FRP Panels Are Used In Refrigerated Trucks

The process of manufacturing refrigerated trucks using fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) panels mainly employs a sandwich layering structure technique. Through continuous layering, compression molding, or a combined process, the FRP skins are combined with polyurethane insulation materials, and finally, a complete refrigerated truck body is assembled.

Main production process flow

Material Preparation and Cutting

First, based on the design drawings, determine the overall vehicle size and the size of the cabin. After measuring the chassis dimensions, start the mold manufacturing and material cutting. The main materials include FRP panel, polyurethane insulation board, wood planks, stainless steel plate, and aluminum alloy plate, etc. The FRP panel is produced by mechanical processes. Through automated equipment, the resin and glass fibers are mixed, then the mixture is immersed in a heating platform, coated and compressed, and finally cut to the required size.

2. Box plate pressing process

The side panels adopt a sandwich layer structure, and there are mainly three production processes:

Continuous laminating production line: Suitable for large-scale standardized production. After the FRP sheet or aluminum sheet is unwound, it undergoes processes such as cleaning, preheating, and gluing. The upper and lower skins are wound separately and then placed into the laminating machine. Foam is injected between the upper and lower skins through foaming, and the laminated structure is formed and solidified in the laminating machine.

Intermittent/molded foaming process: This method is used for special sizes or small batch production. The cut inner and outer skins are placed in the mold, polyurethane raw materials are injected, the mold is closed and pressure is applied, and the foam solidifies and forms in the mold.

Sandwich composite process: The current mainstream process in the market. The upper and lower fiberglass skins are cut to the required dimensions. The polyurethane finished sheet is cut and assembled and placed between the skins, then it is pressed in a press machine for bonding.

3. Box panel processing and finishing

The pressed side panels are processed on a CNC machining center for high-speed trimming, hole opening, drilling, tapping, and countersinking. According to the vehicle side panel modification process, technical solutions such as programming design, tooling design, and tool selection are provided to ensure processing accuracy.

4. Container assembly process

After the side panels are fabricated, they are assembled and formed one by one on the large assembly frame. They are locked with stainless steel screws. The gaps around the joints are sealed with unsaturated resin to ensure overall sealing. The assembly is left to cure for 24 hours. The enclosure is made using the "sandwich" board bonding technique with an overall structure. The inner and outer wall panels are made of high-quality fiberglass, and the insulation material in the middle is 8mm thick polyurethane.

5. Installation of decorative elements and accessories

After the body assembly is completed, the lock handle cover, the peripheral profiles of the body, the door seal strip, the edge protection and corner protection, the LED lighting lamp, the anti-collision block reflective plate and other accessories are installed in sequence. Anti-low-temperature insulation sealing strips are added between the body and the door, and the door lock mechanism uses standard stainless steel parts.

6. Vehicle Assembly and Testing

The body is lifted and installed onto the chassis, and then the entire vehicle undergoes an electrical connection test. Finally, the refrigeration unit, including the compressor, evaporator, condenser, etc., is installed, and repeated temperature warming tests are conducted to ensure that the compressor operates stably and the refrigeration speed of the unit meets the requirements.

Technical Features and Advantages

The FRP refrigerated carriage panel features light weight, high strength, excellent insulation performance, corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning. It adopts a sandwich structure. The outer layer is covered with FRP fiberglass reinforced plastic skin, and the middle layer uses high-density polyurethane foam material. The insulation layer thickness reaches 50-100mm, and the panel thickness varies from 1 to 3mm. The insulation and heat preservation performance is extremely excellent.

The entire manufacturing process focuses on sealing and insulation. Natural resin glue is used to seal the joints around the enclosure, ensuring the sealing and insulation performance of the enclosure. The enclosure has high strength, a smooth surface without bubbles, and excellent insulation effect and strong enclosure strength.