MAN showcased its expertise in the construction sector. The display on its stand included a crane tipper from the TGL series, a two-axle MAN TGS with HydroDrive as a semi-trailer tractor, a payload optimized truck mixer on a four-axle MAN TGS, a MAN TGS designed for 33 tonnes for the mining industry and a three-axle MAN TGX tipper with the new 560 hp D38 engine.
Five other vehicles were also displayed in an open space next to the stand. Here, MAN exhibited a MAN TGX 41.640 heavy-duty semi-trailer tractor with the D38 engine, a five-axle MAN TGS designed for a gross permitted weight of 50 tonnes with a truck mixer body, a MAN TGS with triple-axle arrangement provided as standard, and a MAN TGM in all-wheel drive version. There was also a racing vehicle, which was used for the Dakar rally at the start of the year in South America.
The focus of the MAN product range was on the needs of the user, true to the trade fair motto “You can build on MAN.” MAN’s sector-specific focus could be seen in many areas, for example in the choice of three possible all-wheel drive technology designs.
- The MAN HydroDrive, an optional hydrostatic drive in the front axle, is the perfect addition if the vehicle travels predominately on sealed road surfaces and only occasionally needs additional traction.
- The optional all-wheel drive is the first choice for occasional driving on a more challenging terrain.
- The permanent all-wheel drive is ideal for applications where a high level of traction is often required and where there is wide variation in road holding conditions.
MAN HydroDrive
The presentation of the MAN HydroDrive in 2005 marked MAN’s launch on to the market of a new drive technology variant for trucks. The technical solution of a hydrostatically driven front axle to increase traction when required and to deliver a strong braking effect on steep off-road slopes was received very positively in many sectors. MAN is offering this system to the market in a wide range of configurations. It is available for two, three and four-axle vehicles in the TGS series and for two and three-axle semi-trailer tractors in the TGX series.
Typical areas of application are unsurfaced roads and construction sites, farm and forest tracks and unclean roads, or roads covered in ice and snow. The benefit of the hydrostatic front-axle drive really becomes evident when having to negotiate an off-road slope without a load. A typical example of this is the tilting articulated train which has unloaded at the bottom of a mine. The rear axle, now under very little load, lacks traction on the incline.
At bauma 2016, MAN announced an extension to its range of drive configurations in the TGS and TGX series with the D20 and D26 engines. The innovation of the HydroDrive design, combined with the MAN TipMatic system, will be available to order from IAA 2016 trade fair onwards which takes place in September. Both the “on-road” and “off-road” gear shifting programmes are available. Milk collection vehicles offer an example for the on-road application of the gear shifting software, and semi-trailer tractor tippers and wood transporters for off-road applications. Limitless applications exist for the engine and gearbox-dependent power take-offs.
MAN TGX with D38 engine
MAN showcased the powerful D38 engine in the TGX series for the first time at bauma. This combination represents the perfect vehicle for heavy-duty traction operation. With high engine power over 500 hp, you can transport heavy loads and at the same time achieve high speeds. Typical applications include tilting articulated trains or 6×4 tippers frequently used with trailers. In construction traffic, for example, if low loader trailers with heavy-duty construction machines need to be pulled, then the TGX D38 with 520 and 560 hp can move up to a gross train weight of 120 tonnes with ease, depending on the driveline design. In line with the sector requirements, MAN is adding the TGX D38 in normal as well as in medium design heights and with tough steel bumpers to the product range.
New light hypoid tandem axle
MAN also launched a new light hypoid tandem axle unit for payload-sensitive transport tasks. When compared to fitting a planetary axle, this weighs in at approximately 280 kg lighter. The weight advantage achieved is 180 kg when compared to hypoid axles currently available with a 13-tonne load capacity. In terms of truck mixers, this means, for example, that it is possible to transport 180 kg more concrete or water. The requirement for the use of thermo-insulated bodies when transporting asphalt adds additional weight. The operator is now able to compensate for this payload loss with a lighter axle unit. With a technical gross combination weight of 60 tonnes, there are also applications outside the construction sector in distribution and long-distance transportation.