New from Laydon Composites is a low-cost aerodynamic trailer side skirt that can be fitted to a trailer in just an hour, the company says. The new Hybrid skirt is the result of a partnership with Crane Composites to re-design Laydon’s SmartWay-certified advanced aerodynamic Hybrid TrailerSkirt. Crane designed a purpose-built panel and Laydon came up with a very innovative injection-moulded and patent–pending “mono clamp” and strut. The design is said to use state-of-the-art CAD modeling and finite element analysis to stress test the design and the material in all temperatures, whether extreme heat or cold. The unique design means a two-man team can mount the fairings on a 53-ft trailer in an hour.

Customers apparently wanted something inexpensive, easy and fast to install, lightweight, flexible enough to withstand everyday abuse, and of course fuel-efficient.

The patent-pending flexible spring behind the skirt is made from woven fibreglass, polypropylene where the fibreglass strands are orientated at zero, 90 & 45 degrees. This is claimed to allow a higher level of stress without failure than any other composite strut on the market and the spring is pre tensioned for added strength.

The skirt panels are designed to match the strut durability, while being light and able to move with the struts. They’re not only is strong but will bend and move with the flexible spring, Laydon says.