Reading Truck Body - About Us
Mission Statement | Company History | Manufacturing Facility
50th Anniversary
Reading Truck Body celebrates a major
milestone in 2005 with the commemoration
of our 50th Anniversary. Read More . . .
Mission Statement
Reading Truck Body is dedicated to satisfying our customer’s needs by manufacturing products of the highest standard of quality and by providing service that exceeds their expectations.
Our family of skilled, loyal and professional employees is our greatest resource. Success in achieving our mission will assure long term stability and continual growth.
Company History
• Established in 1955
• Products are sold internationally through a network of distributors
• Member of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA)
Reading Body Works, Inc. first made its entrance into the truck equipment industry in 1955. Mr. Irving Suknow purchased Reading Body Works, Inc. with a vision of manufacturing and promoting a market for service bodies - a market that he felt was virtually untapped.
Choosing to market to specific contracting industries, Reading bodies have been well received because of their unparalleled quality. The famous Reading slogan “Don’t Pile It - File It” was developed to market the concept of an organized method of storing tools and equipment. The creative minds at Reading developed the “Reading Kangaroo”, and to this day it is still an important symbol of Reading.
For years, various industries have opted to “file” rather than “pile” valuable tools and equipment. The service body offers a distinct advantage - saving time by allowing organization of materials and increasing efficiency on the job.
The perseverance to succeed and the dedication of the employees has allowed Reading to pave the way as the leader in the marketplace.
In August 2003, Reading Body Works, Inc. assumed a new name - Reading Truck Body, Inc. Reading continues to sell its products through a network of independent distributors located throughout the world.
Manufacturing Facility
Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, our manufacturing facility covers 23 acres with a 335,000 square foot building. Advanced technological machines and processes are utilized in the manufacturing process:
• CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Drafting/Computer Aided Manufacturing)
• Bystronics 3-Axis Laser
• Prima 5-Axis Laser
• 750 Ton Draw Form Press
• Hydraulic Autoforming Machine
• Powder Coat painting process
• Acrylic E-Coat immersion priming process
CAD/CAM
The CAD/CAM system and Bystronics laser was added to our facility in 1994, eliminating the lengthy process of hand-drawing engineering documents. The CAD/CAM and laser machine work together allowing precision parts cutting with very little waste. These machines are utilized for the production of all special body parts.
The CAD system literally talks to the laser fabrication computer telling them what needs to be manufactured. Special interpretation programs and equipment must be used to help the laser understand what the CAD computers are saying. The CAD system also communicates with a hydraulic autoforming machine.
Bystronics 3-Axis Laser
The Bystronics 3-axis laser is a flying optic cutting machine; meaning the laser head can move around the sheet of metal moving to the exact cutting points. The laser cutting center consists of an automatic sheet loader, a 2800 watt laser cutting table, and a parts unloading transfer section.
The 2800 watt laser focuses an intense beam of light in a circle, measuring approximately three thousands of an inch. This beam of light, assisted by a high pressure gas stream, is able to cut through steel plate up to ¾" thick, as well as materials such as plywood, rubber, plastic, aluminum and stainless steel.
The system automatically feeds sheets of material weighing up to 2000 lbs. and measuring up to 80 inches by 160 inches, and pierces holes, notches, slots and any shape with accuracy of +/- two thousandths of an inch. The sheets are automatically cut to size while the holes and notches are cut.
The computer control center in the CAD/CAM control office will automatically nest up to 100 different parts on one sheet of material and reports on scrap loss from each nest. The nesting program is even capable of putting a part inside a hole which has been cut into another larger part. This two-stage nesting enables laser cutting to be very efficient in material utilization.
Prima 5-Axis Laser
Purchased and installed in 1996, the Prima 5-axis laser has five axis of motion and allows three-dimensional cutting of the three dimensional Aerotech service body parts. This laser requires computer programming on templates at the machine because the three-dimensional programming is too complicated to be programmed off-line in a remote office.
The operator must do all programming and also position precision part holding fixtures to assure an accurate cut. Cutting wattage and speed must be changed several times on the program to achieve a good cut throughout the part.
750 Ton Draw Form Press
Also installed in 1996, this immense piece of machinery forms the contour door shapes, fender panels and end panels of the Aerotech service body. This press stands 20 feet high and has a pressing tonnage of 750 tons.
Using die sets, the sheet metal is actually stretched over the dies, forming the parts. The use of deep drawing operations is standard for the automotive industry for many years, but is new to the truck equipment industry.
Hydraulic Autoforming Machine
The hydraulic autoforming machine is also very sophisticated. It talks to a program called CYCAD, which runs in the CAD/CAM control center. This program takes CAD files and converts them into drawings of folded parts on the computer screen. This replaces the need to test pieces on the shop floor in order to get the correct part formation.
The bending brake automatically sets up all the necessary elements for a proper bending operation, and eliminates the need to manually do this. The hydraulic autoformer is able to bend parts with very little down time.
While Reading is committed to maintaining a technologically advanced production facility,
it is no substitute for our company’s most valuable asset - our highly skilled and motivated employees.