Tankers
5083 and 5454 plate for fuel, chemical and food tankers.
Transport & rail
Aluminium for Transport & Rail
Lighter trailers, tankers, buses and rail cars carry more and cost less to run. Metline Industries supplies the plate, sheet, extrusions and tread plate that commercial transport builders rely on.
- Key alloys
- 5083, 5754, 5052, 6061, 6082
- Forms
- Plate, sheet, extrusions, tread plate
- Use
- Trailers, tankers, buses, rail
- Benefit
- More payload, lower fuel use
Payload is profit
In commercial transport every kilogram of vehicle weight is a kilogram of cargo you cannot carry. Aluminium bodies, tanks and chassis members can save a substantial share of weight compared with steel, so operators carry more per trip or use less fuel.
Aluminium also resists road salt and the corrosive loads carried by tankers, so vehicles keep their value longer.
Where aluminium is used
Tipper and dump bodies
Abrasion-resistant 5xxx plate for lighter tipper bodies.
Trailers
6061 and 6082 extrusions for chassis, sides and floors.
Buses and coaches
Extruded frames and sheet panels for lighter bodies.
Rail cars
Large hollow extrusions in 6005A and 6082 for car bodies.
Flooring
Tread plate and extruded floor planks.
Recommended alloys and forms
| Alloy | Form | Why it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 5083 / 5454 | Plate | Tanker shells and tipper bodies |
| 5754 / 5052 | Sheet, tread plate | Body panels and flooring |
| 6061-T6 / 6082-T6 | Extrusions, plate | Chassis members and structural frames |
| 6005A | Extrusions | Rail car body sections |
Supplying transport & rail
Complete material packages
Plate, sheet, extrusions, tube and bar for the same project from one supplier.
Grade and temper guidance
Engineering-led advice on the alloy and temper that suit the service conditions.
Documentation
Mill test certificates and inspection paperwork to support your quality system.
Transport & Rail questions
Why use aluminium for trailers and tankers?
It reduces vehicle weight so more payload can be carried, and it resists corrosion from road salt and many cargoes.
Building transport equipment?
Send us your bill of materials and we will quote plate, sheet and extrusions together.
