The American Composites Manufacturers Assn. (ACMA) has given its 2005 ACE Award for Technical Innovation for Corrosion Applications to a new fiber-reinforced composite platform trailer developed by Martin Marietta Composites.
The trailer has a composite deck, subframe beams, suspension cross-members, and rear impact guard. The composite material makes the trailer lighter to allow the operator to move more payload, and is corrosion-resistant, according to ACMA.
Other advantages over steel and aluminum trailers are longer life and lower maintenance, ACMA added. For example, small repairs can be made using a fiberglass repair kit, while components may be replaced quickly without loss of strength for larger repairs, ACMA said.
The trailer’s nonskid deck is made from Martin Marietta’s Transonite—a durable, low weight composite sandwich made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminate skins and a foam core.
The trailer is resistant to many chemicals, acids, road salts and weathering, the manufacturer said. It is also nonflammable and resistant to fatigue stresses.
For more information, go to www.martinmarietta.com/Products/trailers.asp.
