New engine family receives Volvo Technology Award

The Volvo Group has the world’s most modern range of heavy diesel engines. The new heavy diesel engine family will comply with all known emissions standards that successively will become effective through to 2014. The development effort was carried out within the Group and the result is being recognized with the Volvo Technology Award 2007.

The award is presented by Volvo CEO Leif Johansson today, April 4, in conjunction with AB Volvo’s Annual General Meeting. The new engine family comprises in-line six-cylinder engines in the range of 9, 11, 13 and 16 liters. The engines are developed based on technology and shared architecture common to the Group’s business areas. They have been launched successively, primarily from 2005 through 2007, and are now manufactured for trucks, buses, construction equipment as well as marine and industrial applications.

“They are optimized for highly varying work duties among our customers and have experienced a fantastic reception on the market. We are extremely proud of what our engineers have accomplished,” says Leif Johansson.

In addition to lower emissions and fuel consumption, the new engine family also delivers high performance. With a highly advanced combustion optimization and intelligent control system, Volvo Group has designed engines with the potential to meet current and future demands in these three important areas. All engines are delivered featuring the latest emissions configuration to meet the Euro 4 and US 07 emission standards, but can also be further developed to meet all known emissions standards through to at least 2014. The current annual volume is about 200,000 units.The recipients of the award are the four technical project leaders, Phillipe Gaillard, Patrick Oldberg, Douglas Nakano and Chris Smith. They were involved in the launch of the first versions in the new engine family and each receives SEK 40,000.

The unit that developed the new engine family is Volvo Powertrain, which is responsible within the Volvo Group for development and manufacturing of the Group’s drivelines and driveline components as well as purchasing of related components.

“We are the first large manufacturer to develop a global engine family. Consequently, the new engine family strengthens our competitiveness worldwide,” says Leif Johansson.

The Volvo Technology Award was established in 1988 and is being awarded for the twentieth time. The award is an expression of appreciation for outstanding technical advances within the Volvo Group that contribute to Volvo’s high-tech image and stimulate efforts that further the Group’s technological expertise in the future.

April 4, 2007

For further information, please contact Mårten Wikforss +46 31 66 11 27 or +46 705 59 11 49

The Gryphin concept wheel loader - the day after tomorrow...

There is no question that construction equipment is set to undergo radical changes in the coming decade. Hybrid engines are almost a certainty – but what about design? Volvo has let its designers imagine the wheel loader of the future – the Gryphin is the surprise result.

The Volvo stand at Bauma will feature a new technology area where the options being considered for future machines will be demonstrated and discussed. All eyes are now focusing on diesel-electric hybrid engines – and as the world’s largest producer of heavy duty engines Volvo is at the forefront of next generation engine and fuel technology. The technology area will describe the options under consideration and explain why putting diesel and electric power sources allows smaller engines, lower fuel consumption, lower emissions – and yet higher performance. But the star of the show will undoubtedly be Volvo CE’s latest design concept – the Gryphin.

Gryphin is an extreme concept wheel loader – the wheel loaders of the 2020s. Following the success of the SfinX excavator design study in 2004, Volvo’s designers have again turned their creative brains to imagining how wheel loaders will develop in the medium term future. This is nothing new; Volvo’s designers in the 1950s came up with the design for the very first wheel loader!

The Gryphin looks undoubtedly futuristic – but even so it is still recognizably a Volvo. Its signature design embodies the very definition of what it means to be a Volvo. Even at standstill the Gryphin defines Safety, Efficiency and Strength – the core values of every Volvo. Gryphin has the twin themes of ‘the Environment’ and ‘the Operator’ at its heart. Using an electric hybrid power source, Gryphin emits almost no emissions. Instead of heavy transmissions, drivelines and axles, Gryphin uses electrical motors inside each wheel, allowing much higher underbody ground clearance and a super quiet machine.

