< PreviousV olta Trucks and Europe’s leading refrigerated truck rental company, the Petit Forestier Group, have joined forces to make a refrigerated 100% electric commercial vehicle available for rental from 2022. At the heart of the long- term partnership is the Volta Zero, the fi rst 16- tonne zero-emission commercial vehicle designed for urban deliveries and operations. The Petit Forestier Group has agreed to purchase 1,000 Volta Zeros to accelerate its transition towards cleaner energies and represents Volta Trucks’ largest sale to date. The refrigerated full-electric Volta Zero trucks will join the Petit Forestier Group’s fl eet of over 58,500 vehicles and will be equipped by Lecapitaine, the Petit Forestier Group’s industrial subsidiary, and the European leader for the design and manufacture of refrigerated bodywork. The Lecapitaine design offi ce have already started collaborating with the Volta Trucks’ technical teams to ensure the comprehensive integration of the box body and the refrigeration unit, with the fi rst refrigerated Volta Zero is due for user testing in 2021 ahead of the start of production in 2022. This industrial agreement will also cover all refrigerated vehicles sold by Volta Trucks. In addition to the acquisition of 1,000 vehicles, the strategic partnership also focuses on the co-development of skills, in particular technical expertise in the maintenance of electric vehicles, to off er a full-service solution to end customers and facilitate and simplify the operational deployment of these innovative trucks in the Petit Forestier Group’s 280 branches. Léonard Forestier, CEO, Petit Forestier Group, said: "In response to environmental issues and reasonable concerns about accessibility in city centres, greener energies are a promising driver of growth for the Petit Forestier Group and this collaboration with Volta Trucks perfectly illustrates our vision. This partnership embodies our desire to signifi cantly increase our pace in terms of innovation and energy transition of our fl eet. We are taking action now to prepare for the future and to provide our customers with the best zero-emission refrigeration solutions, designed for their urban deliveries. We are delighted to work with the teams at Volta Trucks and to jointly help make our cities more pleasant." Rob Fowler, CEO, Volta Trucks, said: "Entering into a strategic long-term partnership to supply 1,000 vehicles to Petit Forestier and working with Lecapitaine to integrate a refrigerated solution to the Volta Zero, will strengthen Volta Trucks’ position as the leading manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles. When we launched the Volta Zero, we knew that there was a pent-up demand for the electrifi cation of trucks. The unprecedented reaction from our customers, decarbonising their fl eets to meet forthcoming legislation, and improving the environment for everyone, has more than validated our expectations." The Volta Zero is designed from the ground up with an operating pure-electric range of 150 - 200 kms (95 – 125 miles). Due to the removal of the internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimising dangerous blind spots. The fi rst prototype Volta Zero was launched in September 2020, with the fi rst pilot test vehicles due to start evaluation with customers in Q3-2021. VOLTA TRUCKS AND PETIT FORESTIER GROUP PARTNER TO DEVELOP A FULL-ELECTRIC, REFRIGERATED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE 30 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 TRUCKST he battery-powered Mercedes-Benz eActros is starting another customer trial: with Netto Marken-Discount in the greater Hamburg area. The food discounter is testing the heavy-duty electric truck to supply its Hamburg supermarkets with, for example, fruit, vegetables, dairy products and dry goods. The eActros does three to four tours every day, often covering distances of more than 100 kilometers. Between tours, the vehicle is recharged at the Netto depot in Henstedt-Ulzburg just outside Hamburg. Mercedes-Benz Trucks has also approved the vehicle for use with Netto with the ‘additional ton’ allowed by the EU directive on alternative drive systems. The eActros in use with Netto can therefore now have a gross vehicle weight of 26 tons instead of the previous 25 tons, which means it can carry an extra ton of cargo. The refrigerated swap body of the eActros used by Netto is the W.KO Cool model from Schmitz Cargobull. It has optimized insulation for the energy-effi cient transport of goods that require refrigeration. Its robust construction is ideal for intensive daily use. The purely electrically powered cooling unit operates completely emission-free and is