Concrete Products

MAR 2017

Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.

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48 • March 2017 www.concreteproducts.com FEATURE SHOW REPORT Two new features, rolling start and auto neutral, aimed at improving the jobsite performance and safety of Granite and sister models, have been added as standard to the manufacturer's mDRIVE and mDRIVE HD automated manual transmissions. mDRIVE rolling start allows drivers to shift the transmission into drive without pressing the service brakes. This eliminates the pos- sibility of creating a bump in the slab surface—a critical benefit for paving applications. Several construction applications, including concrete mixers, rely on remote throttle controls. By automatically shifting the mDRIVE into neutral when the parking brake is set, Mack mDRIVE auto neutral helps improve jobsite safety by reducing the possibility of the truck moving due to throttle application. Engineered to work exclusively with Mack's MP series engines, mDRIVE and mDRIVE HD automated manual transmissions are a key component of the manufacturer's integrated powertrain, boosting efficiency, productivity and performance. "mDRIVE transmissions serve a wide range of customers, including those with demanding paving and concrete applications," says Mack Construction Product Manager Tim Wrinkle. "Now updated with rolling start and auto neu- tral, mDRIVE transmissions are even better suited to those tasks. Thanks to the performance, productivity and fuel efficiency benefits mDRIVE transmissions deliver, customers are increasingly choosing them for their applications." Mack is on track to double mDRIVE HD penetration in Granite models this year, he adds, owing to low-ratio creeper gears, plus the rolling start and auto neutral features. Originally introduced in 2010 for highway applications, the Mack mDRIVE transmission eliminated traditional shifting routines. With no clutch pedal or shift lever, drivers can remain focused on the road ahead. mDRIVE transmissions monitor multiple driving variables through sophisticated software to deliver smooth shifts and automatically select the best gear for conditions. MACK TRUCKS Mack Granite series customers increasingly specify automated man- ual mDRIVE and mDRIVE HD transmissions. Mack launched the rugged mDRIVE HD in 2015 and made it stan- dard in Granite models. With reinforced internal components, the transmission can withstand the tough demands of vocational appli- cations. In 2016, Mack expanded its mDRIVE HD offer with two new versions featuring low-ratio creeper gears. The mDRIVE HD 13-speed offers a low reduction gear ratio designed for easier starting on steep grades or when the truck is under heavy load. The mDRIVE HD 14-speed, available only in an overdrive configuration, adds a second ultra-low-speed reduction gear designed for curb pouring applications or low-speed, heavy-haul maneuvering. Both transmissions offer up to four reverse gear ratios. — Mack Trucks, Greensboro, N.C., www. macktrucks.com Booth S61107

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