Truck and Track Spring 2025 www.truckandtrack.com 12 BUSINESS NEWS Geo Trasporti, a company specializing in railway and wind transport, chose to rely on two Astra HD9 8x6 vehicles equipped with Allison transmissions for its recent project to deliver 27 wind turbine blades to the RWM “Mondonuovo” wind farm in Italy. Transporting wind blades is one of the most complex operations in the exceptional transport sector. The length, weight and oversized dimensions of these components requires highly specialized vehicles and advanced technologies to ensure safe and efficient transport. The Astra HD9s equipped with the Allison 4700 Specialty (SP) Series fully automatic transmissions were purchased in 2024, to enable optimum vehicle control, power, and precision during manoeuvres on public roads. On February 17th 2025, the first wind blade – 81 metres long – was moved from Brindisi Harbour in the south of Italy to the RWM “Mondonuovo” field in Mesagne, 40 km away. A further 26 components, for a total of nine turbines, completed the transportation project. Massimo Carlini, the commercial and technical manager of the Rome-based transporting company, had the honour of driving the convoy of the precious, exceptionally long and bulky load to its destination. He said: “The transport went really well. I must say I was thrilled; I had never tried such a vehicle before.” This was the company’s first experience with Allison transmissions. Carlini said: “The tests conducted in-house with the fully automatic transmissions were excellent and today in the field, the vehicle performed exceptionally well. Every manoeuvre is critical in such a transport and not losing power is essential, not only to save fuel but especially to ensure vehicle control during low-speed manoeuvres.” His brother Roberto Carlini, CFO and Project Manager at Geo Trasporti, explained that the company based in Aprea (Rome) operates a fleet of 25 road tractors and 50 highly advanced trailers and semi-trailers, including three blade-lifting vehicles. He commented: “In our sector, vehicle performance is crucial. We purchased the two Astra HD9s with Allison transmissions in 2024 specifically for the most important and delicate transportations, like this one in Brindisi.” Allison Transmission Enables Successful Wind Blade Transport with an Astra HD9 Geo Trasporti of Rome delivered 27 wind turbine blades to the RWM “Mondonuovo” wind farm in Mesagne with control, power and precision provided by two Astra HD9 vehicles equipped with Allison Automatics Simone Pace, Area Sales Manager at Allison Transmission, explained: “The torque converter in the Allison fully automatic transmission multiplies the engine’s torque at startup, which helps a lot when starting with very heavy or bulky loads: the driver doesn’t need to work too hard with the gearbox and the starts are smooth, with gentle gear shifts. Additionally, the transmission works synchronously with the different vehicles operating together during the tandem towing, simplifying manoeuvres – a key element in such extreme missions.” © Allison Transmission The wind blades were the first of their kind to arrive at Brindisi Harbour. The two Allison-fitted Astra HD9s managed to successfully transport 27 components to the “Mondonuovo” wind farm in Mesagne, 40 km away, within just a few weeks. © Allison Transmission TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS WELCOME TOALLPORTS GROUP allportsgroup.co.uk
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