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In the demanding world of temperature-controlled transportation, the integrity of a refrigerated truck's body is paramount. At the heart of modern, efficient cold chain logistics lies a critical component: the GFRP panel for refrigerated truck. Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) panels have revolutionized the industry, offering a superior alternative to traditional materials like aluminum and steel. These panels, particularly in the widely specified white GFRP panel finish, are not used in isolation. They are expertly bonded to rigid insulation cores—typically XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) or PU (Polyurethane) foam—to form high-performance composite sandwich panels. These composites create the robust, thermally efficient walls, roofs, and floors that maintain precise internal temperatures, ensuring perishable goods travel from farm or factory to market in perfect condition. This comprehensive guide will delve into the specifics of 1.5mm gfrp panel and 2mm gfrp panel options, available in essential widths from 1800mm to 2600mm, exploring why they are the material of choice for durable and reliable refrigerated truck bodies.
A GFRP panel is a flat sheet manufactured from a composite material consisting of glass fiber reinforcements embedded in a polymer resin matrix, usually polyester or vinyl ester. This combination yields a product with exceptional properties: high strength-to-weight ratio, outstanding corrosion resistance, excellent dimensional stability, and a naturally smooth, non-porous surface. When we talk about a GFRP panel for refrigerated truck applications, these inherent qualities are specifically leveraged.
The white gfrp panel is especially popular for several reasons. The white pigmentation provides high reflectivity, significantly reducing heat absorption from solar radiation, which is crucial for minimizing thermal load on the refrigeration unit. The bright surface also enhances interior light reflection, improves cleanliness visibility, and presents a professional, hygienic appearance. The panel's seamless surface prevents dirt and moisture accumulation, making it easy to wash and sanitize—a vital requirement for food transport. Furthermore, GFRP does not corrode when exposed to de-icing salts, road spray, or frequent wash-downs with cleaning agents, ensuring a long service life even in harsh operating conditions.

Selecting the correct panel specifications is a foundational decision in refrigerated truck manufacturing. The two most critical dimensions are thickness (the depth of the GFRP sheet itself) and width (the panel's spanning capability), which directly influence the vehicle's performance, durability, and payload efficiency.
The thickness of the GFRP panel skin is a primary determinant of the composite sandwich panel's structural performance.
The 1.5mm GFRP Panel
The 1.5mm gfrp panel represents a standard and highly versatile option. It provides an excellent balance between weight, cost, and mechanical strength. This thickness is perfectly suited for the sidewalls and roofing of many refrigerated truck and trailer bodies. It offers sufficient rigidity and impact resistance for most operational scenarios while contributing to a lighter overall vehicle weight. Reduced weight translates directly to increased payload capacity and improved fuel economy, key factors in transportation profitability. For standard-depth trucks and trailers on established distribution routes, the 1.5mm gfrp panel is often the optimal, cost-effective choice.
The 2mm GFRP Panel
For applications demanding maximum durability and structural integrity, the 2mm gfrp panel is the superior selection. The additional material depth delivers significantly enhanced impact resistance, puncture strength, and overall rigidity. This makes the 2mm gfrp panel the preferred material for high-stress areas. It is exceptionally well-suited for refrigerated truck floors, which must withstand constant abrasion from pallet jacks, heavy cargo loads, and potential impact from dropped items. It is also highly recommended for sidewalls in applications involving rougher handling, such as multi-stop delivery vehicles (where damage from docks or other objects is more likely) or for bodies that are frequently swapped between chassis. The extra robustness provides greater longevity and reduces maintenance costs over the vehicle's life.
The width of a GFRP panel for refrigerated truck construction is equally strategic. Standardized widths allow for efficient, leak-free assembly. The availability of panels in 1800mm, 2000mm, 2200mm, 2400mm, and 2600mm widths provides designers and manufacturers with the flexibility to create bodies of various sizes with minimal seams.
Optimizing Design with Standard Widths
The 1800mm GFRP panel is often used for specific sections, custom designs, or smaller utility bodies where narrower spans are required.
The 2000mm GFRP panel and 2200mm GFRP panel are extremely common workhorse sizes. They are frequently employed for the sidewalls and roofs of standard-width refrigerated trucks and smaller trailers, allowing for efficient material usage with fewer longitudinal joins.
The 2400mm GFRP panel and 2600mm GFRP panel are essential for larger, high-cube trailers. These wider sheets are crucial for fabricating broad roof sections and tall sidewalls with a single panel, or with significantly fewer seams. Fewer seams mean fewer thermal bridges and potential leak points, enhancing the overall thermal efficiency and structural integrity of the refrigerated compartment. Using a 2400mm gfrp panel or 2600mm gfrp panel for a trailer roof, for instance, can dramatically streamline the manufacturing process and improve the final product's performance.

