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Labrie Takes Home Swedish Steel Prize 2009 for Refuse Truck
11/20/2009 - Labrie Environmental Group has won this year’s Swedish Steel Prize with its new vehicle model, the Wittke Starlight. According to the jury, this entry illustrates “precise optimization” of all parts of the vehicle, which are made mainly of high-strength steel sheet.
Labrie Environmental Group has won this year’s Swedish Steel Prize. The Canadian manufacturer of equipment for the solid waste industry won the prize with its new vehicle model, the Wittke Starlight. According to the jury, this entry illustrates “precise optimization” of all parts of the vehicle, which are made mainly of high-strength steel sheet.
”Labrie has come very far in the use of high-strength steels,” said Martin Lindqvist, Chairman of the Swedish Steel Prize jury. “Its winning entry consists almost entirely of high-strength steels. The designers have been successful in optimizing the design in order to reduce weight, but without compromising on strength and functionality.”
The Wittke Starlight is a front-loader refuse collection truck with 700 kg more payload capacity than earlier models. In addition to being lighter, the new vehicle is built to achieve higher compaction of the refuse in the container, which contributes to fewer transport journeys and thus reduced environmental impact.
“By using high-strength steel in its design, Labrie has demonstrated that energy-saving measures can readily be achieved,” said Lindqvist. “Switching over to high-strength steels is often a simple measure for creating more energy-efficient products, while also improving competitiveness.”
Three other companies were awarded runner-up prizes:
- Andreoli Engineering S.r.l. and Bordoni Bonfiglio S.r.l. of Italy developed a new spray bar for a sprayer unit
- Hydroforming Design Light AB of Sweden for developing a new roller ski
- Lecitrailer SA of Spain for the design of a new trailer for road transport.
The Swedish Steel Prize was founded in 1999 and is being awarded this year for the eleventh time.
SSAB is a world leader in the supply of high-strength steels. SSAB has 9200 employees in more than 45 countries, and has production plants in Sweden and the U.S.
