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Just One More...On The Road Just in time for summer camping plans, innovative uses of
plastics are bolstering evolutionary changes in the recreational trailer industry. Marty
Williams, president of Let's Go Aero Company, Colorado Springs, CO, and his wife Sara,
vice president, were raising three young children and finding it impossible to load family
vacation gear into their Volkswagen Rabbit. In 1997, Williams fashioned a prototype Sport
Performance Trailer (SPT) from an 850-gallon elliptical rotationally molded water storage
tank. He put 2,000 miles on the prototype that summer, which gave him the confidence to
contact his patent attorney, who then introduced him to Matt Drabczyk, now the company's
engineer. Drabczyk designed an SPT to appeal to bicyclists and general recreationalists.
Called Herman after the whimsical turtle on its logo, the standard model features 86 cubic
feet of cargo space -- large enough to fit five bicycles with room to spare. When Bob
Toth, president of Medallion Plastics, Elkhart, IN, reviewed the design, he knew that
thermoplastics could be used for the trailer's hard shell, turtle-shaped aerodynamic
design. He chose Lustran ABS 752 plastic resin and Centrex weatherable polymer, both from
Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA. The standard "Herman" sport Performance Trailer (SPT) features 86 cubic feet of cargo space." I knew that Centrex, when compared to other polymers, could withstand extreme temperature ranges and weather conditions," says Toth. "And when combined with a Lustran substrate, the trailer would have the high impact strength Let's Go Aero wanted." The thermoplastic sheet that makes up the SPT's body is co-extruded by Spartech Inc., Clayton, MO, and thermoformed by Medallion. The Herman is rugged and light, weighing 235 lbs. with a 25-lb. tongue weight. It's air-tight, water-resistant, and won't fade or become brittle at temperatures ranging from -50 to 170°F. In addition, the SPT's neutral-colored shell takes paint well, with a resulting appearance that can match a car's finish. -- FR For more information: Circle 600 - Bayer Corporation, or connect directly to their website via
the Circle 623 - Let's Go Aero or connect [dfx/incl/99dfx.htm] |