specially designed for use in distribution transport. The vehicle bodies are largely provided by Schmitz Cargobull also in the second test phase of the eActros. Christina Stylianou, head of corporate communications at Netto Marken-Discount, said: “Netto has been committed to continuously reducing energy consumption and making the supply chain more sustainable for a long time. This also includes the continuous optimization of our logistics processes. With the Mercedes-Benz electric truck, we want to test a new way of further reducing CO2 emissions on the roads.” The eActros has been in the second phase of its practical testing as part of the so-called innovation fl eet since 2020. One of the many fi ndings gained during the practical tests is that the eActros’s range of about 200 kilometers has proven to be realistic, regardless of payload, route or topography. The eActros is in no way inferior to a conventional diesel truck in terms of availability and performance in urban traffi c, on highways or overland routes. The cooling system for the cargo, but also the air conditioning – both of which are electrically operated – have been operating without any restrictions in both extreme heat and winter conditions. Drivers are pleased with the continuous availability of torque across the entire speed range. They also report in particular on the quiet driving style and a pleasant, smooth driving experience. In addition, when driving with foresight, electrical energy can be recovered through recuperation. The eActros is based on the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz Actros. In addition, however, the vehicle’s architecture is completely geared to electric drive and has a high proportion of specifi c parts. Drive is provided by two electric motors close to the rear-axle wheel hubs with an output of 126 kW each and a maximum torque of 485 Nm each. This results in 11,000 Nm each after the transmission ratio, which is a performance equivalent to that of a conventional truck. Lithium-ion batteries with 240 kWh supply the energy for the eActros. Depending on the available charging power, the batteries can be fully charged within two hours (at 150 kW). The eActros will be launched as a two- and three-axle vehicle. Series production is scheduled to start in 2021 at the Wörth plant on the Rhine. In addition, Daimler Trucks will embed the vehicle in a holistic ecosystem that also includes consulting services relating to e-mobility. They include route analyses, checking for possible subsidies, support for operational fl eet integration, and the development of suitable charging- infrastructure solutions. MERCEDES-BENZ E-ACTROS STARTS CUSTOMER TRIAL WITH SUPERMARKET CHAIN NETTO MARKEN-DISCOUNT 31 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 TRUCKSF ord Transit and Transit Custom are two of the top-performing vans for active safety on sale in Europe today, according to new testing by independent vehicle safety authority Euro NCAP. In an all-new initiative, Euro NCAP tested the performance and eff ectiveness of active safety systems on 19 of Europe’s best-selling vans. The analysis assessed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) when approaching vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as lane keeping technology, speed limit recogni- tion and occupant monitoring systems. The Ford Transit received a Gold award for its suite of available active safety features while the Transit Custom earned a Silver award. Euro NCAP also specifi cally com- mended Ford’s AEB system, recognising pre- collision assist technology with pedestrian detection as a clear class-leading feature. The Transit recorded the only perfect 100 per cent score across all vehicles and features for its traffi c sign recognition functionality; its AEB was also noted as the best for cyclist protection. Stuart Southgate, director, safety engineer- ing, Ford of Europe, said: “We know that safety is the top priority for businesses both protecting their staff and other road users. We’re delighted that Euro NCAP recognised the range and eff ectiveness of our active safe- ty technologies. These systems protect the occupants and either mitigate or eliminate serious incidents. By doing this the advanced technologies both reduce personal injuries and minimise time off road for repairs.” Euro NCAP used the same criteria to compare each van’s active safety features. All vehicles were driven on a test track, loaded with 50 per cent of their maximum payload to give results representative of real-world operations. The simulations tested driver warning and AEB action when approaching parked vehicles or slower traffi c, as well as when a vehicle in front