Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

January 30, 2004

ISU analysis curbs rework in race car transporter

Featherlite Inc., a Cresco company, supplies transporter trailers to NASCAR racing teams. The company came to the Institute for Physical Research and Technology's Company Assistance to find out why the laminated flooring in some race car transporters was failing.

Blair Steine, an industrial engineer at the company, contacted Paul Berge, an IPRT metallurgist, for help.

Using a scanning electron microscope, Berge found traces of calcium and potassium among the layers of aluminum, tile and adhesive in the problem flooring.

It turned out that some crews cleaned the trailers with a chlorine-based cleaning agent that corroded the aluminum and caused delaminating. The company has advised customers not to use chlorine-based cleaners. Rework/warranty work had cost $5,000 per affected trailer. Stein said IPRT's assistance was "top-notch," helping Featherlite "protect its product, avoid unnecessary expenses and further its customer service."

Iowa State is good for business.