Release date: 15^th February 2005

STEPDRIVE GETS INTO GEAR

New Distributors Underline Increased StepDrive Sales for Newage Transmissions

Strong interest in PRM StepDrive gearboxes at the recent London International Boat Show has led to the appointment of two new sales agents and a crop of new installations for these novel, two-speed automatic marine transmissions.

The appointment of Azzopardi Marine Services in Malta marks the first availability of production StepDrive units outside the UK.  In parallel, Marine & General Boat Yard of Guernsey not only becomes Newage’s first sales and installation dealership in the Channel Islands, but has already secured an order to fit StepDrive units to a Sealine F33 fly bridge motor boat powered by two Volvo Penta KAD 32 engines.

“Retrofitting the new gearboxes will make all-round improvements to the vessel’s performance,” says Newage’s Marine Sales Manager, Jamie Pratt.  “The units incorporate a reduction ratio of around 25% in addition to their direct drive, which increases propeller efficiency and acceleration, enabling boats to get on to the plane significantly faster than before.”

“StepDrives deliver particularly noticeable improvement at low revs, before the effects of the engine supercharger or turbo kick in,” he continues.  “In most applications, boat acceleration will be increased by at least 25%.  Furthermore, the gearboxes provide benefits of reduced creep speed, emissions and noise when manoeuvring in busy marines or restricted waterways.  They also feature extremely smooth gearchanges and engagement of drive, to ensure a long and trouble free service life.”

StepDrive units are self-contained gearboxes that can be retrofitted to Volvo Duoprop 290 drive legs.  They are installed entirely within the centre section of the Duoprop unit and are ideal for use with turbocharged engines such as Volvo Penta AD31 and 41 series; as well as supercharged units up to the KAD44. 

In operation, the two-speed gearboxes automatically change from low to high ratio at a pre-determined engine speed.  This is optimised during installation to the individual boat and engine combination.  When the boat decelerates again, low gear is engaged as the engine speed falls below 1500 rev/min. 

“Further StepDrive enquiries from the London Boat Show include units for applications in several Scandinavian countries,” continues Mr Pratt.  “I am therefore confident that our participation at next month’s Stockholm Boat Show will build on this success and lead to the appointment of further dealers to meet demand in this important sales region.”

About Newage Transmissions Ltd

With a precision engineering pedigree spanning more than 70 years, Coventry-based Newage Transmissions Ltd is one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of high efficiency mechanical drive-line equipment.  The company’s products - which are backed by certification to ISO 9001 standards - encompass heavy duty gearboxes, axles and transfer boxes for off-highway vehicles, as well as its world-renowned PRM marine gearbox range.  Newage also supplies finished products for a wide variety of new generation, special purpose vehicles, as well as sub-contract services for leading manufacturing organisations including: Case, Twin Disc and Lansing Linde.

-ENDS-

Editors’ Note:

For further information, please call Jamie Pratt at Newage Transmissions Ltd on: 024 7661 7141,

or visit: www.newage-prm.co.uk.

Editorial enquiries to Rob Bloom at PR Plus Ltd on 024 76 590721;

or e-mail: rob.bloom@prplus.co.uk