brakes sharply. Euro NCAP also assessed responses to a child running into the road, and cyclists and pedestrians walking in or crossing the road. In addi- tion to protecting road users, active safety systems can also contribute to increased uptime and save on expensive repair and insurance costs by helping to prevent avoid- able collisions. Dr. Michiel van Ratingen, secretary gen- eral, Euro NCAP, said: “Given the millions of vans on Europe’s roads and the rapid growth of internet deliveries in our cities, the active safety systems fi tted to commercial vehicles are key to improving safety for all road users. Ford is one of the European brand leaders for commercial vehicles, and the excellent performance achieved by both the Transit and Transit Custom products gives us real confi dence in Ford’s commitment to fi tting the Transit family with the latest assistance technologies to help protect everybody on Europe’s roads.” The Transit and Transit Custom off er a full suite of advanced active safety and driver assistance technologies, including intelligent adaptive cruise control with traf- fi c sign recognition, lane-keeping system, blind spot information system, and active park assist. FORD TRANSIT AND TRANSIT CUSTOM EXCEL IN EURO NCAP’S FIRST EVALUATION OF ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS FITTED TO VANS VANS 32 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021M ercedes-Benz Vans has announced a new ‘electric versatility platform’ for its large van segment. This e-drive platform will be the technical basis for the next-generation eSprinter. The core elements of the new platform are three modules that enable high fl exibility in the development and design of diff erent body types. This allows for new eSprinter body confi gurations previously only available with combustion engines. With an investment of 350 million euros, the electric versatility platform will play a key role in Mercedes-Benz Vans’ plans for emission-free transportation. As the next generation eSprinter will be produced CO2 neutral, this will be yet another step toward realizing Daimler’s ‘Ambition 2039.’ Mercedes-Benz Vans has refocused its strategy in line with the passenger car divi- sion, focusing on the following subject areas: • Clear positioning as a premium brand for commercial and private customers: Mercedes-Benz Vans is sharpening its profi le as a premium provider of future-oriented transport solutions for commercial and private customers. • Leveraging growth potential: central to the new strategy is a disciplined focus on sales and high-margin markets and segments to advance profi table growth worldwide. In parallel with the expansion of its activities in Europe, the company will continue to grow its presence in China and North America. • Intensifying customer loyalty and growing recurrent revenues: Mercedes-Benz Vans will further intensify its cooperation with customers to ensure products and services are perfectly tailored to their needs. • Leading position in electric drives and digi- tal solutions: Mercedes-Benz Vans’ objective is to set new standards in the van segment with customer- and future-oriented solu- tions. In addition to electromobility, the net- working of vehicles and digital solutions are also consistently being further developed. • Reduced costs: in order to improve profi t- ability and increase competitiveness, fi xed costs will be reduced. Profi tability also plays a key role against the backdrop of the trans- formation to emission-free and connected mobility. Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes- Benz Vans, said: “The next generation eSprinter will enable us to make many more body variants available. This will ensure we meet the requirements of our customers across multiple sectors in the future, while off ering the advantages of locally emission- free electric drive.” The current eSprinter is off ered as a panel van and a permissible gross mass of 3500 kilograms. Its maximum loading volume is 11 m3, like a comparable Sprinter with combustion engine. The electric drive in the eSprinter drives the front wheels with an output of 85 kW (peak output) and a torque fi gure of up to 295 Newton metres. A fl exible payload and battery concept allow adapta- tion to individual needs for practical use. The range with a utilisable battery capacity of 47 kWh (installed: 55 kWh) is 168 kilome- tres with a maximum load of 891 kilograms. A second battery option takes into account other priorities in the use parameters: the confi guration with a usable capacity of 35 kWh (installed: 41 kWh) enables a range of 120 kilometres to be achieved. In turn, the maximum load rises to 1045 kilograms. The integrated