Following a demonstration period, Andrade Gutierrez touts the availability, durability, productivity and lower fuel consumption of an Allison automatic-equipped concrete mixer truck which exceeded all expectations. The automatic outperformed an equivalent truck with a manual transmission in an industry plagued with operational failures.
SÃO PAULO, Brazil - Andrade Gutierrez, one of Latin America's largest infrastructure implementation groups, has just finished testing an Allison fully automatic-equipped concrete mixer in conjunction with projects designed to prepare for the Olympics and Soccer World Cup in 2014. Equipped with a 3500 Series fully automatic transmission, the truck was significantly more productive than its manual equivalent and massively popular with drivers.
"The equipment exceeded our expectations," said Ermano Silva, the engineer responsible for equipment maintenance at Andrade Gutierrez. "We have been able to verify that Allison's fully automatic truck affords increased equipment availability and greater comfort for the operator, who finishes his job in better physical condition than those who drove the manual transmission-equipped mixers."
During the demonstration period, the automatic mixer worked alongside a manual, accomplishing varied tasks at the BRT Transcarioca construction site - a nearly 150 kilometer-long bus corridor constructed to connect opposite ends of Rio de Janeiro. Accumulating nearly 200 duty hours, the Allison automatic provided superior fuel consumption (1,557l vs. 1,596l) and carried more concrete (531.5 m³ vs. 488.5 m³). In short, 8.8 percent more concrete was conveyed in 7.1 percent less time while consuming 2.5% less fuel - an impressive 11.5 percent improvement in fuel utilization measured in m3 (of concrete delivered) / liter of fuel used. Overall, the automatic truck was far more productive - delivering 16.5% more concrete per hour.
Allison automatic vs. manual - fuel consumption and productivity comparison
Allison Automatic Manual Improvement
Fuel Consumed (l) 1.557 litres 1.596 litres 2.5% less fuel
Concrete Delivered (m3) 531.5 m3 488.5 m3 8.8% more concrete
Concrete (m3) / Fuel (l) 0.341 m3/litre 0.306 m3/litre 11.5% better use of fuel
Working Hours (h) 198 hours 212 hours 7.1% less time
Concrete (m3) / Hour (h) 2.684 m3/hr 2.304 m3/hr 16.5% more productive
The Allison automatic mixer also worked to support paving of distances less than 12 kilometers. Testing the mixer for short-range actions was part of the company's strategy to investigate the benefits of automatic transmissions across varied fronts, allowing the truck to engage in multiple jobs at the same work site. Allison's fully automatic concrete mixer proved more efficient than the manual in all categories, and according to Silva, "Durability was especially evident during curb construction, which causes clutch wear in manual-equipped trucks."
For Evaldo Oliveira, South America Operations Director for Allison Transmission, "The results we were able to obtain for a company the size and stature of Andrade Gutierrez make us extremely happy. They confirmed our expectations, but there is nothing more important than the client arriving at this conclusion based on personal experience and quantifiable results. We appreciate the endorsement of the quality and reliability of Allison fully automatic transmissions."
"This is the equipment Andrade Gutierrez looks for and needs," said Silva. "The data shows the real worth of automatic transmission mixers. The vehicle was also successful with drivers, who finish the work day well-disposed and less fatigued. From my point of view, the automatic-equipped cement mixer will have an immediate and positive impact on the industry."