Andrade Gutierrez finds concrete mixer equipped with Allison automatic transmission delivers 8.8% more with 2.5% less fuel

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

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.”

About Andrade Gutierrez

The Andrade Gutierrez Group is one of the largest infrastructure conglomerates in Latin America, operating in Brazil and abroad. It structures and executes projects of the most diverse complexity levels in Brazil and in different Latin American markets: hydro electrical and thermo electrical plants, nuclear plants, industrial plants, refineries, gas pipelines, steel mills, shipyards, mining, airports, roads, railroads, civil construction and tunnels. Presently, the company has projects in more than 30 countries and is a shareholder in companies including Oi and Contax (AG Telecom), CCR, Sanepar, Water Port, Quiport, Aeris and Cemig (AG Concessões).

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 American, Europe, 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.

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Press Contacts

Claire Dumbreck                                          Miranda Jansen

Propel Technology                                      Allison Transmission Europe

claire@propel-technology.com                 miranda.jansen@allisontransmission.com

+44 (0)1295 724130                                    +31 78-6422 174

Bloxham Mill                                                 Baanhoek 118

Bloxham, United Kingdom                         Sliedrecht, The Netherlands

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