quick-charge function also ensures fl exibility and means the battery can be recharged from 10 percent to 80 percent in around 25 minutes. The maximum speed can be confi gured to suit the task at hand: the top speed can be set at either 80 km/h, 100 km/h or 120 km/h. NEXT-GENERATION MERCEDES-BENZ E-SPRINTER TO BE BASED ON NEWLY DEVELOPED ‘ELECTRIC VERSATILITY PLATFORM’ VANS 33 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021M AN Truck & Bus has received an order for 89 low-fl oor RC3 bus chassis and 11 Lion’s City articulated buses with a low-fl oor step unit and a length of 18 metres, from the Foughal Bus Group in Morocco. The buses will be delivered through Sefamar, MAN’s importer in Morocco, and local manufacturer Irizar Maroc will be responsible for the superstructure. The 89 low-fl oor RC3 bus chassis are 12 metres long. They are powered by 290 hp (213 kW) D08 engines. They are also fi tted with state-of-the-art automatic gearboxes that promise a smooth ride. The 18-metre-long city buses in the new MAN Lion’s City generation are fi tted with an automatic gearbox and a state-of-the- art 330 hp (243 kW) D15 engine. The buses are manufactured at the Starachowice production site in Poland, the MAN competence centre for the production of low- fl oor city buses and bus chassis. Rudi Kuchta, head of the bus business unit at MAN Truck & Bus, said: “This order means a lot to us for two reasons: fi rstly, it is a wonderful opportunity to prove that our new MAN city bus generation, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, is perfectly suitable for all markets – even outside Europe. Secondly, these 11 Lion’s City buses will be the fi rst complete articulated and low-fl oor vehicles from the MAN brand to be deployed in Morocco.” In addition to the progressive technology and quality that set MAN buses apart, Sefamar’s outstanding performance in service and after sales was also a decisive factor in the awarding of the contract. A fi ve- year maintenance contract has been agreed for the entire fl eet. “Our team on the ground has spent the past few weeks working closely alongside the experts from our partner company Sefamar to secure this order. We are delighted with this success story and the faith that the operator Foughal Bus has placed in us,” said Rudi. E busco, a supplier of electric buses and depot chargers, and Rocsys, a supplier of plug-in robots, are working together to automate bus depots through robotisation. The robot ensures that the CCS plug of the depot charger is plugged into the bus automatically and 100% correctly. It is necessary to decide at an early stage how and where to charge electric buses. The choice is between pantograph charging and plug-in charging. According to Ebusco, plug-in charging is the best solution as the infrastructure required is chargers installed in the depot. Peter Bijvelds, CEO of Ebusco, said: “The advantages of automating bus depots are many and varied: fi rst of all, it saves time and money, but perhaps even more importantly, it eliminates the risk of a bus not being charged in the morning because someone forgot to plug in the bus or the plug wasn’t inserted properly. The only argument we regularly hear in favour of charging via a pantograph is that nobody has to do anything manually. That argument is no longer relevant thanks to this robot. This combination saves enormously on costs, time and permits compared to pantograph solutions.” Crijn Bouman, CEO of Rocsys, said: “Delivery of the fi rst series of robots will take place in April 2021, after which a demo set-up will be installed at Ebusco in Deurne. A second, larger series is scheduled for July 2021. The robot is being further developed so that it can serve several buses at the same time.” The companies are working to further standardise communication between the vehicle, charger, robot and higher-level systems in order to also develop the entire charging process for self-driving electric vehicles. MAN TRUCK & BUS RECEIVES ORDER FOR 100 BUSES FROM MOROCCO EBUSCO AND ROCSYS PARTNER TO AUTOMATE BUS DEPOTS BUSES PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 34A shok Leyland has launched its Falcon Super and Gazl passenger buses in Saudi Arabia in partnership Western Auto of Al Ghurair Group, the exclusive dealer of Ashok Leyland in KSA. The 70-seater Falcon Super is from the Falcon league of buses acknowledged for its sturdiness blended with comfort has been in use in the region by corporate entities as well as schools for over three decades. Gazl, which is sleek, stylish and with a smiling fascia, is a new and contemporary entrant to the market with a seating capacity for 26 passengers. Falcon Super is equipped with