Mammoet and Scheuerle (Member of the TII Group) have unveiled the Mammoet Trailer Power Assist (TPA), a new engineered heavy transport solution designed to improve transport efficiency and significantly lower the carbon footprint of major projects around the world. Manufactured by Scheuerle according to Mammoet’s specifications, the first TPA units were unveiled at a ceremony held at Scheuerle’s headquarters in Pfedelbach, Germany.
Delivering more traction than any other solution in the powered trailer category, each TPA trailer has a 1,000 horsepower diesel engine powering an innovative new hydraulic drive system. The result is a trailer with twice the pulling force of a conventional prime mover unit but with no ballast requirements. The overall weight and length of transports will be greatly reduced, thus lowering emissions and eliminating the need for multi-truck configurations. In so doing, it will mitigate risks caused by the complexity of steering and breaking. This means a big plus for safety and reliability in heavy transport operations.
“Trailer Power Assist is the most efficient, sustainable and cost-effective answer for the complex transport demands of large scale construction projects,” said Jan Kleijn, COO Mammoet. “TPA is the Formula 1 vehicle in heavy transport,” said Bernd Schwengsbier, President of TII Sales
The technologically innovative TPA transport solution is based on the self-propelled K25 modular platform vehicle which hydraulically drives four of the six axle lines by means of a Power Pack Unit (PPU). The transport solution has a number of significant advantages. With a performance of 735 kW (1,000 hp) as well as a traction force of 400 kilonewtons, one vehicle in the version featuring a drive unit and a 6-axle platform trailer replaces two fully loaded heavy-duty truck tractors. Thanks to the modular design the TPA can be coupled together and a network of multiple vehicles means even more power.
The TPA has an assisted road speed up to 28 km/h – which is up to 20 times faster than a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) solution. Above 28km/h, TPA will switch to freewheel mode, leaving the prime movers to haul the load at up to highway speeds. TPA is designed for international transportation, with permissions in place it is possible to use TPA on public roads in Germany and across Europe.
TPA’s hydraulic hub motors can be re-engaged to slow the load down hydrostatically, reducing wear and tear on its brakes, and provide the precision and control required to navigate narrow or winding sections of the route.
By reducing the overall weight of the transport – fewer trailers and less or no ballast – TPA improves fuel efficiency. And, by reducing the overall length and number of powered units involved in a transport, TPA reduces complexity, boosts project safety and requires only one driver.
“Designed to operate between -40°C and +50°C, TPA is the reliable solution for transporting heavy modules to facilities in remote locations. With four powered axle lines per six-axle trailer, TPA provides supreme traction in difficult conditions. Should power fail on one axle, the remaining three will continue to function and the operation can continue. Once a load has been delivered, TPA units can be towed back to base in freewheel mode with their engines off, again improving efficiency and enhancing the project’s sustainability.”
“Mammoet and Scheuerle have a 40-year history of cooperation, collaborating on game-changing engineering solutions in the heavy transport sector, and together developed the self-propelled mobile transporter (SPMT) in the early 1980s. Today SMPTs are an industry standard. The Trailer Power Assist is expected to make a similar impact on the industry.”
