Volvo celebrate 75,000th hauler

Manufacturer passes another landmark having already produced half of all articulated haulers ever made

MORE than half a century after inventing the concept, Volvo Construction Equipment recently celebrated the production of their 75,000th articulated hauler – one of the new-generation A45G full-suspension models (pictured).

Having produced more than half of the articulated haulers ever made, Volvo say some 50,000 of their haulers are still in regular use around the world.

The 75,000th machine rolled off the production line in late June at the factory where the first machine, the DDR631 or ‘Gravel Charlie’, was made, in Braås, Sweden.

Although Volvo articulated haulers can be found all over the world, the 75,000th machine is staying relatively local, going to Norwegian customer Leonhard Nilsen & Sønner AS.

Over the last 51 years, the Volvo models have increased in size and sophistication. The first 15-tonne capacity machine built in 1966 can fit into the haul body of the A60H – the company’s flagship 55-tonne articulated hauler.

And while it took a while for the world to fully appreciate the benefits of articulated haulers, the machines are now in greater demand than ever, finding work as production machines in mines, quarries and on all types of infrastructure projects.

This is driving the trend for larger machines, such as the newly introduced 41-tonne class size of the 75,000th machine, the A45G.

Meanwhile, Volvo CE’s A60H, the largest on the market, delivers 40% higher production than the company’s previous largest machine, the A40G, with hardly any increase in the ongoing cost of ownership.

‘There’s no question that we have the best product,’ said Esbjörn Fritzell, vice-president of Volvo CE’s Trucks business platform.

‘The fact that so many of our haulers are still working around the world is testament to their usefulness and durability – it’s almost impossible to kill a Volvo articulated hauler!’