the world’s fi rst inline fuel injection pump engine and complies to both Euro III and Euro IV markets (with its IEGR technology). The Gazl comes with the time-tested ZD30 series engine complaint with the standards of Euro III and IV markets. Both the products share a host of advantages like roll over protection, fi re retardant interiors, and many more. While Falcon buses will be predominantly marketed to corporate entities to transport their employees and schools for student transport, Gazl’s market will mark the entry in mini-bus segment more focused on the city movement of staff , executives in hospitality and services sector. Arturo Lujan, chief executive offi cer of Western Auto, said: “Ashok Leyland has a growing market share for passenger buses in the KSA. Currently out of the total fl eet of the brand’s vehicles in the Kingdom, 3000 buses are used by corporate entities in addition to school buses. Ashok Leyland’s success in the Kingdom has been bolstered by the reliability of its products, excellent after sales service provided in time, utility value and cost- effi ciency.” Nitin Seth, chief operating offi cer, Ashok Leyland, said: “Falcon Super and Gazl comes from our state-of-the-art manufacturing base in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and is made to the specifi c parameters of the GCC transportation and mobility stipulations, with in-built advanced technology and safety solutions, for a comfortable journey. The Ras Al Khaimah plant which exports buses to Europe, Africa and the Middle East was established in 2007. It has manufactured over 20,000 buses so far, a large share of it plying on the roads of GCC countries, including in KSA. Our plant in RAK and increasing market share in GCC countries, will play a key role in achieving our vision to be in the top 10 global CV makers.” V an Hool, the Belgian independent manufacturer of buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, has shipped the fi rst unit of the CX45E, a 100% battery-electric coach, to the United States. After an intensive development and testing period, the CX45E is now being commercially launched by ABC Bus Companies, Van Hool’s distributor in North America. Van Hool will deliver another 10 units in the fi rst semester of 2021. The CX45E is a full electric coach for the North American market. Proterra, a manufacturer of heavy vehicle battery technology, was selected by Van Hool to supply the E2 battery technology. The 100% electrically powered vehicle has a range of up to 500km, depending on the climatic conditions and the topography of the route. The CX45E will mainly be used for commuting of groups of employees and / or regular transport of people. The CX45E was designed and developed in the Belgian parent company in Koningshooikt. The production-ready versions of the 10 CX45Es planned for the fi rst half of 2021 will also come from the Belgian production site. ASHOK LEYLAND LAUNCHES FALCON SUPER AND GAZL BUSES IN SAUDI ARABIA VAN HOOL SHIPS FIRST ELECTRIC COACH CX45E TO THE UNITED STATES BUSES PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 35T erex Washing Systems has launched the Hydroscrub 200 as part of its Greenline range of products that has been specifi cally tailored to work in wash recycling applications. The Hydroscrub 200 uses the core principals of a high-performance log-washer with new features that off er dynamic adjustment and control, with fl exibility that enables the customer to adjust parameters to optimise performance and suit various types of feed material. Comprising of hydro fl oatation water injection, integrated pre and post screens, a high-volume trash removal screen, and single-pass processing for various feed materials, the Hydroscrub 200 is designed for high-performance wash recycling applications ranging from C&D Muck away applications—where the challenge is liberating the valuable aggregates and light organics from diffi cult to break down fi nes and insoluble clay—to ‘high volume lights’ applications, where the level of attrition required to clean aggregates is less, but high volumes demand more water to create the hydro separation required to fl oat these off eff ectively. The machine off ers rinsing and grading of up to 4 products, processing up to 7 products across a range of applications; hydraulic angle adjustment hull with simple switch over between modes; and fully automated touch screen control providing all-round plant information. The Hydroscrub hull forms the core of the machine and can easily be adjusted to work in the ‘Logwasher’ or ‘Hydroscrub’ mode, thus off ering the operator maximum fl exibility to optimise the machine performance. From upward hydro-injection, to