Alcoa, Sergomel Launch Aluminum Trailers in Brazil

Jan. 12, 2010
Alcoa and Sergomel, a Brazilian manufacturer of truck bodies and trailers, have launched a lightweight, fuel-efficient aluminum trailer for the mechanical harvesting of sugarcane in Brazil. The new aluminum trailer offers nearly a 35 percent reduction in gross weight, or a seven-ton reduction over comparable steel trailers

Alcoa and Sergomel, a Brazilian manufacturer of truck bodies and trailers, have launched a lightweight, fuel-efficient aluminum trailer for the mechanical harvesting of sugarcane in Brazil. The new aluminum trailer offers nearly a 35 percent reduction in gross weight, or a seven-ton reduction over comparable steel trailers.

The new aluminum transport was jointly developed by the two companies in cooperation with the SugarCane Technology Center, the industry´s research and development organization based in Brazil. It features aluminum extrusions and forged aluminum truck wheels, which contribute to weight reduction and fuel savings, resulting in lower emissions.

“The new aluminum-bodied sugarcane hauler provides significant cost and environmental advantages for this market. It is lighter, yet stronger than previous steel offerings and allows for greater payload than comparable steel haulers. And the unit, because it is made of aluminum, it is infinitely recyclable,” said Reginaldo Otsu, Marketing Analyst for Alcoa Extruded Products Latin America.

Sergomel Product Engineer Adriano Terra said, “With the change in the market and the competition it is important that we look for partnerships with major companies like Alcoa, so that we can have support in our constant search for solutions for the sugar and alcohol market.”

The new aluminum sugarcane hauler can be configured to different body compositions -- bi-train, multiple trailer, road-train, half-trailer -- in sugar and alcohol production mills with mechanized harvesting.