PUTTING A BONNET “ON IT” PREVENTS CORROSION, SAVES LABOR AND COST

VCI elastic bonnets are custom made to tightly fit around metal parts to provide maximum VCI corrosion protection.

Customer:
Major Truck OEM

Type of Industry:
Truck (completed chassis assembly)

Problem:
A major truck OEM needed to keep the brake component areas of the complete chassis unit free of dirt and corrosion during storage and shipment. Protective sprays and liquids could not be used. In addition, the completed chassis unit could not be fully wrapped or bagged. Protective material, time and labor costs associated with the additional protection and removal processes were not in the original budget and had to be low.

ARMOR Solution:
Since only the brake assemblies at each end of the chassis were to be protected, a form of quick VCI film enclosure was agreed upon. ARMOR recommended the use of a custom sized Defender™ VCI bonnet. Made from ARMOR’s Defender™ poly film, a three-layer film specifically designed to be both tough and economical, these secure-fitting elastic bonnets slip easily over exposed metal parts and were ideal for the brake assembly. Brake assembly circumference clearance and proper elastic draw measurements were determined and sample VCI bonnets were produced for application and removal trials at the plant. Ease of bonnet application and correct elastic draw tightness were critical factors for a successful enclosure solution.

Results:
The account no longer experiences problems with dirt or surface corrosion on the critical brake components of their chassis. The additional step of applying the Defender™ VCI bonnets did not cause any interruption in the original manufacturing process. In fact, the cost of the VCI bonnets was more than offset by the elimination of rejected units due to surface corrosion. The convenience for the Truck OEM of ARMOR applying the elastic to the film saved labor compared to the alternative of using film with a more cumbersome attachment method. The use of Defender™ VCI bonnets is now being internally recommended to engineers at the company’s other manufacturing plants.