Official launch of new Volvo rigid hauler range

Volvo-branded rigid dumptrucks unveiled to international customers and dealers at company’s Motherwell facility

ALL eyes were on the new range of Volvo-branded rigid haulers this week when Volvo Construction Equipment officially launched the new machines in front of customers and dealers at the company’s Motherwell facility in Scotland.

Guests got their first glimpse of the new machines – the 45-ton R45D, 60-ton R60D, 72-ton R70D and flagship 95-tonne R100E – on Tuesday 10 April.

The star of the show was the R100E, a completely new rigid hauler that combines proven components with new technologies and a striking new design. The new four-model range is initially available in less-regulated markets.

With a focus on helping customers achieve production targets faster whilst using less fuel, Volvo CE say the new rigid haulers are designed for surface mining and quarrying applications where operational costs and safe operations are critical.

Uptime and productivity are centred on the range’s durable design that promotes high component protection and longer lifecycles. The haulers also boast a competitive power-to-weight ratio, effective gearing and weight distribution that gives the tractive effort to allow the machines to traverse steep slopes in complete control.

With customer input key to the development of the new range, the machines have undergone extensive field-testing – with very positive results. One such customer is Trollope Mining Services, a contract mining company based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

‘The Volvo R100E is an impressive design that offers a good balance between productivity, fuel efficiency, comfort, ease of maintenance and safety,’ commented Sagrys De Villiers, site manager at Manungu Colliery. ‘We are sure that this truck will be a strong competitor in the rigid truck market in the future.’

‘The R100E is capable of carrying an extra bucket pass compared with other 100-ton trucks being used on the site,’ agreed workshop manager Danie van Niekerk. ‘This means extra productivity for the mine, which is very valuable. Speed and acceleration of the hauler on inclines compares favourably against competitor machines, even when fully loaded and carrying more material.’

The E-Series R100E is a completely new machine that delivers stability, a long service life, high profitability, durability and comfort. With its high capacity and hauling speeds, new V-shaped body, efficient hydraulics, intelligent monitoring systems and operator environment, the hauler is designed to help customers in the mining and quarrying segments move more material in less time. Moreover, the R100E is also said to be quick and simple to operate and maintain.

Based on the existing and well-proven Terex Trucks TR-Series, development of the D-Series R45D, R60D and R70D Volvo rigid haulers followed an in-depth engineering review to ensure that the machines would meet the standards expected from Volvo products in their target markets and segments. Improvements include greater visibility and safety systems, along with Volvo technical support and branding.

‘We’ve been working on the new range since Volvo CE acquired Terex Trucks in 2014. The development of these machines has relied heavily on the long-standing rigid hauler expertise of Terex Trucks as well as customer input and the technological strength of the Volvo Group,’ said Thomas Bitter, senior vice-president of the Marketing and Product Portfolio (MaPP) function at Volvo CE.

‘The proven design of the Terex Trucks rigid haulers provided us with a strong DNA on which to develop Volvo CE’s innovative entry into this product line,’ added Paul Douglas, Volvo CE’s vice-president of rigid haulers and managing director of Terex Trucks.

‘The R100E has been designed to meet customer demands for a rigid hauler that delivers high performance and productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and good operator comfort. It, along with the rest of the range, builds on Terex Trucks’ 84-year heritage and incorporates the customer feedback and market knowledge we have built up over the years.’