50 In response to demand, the road implement industry is offering innovations improving operational efficiency. In addition to incorporating the use of new materials and evolving in production processes, the sector also wants to break paradigms and think of the product no longer just as a simple cargo carrier. In a recent portfolio update, Librelato now offers more productivity with the Evolut line. The project uses niobium in steel. The metal is recognized for its strength and lightness, providing semi-trailers with a considerable increase in load capacity. The tipping wheel, for example, is 400 kg lighter, while the tank model is 470 kg lighter. In practice, it means transferring 2,000 liters more gasoline per trip. In parallel, the company invested in tools that deliver versatility in implements through the thickness of the steel. “The same application can have regional differences, from the weight transported to traffic routes. Now we can customize the product to operations,” says Fábio Tronca, product engineering manager, during the launch of Evolut. By thinking beyond the box, Randon has provided surprising solutions. A prototype at Fenatran 2019, the Hybrid R semi-trailer opened the doors to electrification in road implements. The product featured an axle developed by Suspensys that assists traction by means of an electric motor. That is, the semi-trailer generates extra power from the heaviest part of the set. This makes fuel savings of up to 2% and increases average speed, which translates into more trips over time. According to Sandro Trentin, managing director of the Assembler Division at Randon, after demonstrations and tests with partners in recent years, the market is receptive. Two to four e-Sys units a month will be delivered. “The e-Sys has environmental appeal and meets the sustainability commitments of large companies with ESG standards. I believe that we are leading the global market,” says Trentin. Randon took a semi-trailer equipped with photovoltaic panels to Fenatran last year. In a model for refrigerated cargo transportation, it generates power for the refrigeration system and the electrical functions of the vehicle. The energy generated by the solar panels is stored in batteries that can be used to drive the electric e-Sys shaft, or any other devices that need electricity, such as air conditioning and the lighting system. Trentin believes the solution will be welcome in refrigerated trucks, vans, and siders. The panels weigh between 200 kg and 300 kg, which is not much for general loads and it can be offset by lighter materials. “The product will evolve in the coming years with tests and feedback from customers. As a starting point we have already managed to generate and store enough energy for the load cooling system,” says the director. Randon offers connectivity in semi-trailers with Randon Smart. Presented with the New R semi-trailers in August last year, it is a platform with a telemetry system for greater control of the road implement fleet. “Although automakers offer systems, semi-trailers are often used with different trucks, hence the importance of individual control of the road implement,” says Trentin. It works basically like any other monitoring system but is dedicated to the particularities of semi-trailers. The platform provides information that allows control of brake wear, tire pressure, weight distribution, and maintenance alerts, while scheduling with the nearest technical assistance point. Innovations in the implement industry go beyond cargo New materials, electrification, and telemetry form an unprecedented set of solutions for more operational efficiency TECNOLOGIA | TECHNOLOGY | TECNOLOGÍA
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