Volvo CE is a major supplier of articulated dump trucks to the mining and quarrying industries; approximately 40%
of its ADTs are sold to customers in those sectors.

Volvo Group performance is reported as Industrial Operations and Customer Finance, with services and aftermarket soft products accounting for about 35% of Industrial Operations' net sales. Industrial Operations comprises five product units: the Volvo Aero, Volvo Bus, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and Volvo Penta companies, and Volvo Truck which includes four business areas and several companies. This combination of diversity and focus provides the basis for developing new, highly efficient products, not least for the mining and quarrying segments.

Underpinning Product Renewal
Working in concert with the Group product companies are eight service business units, including Volvo Technology and Volvo Powertrain.

Volvo Technology is the center for innovation, research and development. In developing a lead in existing and future technology areas of high importance to Volvo the unit looks at both hard and soft projects within a system approach framework. Customers include all Volvo Group companies and Volvo Cars plus selected suppliers. The unit is located at Göteborg, Sweden, and at Volvo's establishments in Lyon, France, and Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.

The Volvo Powertrain business unit is responsible for the development and production of medium- and heavy-duty engines in the 3–18 liter classes, gearboxes and drive shafts. Powertrain manufactures heavy gearboxes in-house, with production in Köping, Sweden, and Hagerstown, Maryland, USA. Volvo claims its internally produced AMT gearbox, which was recently launched in North America, is now in practice the industry standard in Europe.

Since one of the group's core values is environmental responsibility, meeting the emissions standards set in the European Union, North America and Japan comes naturally, Volvo argues. But it is also the case that, in meeting the challenge of 2011 EU Stage IIIB and U.S. (EPA) Tier 4 interim off-road legislation, Volvo has been able to transfer experience and technology from its global on-road Truck and Bus solutions which have met similar emissions requirements for some time. So Volvo CE has been able to adopt a combination of in-cylinder and external solutions to meet the emissions reductions requirements and has received EPA Tier 4 interim emissions certification for its D11 (11 liter), D13 and D16 engines.

The new generation V-ACT (Volvo-Advanced Combustion Technology) engines feature ultra-high pressure variable fuel injection systems, super-efficient cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), precise control of the turbochargers, powerful new EMS engine management systems and an integrated exhaust after-treatment system that features a particulate filter and thermal regenerator. Volvo said these Stage IIIB/Tier 4 interim-compliant diesel engines offer market-leading performance and economy of operation in terms of power capacity, engine response and fuel efficiency. However, the wider impact of the EU Stage IIIB and U.S. (EPA) Tier 4 interim legislation cannot be underestimated, Volvo emphasized. There will be a need for additional operator and technician training in order to understand the principles of the new technology, but in terms of the benefit to the environment, it is worth the effort.

For the longer term Volvo is developing a more focused research and development program, more efficient production and a more sharply defined supplier structure. The group is working to meet future standards with competitive products, focusing on convergent technologies and common architectures. With hybrid-powered buses already in use Volvo is also working on alternative drivelines and fuels.

Volvo CE's new F Series articulated dump trucks feature a three-point bogie beam which allows the rear
wheels to move independently when operating in rough terrain.

Machines for Mining
While truck business accounts for almost two-thirds of Volvo Group net sales, Volvo CE contributes about one-fifth. The company is now the world's largest manufacturer of articulated haulers and one of the largest producers of wheel loaders and excavators, as well as offering road development machines and compact construction equipment. It has become one of the most successful companies in its industry in terms of both size and profitability, said Volvo. In 2010, the company was active in 102 countries worldwide: in Europe (31), Africa (27), Asia/Pacific (26), South America (14) and North America/Caribbean (4). Growth looks set to continue since Volvo CE will invest $250 million—including an additional $100 million toward boosting production in North America. There, the manufacturing facility at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, is being expanded and a customer/demonstration center plus a new office building will also be added.

Although the main destinations for the company's products are construction and materials handling, Volvo CE is a significant supplier to mining and quarrying, sufficiently so to be regarded as a serious competitor by major manufacturers of equipment for both surface and underground use. In particular, some 40% of the articulated haulers sold go to the mining, quarrying and aggregates customer segment which also makes extensive use of the larger hydraulic excavators and wheel loaders in the Volvo CE range.

The firm has been guided through its recent growth period by Olof Persson as president and CEO. He was recently promoted to deputy CEO of the Volvo Group and will take over as group president and CEO in September, when Leif Johansson retires. Patrick (Pat) Olney, who was previously president and CEO of the Volvo Road Machinery business, has taken over as head of Volvo CE. Ahead of "Volvo Days," the company's annual show for customers and dealers held at the Customer Center in Eskilstuna, Olney hosted an international press event.

With "Product renewal, the key to success in a new strengthening market" as his theme, the new president and CEO assured about 100 journalists that business would continue as usual, Volvo CE will maintain the development strategy established by Olof Persson and retain its Swedish ethos. Olney stressed the necessity of developing the company's global industrial and distribution system but pointed out that to succeed in the new-look construction industry, "You have to offer customers products that are much closer suited to their local needs, resources and applications—and this requires a significant rethink of the traditional product offering," said Perron.

Following this briefing, the Volvo team demonstrated a representative sample of the 55 new or updated models resulting from the recent fundamental overhaul of the company's product portfolio, including the L220G wheel loader that won the Red Dot design award and the F-Series articulated haulers. Also on display were a training simulator for hydraulic excavator operators and the CareTrack telematic monitoring system which provides continuous equipment status data for diagnosis at any chosen location. During 2010, Volvo CE decided to include a three-year CareTrack service agreement as standard for all new 10-ton and larger wheel loaders and 12-ton and larger haulers, excavators and graders.

Volvo CE said the F-Series articulated dump trucks launched at the beginning of 2011 not only meet U.S. and European emissions standards but are also up to 4% more fuel-efficient than the E-Series. They feature a self-compensating hydro-mechanical articulated steering system that provides better control both in tough off-road conditions and at high hauling speeds, said Volvo. This system also offers exceptionally small turning circles. The four models, sized for 26.5-, 31-, 37- and 43-ton pay-loads, have Automatic Traction Control to select the appropriate drive mode for the roadway conditions while the three-point bogie beam design maintains good traction and minimizes frame strain. A unique FS full suspension version has fully hydraulic front and rear suspension that helps operators to maximize hauling speeds. The operator's control data system and display have been improved and CareTrack is fitted as standard.

On display at Volvo's Customer Center are Volvo Penta-powered Sandvik mobile crushing and screening
plants.