Hydroformed Components are an Ideal Choice for Heavy Truck and Construction Vehicles
Fort Wayne, IN—When it comes to heavy truck and construction vehicle design, space is often at a premium and rugged components are an absolute requirement. Hydroformed components from American Hydroformers, Inc. (AHI) are light and strong, making them a great choice for these types of large, heavy duty vehicles.
New Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates on diesel emissions have also created additional challenges for owners of heavy truck and construction vehicles. “These new mandates have forced manufacturers to repackage their systems and add additional components to already heavy, crowded vehicles,” explains, Todd Ellinger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for AHI. “Fortunately, modern day exhaust systems are perfect candidates for the hydroforming process.”
The hydroforming process enables the creation of custom shapes, allowing designers to achieve the packaging and flow paths required. Shape changes, such as round and rectangular sections, are best achieved by hydroforming as material must typically be corrosion-resistant 400 series stainless steel.
Besides heavy duty vehicles, hydroformed components are also a superb option for lighter duty automobiles and small trucks. Hydroformed structures are a lighter and stronger alternative to traditional stamped and welded assemblies. AHI can meet the needs of customers in the automotive industry for hydroformed catalytic converter cones and exhaust components, crash tips, cross members, engine cradles, frame rails, header and exhaust manifolds, instrument panel beams, radiator and roof supports, trailing suspension arms and more.
As the advantages of hydroforming and fabricating become better understood, more metal fabricating applications arise. AHI offers superior solutions for many pressure forming challenges. AHI’s unique metal forming, metal fabrication, tube bending, tube hydroforming and pressure forming capabilities enable the company to offer turnkey solutions -- from the time the hydroforming press closes to when the final hydroformed part is removed.
A simplified overview of the hydroform process is as follows: Raw tube is loaded into hydroforming dies and the hydroforming press closes. The sealing rods engage the part, seal the ends and fill it with water, increasing pressure inside the part. The sealing rods push the tube into the die (end feed) and the internal pressure is ramped to its maximum value. The hydroformed part takes on the shape of the die. Then, the final hydroformed part is removed.
American Hydroformers specializes in the hydroform tube forming process. American Hydroformers processes start with raw tube and progresses through tube bending, tube pre-forming, tube forming, tube hydroforming, laser cutting and trimming. Originally founded in 2003, American Hydroformers, Inc. was formed to create a larger portfolio of fabrication offerings for the Tippmann Affiliated Group, who manages companies across a broad scope of industries. The addition of hydroforming was a great fit to expand the product offerings from Summit Manufacturing and Zemco Manufacturing. For more information, call (260) 428-2660, visit www.americanhydroformers.com or e-mail info@americanhydroformers.com. AHI Headquarters is located at 2320 Meyer Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46803.
Edward M.Stevens, APR,
Stevens Strategic Communications
440-617-0100 ext. 201
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