The issue of impact damage caused by debris to a trailer due to the higher speeds achieved by today’s tractors is well documented. A year ago, we introduced a high-build, two-pack structural intermediate coating to significantly enhance protection of the headboards of all Bailey trailers.
However, debris can sometimes also hit the sides of trailers. In order to enhance protection in these areas, we asked our paint manufacturing partner Witham Group to evaluate potential improvements.
Over a number of months, the Witham chemists put several WOCO 2k primer recipes through their paces performing rigorous trials on steel plates, including specific impact and cross hatching tests. Once the right potential formula had been identified, the WOCO primer was then applied to a number of Bailey trailers for evaluation at the factory.
David Lagden, Business Development Executive of the Paint Division at Witham Group in association with Michael Bailey and our paint shop team spent several weeks refining the application process for the new primer. The end result is a new twin-pack hybrid primer system exhibiting excellent build and enhanced performance qualities.
Michael Bailey commented: “There is not much you can do to avoid stone chips hitting the trailer, tractors don’t provide enough protection. We have achieved our goal to further protect the paintwork on the headboard and the sides of the trailers against impact from debris. I hope to see additional upgrades to our processes in the coming months.”
David Lagden added: “It has been a real team effort between our two companies. The drive for continual improvement at Bailey Trailers is allied to that of our own. Continually developing products that perform better has resulted in an upgraded WOCO two-pack epoxy primer and WOCO two-pack acrylic urethane high solids finish, specific and unique to Bailey Trailers.”
Tough trailers are now even tougher.
