Finalists in the Product Innovation category of the prestigious 2024 HVIA National Awards have been revealed.
HVIA’s Steve Power said the impressive line-up of finalists is a testament to the inspiring ingenuity of Australia’s heavy vehicle industry.
“The judges certainly had their work cut out assessing a large pool of particularly worthy and well-prepared nominations,” he said.
“The impressive field demonstrates our industry’s unrelenting determination to set new benchmarks for safety, productivity and environmental outcomes; every nominee deserves commendation for how they have addressed those aspirations.”
Congratulations to Production Innovation category finalists:
- Eurocold
- PT Blueboys
- SAF-Holland – SAF TRAKr E-axle
- Team Global Express
In addition to the prestigious trophy presented by category sponsor Wurth Australia, the winner will receive a prize package valued at over $7,000.
Category finalists and national winners will be honoured at the HVIA National Awards Gala Dinner in Brisbane on Thursday 5 December 2024.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
The HVIA National Awards are made possible through the support of HVIA Principal Partners NTI, Category Sponsors Caltex, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Wurth, and Event Partners Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and TAFE Queensland.
NEXT WEEK: HVIA Will Announce Safety Innovation Award Finalists
Eurocold
In collaboration with Volvo Trucks and Carrier, Eurocold have introduced an 8-pallet EV refrigerated truck, featuring a fully integrated electric fridge that draws power from a regenerating battery.
Just as demonstrated by their partnership with Inghams and JD Transport/Yum, Eurocold empower transport companies to transition towards net-zero emissions operations.
By transforming from a body-builder into a complete EV solutions provider, Eurocold has established itself as a trailblazer in sustainable transport.
The integration of EV services into every depot extends Eurocold’s operational capabilities, allowing the company to offer repairs and support nationwide.
This transition has enabled efficient management of both driving and refrigeration energy needs, resulting in notable productivity improvements.
PT Blueboys
PT Blueboys produce coupling connection covers and plugs that seal out dust, moisture and grit, greatly extending the life and reliability of air and hydraulic fittings on trucks.
Drivers and service technicians are saved from frustration when fittings might otherwise become stuck from dust and dirt on the road.
The cover and plugs take less than a minute to fit. Once fitted they easily roll back and forth allowing for smooth coupling and uncoupling of trailers.
A worldwide patent is currently approved in over 20 countries.
Since the launch of the first sleeve, PT Blueboys has continued to innovate, transitioning from press moulding to injection moulding in 2024 for even greater resilience.
This year the range has also been extended to include half- and three-quarter-inch covers and plugs suitable for hydraulic fittings commonly used in mining, construction, agriculture, earthmoving and trucking.
SAF-HOLLAND
SAF TRAKr axle
SAF-HOLLAND says the SAF TRAKr heavy-duty trailer E-axle reflects their vision to provide the heavy-duty transport industry with sustainable and future-proof solutions.
The centrally located high-voltage generator unit of the SAF TRAKr axle converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. That energy is stored in a Lithium-ion battery and can supply auxiliary consumers in the trailer such as cooling units, heaters or hydraulic platforms. Batteries are charged while the vehicle is moving.
The SAF TRAKr is favoured for use in refrigerated trucks, where the cooling units can be operated in fully electrical mode.
The e-axles are not just quiet and emission-free, they are also economical. SAF-HOLLAND claim SAF TRAKr e-axles improve vehicle efficiency, reduce fuel costs, improve carbon footprint and require less maintenance.
Two of Australia’s biggest refrigeration fleets Primary Connect & Martin Brower (major logistics providers for Woolworths and McDonalds) have been early adopters of TRAKr technology.
Team Global Express
Project Cobra
Project Cobra was the largest-scale trial of electric trucks globally. Team Global Express (TGE) installed 60 electric vehicles and 63 chargers into their Bungarribbee site.
The project involved transitioning one-third of the Western Sydney depot’s pick-up and delivery (PUD) fleet to electric, as well as the installation of a one-megawatt battery to manage the electric load.
Consultation and engagement were fundamental to achieving the support and buy-in for the ambitious initiative that required a significant cultural shift on top of the investment in systems, processes and infrastructure.
“Consultation has been critical to the project – internally with our staff and shareholders, through town hall meetings with our contractors and unions, with government, regulators and policy-makers around the country, and with customers in site visits and speaking engagements,” TGE said.
“We will be able to transfer the learnings of this project, not only to our other sites, but those of our competitors, in order to increase awareness of the use of electric trucks at scale.”
The project has resulted in an ongoing knowledge-sharing program in conjunction with ARENA to ensure that the messages are widely distributed and the learnings are shared.
“The project has certainly seen an uptake of electric trucks and an increasing awareness about what can and cannot be achieved,” TGE said.
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