The Benefits of Stainless Steel

For more than a decade, stainless steel has been the raw material of choice for top European bus body
builders. In recent years Merkavim has joined the global progress towards the new EN10088 standard of
stainless steel, also referred to as DIN 1,4003, 3CR12, and F12.
With the unique quality of almost total resistance to corrosion, needing none of the extra preventative
measures like cleaning baths, acid treatments etc. traditionally employed before vehicles go into service,
stainless steel keeps maintenance expenses down to a minimum.
With the added benefit of extra light bodyweight, and proven protection against corrosion even in the
harshest conditions, stainless steel bus bodies provide long-term low cost operation over many years of
intensive wear and tear.

The Advantages of Stainless Steel
No Need for Anti-Corrosion Measures
No Need to Protect Welded Seams
No Need for Base Paint After Welding
Increased Strength and Durability
Increased Bus Lifespan
Lightweight Material Means Lower Overheads for Fuel, Tires & Brakes
Higher Resale Value





Australia's First Stainless Steel Bus
Significant petrol savings, longer service life, lighter tare weight
and reduced maintenance costs are just a few features of
Australia's first stainless steel bus.
Two prototype buses with grade 304 stainless steel body shells are
being manufactured by Gold Coast-based company, Bus Tech Pty
Ltd for Volvo Australia.
Stainless steel buses are used extensively in Europe and the United
States of America to guard against corrosion caused by icy, salted
roads. Corrosion of buses is also a problem in Australia with
vehicles subject to regular frame inspections and refurbishment costs. Corrosion in buses
results not only from exposure to marine environments, but also from humidity and
condensation and recycled water used for cleaning.
Bus Tech Manager, Frank Reardon, said the stainless steel bus had many advantages
including corrosion resistance, reduced maintenance and operating costs.
"What will be extremely advantageous for operators is tat they can
keep the stainless steel buses on the road for 10 to 15 years without
having to constantly address corrosion issues common with carbon
steel buses," Mr Reardon said.
A 700 kilogram reduction in tare weight of the bus has been
achieved by using stainless steel, resulting in a $2 per kilometre
saving in petrol and the ability for each vehicle to carry an
additional nine passengers.
"With the increasing price of fuel, we were pushed by our clients to find a way to reduce
the tare weight of the bus," Mr Reardon said.
"Using stainless steel has allowed us to provide this extra benefit."
A 15% reduction in production time has also been a feature of the stainless steel bus
project.
Each bus is being constructed from 200 metre of square hollow sections (SHS) and 600
kilograms of stainless steel sheet, all grade 304 with a 2B finish.
The exterior and interior of the buses are attached to the stainless steel shell with a
polyurethane adhesive, providing a bond line to keep out water and dust.
Fabrication of the stainless steel components was undertaken by
Brisbane fabricators Metal Tech Industries and BJR Metal Rolling
& Pressing, then delivered to Bus Tech for assembly. Stainless
steel for the buses was supplied by ASSDA member Austral
Wright Metals.
ASSDA provided literature and an in-house stainless steel seminar
during the planning stages of the project.
The buses will be delivered to companies in Liverpool, New South
Wales and the Gold Coast.
Mr Reardon said Bus Tech was pleased with the project and hopes to adopt stainless steel
as a standard for their buses.































Stainless by the Bus Load
Newcastle's public transport stocks are to be boosted by the
addition of 30 new stainless steel buses, the first of which was
delivered this month.
Their advanced design combines passenger comfort with
environmental awareness. The Volvo B12BLE bus chassis meets
the latest Euro III exhaust emission standards, making it the
cleanest diesel bus on Australian roads.
The buses are being built by Custom Coaches, the largest
Australian bus manufacturer with plants in New South Wales,
South Australia and Queensland. Stainless steel supply is by
ASSDA member Fagersta Steels.
The buses have features to make travel easier for visually impaired passengers and those
with restricted mobility. They include air-conditioning, anti-lock brakes and graffiti-
resistant seats.
In commissioning the buses, the State Transit Authority of NSW emphasized economical
operating and maintenance costs, fuel efficiency and competitive whole of life costs.
International experience shows stainless steel delivers on these criteria thanks to its
corrosion resistance, durability and weight-saving qualities.
The outlook for stainless in bus construction is positive, as more Australian bus owners
and operators are becoming aware of the merits of stainless steel bodies compared with
traditionally used coated carbon steel. In response to anticipated demand, Custom
Coaches is currently investigating a range of stainless steel grades for future contracts.