Hanson Cement specifies Allison transmission across concrete agitator fleet and opts for Load-Based Shift Schedule programme

The 500-strong fleet of one of Australia’s largest concrete companies is operating reliably and efficiently thanks to Allison’s 3000 Series. Now LBSS promises additional fuel economy savings.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - For almost a decade Allison has been specified as the transmission of choice for the Hanson fleet of concrete agitators across Australia with more than 500 trucks fitted with Allison automatic transmissions mated to Cummins powerplants. The company is now introducing Allison’s new Load-Based Shift Schedule (LBSS) programmes in its trucks in a bid to maximise efficiency. Hanson unified its purchasing requirements around 2003 with a single national specification, resulting in Allison becoming the company’s driveline choice for all of its concrete agitators. In major cities around Australia, the company’s concrete agitator fleet comprises of a mixture of mainly Iveco Accos and Mack Metroliners all of which are equipped with Allison 3000 Series transmissions. According to Hanson’s national fleet logistics manager, Peter Black, Allison Transmissions have been a logical and rational choice given their track record for reliability and performance over many years. “Automatic transmissions are really the only choice for our operations. They make our drivers’ jobs that much easier and safer. Given all the things that drivers have to look out for, we don’t want them to have the extra task of changing gears,” said Peter Black. “Allison transmissions have proven themselves over many years. With the back up and service support place through its extensive distributor and dealer network, they are a tried and trusted choice for our fleet of concrete trucks. Introducing LBSS Allison’s LBSS adjusts the transmission shift schedule to best match the current vehicle load and operating conditions. This is achieved by monitoring vehicle throttle/engine torque demand and the vehicle acceleration rate. When light load conditions are identified, shifts are adjusted to ensure engine RPM is maintained at the most efficient point. When load is increased or grades are encountered, the shift schedule is adjusted to provide the operator with maximum performance. “More than ever, fuel consumption is very important to us. We are expecting LBSS to deliver a significant improvement in fuel economy to the fleet,” says Black. Hanson has an annual vehicle replacement program. New trucks are put into service in metropolitan operations in major cities across the country. After a number of years they move to country operations in rural areas for the remainder of their time on the Hanson fleet. “Prior to implementing a national purchasing regime, buying decisions were made individually by state offices which meant we had a mixed fleet,” added Black. “Since introducing a consistent national policy we have been able to maximise efficiency by using components that are the most efficient and reliable. Minimising downtime is very important to us. The performance of Allison over many years means we really don’t have a reason to move away from them. They are a known entity with great service back up and reliability.” About Hanson As a leading heavy building materials company, Hanson produces and delivers construction materials including aggregates, standard and high-performance concrete and precast concrete products. All products are backed up by an extensive quality assurance process and first-class logistics. In Australia, Hanson operates 55 quarries, 225 concrete plants and 2 precast facilities. With a fleet of over 1,500 trucks, this allows Hanson to service residential, civil, engineering and commercial customers. Hanson is part of the HeidelbergCement group, which employs 57,000 people across five continents. HeidelbergCement is a global leader in aggregates and has leading positions in cement, concrete and heavy building products. For more information, visit www.hanson.com.au. About Allison Transmission, Inc. Allison Transmission, Inc. (Allison) is the premier global provider of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors including bus, refuse, fire, construction, distribution, military and specialty applications. Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs approximately 3,000 people. Regional headquarters with dedicated support staff are located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil, India and Japan. With a global presence in 80 countries, Allison has over 1,500 distributor and dealer locations. More information about Allison is available at www.allisontransmission.com. 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

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