Silo and tank trailers, tippers, truck bodies and tail lifts are built from aluminium to save weight and increase payload. The workhorse for 5xxx sheet and 6xxx extrusions is MA-5183 (ER5183); MA-5087 helps with crack-sensitive, rigidly clamped structures, MA-5356 with anodised parts, MA-5554 with tanks for hot products above 65 °C and MA-4043 with crack-sensitive 6xxx joints. For robot lines, the AlMg wires come in 140 kg Jumbo and 240 kg Jumbo XL drums.

Which wire for which joint?

Typical base materials in vehicle body construction and the matching MIGAL.CO wire. For other combinations see the material selection table for aluminium alloys.

Base material Typical use Recommended wire Why
EN AW-5083, 5086, 5182 sheet silo and tank shells, tipper bodies MA-5183 (ER5183) high tensile strength and elongation (Rm 275 MPa)
EN AW-5083 in rigidly clamped, complex structures frames, chassis nodes MA-5087 (S Al 5087) zirconium refines the grain – weld metal insensitive to hot cracking
EN AW-5454, 5754 for tanks above 65 °C tanks for hot products MA-5554 (ER5554) Mg content below 3 % – avoids intergranular and stress corrosion at elevated temperatures
EN AW-6060, 6061, 6082 extrusions frames, side boards, tail lift platforms MA-5183 or MA-4043 5183 for strength, 4043 where solidification cracking is the risk
anodised parts visible profiles, trims MA-5356 (ER5356) nearly colour-matched after anodising

What matters in vehicle body construction

  • Robot welding with consistent wire quality: straight wire without twist reduces circling wire tips and rework. MA-5183, MA-5087, MA-5356 and MA-5556 come in 140 kg Jumbo and 240 kg Jumbo XL drums.
  • Long feeding distances from drum to robot: roller-guided conduits, RoboFeed feed assist and wire straighteners – see long-distance wire feeding for aluminium.
  • Hot products: AlMg fillers with more than 3 % Mg may become prone to intergranular and stress corrosion at operating temperatures of 65 °C and above – MA-5554 stays below this limit.
  • Porosity: vacuum-packed wire, dry storage, removal of the oxide layer – see welding of aluminium.

Reference: Bär Cargolift

Bär Cargolift welds aluminium tail lifts on robot cells with S Al 5183, 1.6 mm. Switching from 40 kg spools to 240 kg Jumbo XL drums with RoboStraight wire straightener, RoboFeed and Duroliner conduit over up to 20 m gave straight seams, less rework and fewer wire changes; four welding stations were equipped after several weeks of testing. Read the reference.

Frequently asked questions

Which welding wire is used for aluminium silo and tank trailers?

ER5183 (S Al 5183) is the standard filler for 5083/5086 shells and 6xxx extrusions. For tanks carrying hot products above 65 °C, a filler with less than 3 % Mg such as ER5554 is used to avoid stress corrosion.

ER5183 or ER5356 for truck bodies?

ER5183 gives higher strength (about 275 MPa vs. 250 MPa) and is the first choice for structural welds. ER5356 is used for parts that are anodised afterwards, because the weld stays nearly colour-matched.

Which drum sizes are available?

MA-5183, MA-5087, MA-5356 and MA-5556 in 140 kg Jumbo and 240 kg Jumbo XL drums; MA-4043 in 80 kg Eco and 140 kg Jumbo drums.

Can I test the wire first?

Yes – request a free test spool.