variable speed logs, the Hydroscrub off ers many intelligent features that allow the operator to process a wide range of feed materials, from diffi cult to scrub conglomerated aggregates and clays, to aggregate that are heavily laden with light contaminants such as organics, plastics and wood. Barry McMenamin, business line director, Terex Washing Systems, said: “We recognise that not only is there a huge growth in the wash recycling sector, but there is ever increasing diversity in the range of materials end users need to wash. The Hydroscrub 200 off ers the convenience of having one machine that can be easily adjusted to process diff erent feed materials and provides opportunities for expansion, both in the range of customers you can provide a service for and in terms of the volume of material they can process. It is the epitome of what we strive to off er through our Greenline range of products—balanced, end-to-end processing systems that enables our customers to wash wisely.” THE TEREX HYDROSCRUB 200 IS SPECIFICALLY ENGINEERED TO WORK IN WASH RECYCLING APPLICATIONS 36 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 MATERIALS PROCESSINGM etso is off ering a full range of overland conveyors for economic and reliable material transportation for both open-pit and underground operation. Designed for transporting bulk material in long distance mining applications, Metso Outotec overland conveyors provide up to 20,000 tons/hour capacity, up to 30% power savings with energy saving idlers, fl exibility to handle vertical and horizontal curves; and fast installation designed for easy maintenance. Lars Duemmel, vice president, bulk material handling systems, Metso Outotec, said: “In mining and minerals processing applications, conveying is one of the most effi cient and safest ways to transport bulk material. It is often referred as the backbone of the entire process. The robust design of our overland conveyors allows for capacities of up to 20,000 tons per hour including over 5 km on a single fl ight for a seamless process. Thanks to our extensive process engineering capability and proven installations around the world, we can support our customers with complete end-to-end conveyor solutions. This includes concept studies and defi nitions for all types of terrains and route types with horizontal and vertical curves. Our expertise also covers post-installation services and maintenance, including a full range of accessories, belts and components.” T he Falcon range of screening equipment from Evoquip comprises the Falcon 1220 and Falcon 1230, providing a solution for scalping, screening and stockpiling in self- contained units. The machines are designed for multiple applications and processing materials including sand and gravel, crushed stone, coal topsoil and demolition waste. In keeping with the Evoquip range, both the Evoquip Falcon 1220 and Falcon 1230 are compact, easily transported machines and off er operators rapid set up and tear down times. The Falcon 1220 features a 3.65m x 1.5m (12’ x5’) double deck incline screen with remote tipping reject grid, hydraulic screen tensioning of bottom deck and three on board hydraulic folding conveyors as standard, with the option of adding the double deck vibrating grid. The screenbox on the Falcon 1230 features three inclined decks (top and middle deck: 3.66m x 1.52m (12’ x 5’), bottom deck 3.00m x 1.52m (10’ x 5’) giving a large screening area of 170ft2 to provide effi cient, high-capacity screening, even at small fractions. The fourth product conveyor has variable tilt and side slew to accurately discharge material for recirculation and stockpiling. The screenbox features quick wedge tensioning (top and middle deck), access holes and bottom deck hydraulic tensioning system to reduce time required for mesh changes. The Falcon machines come with T-Link telemetry system fi tted as standar d, providing the customer with real-time information on the performance of their machine, which enables eff ective machine management and maximising uptime. METSO OUTOTEC OVERLAND CONVEYORS PROVIDE CAPACITIES OF UP TO 20,000 TONS PER HOUR INCLUDING OVER 5 KM ON A SINGLE FLIGHT EVOQUIP LAUNCHES FALCON RANGE OF MOBILE INCLINED SCREENING EQUIPMENT dischargematerialfor recirculationand NT 37 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 MATERIALS PROCESSINGF or 12 years now, Al Faris Group has been relying on fl exible Goldhofer solutions in the form of low loader semi-trailers and heavy-duty modules to deliver heavy construction machinery and generators, long components, outsized vessels, and even ships and shiploaders to their destinations. “Whatever type of vehicle involved – low loader semi-trailers