The use of adhesives has cut repair time, enabling the
trailer to get back on the road faster. Shown is a Wabash
D-ring using LORD Fusor 108B.
“LORD Fusor adhesives and procedures have been used in the dry freight/refrigerated van industry for more than a decade,” said Jim Perritt, LORD North America Sales manager, Auto/Truck Aftermarket. “Off-road downtime and costs are significantly reduced when LORD Fusor adhesives are used in place of traditional patching and repair techniques.”
LORD regional manager Timothy Jackson says that using adhesives has cut repair time, allowing trailers to be road-ready faster. Furthermore, compared with traditional fastening methods, adhesives reduce the trailer’s weight, resulting in better fuel economy. Adhesives are also better for the work environment; Wabash’s previous repair technique required more labor and the use of a noisy rivet gun, he said.
During the last few months, Wabash has outlined its most common repair procedure needs. In response, LORD developed step-by-step procedures to be used by all locations across the country.
Adhesives, as compared with traditional fastening methods,
reduce the weight of the trailer, resulting in better fuel economy. Shown is a
Wabash D-ring before prep; LORD Corp.’s Fusor 108B is used for the repair.
Wabash National Trailer Centers in Dallas, TX, and Scranton, PA, implemented the procedures and products first. According to Jack Scarff, director of Service Operations for Wabash National Trailer Centers, the Dallas operation has already reported a 50% savings in repair times since integrating LORD Corp.’s products and procedures. Other centers will be integrating the products and training procedures this year.
After conducting extensive benchmarking exercises, Wabash selected LORD from several adhesive and sealant manufacturers. The company was chosen because of its long and successful track record in structural-bonding applications in the automotive, truck body, and trailer industries; its technical expertise in truck body and trailer construction; and its extensive aftermarket and repair organization.
About Wabash National
Wabash National Corp., Lafayette, IN, is a leading North American manufacturer of semi trailers. Established in 1985, the company specializes in the design and production of dry-freight vans, refrigerated vans, flatbed trailers, drop-deck trailers, dump trailers, truck bodies, and intermodal equipment. Its core products are sold under the DuraPlate®, ArcticLite®, FreightProTM Eagle® and BensonTM brand names. The company operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: Transcraft® Corp., a manufacturer of flatbed trailers, drop deck trailers, dump trailers, and truck bodies; and Wabash National Trailer Centers, trailer service centers and retail distributors of new and used trailers and aftermarket parts throughout the United States.About LORD Corp.
LORD Corp., Cary, NC, is a privately held company that designs, manufactures and markets devices and systems to manage mechanical motion and control noise and vibration; formulates, produces, and sells general-purpose and specialty adhesives and coatings; and develops products and systems using magnetically responsive technologies. With manufacturing in nine countries and offices in more than 15 major business centers, LORD employs more than 2,500 worldwide.For more information, visit www.lord.com.