Views from the driver’s seat are excellent in every direction; made possible by all-round glazing and lattice see-through pillars. The glass in the cab is intelligent: heating up in cold weather to prevent frost or condensation and becoming darker in bright sunlight to act as giant sunglasses!

Volvo wheel loaders have long been admired for their high breakout forces and excellent parallel lift. Gryphin brings these skills to a new level by introducing a solid, yet light, centre boom. Not only does this improve lifting performance and reduce torsional stresses, the absence of traditional front boom linkages allows a much better view of the work area.

The lack of a traditional driveline and axles allows the adoption of intelligent independent suspension. This not only offers a more comfortable ride for the operator, with fewer vibrations entering the cab, but also allows for variable ride height. The frame can be lowered for high speed haul cycles, reducing the centre of gravity and making much higher speeds than is currently possible with no lost of comfort or stability. The frame can also be raised; increasing ground clearance over rough ground and offering greater dump heights while maintaining stability.

Much of the technology found on the Gryphin is already under development or even being tested. This is a very real interpretation from Volvo Construction Equipment of what you can expect to see hard at work on sites two decades from now.

March 2007

View more products from the Volvo Group.

For further information, please contact:

Beatrice Cardon – Volvo Construction Equipment
Hunderenveld 10, 1082 Brussels, Belgium

Phone: +32 2 482 5021
E-mail: beatrice.cardon@volvo.com

Volvo to acquire the road development division from Ingersoll Rand

Volvo has reached an agreement with Ingersoll Rand to acquire the assets of the company’s road development division, a world-leading manufacturer of heavy equipment for road construction and soil compaction with revenues of USD 864 M in 2006. Operations also include material handling equipment. The purchase price amounts to USD 1.3 billion in cash, or SEK 9.2 billion.

”I am pleased that we can continue to expand our successful construction equipment business and the acquisition gives Volvo Construction Equipment a world-leading position within heavy road construction equipment,” says Volvo CEO Leif Johansson. “This acquisition is strategically important since it will improve the overall competitiveness of Volvo CE as a full-range supplier of construction equipment.

” The global market for road construction equipment is about USD 4 billion annually and is projected to grow substantially as a result of increased investments in infrastructure globally. Volvo CE has a distinct ambition to expand in this market and the acquisition complements current operations by sharply strengthening Volvo’s presence in equipment for road construction work. The acquired business includes a full range of heavy compactors, asphalt pavers and milling machines and provides favorable growth possibilities. The acquisition also strengthens Volvo CE’s position in the market for materials handling equipment in North America.

In addition, the acquisition includes 20 dealerships in North America and distribution companies in Europe and Russia which will leverage Volvo CE’s sales of compact equipment, primarily in North America.

”Strategically, the acquisition of Ingersoll Rand Road Development fits exceptionally well with Volvo’s current operations within motor graders and positions Volvo as a full-range manufacturer of heavy road construction equipment”, says Tony Helsham, President of Volvo Construction Equipment. ”Geographically, the purchase also fits Volvo CE very well and provides attractive growth possibilities by capitalizing on the common dealer network in North America, Europe and Asia.

”Synergies at operating income level, mainly attributed to sales and distribution, are estimated at SEK 600 M annually to be achieved within a five-year period.

The acquisition is primarily being carried out as an assets purchase and the transaction is expected to reduce the net financial position for Volvo by SEK 9.2 billion. Closing of the transaction is expected during the second quarter 2007 and is subject to relevant approvals.

Ingersoll Rand’s division for road development, with headquarters in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania in the US, has about 2,100 employees. In 2006 the operations reported sales of USD 864 M and operating income of USD 101 M. The operations have manufacturing units in the US, Germany, India and China.

February 27, 2007

For further information, please contact:
Volvo CE:Klas Magnusson+32 2 4825065 or +32 475 576214AB

To download the presentation from the press conference on February 27, please go to www.volvo.com under “investors”.