or towed or self- propelled heavy-duty modules – the fl exible confi gurations available with Goldhofer put us in a position to provide a rapid response with reliable transportation solutions for our customers and to implement them quickly and economically,” said Hillary Pinto, founder of the Al Faris Group. The choice or confi guration of the right Goldhofer vehicles is always based on an intensive assessment and meticulous planning, taking into account both the cargo and the conditions to be encountered on the journey. In the course of its close partnership with Goldhofer, Al Faris has handled almost everything that is long, high, heavy and voluminous in the petrochemical, construction, oil/gas and manufacturing industries. “Our fl exible Goldhofer fl eet has enabled us to master every transport requirement to date, no matter how challenging,” said Pinto. Last year alone, the company transported not only 19 oversized separator vessels over a distance of 150 kilometers to a crude oil production facility in Abu Dhabi but also extremely heavy ship loader and bucket wheel stacker components to the port of Jebel AL FARIS GROUP AND GOLDHOFER CELEBRATE 12-YEAR PARTNERSHIP Ali for onward shipment to the Canadian Baffi n Islands. Al Faris recently transported a tugboat and pontoons over a distance of 140 kilometers to the Hatta Dam, where an environmentally friendly pumped storage hydropower plant with a generating capacity of 250 MW is being built. The route involved several narrow passages as well as overhangs and power lines with very low clearance heights. Following careful planning, Al Faris chose a heavy-duty Goldhofer drop-deck combination for the fi rst stage leading from the port through the urban area, and that made easy work of the narrow passages and roundabouts. For the up to 23 degree gradients in the Hatta mountains, however, towed THP and self-propelled PST heavy duty modules were used. The result: As with many other heavy haulage jobs, the tugboat and pontoons reached their destination right on schedule. “Within our fl eet, Goldhofer’s heavy-duty semitrailers and modules play an important and reliable role. They form the basis for our precision planning and organization – and our reputation for punctual delivery,” said Pinto. 38 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 HEAVY TRANSPORTL iebherr has developed an alternative for the derrick ballast of crawler cranes, working closely with global crane and heavy haulage contractor Sarens and heavy haulage vehicle manufacturer Kamag – to use Kamag self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) as ballast trailers. When Sarens bought a Liebherr LR 11000 crawler crane, it came to Liebherr with the idea of investigating whether SPMTs could be used as ballast trailers. The benefi t for the global heavy haulage contractor is obvious; it has Kamag K24 SPMTs at almost all of its outlets. The idea was not completely new, as Liebherr had already tried similar solutions with other crane models. However, to date the SPMTs had never been controlled direct from the crane. Separate personnel had to communicate with the crane operator and enabled the SPMTs to track the crane’s movements. Everybody involved in the project agreed that a solution now had to be developed to allow the SPMTs to be controlled by the crane’s control system, just like a standard ballast trailer. Sarens provided Liebherr with two K24 LIEBHERR USES KAMAG SPMT AS BALLAST TRAILER AND CONTROLS IT DIRECTLY FROM THE CRANE SPMTs from Kamag for the development and testing work. Kamag developed a special control box to ensure good communication between the crane and SPMT, enabling the crawler crane to control the movements of the heavy haulage vehicles. One helpful aspect of this was the fact that the Liebherr Liccon control system and the Kamag control system have similar basic structures. Jens Könneker from Liebherr lattice boom cranes product management was able to demonstrate a fully functional solution in November at an internal presentation – circling, moving in parallel, towing – everything works in exactly the same way as on a standard ballast trailer. Trials were conducted with a standard ballast trailer without wheelsets and a specially designed test adapter. Sarens’ LR 11000 is supplied to the customer as planned with a suspended ballast pallet. This is then placed on the SPMTs for jobs which require a ballast trailer, using a special adapter. If the ballast trailer is not required, the crane operates using suspended ballast. In this case the SPMTs can be used for other purposes. 39 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.pmvmiddleeast.comJANUARY 2021 HEAVY TRANSPORTNext >