Astra Veicoli Industriali
Introduction '''Astra Veicoli Industriali S.p.A.''' ('''A'''nonima '''S'''arda '''TRA'''sporti) is an Italian company that produces trucks, heavy transport vehicles and military vehicles. Astra was privately founded in 1946 in Cagliari, and since 1986 has been part of Iveco. In 1951 Astra moved to Piacenza. From 1946 to 1986 Astra was owned by the Bertuzzi family of Piacenza. ASTRA is an Iveco Group brand.
History * 1934 - After work as an engineer for various companies, Mario Bertuzzi opens his first garage near Piacenza. * 1936-1939 - Bertuzzi works in Italian-occupied Ethiopia, gaining experience and wealth. * During the war, Bertuzzi owned a repair shop in Piacenza. He relocated to Quarto, in Campania, in 1944, as the Allied bombing raids on the Gothic Line drew closer. * 1946 - Bertuzzi, operating out of Piacenza, founded a company called ''Anonima Sarda TRAsporti'' (Sardinian Transport Company) to buy a lot of 1000 surplus allied military vehicles located in Cagliari, Sardinia. The goal was to ship them back to the mainland and to either convert them to civilian duties, or to rebuild them for the renascent Italian military. * 1948 - Bertuzzi buys out his partner and sells off the remaining old vehicles for scrap; instead, the company gains contracts for maintaining the vehicles of the Italian as well as the American forces. * 1951 - The company returns to the civil sector as General Motors approaches Astra to provide service for GM engines in Italy. Work on upgrading new trucks for heavier duty work recommences. * 1955 - Astra presented its first vehicle of their own design, the BM1.It was meant for use with public works contractors for heavy-duty, off-road work, such as quarries or tunnel construction. The truck had a GM diesel engine and reconditioned AEC Matador axles, plentiful in Italian military depots. * 1956 - Mario Bertuzzi dies, leaving his sons Camillo and Enzo in charge. Camillo handled the civilian side of the business, Enzo the military side.During the 1960s, the companies' facility was enlarged several times, and a broader range of vehicles with dumper and mixer models were added. * 1960 - The BM2 appeared, a heavier-duty version of the BM1. * 1961 - The BM18 appeared, capable of even heavier loads. There were also the similar BM19, and BM21. * 1962 - Astra's first road-going truck, the three-axle BM12, was introduced. * 1965 - BM22 - BM25.A new 140,000 square meter plant was opened, and Astra stopped rebuilding outside constructions. New axles were also developed by new technical director Fabio Pavesi, ending the dependence on old material. * 1967 - The BM16 is introduced, a road-going truck with an automatic transmission. * 1970 - Launch of giant cranes for chassis BE 8440 and BE 10660.The crane project proved a disappointment and was short-lived. * 1976 - The BM35 large volume dump truck is introduced, entering a new market sector for Astra. * 1976 - The BM20 is introduced, a heavy-duty truck with Astra's first own cabin, a spacious two-seater fiberglass construction.Astra 6000-series ballast tractor, using the Giugiaro-designed cab used until 2000* 1982 - Launch of the 300-series 6x4 40-tonne highway trucks, the angular cabin was designed by Italdesign Giugiaro. * 1984 - Astra participates in the Paris-Dakar rally with the BM 309.BM501 added to the range of dump trucks. * 1986 - After years of contraction, the nearly bankrupt Astra SpA is acquired by Iveco; Astra already had technical cooperation with Iveco since its inception. * 1989 - Launch of the new 6000 series, still using the 300-series cabin. * 1992 - Launch of the 6500 series range of technologically advanced trucks. * 1994 - The designation BM disappears in favour of HD (Heavy Duty), now called the HD6. * 1996 - ASTRA celebrates 50 years and more than 25,000 vehicles manufactured and sold worldwide. Launch of HD7 series, with a range of 2, 3, and 4 driven axles and IVECO engines ranging from  to . * 1997 - Company receives ISO 9001-2000 certification. Astra Industrial Vehicles SpA also receives the ISO 14001-1996 certification. * 1999 - The 28- and 40-tonne dump trucks were added to the range, available with an automatic transmission - the first in the world to be installed in such heavy-duty quarry vehicles. * 2000 - The HD7 range is complemented by the new HD7/C series, equipped with new Iveco Cursor (Euro 3) engines. At ESIS (Batimat Italian) Astra unveils a new range of articulated dump trucks (ADT) -  models ADT25 and ADT30, with 25 and 30 tonnes of payload respectively. * 2003 - On 1 January Astra took over '''SIVI''', itself a partner of Iveco since 1982.SIVI modifies ASTRA trucks for heavy-duty applications. * 2004 - Two new models of 35 and 40 tonnes of payload are added to the range of articulated dump trucks: the ADT35 and ADT40, both powered by Iveco Cursor 13 engines. * 2005 - The new range of HD8 construction trucks was introduced, which replaces the HD7 and HD7/C. * 2011 - The new HD9 range replaced the HD8.With a cabin in sheet metal (as used on the Iveco Trakker) Astra now abandoned their long tradition of fiberglass cabs.
