Allison automatics prove the right call for Action Mining Services
Allison transmissions enable West Australian mine engineering company to deliver better efficiency and improve safety for mine service trucks and drivers
PERTH, Western Australia – A major West Australian-based mine engineering company has endorsed Allison automatic transmissions as the best driveline configuration for its Hino mine service trucks destined for mines across Australia. Action Mining Services operates a large engineering and service facility at Hazelmere near Perth, where it builds a variety of mine service modules and water carts based on the 26 ton, 280 hp, Hino 500 6x4 chassis.
According to Action Mining Services Business Development Manager, Barry Cook, the Hino fitted with an Allison automatic is perfect for working the demanding mine sites across outback Australia. “Action had historically purchased Hinos, but we felt it was time to widen our view and make sure we were specifying the best truck package for the job," he said.
"As it turned out, the spec for the Hino 500 series with an Allison automatic was the truck that was best suited to the task. It carries two tons more than its nearest competitor, and in a water truck, that's an extra 2000 liters (528 gal) we can get on the ground where it's needed before a refill,” continued Cook.
The company has taken delivery of 140 new Hinos equipped with Allison 3500 automatic transmissions. Action then adapts these vehicles to site-specific requirements and fits each with either water tank modules or mine-site service modules before they are purchased by mining companies, rental groups or site-specific servicing contractors.
“The Allison automatic offers some significant advantages in a mine environment that makes it the ideal choice for the vehicles we are selling. The trucks are often loaded to maximum GVM particularly in water tank mode, and the Allison automatic delivers better starting torque and climbing ability with the often quite steep grades out of the mine pits, thanks to the torque multiplication that is delivered by the Allison torque converter,” Cook said.
The water tank and service modules are designed and manufactured by Action at its Hazelmere facility, and the Hino models the company prefers are fitted with Allison 3500 fully automatic transmissions as a standard factory specification. Once Action takes delivery, a number of Hinos are then sent to Allison distributor Heavy Automatics to be re-geared with a 3500R Series transmission with retarder, which better equips those trucks for operation in particularly steep entries to large open-cut mines.
“The Allison hydraulic retarder is often specified because it increases safety when the truck is descending down into the pits, while also reducing brake wear and increasing service intervals. Automatics also prevent any driveline abuse, eliminating clutch and gearbox wear ensuring the vehicle and the rest of the running gear has a longer service life,” he added.
Along with the Allison hydraulic retarder, the Action Hinos also have a Power Take Off (PTO) provision, which draws energy from the truck’s running engine in order to power attachments and accessories in a variety of applications.
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About Action Mining Services
Established in 1987, Action Mining Services was handling machinery and equipment servicing for the resources industry in 2007 when it was acquired by NRW, which was listed on the ASX the same year. Barry Cook has had more than 40 years of experience in the transport engineering industry and holds the FederalVSB6 inspection authority that certifies Action to sell the highly modified trucks to customers.
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. military vehicles and hybrid-propulsion systems for transit buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (primarily school and transit), motor homes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (primarily energy and mining) and military vehicles (wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs approximately 2,800 people. Allison has manufacturing facilities and customization centers located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil, India and Hungary, with a global presence, serving customers in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa. Allison also has more than 1,500 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. More information about Allison is available at www.allisontransmission.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plans," "project," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," “intend,” “forecast,” “could,” "potential," "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar terms or phrases. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks. Factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made include, but are not limited to: risks related to our substantial indebtedness; our participation in markets that are competitive; general economic and industry conditions; our ability to prepare for, respond to and successfully achieve our objectives relating to technological and market developments and changing customer needs; the failure of markets outside North America to increase adoption of fully-automatic transmissions, the discovery of defects in our products, resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns and/or increased warranty costs and reduction in future sales or damage to our brand and reputation; the concentration of our net sales in our top five customers and the loss of any one of these; risks associated with our international operations; brand and reputational risks; our intention to pay dividends; and labor strikes, work stoppages or similar labor disputes, which could significantly disrupt our operations or those of our principal customers. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All information is as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in expectations.
Press Enquiries
Claire Dumbreck, Propel Technology, Bloxham Mill, Barford Road, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK, OX15 4FF. +44 (0)1295 724130 / +44 (0) 7768 773857. claire@propel-technology.com
Miranda Jansen, Allison Transmission Europe B.V. Marketing Communications, Baanhoek 188, 3361GN Sliedrecht - The Netherlands , Tel: +31 78-6422 174. miranda.jansen@allisontransmission.com
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