Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) will introduce a range of breakthrough technologies and designs in its line of cold chain and final mile transportation equipment at the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) annual meeting February 29–March 3 in Nashville TN.
The exhibit will feature Wabash National’s prototype composite refrigerated van using its new, proprietary molded structural composite technology. Molded structural composites are used in a range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, marine and commercial construction. This is the first time the technology is being used in trailer and truck body manufacturing, according to Wabash National.
“What this means for our customers is improved thermal efficiency, reduced fuel costs, increased payload and cargo capacity, optimized utilization and enhanced durability,” said Brent Yeagy, group president, Commercial Trailer Products.
In refrigerated van trailer and truck body applications, molded structural composite technology provides up to 25% improvement in thermal performance and is up to 20% lighter, compared with conventional designs, while improving puncture and damage resistance. In addition, the molded structural composite floor systems support higher floor ratings—up to 24,000 pounds in the refrigerated van trailer.
Wabash National’s DuraPlate, introduced in 1996, was the first sustainable and most successful composite panel for the dry van trailer market. It set a new standard in durability and started a shift in the industry away from sheet and post trailers. The firm’s engineering team has more than 100 years of combined experience studying and commercializing composite design and manufacturing processes.
The exhibit at TMC will also feature Wabash National’s new Cold Chain Series and Final Mile Series truck bodies, a range of aerodynamic solutions, and the latest safety innovations, including the TrustLock Plus System, the ID/Aux Stop Light System, and RIG-16—a new rear impact guard design being introduced for the first time at TMC.
Customers attending TMC are invited to stop by booths #1160 and #1254 to learn more, or contact a Wabash National representative at 877-429-5180 or [email protected].
For further details, access www.wabash-trailers.com and www.wabashcomposites.com.
