PRODUCT REVIEWS
The Hardox ® wear plate portfolio has expanded during the years ; the latest addition is Hardox ® HiAce . The launch of Hardox ® HiAce complements the Hardox ® product range with a wear steel developed to resist wear in acidic and corrosive environments .
Bennes Vincent ’ s first tipper body in France to use Hardox ® 450 made from SSAB Zero™ steel in 2024 .
Hardox ® steel celebrates 50 years in market
Hardox ® wear plate ( now emissions-free ) from steelmaker , SSAB , celebrated 50 years in 2024 . “ 1974 saw a breakthrough in steelmaking when we introduced the world ’ s first bendable wear plate . A unique combination of hardness and toughness helped to solve the issue of brittleness in conventional abrasion-resistant steels , which were nearly impossible to bend and could not withstand heavy impact in use . In 1983 , our mill in Oxelösund , Sweden , created a truly hard wear plate that was branded as Hardox ®, a name that perfectly describes its strength . Today , it ’ s still produced in Sweden , the USA and Finland ,” SSAB told ISMR .
Then came Hardox ® 450 and a wide variety of grades to meet most worksite challenges : Hardox ® 500 Tuf , Hardox ® HiAce and Hardox ® HiTemp .
“ When Hardox ® 500 Tuf was released , it was rapidly adopted as the new standard for wear plate . With its outstanding hardness and toughness , it delivers unparalleled performance ( even in freezing conditions ) and can be used in nearly any application . The full product range also includes extra-tough Hardox ® HiTuf , and for wear parts and liners that need exceptional hardness , customers can choose from Hardox ® 500 , Hardox ® 550 , Hardox ® 600 and Hardox ® Extreme ,” outlined SSAB ,
“ As we look back on 50 years of progress , we remain firm in our commitment to develop a steel that meets the challenges of a modern world . That ’ s why we ’ re thrilled to present our first-ever emission-free steel in the Hardox ® range this year : Hardox ® 450 made from SSAB Zero™ . This new version of Hardox ® wear plate goes one step further . The ultimate sustainable choice , SSAB Zero™ is produced using recycled steel in a process powered by fossil-free electricity and biogas — resulting in virtually no carbon emissions during the steelmaking * process . This steel can reduce the environmental load from steel production even more . With this innovative wear plate , users can take their sustainability goals to the next level ,” added SSAB . n
(* The carbon emissions from fossil fuel sources in SSAB ’ s production of SSAB Zero™ are less than 0.05 kg CO₂e / kg steel in Scope 1 and Scope 2 of the GHG protocol .)
www . hardox . com
www . ssab . com
Supporting electric vehicle production in Asia
Konecranes has supplied five 25-ton CXT Double Girder Cranes to Vietnam ’ s VinFast Auto Ltd ., bringing the total number of cranes delivered to the automaker to 25 . This latest order , which also includes TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring , was placed in June 2024 ( with testing and commissioning currently in its final stages ).
To help scale-up production capabilities , Konecranes has equipped VinFast ’ s latest manufacturing facility with five 25-ton CXT Double Girder Cranes featuring TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring . This technology provides real-time data and insights on crane performance and usage through advanced sensors and connectivity .
“ Accompanied by a three-year maintenance contract , this set-up will enhance the safety and productivity of VinFast ’ s crane operations . Additionally , the cranes are equipped with dual hoists on a single trolley and a 120-metre runway , enabling seamless integration into VinFast ’ s production workflow ,” confirmed Konecranes .
Mr . Trinh Van Ngan , Deputy CEO of Manufacturing of VinFast Auto , confirmed : “ At VinFast , we are committed to collaborating with trusted and capable partners to achieve our production goals and expand into global markets . Konecranes has consistently proved
the quality of its material handling solutions , backed by professional support services and swift responsiveness , helping us to maximise production efficiency and elevate operational safety .”
VanHuy Mai , Country Director for Konecranes Vietnam , added : “ The quality of our products and regular service help to ensure reliable production for VinFast . For this latest order , we further leveraged Konecranes ’ global manufacturing facilities to achieve shorter lead times , which proved highly beneficial for the customer .”
Konecranes is a global specialist in materialhandling solutions , serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries . In 2023 , Group sales totalled 4.0 billion euros . n
www . konecranes . com
58 | ismr . net | ISMR February 2025