Workhorse of heavy industry goes electric

Red wheeled modular transporters carrying enormous cylindrical steel component, viewed end-on, with heavy metal chains in foreground. — *SPMTs are the workhorse of heavy industry, transporting a range of loads from transformers to topsides.*

A breakthrough in green transportation will see one of the workhorses of heavy industry switch from diesel to electric power, reducing emissions of CO2 and NOx to zero, cutting noise pollution and waste.

As of this month, industry leader Mammoet now offers a zero-emission retrofit option for the popular Self-propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT), compatible with any trailer in its fleet.

This development has been made possible through a conversion process for SPMT power pack units (PPUs), replacing the diesel powertrain inside existing trailers with an electric alternative.

The new electric version promises safety and sustainability benefits, with no drop in performance. Once retrofitted, each trailer combination offers comparable power to existing industry standard units.

Heavy loads, from bridge sections to spacecraft

Multiple red modular transporters seen from side, piled high with 17 shipping containers, Mammoet branding visible, in concrete block yard. — *The ePPU during an earlier test phase at Mammoet’s yard in Schiedam, the Netherlands.*

First developed by Mammoet back in 1984 and with over 40,000 axle lines now in use worldwide, the Self-propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT) is a versatile and cost-effective stalwart of industrial logistics.

From building site to RORO, SPMTs are employed widely as platform vehicles, or trailers, in sectors such as construction and engineering, shipbuilding, aerospace, maintenance and temporary works.

This workhorse of heavy industry, the SPMT offers the ability to manoeuvre almost any large load — from bridge and oil-rig sections, to motors, cranes and even spacecraft — safely, efficiently and with precision.

More circular, cleaner, greener and quieter

Multiple red modular transporters straddle closed-off highway, with Mammoet branding, carrying grey 'Zeker van Energie' transformer unit. — *The new electric SPMT system is initially available for transformer transports in the Netherlands.*

For heavy industry and its contractors, going electric with SPMTs represents another major step on the journey towards zero-emission operations, helping eliminate the carbon footprint of transport entirely.

In addition to decarbonisation benefits, reductions in noise pollution associated with the use of SPMTs will also help companies and clients meet increasingly strict environmental legislation more easily, mitigating the impact of transport phases on surrounding communities and infrastructure.

The new ePPU vastly reduces noise levels at project sites, resulting in a safer and more productive work environment for customers and colleagues. Communication between staff is clearer, while at locations where sound restrictions are in place longer operational windows may now become possible.

Retrofitting existing SPMT fleets also cuts down on both waste and additional fabrication, compared to sourcing new zero-emission equipment. This extends the life of assets in a boost for the circular economy.

Investment in fossil-free transport innovation aligns strongly with commitments made by Mammoet to the energy transition, as well as the company sustainability strategy. Mammoet worked with a leading provider of zero-emissions powertrains to bring the ePPU solution to market, in an initiative part-financed by the DKTI, a Dutch government programme to develop climate technologies and innovations in logistics.

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