Frame rails in AHSS for lightweighting of trucks & LCVs

AHSS frame rails that are stiff, durable, and light-in-weight

Frame rails made from Docol^® AHSS and UHSS steels can improve the strength, stiffness, and durability of delivery vans, pick-up trucks, and other light commercial vehicles, typically defined as vehicles with a gross weight of no more than 3.5 metric tonnes. 

Unlike aluminum frame rails – which are vulnerable to sagging and fatigue – frame rails made from AHSS have a much higher modulus of elasticity (stiffness). To achieve additional weight reductions, LCV designers can tailor the thickness of the steel along the length of the frame rail, optimizing AHSS strength where it’s needed. Another option is to run cost/benefit analyses for even stronger steel grades, such as Docol^® hot-rolled, cold-formed 1200M.

Increased frame rail performance for new BEV van

When Iveco designed its eDaily – a BEV version of its popular Daily van/cab (truck) offering – it needed to significantly improve the strength of its frame rails for the increased weight and safety requirements of the battery electric powertrain. By replacing the existing 3.0 mm HR 420 LA steel with 3.0 mm Docol^® HR800HER75, Iveco was able to increase the overall performance of its frame rails. The new frame rails are roll formed, with numerous punched holes along its flanges, taking advantage of excellent cold-forming properties of the Docol^® HR800HER75 — which has a typical hole expansion ratio of 75%.

Iveco’s eDaily features 3.0 mm frame rails made from roll-formed Docol^® HR800HER75 steel.

Frame rails for heavy-duty vehicles

Heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and tippers require frame rails in thicker grades: those are available from SSAB’s Strenx^® high performance structural steels.

Read about how Volvo will use SSAB Zero™ steel, made with recycled steel and fossil-free energy, for its frame rails in thousands of trucks starting in 2025.