HIGH PROFILE
Rigid returns
Volvo ’ s rigid haulers have come a long way and are starting to prove their performance in terms of uptime , efficiency and longevity . Paul Moore spoke to Vice President of Volvo CE Rigid Haulers , Paul Douglas , in some depth about product development , customer feedback and long-term R & D
Back in April 2018 , Volvo CE launched the R100E mining truck at its Motherwell factory in Scotland – a completely new 95 t ( 100 ton ) class rigid hauler . It combined the best of both worlds ; a wealth of market and customer knowledge with proven components that came from Terex Trucks that Volvo had acquired in 2014 , along with new technologies and a striking new design developed under Volvo ’ s ownership . Since 2018 , the truck has proven itself in challenging locations worldwide – initially mainly in Europe , Russia and Central Asia , then South Africa and more recently in the Americas . For regulated markets it has been fitted with a premium 783 kW Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine , for a drivetrain that provides high torque capabilities , unparalleled pulling functionality and class-leading rim pull for optimum performance . So what has been happening ? and we have had units there since 2019 . These initial units were on trial up against the Komatsu HD785 and Sany SRT95 . The trucks performed very well and numbers have increased since then , most recently in the form of four units sold to contractor PT Hasnur Riung Sinergi , two of which are lighter weight versions where we have been able to add 4 t to the payload bringing it to 99 t . Interestingly , Indonesia is also a big user of our rigid R60D 60 ton truck . In Africa , we have sold
Volvo R100E trucks in Indonesia , operated by contractor PT Hasnur Riung Sinergi
some units in South Africa via Babcock , as well as in Zambia , but the ADT is very strong in Africa , and of course we are active there as a supplier with products from Volvo and Rokbak . We have two focus markets on the African continent – sub- Saharan Africa with Babcock but also North and West Africa via SMT . They have had success with the R60D in Nigeria , for example . Lastly on North America , we sold the first Tier 4 Final engine equipped R100E trucks for a customer in Texas , not for mining but for hauling steel scrap from dock stockpiles into a steel mill . Five trucks went there with special large bodies equipped with tailgates . The project was a great success and they are still running with over 7,000 hours in less than two years . The dealer there has been very engaged with both our Volvo team and with the customer and the maintenance system is very well established . This project has got the R100E noticed in North America and we are having advanced discussions with several other customers . Finally in Latin America , where Terex Trucks were not that well known , we have shipped five R100Es to a minesite in Chile ; with the customer already looking at another five . Last but not least in the European market , we have had units in Sweden , Finland and Norway – in Norway in particular we have been able to grow a significant market share with the R100E and R70D , initially Tier 2 under the approved scheme but ultimately the customers there will use models with Stage V engines . Again , the Volvoowned dealer there is very close to the customer . The mine and quarry operators in Norway are very focussed on emissions and ESG – there is significant demand there , and throughout Europe ,
Q Can you outline the R100E market response since 2018 in terms of rollout ? A With the launch followed by the pandemic , it has been quite a rollercoaster four years . But the truck has found its way and a firm place in the market . Starting with the first version available , the low regulated Tier 2 engine version is really performing and delivering ease of maintenance with our mining clients . A key area for us is Indonesia , working with our dealer PT Indotruck Utama , it has become a top performing market – it has a vast rigid truck market for this size class –
A Volvo R100E at the Sulzau quarry in Tenneck , Austria , operated by family business , Deisl Beton GmbH . The truck was delivered by Volvo CE dealer Ascendum Baumaschinen Österreich GmbH and is a used unit , relocated from Aitik copper mine in Sweden
16 International Mining | OCTOBER 2022