Volvo CE Launches New Products, Announces CONEXPO Plans

At a press conference on Jan. 18, executives from Volvo CE announced new equipment launches and the company's plans for CONEXPO in March. 

CONEXPO Plans

The Volvo CE booth at CONEXPO will have the theme of “Change Starts Here. Be Ready For It,”  and the 55,000 square-foot Volvo exhjbit, F8926 in the Festival Grounds, will feature the company’s newest products, new services and technology in a dedicated Solutions Hall, two areas where attendees can test drive electric excavators and wheel loaders, construction industry influencers like the “Gold Rush” cast and more.

“We are committed to being a fossil free company by 2040, But words will not reach targets. Only moving from words to action will,” said Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE. “There is no time to waste and that´s why we say ‘Change Starts Here’ because as we are demonstrating technology is developing fast and that’s where ‘Be Ready for It’ comes in. At Conexpo we want to help our customers be prepared for the change by showcasing our wide range of commercially available electric machines packaged with related charging infrastructure and other sustainable power alternatives.”

In addition to two large operating arenas in the booth for electric machines, Volvo CE will also showcase its electric lineup expansion with the 23-ton EC230 Electric mid-size excavator and DD25 Electric asphalt compactor, which was introduced this week at the Volvo pre-CONEXPO press conference.

Volvo CE is also launching its updated L350H wheel loader in North America, complete with a host of upgrades that will give customers greater productivity and fuel efficiency with lower service costs in a machine designed for a range of heavy-duty applications.

Volvo CE will also display autonomous concepts, the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell articulated hauler, a remote-controlled unit and much more as the company works to help more customers reach their own efficiency and carbon reduction goals. Also in the Volvo booth, F8926, will be the company’s next series of excavators, with a model unveiled the morning the show opens, and the upgraded L350 wheel loader. Volvo excavators, wheel loaders, haulers and other products will also be on display with product experts ready to answer attendees’ questions. Other Volvo Group companies will also be in the booth, including a truck from Volvo Trucks, engines from Volvo Penta and representatives from Volvo Financial Services.

Volvo CE will also provide virtual coverage of its CONEXPO booth. 

Registration for Volvo at CONEXPO Live opened today, Jan. 18, at virtual-events.volvoce.com/en-US/brand-events/volvo-at-conexpo-live. The virtual event will stream online live daily Tuesday through Friday the week of the show, with individual segments also available for replay on demand. 

“We’re excited to be returning to CONEXPO-CON/AGG and for tens of thousands of people to experience our most exciting booth ever,” said Stephen Roy, president of Region North America, Volvo CE. “That experience does not need to be limited to people physically at the show, however, and Volvo at CONEXPO Live will bring our booth to even more people worldwide.”

Volvo at CONEXPO Live will be hosted on a proprietary digital platform. The company will create more virtual experiences like this in the years ahead as part of its ambition to enhance communication and connectedness with customers as well as the broader construction industry worldwide. Volvo at CONEXPO Live will start at 10 a.m. PST each day March 14–17 and last approximately three hours except for the final day, which will be two hours.

Many segments will include experiences that someone would have at the show, such as a booth tour, product walkarounds, asking Volvo experts questions and watching as new machines and services are introduced. Others will be unique to the virtual show, such as interviews with Volvo executives, videos featuring Volvo customers and partners, and the ability to chat with other virtual show attendees.

Commitment to Electric Construction Equipment

Volvo executives said they have seen more interest at a faster pace than expected when it comes to electric construction equipment in North America. 

“Our first year getting electric equipment out into the market has gone well, and we look forward to that continuing to grow in 2023 and beyond,” said Stephen Roy, president, Region North America at Volvo CE. “The input we’ve received from these first users will be vital as we develop more electric machines.”

Beyond the compact electric machines already in use (and with more in development), Volvo CE is also working to electrify a mid-sized excavator, the EC230, which will be in the Volvo booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in March. Additional equipment categories will come online soon, with the DD25 Electric compactor, introduced this week, leading the charge.

“While we received mostly positive feedback last year, we also learned of improvements we can make in future models,” said Ray Gallant, vice president, product management and productivity, Region Americas at Volvo CE. “We also know that as charging technology and infrastructure continue to improve, the electric construction equipment market will grow. It’s a very exciting time.”

Collision Mitigation

Besides alternative power sources, Volvo CE has been pursuing other new technologies. For example, the Collision Mitigation System for Volvo wheel loaders is an automatic braking feature that supports operator response and helps reduce the risk or consequences of collision when working in reverse. 

While not designed to ever replace safe operator behavior, it is a smart tool to further enhance jobsite safety. As part of the Volvo Group, the company is committed to safety with its Zero Accident Vision which is delivered not only through its products, but also its operations.

Lars Eriksson, global product manager for wheel loaders at Volvo CE said, “We at Volvo CE continue to proactively develop intelligent solutions which not only mitigate the consequences of accidents but strive to avoid them altogether. This new Collision Mitigation System is one important part of our work to reduce the risk of accidents and help fulfil our commitment towards zero accidents.”

It works by identifying when there is a risk of collision and responding by automatically activating the brakes for two to three seconds to slow the machine down prior to impact or bring it to a stop to avoid it. This initiation of the braking alerts the operator to intervene.

And for stockpiling operations, the system will remember the last slope the machine climbed, allowing operators to reverse down a pile without activating it. It can also be temporarily deactivated for specific site conditions.

Functioning only when the wheel loader is in reverse and driving at speeds of between 3-15 km/h (1.86-9.32mp/h), no matter what gear it is in, it serves as a facilitator to jobsite safety. Requiring a Radar Detect System to be fitted, it works as an additional system to the existing wide range of features, options and site services provided by Volvo CE for its line of wheel loaders, all of which have been designed to elevate jobsite safety and minimize unplanned interruptions.