Quarry and construction vehicles Currently, the production of vehicles by Astra includes a number of construction-oriented trucks (HD8), rigid dump trucks (RD), and articulated dump trucks (ADT). Production of vehicles began in 1955 with the construction of the BM1, a rigid dump truck that had some success. Following the enlargement of the factory, the BM series was extended, and the model BM 309 participated in the Paris-Dakar in the truck category. In 1996, the fiftieth anniversary of the company's founding, the HD7 series went on the market, which also had some success. In 2005 this was replaced by the current HD8 range. In 2009 Astra launched a new range of heavy-duty vehicles called HHD.
Vehicles for special use Italian Fire Service vehicles with an Astra fire truck, on leftIn 2002 the company absorbed Astra SIVI (a partner of Iveco from 1982), which produced vehicles for heavy transport, and in 2004 completely integrated production by SIVI. Vehicles produced by SIVI Astra are all produced on the basis of Iveco vehicles, currently Stralis and Trakker.
Products The Astra range of products includes:* Heavy construction trucks, with the BM1 series launched in 1955, the WB series 12-16-18-19-20-E1-22 and 25, then the 300 series and 6000 until 1994; HD6, HD7, HD7c appeared in 2000, and HD8 in 2005* Trucks for special applications, produced by '''SIVI''', based on Fiat and Iveco chassis, Iveco Trakker with 720T55EZ and 720 tonnes of PTR,* RD - rigid dump trucks* AD - articulated dump trucks* Military trucks group - Iveco Defense.===Military===Astra Military Truck in the Italian army parade in Italy, 2007.Astra HD7 Military Truck in the Italian army parade in Italy, 2007.Since 1990, Astra SpA has built the entire military range of trucks produced by the Iveco group.=== Highway trucks ===Astra HD9 8456 EURO6.8-wheeler. Power: 560 hp.The '''HD7 series''' in cargo and tractor versions are as follows. '''Model''' '''Configuration''' '''Motor type''' '''Cylinder cc''' '''CV''' '''PTC / PTR and t'''HD7 42.384x2Iveco 8210.42K1379838020 / 44HD7 42.424x2Iveco 8210.42L1379842020 / 44HD7 44.344x4Iveco 8460.41K949834020 / 44HD7 44.384x4Iveco 8210.42K1379838020 / 44HD7 44.424x4Iveco 8210.42L1379842020 / 44HD7 64.346x4Iveco 8460.41K949834033 / 56HD7 66.346x6Iveco 8460.41K949834033 / 56HD7 64.386x4Iveco 8210.42K1379838033 / 56HD7 66.386x6Iveco 8210.42K1379838033 / 56HD7 64.426x4Iveco 8210.42L1379842033 / 56HD7 66.426x6Iveco 8210.42L1379842033 / 56HD7 64.456x4Iveco 8280.42B1717444033 / 56HD7 66.456x6Iveco 8280.42B1717445033 / 56HD7 64.476x4Iveco 8210.42B1379847033 / 56HD7 64.526x4Iveco 8280.42S1717452033 / 56HD7 66.526x6Iveco 8280.42S1717452033 / 56HD7 84.388x4Iveco 8210.42K1379838040-48HD7 84.428x4Iveco 8210.42L1379842040-48HD7 86.428x6Iveco 8210.42L1379842040-48HD7 84.458x4Iveco 8280.42B1717444040-48HD7 86.458x6Iveco 8280.42B1717445040-48HD7 84.478x4Iveco 8210.42B1379847040-48HD7 84.528x4Iveco 8280.42S1717452040-48HD7 86.528x6Iveco 8280.42S1717452040-48HD7/C series, HD8, equipped with Iveco Motors Cursor 13.Astra HD7C 84-45 tow truck of the Fire Service of Greece.The HD7/C series, equipped with motors type Cursor 13 Euro 4 consists of: '''Model''' '''Configuration''' '''Motor type''' '''Cylinder