Revolutionary materials whitepaper for transportation

Transportation composites manufacturer Exel Composites has released a new bus and coach whitepaper that explores the opportunities for composite materials in the fleet vehicles sector. The whitepaper assesses the need for lightweight, corrosion-resistant materials in buses and coaches and discusses the advantages conferred by continuous manufacturing techniques and easy post-processing customization. It also presents a case where Chinese manufacturer Yutong has used Exel Composites’ fiberglass profiles in buses in its native Finland.

The whitepaper from Exel Composites will be thought-provoking for decision-makers in transportation manufacturing companies. Soaring urban populations have placed increasingly higher demands on public transport infrastructure while environmental pressures have prompted engineers and manufacturers to look for electric vehicle (EV) solutions. These have associated challenges, some new and some pre-existing, such as accommodating for battery weight, combatting corrosion, improving structural integrity, and more.

“Composite materials are well-suited to meet the challenges of this new generation of buses and coaches,” explained Patrick Loock, director of sales for Europe at Exel Composites. “The customization options are often built into the manufacturing process, reducing lead times for customers. Of course, everyone knows already about the excellent corrosion resistance and thermal insulating properties of composites.

“A less obvious point is the structural advantages. Fiberglass side panels of up to 1.2 m wide and 12 m long are possible, whereas aluminum panels, the traditional choice, have a maximum extrusion length of 3 m. Having one continuous panel is much stronger than using connectors to join multiple pieces. Additionally, using one panel is cheaper overall than manufacturing or buying fixings and attaching pieces together.”

Advanced materials such as composites are more accessible and better suited to bus and coach manufacturers’ needs than ever before. Continuous manufacturing techniques such as pultrusion enable large-volume production of uniform panels and profiles for any 2D components, helping manufacturers meet increased public transport requirements.