TEXTRON GSE LAUNCHES TUG 660 LI BELT LOADER

October 7, 2021

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company and a leading supplier of ground support equipment for the global aviation industry, announces the launch of its new TUG® 660 Li belt loader, powered by a high-performance lithium-ion electric drivetrain to offer  quiet, energy-efficient and low-cost operation.

 

Compared to products powered by traditional lead-acid battery technologies, the TUG 660 Li consumes less power out of the grid, charges twice as quickly, and offers increased range between charges. The 660 Li uses a battery management system (BMS) to constantly monitor the health and performance of the unit’s batteries, which require zero maintenance. The unit can also “opportunity-charge,” with its batteries able to recharge a significant amount of energy even during short breaks in operations. The model can accommodate a range of commercially available lithium-ion battery packs.

 

The TUG 660 Li is equipped with an AC drive system and regenerative braking, which recharges its batteries when the brakes are applied while the vehicle is in use. Available options include Smart Sense™ anti-collision technology, CE certification, OSHA-compliant folding handrails, and an indicator to inform the operator when the vehicle’s wheels are straight, helping to maneuver and align the vehicle with an aircraft’s cargo hold while operating on busy tarmacs.

 

“Textron GSE is excited to launch the TUG 660 Li, the newest result of our initiative to reduce the environmental impact of our products,” said Matt Chaffin, Vice President and General Manager, GSE for Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. “We are committed to providing the global aviation industry with reliable, trusted and sustainable products that help reduce our industry’s carbon footprint, without compromising the performance that our customers expect and deserve from us.”

 

The TUG 660 Li will be on display in the Textron GSE booth OS301 at the International GSE Expo, Oct. 5-7 in Las Vegas.

 

About Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc. Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc. is a leading global provider of ground support equipment and service under the TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™, and Safeaero™ brands. Textron GSE offers a diverse product lineup of conventional and towbarless pushbacks, baggage tractors, tow tractors, belt loaders, single and dual operation deicers, ground power units, air starts, and air conditioning units. These products are built in world-class manufacturing facilities in Cartersville, GA. and Trelleborg, Sweden, and serviced through airport service locations across the world. Textron GSE operates as part of the Textron Specialized Vehicles business.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information visit: www.textron.com.

 

Certain statements in this press release may describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.