Swedish asphalt spreader selects auto transmissions 11 June 2013

Swedish asphalt spreaders manufacturer SpriderMaskiner is specifying Allison transmissions on its trucks, not only for their performance and durability, but also to improve resale opportunities, if stock vehicles don't sell.

"Since the company started, we have delivered over 400 Sprider systems," says Tommy Sjögren, managing director of the family-owned firm, adding that, although most have been installed on customers' trucks, some are fitted to new vehicles.

"We buy the chassis and asphalt loading platforms from truck manufacturers and body builders, then equip them with our Sprider system," he explains.

But to keep lead times down, the firm buys several trucks each year, as stock. "So far, our strategy has worked well, but we do take steps to make the trucks as attractive as possible as a way of reducing the risk of spare trucks going unsold," says Sjögren.

"That is why we equip trucks with Allison transmissions. This has proven to make them significantly more attractive," he continues.

"Recently, we delivered a complete truck to Swea Asfalt i Väst. It was a Volvo FE 340 6x2 equipped with an Allison 3000 Series transmission."

As for its own equipped trucks, the latest delivery was of a Volvo FE 340 6x2, again equipped with the Allison fully-automatic transmission.

The Sprider system eliminates manually spreading asphalt in places where larger machines struggle to manoeuvre. The design consists of a remote-controlled, jointed hydraulic transport arm, mounted at the back of the truck to move asphalt with a worm-screw.

The arm has a maximum length of five meters and can cover a 48 m2 surface without moving the truck.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Allison Transmission Europe BV
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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