An Indian mining and logistics company is running three long-lasting Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) wheel loaders that, combined, have logged a record 150,000 h. Sainik Mining and Allied Services, one of the largest contract mining and logistics companies in northeastern India, is a major Volvo CE customer, with over 30 Volvo EC460 excavators and 11 wheel loaders of various models working in the region. any of these machines are on the job 16 hours a day, seven days a week in Gevra, Asia’s largest open pit coal mine, located near Korba in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, as well as on other projects.

Open since 1981, the Gevra mine has produced as much as 100,000 t/d of coal. Sainik’s machines load the coal into railway cars, where it is transferred for boiler firing at power plants around India. The Sainik fleet is remarkable in that it includes three Volvo wheel loaders that have each clocked more than 50,000 h. The latest machine to cross 51,000 h is an L120E that was purchased in 2004, while an L120D has clocked up 54,000 h. These are significant milestones in the tropical conditions of Chhattisgarh, where temperatures can reach 48°C. For its wheel loaders, Sainik holds ‘blue’ customer service agreements with the dealer SVP Mining and Technology, and as yet, the wheel loaders have only had to have routine maintenance and overhauls.

“We are very happy with our Volvo wheel loaders,” says operations manager Satish Kadian. “Because of their longevity and reliability, we want to purchase more of these machines as we gradually retire the older ones. We’re working with Volvo CE to have them buy back some of our older wheel loaders so that we can make room for new equipment.” Buying back older equipment helps to reuse and recycle parts that are still in good condition; which Volvo states “enforces its core values and its dedication to environmental care.” It also helps the customer to generate more cash-flow to invest in new machinery. For now, Volvo CE reports that the three veteran wheel loaders are still going strong.