Zetterbergs designs, manufactures and supplies dump truck superstructures throughout the world, with its biggest customers based in Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
The OEM is located in the small Swedish town of Östervåla. It was here that Henrik Zetterberg started up his business in 1923, and just two years later mounted the first loading platform on a Ford model T.
Today, the company develops, designs and supplies dump truck superstructures with most of the work carried out onsite at its factory in Östervåla, from machining and welding to surface treatment. Among its products are tipper trucks, hook lifts, dumpers and fixed platforms.
The ZD4 is a fourth-generation dump truck from Zetterbergs with a tipper truck body manufactured using SSAB’s Hardox 500 Tuf. This new material has allowed for a 20 per cent, or 650kg, reduction in tare weight. The ZD4 features a new, streamlined design in which the base, sides and front wall form a single functional unit for extra high performance.
“It’s a hard-wearing material with high load capacity, enabling our customers to transport a bigger load each time,” said Zetterbergs Marketing Manager, Robert Löfstedt. “A haulier’s profit depends on how much they can transport. In this way, revenue increases while tipper trucks’ fuel costs go down.”
The transport of gravel, stone and many other materials requires a dumper or tipper truck that can withstand heavy loads.
“Since we upgraded the steel to Hardox 500 Tuf wear-resistant steel, SSAB’s premium material, we’ve increased the useful life of our dumpers by at least 40 per cent,” said Löfstedt – adding that the dump truck bodies have an improved sustainability profile. “You can use your dumper or tipper for longer, with less impact on the environment than having to buy new equipment all the time.”
Upgrading from Hardox 450 to Hardox 500 Tuf has been simple and straightforward. Zetterbergs has used the same production equipment and settings as before. The project has been carried out in close cooperation with SSAB’s product development team. Improvements in design and performance are very much a result of teamwork that has utilised the properties of Hardox 500 Tuf to the fullest.
“Our cooperation with SSAB extends to both design and choice of materials, in order to increase the useful life of our products and their load capacity, an important factor when operating heavy equipment,” said Löfstedt. “We had three goals with the new ZD4. We wanted a 20 per cent weight reduction, an attractive design, and for the dumper to sit low on the truck. We met the weight, design and height goals. With a build height of 340 mm (13.4”), it is the lowest on the market. Hardox 500 Tuf has really proved its worth, and we are looking at how to use the steel in all of our products. Hardox 500 Tuf is a hard-wearing material with high load capacity, enabling our customers to transport a bigger load each time. A haulier’s profit depends on how much they can transport. In this way, revenue increases while fuel costs go down.”
Zetterbergs has always aimed at delivering the most durable and productive equipment. Being a member of SSAB’s quality program Hardox In My Body makes this strategy even stronger. All Hardox In My Body certified products live up to the highest standards on design and manufacturing with Hardox wear plate.
