CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/891910
45 CompositesWorld.com Left & Right Sidewalls D-LFT PP Honda's Gen 2 Ridgeline Pickup Box principal engineer, materials research division, Honda R&D.; Many of the system-usage targets for strength, durability and manu- facturability on the Gen 2 composite truck box were built on the know-how gained from the first system. "We began by asking ourselves, 'How can we improve or add additional value for our customers?'" adds Ryan, who notes that everything from the shape of the bed's corrugations, and thickness of individual sections to the texture placed on wear surfaces and the material formulation, was examined and optimized to achieve the best performance for the customer. e design team looked at many materials — polymeric and metallic — during preliminary design work for the first- and second-generation models. Choosing composites-intensive designs for both generations of Ridgeline pickup boxes was not without risks or challenges. "We already knew from our previous Ridgeline that the robustness that composites offered made them perfect for maximizing customer value," recalls Ryan. is approach follows Honda's philosophy of using the right material in the right place and incrementally improving it in terms of perfor- mance, quality and value to "maximize customer joy," he says. "One thing about composites vs. steel and, in some cases, aluminum, is that these materials are younger in terms of total usage in the automotive industry," says Ryan. "A big challenge that we face, industry wide, is the need to educate people — from design to testing to manufacturing — about these materials and help them gain experience using them. Another aspect, and one that's extremely important at Honda, is our need to guarantee overall quality, safety and robustness for our customers. To do Illustration / Karl Reque Gen 2 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Composite Pickup Box Parts › New, UV-stable SMC, plus special texturing and MIC black, eliminates need for paint on all loadbearing surfaces, hiding minor dings and scratches. › Tough D-LFT PP reduces weight and cost but meets performance demands for pickup box sidewalls and headboard. › Careful assessment of hybrid material system ensured excellent match between materials in terms of color, gloss and texture and confirmed overall usability. Headboard & sidewalls contain lights and in-bed audio system Headboard D-LFT PP Bed Floor UV-stable SMC In-Bed Trunk UV-stable SMC Trunk converts to an ice chest (with integral drain plug) Molded floor guides help hold off-road motorcycles Special texturing on all wear surfaces Spare-Tire Tray Short-glass PP Dual-Action Tailgate Inner Panel UV-stable SMC Inner Cargo Lid UV-stable SMC Lockable Outer Cargo Lid UV-stable SMC