHT™ bumper. Behind that brilliant “chrome-like” finish, the HENDRICKSON
AERO BRIGHT (HAB™) bumper delivers durability and high impact resistance in a
lightweight package.
“Added to our current line-up of bumper products,
HENDRICKSON AERO BRIGHT gives Hendrickson the most comprehensive range of
bumpers (metal and non-metal) in the industry,” reported Doug Sanford, general
manager of Hendrickson International, Stamping. “We expect to have a full range
of HAB bumpers available by 2004.”
After more than three years in development, Hendrickson
engineers launched HENDRICKSON AERO BRIGHT, a composition of formable, shiny, weatherable films and thick-sheet thermoforming technology.
Thermoforming starts with a flat rectangular sheet of
plastic clamped to a frame and heated to a specific temperature. The sheet is
then pulled tightly over a tool with a vacuum. After cooling, trimming finalizes
shaping.
“This technology enables Hendrickson to provide the best of
both worlds – the styling features and lightweight characteristics of
traditional plastic coupled with the luster of chrome,” added Sanford. “This
technology is a first for bumpers on Class 5-8 commercial vehicles and breaks
the paradigm.”
To achieve strength and durability, special manufacturing
techniques are used to retain the thickness of material when forming the HAB
bumper.
Hendrickson joined forces with one of the industry’s
leading weatherable film producers to develop a mirror-finish film, which is
integrated into the thermoforming process.
Merging this film on engineered thick-sheet thermoplastics
with a unique manufacturing process creates HENDRICKSON AERO BRIGHT –
highly-styled truck bumpers. This technology may also be adapted to grills,
headlight bezels and other components. Hendrickson holds exclusive rights to
this weatherable film technology for the Class 5-8 commercial vehicle industry.
For additional information about HENDRICKSON AERO BRIGHT, contact Hendrickson
International, Stamping, Joliet, Ill., 800-356-6737.
Hendrickson International is one of the largest global suppliers of truck and
tractor suspensions; trailer suspensions; lift, trailer and steer axles;
springs, and bumpers to the commercial transportation industry. Headquartered in
Woodridge, Ill., Hendrickson has been meeting the needs of the transportation
industry for 90 years. |
