Stainless steel has been a number one choice for many industries, including the bus manufacturing industry, for a long time due to its strength and the different qualities certain alloys can offer. Bus and coach manufacturers must prioritize safety since they carry dozens of passengers and thus must consider the integrity of the materials in the design and construction. Read below for some things to consider when choosing the right type of stainless steel for bus and coach manufacturing.
Body Frames
The safety and security of the passengers should be paramount to your firm’s engineers. Some manufacturers have switched from stainless steel to cheaper metals like carbon steel to save on costs but don’t consider the lifespan carbon has versus the endurance and quality of stainless. Your buses and coaches should have high integrity in the frames of the vehicles to provide stability on the roads and highways as well as a thick layer of protection for your passengers and cargo against road hazards while also being lightweight enough to improve sustainability, engine wear and tear, and reduce carbon footprint. The stainless steel grade should also be appropriate for average corrosion resistance against the weather, plus an upgraded level of consideration where snowfall and salting roads occur. Our most popular Cromgard Stainless Steels C20-1 and C-12 are well-suited for the conditions demanded by this business, and chosen by others in a similar field.
Accents
Accents like trim and other aesthetics are irrelevant to providing a hefty layer of protection–the body should have enough strength alone to handle that. For accents and other aesthetic purposes, you don’t have to worry about withstanding high heat or offering hardiness but remain lightweight and attractive. We suggest our Cromgard C20-1, which replaces the standard 304 series stainless steel competitors have used for this purpose. You may also want to consider whether you intend to enhance the steel, such as engraving, embossing, or painting the surface for a highly custom look. For engraving and embossing, it is key to ensure your choice of steel is malleable but can maintain its shape once treated.
Exhaust
If you are considering stainless steel for the exhaust systems, you’ll need to consider steel that’s more heat resistant since it deals with combustion. The exhaust is also very low to the ground and vulnerable to harsh elements like wet, icy, and possibly salted roads. Because of this, you must use more corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Additionally, remember that, unlike the body frame of the bus, the exhaust is usually unpainted or coated, which leaves it much more exposed and should influence your decision to consider a more corrosion-resistant stainless steel grade.
Conclusion
If you’d like an expert opinion from our engineering team at Crompion International from those who have consulted with others in your industry, please email us at sales@crompioninternational.com or call 225-343-4219.
