“WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE”

VOLVO SAYS ITS PRIMED TO ITS DEMONSTRATE ROAD TO NET-ZERO IN LAS VEGAS AS IT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

The first post-COVID, CONEXPO is looking like a big deal for some Volvo Group brands. This is exemplified by the two strands to engine-maker Volvo Penta’s presence at the US’ big machinery show. As you would expect, the company will be majoring in its electric progress, but there is also a message to the industry that it must collaborate if it is to developed at pace in the years ahead.

Visitors at the Volvo Penta showcase will see its technologies and service offerings in Las Vegas. It is a range that has evolved with helping to support both the current demands to reduce emissions and the future business needs of construction and mining customers, as well as those operating in a range of other industrial applications.

As part of the Volvo Booth, F8926 in the Festival Grounds, Volvo Penta will demonstrate its electric driveline alongside its current portfolio of ultra-efficient Stage V and Tier 4 Final combustion engines –the D5, D8, D13 and D16.

In addition to leveraging an array of proven technologies from across the Volvo Group, the innovative electric driveline solution would not have been possible without the firm foundation provided by Volvo Penta’s more mature power solutions and the expertise of the company’s engineers. Volvo Penta will also highlight how it’s delivering in its service offering, focusing on creating value with customers through connected solutions.

On top of all this, Volvo Penta will unveil the expansion of a collaborative partnership with one of its customers. The North American OEM will showcase a new concept machine powered by Volvo Penta. No further details are being announced at this stage, but it’s an exciting new concept not to be missed promises the company’s top team.

“We are looking forward to unveiling the expansion of our collaborative partnership with one of our OEM customers at CONEXPO,” says Fredrik Högberg, President of Volvo Penta North America.

“In order to succeed on our transformation journey into new, sustainable technologies to meet the industry’s net-zero ambitions, as well as achieve the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for net-zero value chain emissions by 2040, we believe that strong collaboration with customers and partners is crucial.

“We cannot deliver the changes that need to happen alone – that’s why we are working closely with our customers, supply chain partners, governments, societies and other stakeholders.”

Built for heavy-duty applications

A popular choice in a wide range of machinery from excavators and underground mining trucks to crushers and screeners, Volvo Penta’s industrial combustion engines have been proven and optimized to meet customer needs in terms of productivity, uptime and total cost of ownership (TCO). Passive regeneration of the aftertreatment system eliminates unplanned stops during operation, while fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 5% over the previous models.

Since 2016, Volvo Penta’s industrial engines can run on renewable diesel (HVO), enabling a more sustainable choice. Further supporting customers who are looking to transition to lowcarbon solutions, is Volvo Penta’s dual-fuel hydrogen engine – an evolution of the company’s proven D8 model. The engine mainly uses hydrogen as a renewable fuel source and reduces CO 2 emissions by up to 80%, without impacting power or performance. Volvo Penta will continue to evolve its engine range to run on compatible alternative fuels, enabling the transition towards lower-emissions in those markets that cannot yet support fully electric solutions.

Another aspect of Volvo Penta’s transformation journey is its growing foothold in electromobility as a system supplier. Volvo Penta’s electric power solutions are backed by connectivity to help customers actively monitor the health of their drivelines in a predictive way throughout their lifespan.

“No matter where customers are on their transformation journey, Volvo Penta can offer solutions to meet their machine, application and business needs,” concludes Fredrik. “We work closely with our customers and form long-term partnerships to create purpose-built power solutions based on their requirements.

“As part of the Volvo Group, we leverage proven technology, investments and competence from Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses and Volvo Construction Equipment. We combine this with our customer, market and application knowledge, allowing us to optimise designs and technology for specific machines and applications, considering the duty cycles, climate and environment in which they will operate.”

Rokbak to the future too

It has been almost a decade, nine years, since Terex Trucks was scooped up by Volvo but only two since the heavy hauler family was formally renamed Rokbak.

While the brand has been at Bauma since then, next month marks the first time that Rokbak will bring a pair of its massive trucks and a strong team to CONEXPO in Las Vegas. Those familiar with the history of the brand will know that despite its non-descript global name, its reputation is founded on its steel and girder Scottish heritage. This, however, will be an opportunity to show exactly how the brand has become a major mover in both in the US and global market.

The Scottish articulated hauler manufacturer is bringing both its RA30 and RA40 models to the largest construction show in North America, providing attendees with the chance to get up close and personal with the earth-moving machines and demonstrate exactly how they can offer grounded ‘Rok-solid’ performance Stateside.

“We cannot wait to get back to CONEXPO and give the RA30 and RA40 pride of place on our stand,” says Paul Douglas, managing director, Rokbak.

“We’re looking forward to getting as many attendees interacting with what we’ve got lined up as possible, as well as introducing people to our knowledgeable team who are keen to show off our robust and hardworking haulers. Rokbak will be there to show customers first-hand the quality our machines and why we’ve become known as one of the most reliable and trusted articulated hauler manufacturers in the market.”

Rokbak, which was previously known as Terex Trucks, will be located at Booth F8926 in the Festival Grounds, together with fellow Volvo Group companies Volvo Construction Equipment and Volvo Penta.

The company says, CONEXPO will be the perfect opportunity to highlight the machines’ abilities to benefit construction projects, talk to customers about how the haulers deliver new benchmarks in both performance and total cost of ownership, and reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainability and journey to net-zero as part of the Volvo Group.

With sustainability in mind, the Rokbak event booth uses materials that are recycled or reusable. Two 40ft customised shipping containers, adorned in the recognisable

Rokbak aesthetic, will be used for meeting rooms and product information displays. Following the event, these will be shipped back to Motherwell for reuse at future events.

Product experts will be ready and waiting to discuss the technical capabilities and key aspects of the haulers, welcoming everyone to the booth where there will be merchandise giveaways and competition prizes up for grabs throughout the event –as well as plenty of refreshments.

“Rokbak is seeing huge demand for its RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers in the US,” says Robert Franklin, Rokbak’s director of Sales – Americas. “The US is leading articulated hauler demand globally with huge infrastructure spend. There is a lot of construction activity at the moment around house and road building, so we are keen to meet with customers and potential customers at CONEXPO and discuss how the RA30 and RA40 can help with these projects.”

It was to the USA that Motherwell-based Rokbak’s first sand-coloured machines were delivered following the rebrand in September 2021, with a pair of RA30s sold to earthmoving, utility and clearing company Linco Construction of Houston, Texas, via Easton Sales and Rentals, to assist with earthworks, underground utility and clearing work. Most US dealers went on to confirm orders within the first few months – and there could/should be more ahead come March.