The nameplate on the trucks might be different but many of their fiberglass cabs are starting to come from the same supplier. Paccar Inc., maker of Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks, is the latest truck manufacturer to sign a deal with Core Materials Corp. for sheet molding composite (SMC) products for its trucks.
Paccar’s deal with Core Materials covers just one truck model right now – an SMC fiberglass reinforced hood for Peterbilt's 387 Class 8 truck – but it is business worth $3 million to $5 million annually, Core said. Production of the hood is expected to begin in late 2001.
Paccar now joins International Truck & Engine Corp., Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks as customers of Core Materials, as the Ohio-based fiberglass maker steps up efforts to win more business from the truck manufacturing industry.
