High-performance ATV tackles low temperatures with new cab components of engineered polyolefin
Dumur Industries replaced the metal cab of the Wolverine amphibious, tracked vehicle with thermoformed plastic components, increasing the size of the enclosure, while reducing both cost and weight. Cold-weather operations produced cracking at attachment points in components formed from traditional ABS sheet with an ASA cap layer. That’s why sheet-extruder Orion Plastics recommended a switch to Sequel® E3000 engineered polyolefin produced by LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins USA Inc.
Sequel E3000 engineered polyolefin is selected by customers for extrusion into sheetstock to be used in thermoforming applications. The material combines excellent impact resistance with low-temperature ductility and UV resistance, so a cap layer is not required for weatherability. Sequel E3000 polyolefin is designed to exhibit ductility at temperatures as low as −30 °C. This material can be easily colored, eliminating the cost of painting along with the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with the painting process.
All seven components of the cab are now produced in Sequel E3000 polyolefin material in a color-matched orange with a lightly grained surface, reducing both the cost and the weight of the Wolverine ATV without compromising appearance or durability