Extending the composite technology behind its Revolution drum, which weighed 2,000 lbs. less than a comparably-sized steel vessel, McNeilus has officially launched the Ngen mixer truck chute
Sources: McNeilus Cos./Oshkosh Commercial Group, Dodge Center, Minn.; CP staff
Extending the composite technology behind its Revolution drum, which weighs 2,000 lbs. less than a comparably-sized steel vessel, McNeilus has officially launched the Ngen mixer truck chute. At 27 lbs., the composite unit is half the weight of a conventional steel chute, and weighs slightly less than an aluminum alternative.
Up until now, aluminum chutes utilized plastic liners to provide a more durable wear surface, but concrete would quickly build up under the lip of the liner, causing problems when a driver needed to add extension chutes, says Oshkosh Commercial President Frank Nerenhausen. With the new composite chute, there’s no liner because the wear surface is designed into the chute itself.
The Ngen chute incorporates grab handles, helping drivers avoid pinch points. It is also stackable, reducing the overall space required to store a standard three-chute rack and providing multiple placement options. Rack-placement flexibility will be a greater factor on mixer trucks bearing exhaust components of 2010 Environmental Protection Agency-compliant diesel engines, most of which have treatment chambers in addition to particulate filters. The new chutes can be retrofitted to any current production McNeilus mixer truck, excepting paving models; they are also available for existing London high-performance pavers or standard London mixers with an extra transition fold-over chute.