Volvo ECR88 Plus Mini Digger - keeps coming back for more

Tough work demands an even tougher machine – the new Volvo ECR28, ECR38, ECR58 Plus and ECR88 Plus. Machines that will stand up to the day-to-day assault of digging, grading and much more. The Volvo ECR88 Plus is designed to stand up to work and keep coming back for more.

Take the next step and explore the endless possibilities for your productivity with the versatile Model ECR88 Plus. You can get started by reviewing

Volvo Compact excavators publications. Learn about Volvo financing options and parts & service.

To find out more…

View the

full specifications of the Model ECR88 Plus
View the Model ECR88 Plus Interactive Demonstration
Contact your local dealer about the Model ECR88 Plus

Request a quote for the ECR88 Plus

Highly mobile and multi-functional EW160C wheeled digger

Mobility, ease of use, comfort, safety and adaptability are the key characteristics of the Volvo EW160C. Thanks to ingenious improvements this digger now offers even more tools, more tasks, more comfort and more control by using less fuel and less time.
The improvements include:

New 106 kW (142 hp) Volvo Tier III compliant engine with V-ACT (Volvo Advanced Combustion Technology). Offers high torque at low revs, leading to ultra-efficient fuel consumption

Smooth load sensing hydraulics thanks to higher torque swing motor allows faster cycle times and increased performance

New designed Volvo Care Cab with ROPS (Roll Over Protection System) featuring many advantages for the operator: More safety, more space, better visibility and less noise. The multi-adjustable seat, pedals and joystick allow optimal controls for the operator. The new color LCD display is easy to read and offers real time information of machine functions and important diagnostic informations

Rugged long wear components, ground level access to service points and long service intervals will reduce downtime

With 95% of the machine recyclable and greatly reduced external sound levels (101 LwA dB(A)) Volvo excavators are in the forefront of environmental concern.

To find out more:

download EW160C specifications
sign up for more news
request a quote for the EW160C

Caretrack telematics - invaluable help to the construction equipment owner

Running a business operation is complicated. Correct information is absolutely critical to making the right decisions, and fast information also puts you in the lead.

With CareTrack you get all the knowledge and information you need to make the right decisions and to increase profitability. All you need to do is log in to your password-protected web site, where you get both an overview and detailed information about your machines.

With its flexibility, CareTrack gives you a lot of advantages.

– Increased safety: you can "lock in" the machine in a geographic area where it should operate.

– Control of service: for example, you get service reminders and service history.
– Higher productivity: you get reports on how each machine is used, for example, engine load as well as use of brakes and differential locks.
– Greater availability: information about the machine's position enables you to coordinate service and refuelling.
– Better control when renting: you always know where the machines are, and how they are used.

CareTrack is thoroughly tested on several continents and is described by many users as invaluable. We are convinced that more of you will make that discovery.

CareTrack may not be available in all markets. The content of CareTrack may vary depending upon territory.

Please contact your dealer for more information about CareTrack

With the new EC210C crawler digger quality meets durability

With the launch of the Volvo EC210C crawler digger, Volvo demonstrates once again that it builds more care and quality into its machines. Care for the machine owner, care for the operator, care for the service technician and care for the environment around it.

The results include:

New 110 kW (150 hp) Volvo Tier III compliant engine with V-ACT (Volvo Advanced Combustion Technology). Offers high torque at low revs, leading to ultra-efficient fuel consumption

Smooth load sensing hydraulics thanks to higher torque swing motor allows faster cycle times and increased performance

New designed Volvo Care Cab with ROPS (Roll Over Protection System) featuring many advantages for the operator: More safety, more space, better visibility and less noise. The multi-adjustable seat, pedals and joystick allow optimal controls for the operator. The new color LCD display is easy to read and offers real time information of machine functions and important diagnostic informations

Rugged long wear components, ground level access to service points and long service intervals will reduce downtime

With 95% of the machine recyclable and greatly reduced external sound levels (102 LwA dB(A)) Volvo excavators are in the forefront of environmental concern.

To find out more:

download EC210C specifications
sign up for more news
request a quote for the EC210C