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COVER STORY APRIL 2021
SET FOR THE LONG HAUL
MANUFACTURERS OF THE LARGE DUMP TRUCKS ARE BRINGING IN CONSTANT NEW TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, ADVANCED FEATURES AND DIVERSE MODELS TO SUIT CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS JOB-SITES AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS, WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY AND SAVINGS
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lthough a fairly niche product used almost exclusively for the large mining and quarrying applications, the dump truck sector is a competitive one, with every brand vying to gain market share by constantly refining its machines, introducing new models and adding new features - such as increased payloads and capacities, higher safety, greater reliability and length of operation, as well as new technologies for autonomous and electrified operations. At Volvo CE, perhaps the first name that comes to mind in the field of articulated dump trucks (ADT), a key recent development has been its entry into the rigid hauler market last year with its own Volvobranded units. Volvo says it had markets such as the Middle East in mind for its new rigid hauler range, where it was made available even before the more advanced global markets. The development of the new four-model range has relied heavily on the longstanding rigid hauler expertise of Volvo CE’s subsidiary Terex Trucks, combined with the technological strength of the Volvo Group. The range in the Middle East consists of the 40t R45D, 54t R60D, 65t R70D and the flagship 95t R100E. At Volvo’s last customer outreach event in its base in Eskilstuna, Sweden, it was the R70D and R100E that were on centre stage, with the R100E piloted into the demonstration by none other than company president Melker Jernberg, who says: “The E-Series R100E is a completely new Volvo CE 100t rigid hauler that combines a wealth of market and customer knowledge with proven components, new technologies and a striking new design – all providing a cost-effective
and productive solution to fulfil the needs of today’s mining and quarrying customers.” Based on the existing and well-proven Terex Trucks TR-Series, development of the D-Series R45D, R60D and R70D Volvo rigid haulers followed in-depth engineering reviews, ensuring the machines met the standards expected from Volvo products in their target markets. Improvements include greater visibility and safety systems, along with Volvo technical support. Volvo’ rigid haulers build on the company’s expertise in the ADT segment, in which it has been one of the pioneers and best-known exponents. Volvo’s reputation in the ADTs has been bolstered in the region with several important projects under its belt over the years. These include the Saudi-Oman Landbridge in the Rub Al Khali desert and the Al Maktoum Airport in Dubai, where Volvo ADT fleets numbering 68 units and 37 units respectively made these projects possible. At Japanese giant Komatsu, the dump truck is an integral part of the company’s product offering. Jehad Jayyousi, assistant manager, Marketing, Komatsu Middle East, says the company’s dump trucks are divided in terms of frame into the rigid and articulated, while the rigids are further divided into mechanical and electrical power trains. “We have six popular models of rigid dump trucks in the Middle East. These are the HD325-7R with a 36.5t payload, the HD405-7R with a 40t payload, the HD4657R with a payload of 55t, the 63t HD605-7R, the 91.7t HD785-7 and the HD1500-8 offering a payload of 141.7t. In our ADT range we have the HM Series of models with the 41t HM400-3R important for the region. “Globally, Komatsu dump trucks are also further divided at the higher end into the E models, which have electric powertrains with payloads from 181.4–369.4t. The E models, such as 830E, 960E and 980E, have not been introduced into our region as yet as there
