Wind transport company Geo Trasporti is toasting the successful delivery of 27 wind turbine blades for the Mondonuovo wind farm in Italy.
Geo Trasporti used two Astra HD9 vehicles equipped with Allison transmissions for delivering the blades to the RWE-owned project.
The company said transporting wind blades is a complex operation due to their length, weight and oversized dimensions.
The Astra HD9s equipped with the Allison 4700 Specialty (SP) Series fully automatic transmissions were purchased in 2024, to enable optimum vehicle control, power, and precision during manoeuvres on public roads.
The first 81-metre long wind blade (pictured) was moved from Brindisi Harbour in the south of Italy to the Mondonuovo field in Mesagne, 40km away, earlier this year.
A further 26 components, for a total of nine turbines, completed the transportation project.
Massimo Carlini, the commercial and technical manager of the Rome-based transporting company, drove the convoy to its destination.
He said: “The transport went really well. I must say I was thrilled; I had never tried such a vehicle before.”
This was the company’s first experience with Allison transmissions.
Carlini said: “The tests conducted in-house with the fully automatic transmissions were excellent and today in the field, the vehicle performed exceptionally well.
“Every manoeuvre is critical in such a transport and not losing power is essential, not only to save fuel but especially to ensure vehicle control during low-speed manoeuvres.”
His brother Roberto Carlini, chief finance officer and project manager at Geo Trasporti, said the company operates a fleet of 25 road tractors and 50 trailers and semi-trailers, including three blade-lifting vehicles.
He added: “In our sector, vehicle performance is crucial. We purchased the two Astra HD9s with Allison transmissions in 2024 specifically for the most important and delicate transportations, like this one in Brindisi. Our drivers are proud to drive these vehicles.”
Area sales manager at Allison Transmission Simone Pace said the transmissions are particularly suitable for such complex missions because they ensure continuous power to the wheels, traction, smooth acceleration and effective deceleration.
“The torque converter in the Allison fully automatic transmission multiplies the engine’s torque at startup, which helps a lot when starting with very heavy or bulky loads: the driver doesn’t need to work too hard with the gearbox and the starts are smooth, with gentle gear shifts.
“Additionally, the transmission works synchronously with the different vehicles operating together during the tandem towing, simplifying manoeuvres – a key element in such extreme missions,” Pace added.
Located in the municipalities of Mesagne and Brindisi, the Mondonuovo wind farm is owned by RWE.
The project involves the installation of nine wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5.9MW, for a total capacity of 53.1MW.
The park is expected to be completed by June 2025, when electricity production will start.