Geo Trasporti of Rome delivered 27 wind turbine blades to the RWM “Mondonuovo” wind farm in Mesagne with control, power and precision provided by two Astra HD9 vehicles equipped with Allison Automatics
Turin, April 2025 – Geo Trasporti, a company specializing in railway and wind transport, chose to rely on two Astra HD9 8×6 vehicles equipped with Allison transmissions for its recent project to deliver 27 wind turbine blades to the RWM “Mondonuovo” wind farm in Italy.
Transporting wind blades is one of the most complex operations in the exceptional transport sector. The length, weight and oversized dimensions of these components requires highly specialized vehicles and advanced technologies to ensure safe and efficient transport. The Astra HD9s equipped with the Allison 4700 Specialty (SP) Series fully automatic transmissions were purchased in 2024, to enable optimum vehicle control, power, and precision during manoeuvres on public roads.
On February 17th 2025, the first wind blade – 81 metres long – was moved from Brindisi Harbour in the south of Italy to the RWM “Mondonuovo” field in Mesagne, 40 km away. A further 26 components, for a total of nine turbines, completed the transportation project.
Massimo Carlini, the commercial and technical manager of the Rome-based transporting company, had the honour of driving the convoy of the precious, exceptionally long and bulky load to its destination. He said: “The transport went really well. I must say I was thrilled; I had never tried such a vehicle before.”
This was the company’s first experience with Allison transmissions. Carlini said: “The tests conducted in-house with the fully automatic transmissions were excellent and today in the field, the vehicle performed exceptionally well. Every manoeuvre is critical in such a transport and not losing power is essential, not only to save fuel but especially to ensure vehicle control during low-speed manoeuvres.”
His brother Roberto Carlini, CFO and Project Manager at Geo Trasporti, explained that the company based in Aprea (Rome) operates a fleet of 25 road tractors and 50 highly advanced trailers and semi-trailers, including three blade-lifting vehicles. He commented: “In our sector, vehicle performance is crucial. We purchased the two Astra HD9s with Allison transmissions in 2024 specifically for the most important and delicate transportations, like this one in Brindisi. Our drivers are proud to drive these vehicles.”
Simone Pace, Area Sales Manager at Allison Transmission, highlighted that Allison transmissions are particularly suitable for such complex missions because they ensure continuous power to the wheels, traction, smooth acceleration and effective deceleration. He explained the technology behind the results: “The torque converter in the Allison fully automatic transmission multiplies the engine’s torque at startup, which helps a lot when starting with very heavy or bulky loads: the driver doesn’t need to work too hard with the gearbox and the starts are smooth, with gentle gear shifts. Additionally, the transmission works synchronously with the different vehicles operating together during the tandem towing, simplifying manoeuvres – a key element in such extreme missions.”
The Astra HD9 and the Allison Automatic Transmission – a powerful couple
Astra, a manufacturer of specialised vehicles for exceptional transport, designed the HD9 8×6 model with unique features that makes it perfect for difficult and extreme missions, such as the transportation of wind blades. The two Astra HD9s at Geo Trasporti have a 4-axle configuration, three of which are drive axles, allowing a towing capacity of up to 500 tons. This is ideal for large-scale operations, both on-road and off-road. The drivetrain consists of the Allison 4700SP automatic transmission with an integrated retarder, operating with the 13-litre Euro 6 Cursor engine, which delivers 570 horsepower.
The drivetrain of this vehicle is also equipped with a two-speed torque splitter, which ensures optimal weight distribution even during overloads on the axles, allowing the vehicle to operate in challenging, and particularly on off-road, terrain.
The “Mondonuovo” Wind Farm Project
Located in the municipalities of Mesagne and Brindisi, the “Mondonuovo” wind farm is owned by RWE, a company that already operates 11 large wind farms in Italy. The project involves the installation of nine wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5.9 megawatts, for a total capacity of 53.1 megawatts. The park is expected to be completed by June 2025, when electricity production will start.
Thanks to technological innovation and the synergy between the partners involved, the transport sector for renewable energy is ready to meet future challenges, contributing to the growth of wind farms and energy sustainability.
Watch the video featuring the transport of a wind turbine blade here: https://youtu.be/6T69xzVbUCI?si=4OZiUj1rM2XiqECO
Massimo Carlini, the commercial and technical manager of the Rome-based transportation company, drove the convoy with the precious, exceptionally long and bulky load to its destination. He said: “The tests conducted in-house with Allison automatic transmissions were excellent and today in the field, the vehicle performed exceptionally well. Every manoeuvre is critical in such a transport and not losing power is essential, not only to save fuel but especially to ensure safety during low-speed manoeuvres.”
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is a leading designer and manufacturer of propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles and the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions that Improve the Way the World Works. Allison products are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway vehicles (distribution, refuse, construction, agriculture, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defense vehicles (tactical wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. With a presence in more than 150 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil, manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary and India, as well as global engineering resources, including electrification engineering centers in Indianapolis, Indiana, Auburn Hills, Michigan and London in the United Kingdom. Allison also has approximately 1,600 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.
Contact
Claire Dumbreck
Propel Technology
+44 (0)7768 773857