cc''' '''CV''' '''PTC / PTR t'''HD7c 42.364x2Iveco F3B E0681JB1288236020 / 44HD7c 44.364x4Iveco F3B E0681JB1288236020 / 44HD7c 42.404x2Iveco F3B E0681HB 1288240020 / 44HD7c 44.404x4Iveco F3B E0681HB 1288240020 / 44HD7c 42.454x2Iveco F3B E0681DB1288245020 / 44HD7c 44.454x4Iveco F3B E0681DB 1288245020 / 44HD7c 64.366x4Iveco F3B E0681JB 1288236033 / 56HD7c 66.366x6Iveco F3B E0681JB 1288236033 / 56HD7c 64.406x4Iveco F3B E0681HB1288240033 / 56HD7c 66.406x6Iveco F3B E0681HB 1288240033 / 56HD7c 64.456x4Iveco F3B E0681DB 1288245033 / 56HD7c 66.456x6Iveco F3B E0681DB1288245033 / 56HD7c 64.506x4Iveco F3B E0681FB 1288250033 / 56HD7c 66.506x6Iveco F3B E0681FB 1288250033 / 56HD7c 84.368x4Iveco F3B E0681JB1288236040-48HD7c 84.408x4Iveco F3B E0681HB 1288240040-48HD7c 84.458x4Iveco F3B E0681DB 1288245040-48HD7c 86.458x6Iveco F3B E0681DB 1288245040-48HD7c 88.458x8Iveco F3B E0681DB 1288245040-48HD7c 84.508x4Iveco F3B E0681FB 1288250040-48HD7c 86.508x6Iveco F3B E0681FB 1288250040-48HD7c 88.508x8Iveco F3B E0681FB 1288250040-48The new '''HD8 series''', equipped with the also new Iveco Cursor 13 Euro 5 contains 16 configurations of chassis with 5 different motors: '''Model''' '''Configuration''' '''Motor type''' '''Cylinder cc''' '''CV''' '''PTC / PTR t'''HD8 42.414x2Iveco F3B E3681D 1288241020 / 44-49HD8 44.414x4Iveco F3B E3681D 1288241020 / 44-49HD8 42.444x2Iveco F3B E3681G1288244020 / 44-49HD8 44.444x4Iveco F3B E3681G1288244020 / 44-49HD8 44.484x4Iveco F3B E3681F1288248020 / 44-49HD8 64.416x4Iveco F3B E3681D1288241033 / 56HD8 64.446x4Iveco F3B E3681D 1288244033 / 56HD8 64.486x4Iveco F3B E3681F 1288248033 / 56HD8 66.486x6Iveco F3B E3681F 1288248033 / 56HD8 64.526x4Iveco F3B E3681E 1288252033 / 56HD8 66.526x6Iveco F3B E3681E1288252033 / 56HD8 64.566x4Iveco F3B E3681A 1288256033 / 56HD8 66.566x6Iveco F3B E3681A 1288256033 / 56HD8 84.418x4Iveco F3B E3681D 1288241040-48HD8 84.448x4Iveco F3B E3681G 1288244040-48HD8 86.448x6Iveco F3B E3681G1288244040-48HD8 84.488x4Iveco F3B E3681F 1288248040-48HD8 86.488x6Iveco F3B E3681F 1288248040-48HD8 88.488x8Iveco F3B E3681F1288248040-48HD8 84.528x4Iveco F3B E3681E1288252040-48HD8 86.528x6Iveco F3B E3681E 1288252040-48HD8 88.528x8Iveco F3B E3681E 1288252040-48HD8 84.568x4Iveco F3B E3681A 1288256040-48HD8 86.568x6Iveco F3B E3681A 1288256040-48HD8 88.568x8Iveco F3B E3681A 1288256040-48Two special series of HD8 are destined for foreign markets:* Spain with a PTR of 104T for special convoys* Libya with Iveco 8000 series engines, which are also mounted on locally assembled Iveco trucks.=== Dump trucks ==='''Rigid''' '''Model''' '''Configuration''' '''Motor type''' '''Cylinder cc''' '''CV''' '''PTC/PTR t''' '''Volume m3'''RD 28 C4x2Iveco F3A 1030035348,517,7RD 32 C4x2Iveco F3A 103003815420,1'''Articulated''' '''Model''' '''Configuration''' '''Motor type''' '''Cylinder cc''' '''CV''' '''PTC/PTR t''' '''Volume m3'''ADT 25 C6x6Iveco F3A 103003204514,5ADT 30 C6x6Iveco F3A 103003535117,6ADT 35 C6x6Iveco F3B 128824106020,0ADT 40 C6x6Iveco F3B 128824556622,0
See also *List of Italian companies
Notes and references 1.↑  Astra dumptrucks at dumper.fr (French)
References
External links * *  Astra Agenzia D'Arrezzo (Direct Sales Agency for Astra) Official website*  Company profile