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Nicolas Tractomas

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Nicolas Tractomas
Nicolas Tractomas, operating in South Africa.
Overview
TypeTruck
ManufacturerNicolas Industrie
Production1979–2016
Body and chassis
ClassBallast Trator
Body styleCOE
Doors2 (excluding life cab)
Powertrain
EngineCummins, Caterpillar, General Motors, MAN, Mercedes-Benz OM
Electric motorDiesel
Capacity1,000 ton
Power output1000hp
TransmissionAllison, Clark, Renk, ZF, Dana
Hybrid drivetrain6x4 – 6x6 – 8x8 – 10x10
Dimensions
Wheelbase1,750 mm
Length10,870 mm
Width3,480 mm
Height4,180 mm (excluding ROPS)
Curb weight36,000 kg

Nicolas Tractomas is a heavy-duty built-to-order ballast tractor specifically to tow hydraulic modular trailers and road trains used for movement of oversize loads manufactured by French manufacturer Nicolas Industrie based in Auxerre. The tractor was bespoke build with preferred engine, gearbox, drivetrain and ballast with a Renault Kerax cabin. The production of the tractor began in 1979 and lasted till 2016.[1] The TR1010 D100 model of the tractor was awarded the Guinness World Record in 2015 for the largest road truck in the world, weighing 71 tons.[2]

Nicolas Industrie is a subsidiary of Transporter Industry International (Tii) a Heilbronn based logistics solution company specializes in trailers, spmt, heavy haulers and hydraulic modular trailer.[3] Tii acquired Nicolas Industrie in 1995. Tii has Scheuerle, Kamag, Tiiger with Nicolas under its wing.[4]

History

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In the 1970s, traditional tractor manufacturers made lower capacity tractors which ranged between 150 and 250hp, but heavy haulage operators were in need of more power to move heavy loads with ease. Many operators turned to Nicolas with their tractor requirements, as they were already providing heavy-duty trailer solutions to the market. By 1979 Nicolas developed their first two units of Tractomas tractors which were PH640 OM 6x4 and PH 5030 GM 8x8 which were delivered to China and Tunisia respectively.[5]

The very first units of Tractomas had cabins from willeme and Berliet trucks and engines from Mercedes with 6x6 and 8x8 configuration with ZF gearbox supported by soma axles putting out 415hp with towing capacity of 200 tons.[6] Later Berliet was acquired by Citroën and later merged with Saviem to form Renault Trucks that's the reason all the Tractomas tractors have Renault kerax cabin. Later in the 1980s, Saudi Arabia army ordered for Tractomas tractors for application of tank transporter with a lowboy trailer and fifth weel.[7] Through 1980 to 2000 nicolas received orders from all around the world, mainly from Compagnie des phosphates de Gafsa and some Chinese companies. In 2004 a South African haulage company Rotran placed order for Tractomas tractors and received tractors till 2008 these were the units with 750 engines from various manufactures and 8x8 and 10x10 configuration. These were the units which broke the world record for largest road going tractors in 2015.[8]

In 2013 Nicolas delivered new generation tractors to LCR group based in Australia with 1000hp caterpillar engine and 8x8 configuration for the application of roadtrain in mining sector which had an overall capacity of approximately 550 tons.[9] Nicolas showcased last generation Tractomas tractors at various events from 2013 to 2016 in various countries.[10] In 2016 Toll logistics received possession of the last generation Tractomas tractors for the roadtrain application, these last units were powered with 1150hp 32ltr engines and were accompanied by a power booster dolly to increase power. In the history of Nicolas,[11] They produced approximately 300 units of Tractomas.[citation needed]

Name Code

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Tranctomas Tractor with pacific tractors with girder frame HMT configuration.

Nicolas named their units as per their configuration of engine, gearbox, drivetrain and size, these specifications were alphabetically coded.

  • Variation:

A – long hood versions, offered in a joint venture with UK manufacturer Unipower

B – 3 m wide version

C – 2.50 m wide for European regulations.

D – 3.30 m wide.

  • Engines:

D – Caterpillar

C – Cummins

G – General Motors

M – MAN AG

O – Mercedes-Benz OM.

  • Gearboxes:

A – Allison

C – Clark

R – Renk

Z – ZF

  • Axles:

K – Kessler

R – Renault RVI

S – Soma

U – Unipower

A Tractomas name code would look like TR1010 D9RK D100. TR (on road tractor) 1010(10x10 drive) D9(Caterpillar engine, 9 for power rating) R(Renk gearbox) K (Kessler axles) D(3.30 m width) 100 (gross weight).[12]

Tractomas TR1010 D100 with life cab.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nicolas Tractomas English" (PDF). uncle-vova. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Largest semi-truck". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Nicolas". www.tii-group.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Company". www.tii-group.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Hot Wheels Club ZA-Biggest road truck in the world: Nicolas Tractomas". Hot Wheels Club ZA. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Special French units | 21st September 1979 | The Commercial Motor Archive". archive.commercialmotor.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Photo de camion d'exception (convois , forain , etc..) – Page 14 – Camions, poids lourds, utilitaires – Pratique – Forum Pratique". Forum Auto (in French). Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. ^ "The biggest tractor in the world. The most powerful modern world trucks are the strongest truck in the world". oborudow.ru. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  9. ^ "The tractor factor | Engineer Live". www.engineerlive.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  10. ^ "TII Group on show at bauma China". KHL Group. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  11. ^ "New Generation NICOLAS Tractomas aids Productivity in Open Pit Mines". OEM Off-Highway. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Nicolas Tractomas heavy haulage tractors – General Topics – DHS Forum". forums.dhsdiecast.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
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