It is vital to understand that a white GFRP panel alone does not make a refrigerated truck body. Its true function is realized as the facing material in a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP). In this system, the GFRP skin is permanently bonded to a thick core of insulating foam under controlled factory conditions.
The Insulation Core: XPS vs. PU
Polyurethane (PU) Foam: The most common core material. It is typically sprayed or injected as a liquid between two GFRP skins, where it expands and cures, creating a strong chemical bond (adhesion) to the panel. PU offers one of the highest insulation values (lowest K-factors) available, allowing for thinner wall profiles to achieve the same thermal resistance. It also adds significant structural strength to the composite.
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam: Often supplied as rigid boards that are bonded to the GFRP skins using high-strength structural adhesives (mechanical adhesion). XPS has excellent moisture resistance and good compressive strength, making it a durable choice, particularly for floors.
The Bonding Process and Its Benefits
The lamination process creates a monolithic "sandwich" where the GFRP skins carry tensile and compressive stresses, while the foam core separates them, providing immense shear strength and rigidity with very low weight. This synergy results in a panel that is:
Highly Thermally Efficient: Creates a continuous thermal barrier with minimal breaks.
Extremely Strong and Rigid: Capable of withstanding road vibrations and racking forces.
Lightweight: Maximizes payload capacity.
Seamless and Hygienic: The inner white gfrp panel surface is easy to clean and maintain.
The availability of GFRP panels in precise thicknesses and widths like 1.5mm and 2mm in 1800mm, 2000mm, 2200mm, 2400mm, and 2600mm sizes delivers profound advantages to manufacturers and end-users.
Manufacturing Efficiency and Consistency
Pre-engineered panels streamline the production line. Builders can source 1800mm gfrp panel or 2200mm gfrp panel sheets knowing their exact properties, allowing for precise cutting, routing, and assembly. This reduces waste, improves build speed, and ensures consistent quality across every unit produced.
Predictable Performance and Structural Integrity
Knowing the mechanical properties of a 2mm gfrp panel versus a 1.5mm gfrp panel allows engineers to accurately calculate load-bearing capacities and deflection limits. This ensures the finished truck body will reliably withstand its intended operational stresses, from floor loading to wind pressure on wide 2600mm gfrp panel roof sections.
Simplified Maintenance and Repair
Standardization means replacement parts or repair materials are readily available. If a section of a 2000mm gfrp panel sidewall is damaged, a repair shop can easily source an identical material, ensuring a perfect match in color, thickness, and performance, which helps maintain the vehicle's value and operational readiness.
Selecting the optimal GFRP panel for refrigerated truck construction involves a careful assessment of the vehicle's intended use.
1. Assess the Operational Duty Cycle
For Long-Haul, High-Volume Trailers: Prioritize thermal efficiency and lightweight design. A 1.5mm gfrp panel for walls and roof paired with a 2mm gfrp panel for the floor is a classic, high-performance specification. Utilize the widest panels possible (e.g., 2400mm or 2600mm gfrp panel) to minimize seams on large surfaces.
For Multi-Stop Delivery Trucks: Durability is key due to frequent door openings and higher risk of impact. Upgrading all exterior surfaces to a 2mm gfrp panel is a wise investment. The 2000mm and 2200mm gfrp panel widths are commonly used in these body sizes.
For Low-Temperature or Ultra-Hygienic Applications: A white gfrp panel with a smooth, non-porous finish is mandatory. Ensure all seams are properly sealed, regardless of whether you use an 1800mm or 2400mm gfrp panel.
2. Match the Panel to the Body Section
Floor: Always specify a 2mm gfrp panel for maximum abrasion and impact resistance.
Sidewalls & Roof: Choose based on duty cycle. 1.5mm is standard for most; 2mm for heavy-duty.
Door Skins: Often require 2mm thickness for added durability against handling impacts.
3. Consider the Total Composite Panel Design
Remember that the GFRP is just one component. The final choice must be made in conjunction with the insulation core type (PU or XPS), core thickness (which determines R-value), and the bonding method. A high-quality white gfrp panel is only as good as the composite system it is part of.

The evolution of the refrigerated truck body has been significantly advanced by the adoption of GFRP composite technology. The precise availability of 1.5mm gfrp panel and 2mm gfrp panel options in practical widths such as 1800mm, 2000mm, 2200mm, 2400mm, and 2600mm provides manufacturers with an unparalleled toolkit for engineering excellence. From the reflective, hygienic benefits of the standard white gfrp panel to the formidable strength of the 2mm variant for floors, each specification serves a purpose in creating a more efficient, durable, and reliable vehicle.
Investing in the correct GFRP panel for refrigerated truck construction is not merely a material choice; it is a direct investment in the performance and profitability of the cold chain operation. By understanding the roles of thickness, width, and the composite system as a whole, buyers and builders can make informed decisions that ensure their refrigerated trucks are built to protect valuable cargo, minimize operational costs, and stand the test of time and distance on the road.
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