Volvo Construction Equipment has unveiled a complete overhaul of its articulated hauler lineup, as well as an all-new model.
As the biggest articulated hauler launch in the manufacturer’s history, the new line includes updated version of the A25, A30, A35, A40, A45 and A60. As well, Volvo CE introduced the 45-tonne A50, an entirely new machine.
With more than 35 per cent of its total range renewed in the last 12 months, the new haulers mark the latest step in Volvo CE´s largest product portfolio renewal in decades.
The new range is designed to meet the modern-day need for connected solutions, productivity performance and emission reduction, with the operator at the centre.
“This is our biggest and boldest articulated launch ever,” Volvo CE President Melker Jernberg said during the launch event. “This new generation of articulated haulers will really put a new benchmark in our industry.”
A25 to A60 articulated hauler
The updated models mark a technological leap forward thanks to several key innovations, including an updated cab, new electronic system and an in-house developed transmission, delivering fuel efficiency improvements of up to 15 per cent, depending on model and application. As well, the new design has been constructed in such a way as to adapt over time to fit future drivetrains.
The Volvo drivetrain with Terrain Memory delivers better fuel efficiency without compromising on power, with its ability to also identify and remember any slippery road segments.
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Automatic drive combinations, with 100 percent differential locks and all-terrain bogie and hydro-mechanical steering, also combine to provide unmatched traction, stability and precision control.
Volvo Dynamic Drive delivers predictive gear selection that adapts to operating conditions, including a downhill speed control function and braking systems to further enhance efficiency, safety and comfort.
The articulated haulers include an integrated Volvo Co-Pilot display for easy control of functions such as media, camera settings, climate control and machine status. This is combined with the dynamic instrument cluster, positioned in front of the steering wheel, which provides essential vehicle data.
“Our customers know to expect a first-class operation when they get into one of our haulers, but that experience has just got even better with a host of cutting-edge features designed with our customers in mind,” Jernberg said.
The new A50
The all-new A50 model expands customer opportunities in the demanding hauler segment.
With a 45-tonne payload, the A50 delivers 10 per cent more productivity and 8 per cent greater fuel efficiency when compared to the A45GFS — making it ideal for working over rough terrain such as in quarries, mines and large construction sites.
“This machine has been reintroduced with Volvo DNA throughout the entire machine,” said Tyler Smith, Articulated Hauler Product Manager at Volvo CE.
Since Volvo CE pioneered the full hydraulic suspension concept in 2007, countless fleets have been able to revolutionize the productivity and efficiency of their operation thanks to this feature.
The A50 becomes the only articulated hauler of its market size to feature Volvo CE’s full hydraulic suspension. As a result, it offers a dramatic improvement in cycle times, an increase in hauler production per operator hour and lower costs when compared to its standard suspension counterparts.
For safety, the A50 features handrails around the cab as well as tie off points that are rated for fall protection.
Service costs are reduced by up to 6 per cent over 12,000 hours of operation due to simplified servicing, longer change intervals and easy component access.
Low emission steel
Developed to be among the most fuel-efficient hauling solutions on the market, the new articulated haulers are built with a focus on sustainability.
This includes the introduction of low carbon emission steel — made from recycled materials and produced using fossil free electricity and biogas.
Steel makes up about 60 per cent of Volvo articulated haulers’ total mass and accounts for more than 50 per cent of the machine’s total carbon footprint.
“We are proud to lead the way in the industry and move forward towards minimizing our climate footprint across the entire lifecycle of our products,” said Rickard Alm, Head of Volvo Construction Equipment’s Life Cycle Assessment program.
“While emissions from product use represent the vast majority of carbon output in our industry, it is important to also act to cut emissions in the production phase, including materials like steel, in close collaboration with our global supply partners.”
