In the plants of the Glinkowski brand, Swedish steel of the SSAB company has been used in the production of horse-drawn carriages for many years. According to its manufacturer, the Glinkowski plant was one of the first in the world to start using it on an industrial scale in the production of carriages. Meeting the expectations of the best drivers, the brand goes one step further. It increases the proportion of "Strenx®” , a special steel, in the entire structure of carriages, achieving unprecedented results in terms of strength parameters, weight of carriages and their driving properties. By revolutionizing the production of carriages, the brand challenges competitive manufactures.
Glinkowski carriages have always been standing out on the market in terms of quality and durability. The brand's philosophy expressed in the company's slogan Uncompromised devotion to perfection means basing the production of carriages on raw materials and components from renowned global manufacturers, which guarantees quality, durability and, above all, the safety of drivers. (read more: Why is it worth paying for a brand on the market of horse-drawn carriages?)
In the case of steel, this means using Swedish sheets supplied by the renowned steel group SSAB. SSAB's high-strength structural steel (S700) has been used for many years in the production of load-bearing elements for horse-drawn carriages. Until now, Strenx® SSAB steel has been used in the production of individual components for carriages. It can be found in all models of the prestigious Performance line.
– SSAB's "Strenx®" is a structural steel with exceptionally high strength and performance going beyond ordinary high-strength steel. - says Damian Glinkowski, board member of Glinkowski Carriages responsible for the production - Thanks to the yield strength of 700MP "Strenx®" SSAB enables the production of stronger and lighter structures, regardless of their intended use. - he adds.
It was the exceptional bending strength and fracture toughness of Strenx® SSAB steel that influenced the decision to increase its share in the entire structure of carriages.
- Currently, the entire frames of carriages are cutted on a precise plasma cutting machine. - continues Damian Glinkowski - Moreover, in places most exposed to cracks, we additionally create strengthening, using a precise press brake. In this way, the entire structure is significantly strengthened. - he underlines.
This is a revolutionary change in the approach to the construction of horse-drawn carriages. Instead of the commonly used method of producing carriages from steel profiles and pipes, the basic raw material in the construction of Glinkowski carriages is SSAB's "Strenx®" sheet. In addition to its unquestionably improved strength properties, SSAB's Strenx® steel also offers other benefits.
Thanks to the lower center of gravity carriages show much better driving properties. Finally, the carriages are much lighter, thanks to which the brand meets the expectations of drivers, is ahead of the current FEI regulations and responds to trends in horse welfare.
For example, when the SPEIDER PRO high-performance dressage carriage, made according to the previous production methods, weighs about 160 - 170 kg, after using SSAB's "Strenx®" steel, its weight drops to only 134 kg. On the other hand, the training carriage OTL T125 PLUS weighing 360 kg has become lighter by about 100 kg, and additionally the stiffness of the entire structure has increased. For high-performance drivers, for whom the Glinkowski brand introduces these design changes, it is an extremely important issue.
It is important to the plant that SSAB's Strenx® steel has extremely uniform properties, ensuring precision and efficiency in the workshop. Yield point and tensile strength, bendability, impact strength are thoroughly tested to ensure reliability and repeatability in every delivery. All types and dimensions are covered by SSAB's "Strenx®" guarantees for thickness, flatness and bend. The homogeneity of the steel is the result of carefully controlled chemical and mechanical properties.
Despite the overall excellent susceptibility to workshop, the implementation of SSAB's "Strenx®" steel for the production of carriages' structural elements required advanced organizational and financial procedures, as well as training of engineers and the production team.
- We took part in regular trainings on the use and processing of this steel - says Hubert Glinkowski, member of the board of Glinkowski Carriages responsible for trade and marketing - Undoubtedly, we were backed by many years of experience in processing Swedish steel, including participation in the Hardox® Wearparts SSAB program - he emphasizes.
Hardox® SSAB is a specialized, wear-resistant steel with exceptional resistance, which is a worldwilde synonymous with the highest strength. In the Glinkowski Group, Hardox® steel with a hardness of 450HB is used in the production of buckets for construction excavators, carried out by the GRAXX brand. The Group is one of the few certified Hardox® Wearparts Centers in Poland. Thanks to many years of cooperation with SSAB, the company also benefits from regular technical support from SSAB.
- The strategic goal we are now heading towards is entering the My Inner Strenx® program - emphasizes Hubert Glinkowski. This is SSAB's quality program, participants of which have the right to mark their products with this label - he adds.
Products marked with the My Inner Strenx® label confirm to their users that the product is made of the best steel of this Swedish manufacturer, with rigorous production quality control, in accordance with SSAB's design and material specifications, and optimized for strength and lightness.
- Although our clients know it perfectly well, it will be a formal and unquestionable confirmation of the exceptional experience of the engineering team in processing Swedish steel and the highest quality of our carriages, and finally an element differentiating from the products of competing manufactories - continues Hubert Glinkowski.
The cooperation with SSAB is in line with the GLINKOWSKI brand's cooperation strategy with world-renowned strong partners, guaranteeing the highest quality and safety of users of horse-drawn carriages signed with the Glinkowski brand.
Read more: Why is it worth paying for a brand on the market of horse-drawn carriages?