Tag Archives: Melker Jernberg

Volvo Construction Equipment hands over A30G made of fossil-free steel to NCC

Environmental, Mining equipment, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

In the latest step on its path toward carbon neutrality, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has become the first manufacturer to deliver a construction machine – a A30G articulated hauler – built using fossil-free steel to a customer.

The move, the company says, demonstrates the fast-tracking of innovation to real-world solutions as companies across the value chain come together to drive change.

The A30G articulated hauler built using fossil-free steel was handed over by President of Volvo CE, Melker Jernberg, to long-standing construction customer NCC on June 1, 2022, at a ceremony hosted by LeadIt – the Leadership Group for Industry Transition – in conjunction with the United Nations environmental meeting Stockholm +50.

The move comes just nine months after the company unveiled the world’s first vehicle concept using fossil-free steel, as part of the testing of the implementation in an ordinary production setup.

That machine, the latest concept unit produced of its TA15 battery electric, cabless and autonomous hauler for use in mining and quarrying, was unveiled at a green steel collaboration event on October 13, 2021, in Gothenburg, hosted by Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO Volvo Group.

While commercial introduction is expected to be gradual with selected customers, this first handover is an important milestone in the group’s ambition to drive industry transformation towards global climate goals, Volvo CE says. The A30G is produced at Volvo CE’s Braås facility in Sweden, using the existing manufacturing process, with fossil-free steel from Swedish steel company SSAB.

While the A30G is a 29 t payload articulated hauler more suited to the construction industry, the fossil-free move to bigger vehicles used in mining is also expected in the future.

Jernberg says: “We are sure that to succeed in decarbonising the construction industry, actors in the value chain will need to collaborate and act. Thanks to our strong partnerships with other driven and forward-thinking companies, we are now able to lead the change towards fossil-free construction and be the first to deliver a machine built using fossil-free steel to a customer. Turning commitments into actions is key to building the world we want to live in.”

Tomas Carlsson, CEO and President of NCC, says: “NCC has a firm commitment to contribute to sustainable development. We are working determinedly and systematically to reach that target, which includes selecting machines that live up to our high demands. As demonstrated in this great example, it takes strong and proactive partnerships between several players to make the sustainable shift possible.”

As part of its Science-Based Targets commitment, Volvo CE plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Alongside the electrification of its machines, the company recognises the importance of reducing its carbon footprint across its entire value chain. This includes the raw materials used in its products, of which steel is a major component. The production using fossil-free steel in Volvo CE’s machines and components will be gradual and depend on aspects such as steel availability.

Volvo CE to acquire ‘construction and mining equipment adaptor’ CeDe Group

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Volvo Construction Equipment is to acquire special application partner CeDe Group for an undisclosed sum, the Sweden-based company has said.

CeDe Group, based out of Malmo, Sweden, has a good reputation in the Nordic region as a low-volume adaptor of construction and mining machinery for special applications, according to Volvo CE. It has worked with several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Volvo CE and its dealers, developing new bodies for haulers (eg fuel, water, waste), rail conversions for wheeled excavators, as well as conversions for underground mining applications.

The deal, which is expected to come into force by mid-March, will include CeDe’s intellectual property, operations, other assets and staff of around 45 full-time employees. As the annual volumes produced are relatively low, the deal will have no material effect on the income or financial position of Volvo CE, the company said.

Interestingly, CeDe, formed in 2000, can trace its roots back to Volvo’s original excavator business, Åkerman.

“Under Volvo CE ownership, the vision is that CeDe will remain an agile, entrepreneurial, standalone business,” Volvo CE said. “Volvo CE will make available its considerable competences to the company and add additional resources to allow it to expand its market reach and customer bases, becoming a European leader in this specialised field.”

A strengthened partner will also support Volvo CE’s objectives of expanding its product offering into new segments and applications, as well as providing a partner who can deliver low volume prototypes and production runs, Volvo CE said.The company will continue to provide and expand its engineering services to non-Volvo CE customers, it added.

Volvo CE President, Melker Jernberg, said: “This acquisition makes sense on a number of strategic levels. CeDe has already proven that it has a depth of engineering talent in adapting our machines for specialised applications. This closer relationship will allow Volvo CE to grow our product offerings while, at the same time, boosting CeDe’s ability to expand into new markets and segments, both with Volvo CE and its other OEM customers.”

CeDe Group’s Chief Executive, Krister Johnsson, said: “We are extremely pleased to be joining the Volvo CE family of companies. With our already long and good relationship with Volvo CE and deep understanding of its products, we are excited at the opportunities to develop our services and expand our reach into new markets.”

Volvo CE sets date for electrification of compact wheel loaders and excavators

Environmental, Mining equipment, Power supply for mines, , , ,

Volvo Construction Equipment has announced that, by mid-2020, it will start to launch an electric range of compact wheel loaders and compact excavators.

In what the company calls “a pioneering commitment to future technology”, Volvo CE says it will stop new diesel engine-based development of its EC15- EC27 range of compact excavators and L20-L28 range of wheel loaders by this date and move forward with its new electric range.

“With this move, Volvo CE is the first construction equipment manufacturer to commit to an electric future for its compact machine range,” the company says. “This follows an overwhelmingly favourable reaction from the market after the successful unveiling of a number of concept machines in recent years, and by working closely with customers.

“This move is aligned with the Volvo Group’s strategic focus on electromobility in all business areas.”

Volvo CE, last year, carried out a trial of prototype electric machinery during the Electric Site project (pictured) at Skanska’s Vikan Kross quarry near Gothenburg, Sweden. This included the use of much larger prototype electric-hybrid wheel loaders and dual-powered, cable-connected excavators.

The first 10 weeks of the trial saw a 98% reduction in carbon emissions, a 70% reduction in energy cost and a 40% reduction in operator cost.

The first of the company’s new electric machines will be unveiled at the Bauma exhibition in April, followed by a staged market-by-market introduction and ramp up in 2020, the company said.

“While the company stresses that diesel combustion currently remains the most appropriate power source for its larger machines, electric propulsion and battery technology is proving particularly suited to Volvo’s smaller equipment,” Volvo CE said. “With research and development investment now focused on the rapid development of its electric compact wheel loaders and excavators, Volvo CE is taking a step towards diesel-free compact equipment in the future.”

Volvo CE President, Melker Jernberg, said: “Volvo CE is delivering on its commitment of ‘Building Tomorrow’ by driving leadership in electromobility and delivering sustainable solutions that support customer success. The technology we have been developing is now sufficiently robust and this, together with changes in customer behaviour and a heightened regulatory environment, means that now is the right time to commit to electromobility in our compact equipment ranges in the future.”