Heavy gauge stamping is a vital process in manufacturing trucks and trailers. It involves specialized machinery to shape and form metal sheets into various parts and components. This technique ensures that the vehicles are built with high-quality, durable materials that can withstand heavy use.
Ohio Valley Manufacturing excels in heavy gauge stamping for the truck and trailer industry, delivering top-quality components using advanced equipment and a skilled team. Specializing in frame rails, cross members, brackets, hinges, latches, and reinforcement plates, we uphold the highest standards with our ISO certification. Our experience and commitment to client satisfaction also position us as the leading choice for companies seeking a dependable manufacturing partner.
Types of Parts and Components Produced
Heavy gauge stamping is vital in manufacturing various parts and components for trucks and trailers. Essential items produced through this method include:
- Frame rails: The primary structural components of the vehicle’s chassis provide essential support.
- Cross members: Horizontal supports support the frame rails to ensure stability and durability by maintaining rigidity and strength.
- Brackets: This secures various components — including suspension systems, exhaust systems, and electrical wiring — to ensure stable and organized attachment.
- Hinges and latches: This provides strong and reliable components for doors, compartments, and access panels that ensure easy and safe usage with a secure closure.
- Reinforcement plates: Extra strength is added to the vehicle’s structure in customized areas to improve support and resilience.
Materials Used in Stamping
The choice of material in heavy gauge stamping is crucial as it directly impacts the durability and performance of the finished product. Some of the most commonly used options include:
- High-strength steel: This offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, which is ideal for structural components like frame rails and cross members. It also provides rigidity and support for heavy loads and challenging driving conditions.
- Aluminum alloys: These lightweight materials are corrosion-resistant and often used for non-structural components like brackets and decorative trim. They help reduce the vehicle’s overall weight, improving fuel efficiency and easier handling.
- Stainless steel: This material is highly valued for its exceptional corrosion resistance and durability, making it ideal for components exposed to harsh environments. It is also frequently used in parts requiring a high degree of cleanliness, such as fuel tanks and exhaust systems.
- Galvanized steel: Galvanized steel has a protective zinc coating that prevents rust and corrosion, making it suitable for exterior components continually exposed to the elements. This material ensures longevity and low maintenance requirements for truck and trailer parts.
- Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS): These materials provide even higher strength-to-weight ratios than traditional high-strength steel, allowing for thinner and lighter components without sacrificing structural integrity.
Stamping Processes and Equipment
There are several processes and equipment used in the truck and trailer manufacturing industry, including:
- Hydraulic presses: These machines use hydraulic fluid pressure to generate the force required for operations. They offer precise control over the applied force, making them ideal for some applications.
- Mechanical presses: Instead of hydraulic fluid, mechanical presses utilize a motor-driven flywheel to generate stamping force. These machines are known for their high-speed capabilities and are well-suited for large-scale production runs.
- Die clearance and lubrication: Proper die clearance and lubrication are critical to ensuring smooth operations and minimizing friction between the tool and the workpiece. This helps maintain stamped parts’ accuracy and consistency while extending the life of the tools and dies.
- Transfer presses: Transfer presses enable the simultaneous production of multiple parts in a single operation. These machines utilize a series of linear or circular dies, and a transfer system moves the workpiece between dies. This process allows for increased efficiency and reduced production time.
- Progressive dies: This involves feeding a continuous strip of material through a series of stations within a single die. Each station performs a specific operation — such as cutting, bending, or forming — and the finished part is progressively shaped as it moves through the die. This method is particularly effective for high-volume production and ensures high precision and repeatability.
Boost Your Truck and Trailer Manufacturing With Ohio Valley Manufacturing
Take advantage of Ohio Valley Manufacturing’s top-notch heavy gauge stamping solutions, right-angle gear drives, and innovative materials for truck and trailer manufacturing! We also offer various services, such as precision blanking, tool and die design, robotic welding, roller leveling, and plant assist work.
Contact us today to explore our services and drive success in the industry!