Earthmovers & Excavators – October 2019

12 TradeEarthmovers.com.au

INDUSTRY NEWS

T

wonewnoticeshavebeenreleasedinNSW

regardingmassanddimensionexemptions

forallterrainmobilecranes.

NationalHeavyVehicleRegulator(NHVR)program

directorAnnetteFinchsaysthenewnoticeswould

cutredtapeforoperators.

“Thesenoticeswillallowcraneoperatorsthe

flexibilitytomeettheiroperationalrequirements

withouttheneedfora permitonanapproved

network,”Finchsays.

“Wehavealsobeenworkingcloselywithlocal

governmentandindustrytoimproveaccessfor

smallerspecialpurposevehiclesin NewSouth

Twonewnoticesfor

craneoperationsin

NSWwillmake
accesssimplerand

moreefficient

As part of its long
term strategy to

stay competitive

and address

sustainability goals,
Volvo CE is making

a number of

significant
investments

V

olvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE)

has announced $24 million of investments

at its Eskilstuna site in Sweden, including an

arena for customer demonstrations of electric

and autonomous machines, a new R&D test

track and an energy recovery system for the

factory.

Volvo CE will add an extra 12 hectares to

its existing 45 hectare demo ground at the

Customer Center, specifically for testing of its

electric and autonomous machines but also for

demonstrating current machine offerings.

The $12 million investment in the innovation

arena will enable Volvo CE to show the prototype

machinestocustomersina realisticand

challenging environment, it says, supported by

5G technology and with charging infrastructure

installed on site.

As Volvo CE transitions to more fossil-free

alternatives, the existing fleet of combustion

engine machines at the Eskilstuna Customer

Center will be running on HVO (hydro-treated

vegetable oils). No special modifications to the

engines are required.

“Our new innovation arena is a big statement

to customers and the industry about our

commitment to building tomorrow. Meanwhile,

we show with our switch to HVO that we are

also taking small steps to drive sustainability,

not just in the future but also in the here and

now,” says Carl Slotte, president of Volvo CE

sales region EMEA.

At its Technology Center, Volvo CE is also

investing in an electromobility and automation

test track for R&D purposes. The HX2 electric

and autonomous load carriers are now being

optimized to be ready for the first commercial

pilot, which is due to start before the end

of 2019.

Wales, including a high proportion of the drill rig fleet

and the concrete pump fleet that can now operate

under the National Class 1 SPV Notice 2016.

“Through reviewing these arrangements and

providing additional training to road managers,

we’ve seen a significant increase in access to local

government roads.

“This work has been undertaken in preparation

for the transition of News South Wales Class 1 SPV

permitapplicationprocessreturningtotheNHVR

laterthismonth[July].”

RoadsandMaritimeServicesNSW(RMS)director

freightSusieMackaysaysassistingandsupporting

industrytosafelymoveequipmentaroundtheroad

networkis a vitalpartoftheagency’swork.

“RMSwillcontinuetoworkwithlocalcouncils

andtheNationalHeavyVehicleRegulatorto

delivergreaternationalharmonizationwithbetter

safetyandefficiencyoutcomesforindustryand

localcommunities,”Mackaysays.

CEOoftheConcretePumpingAssociationof

Australia(CPAA)CraigHeidrichsaysthatthe

improvedaccessfortheconcretepumpfleetwas

greatnewsfortheindustry.

“We’reveryhappytoseethisimprovement,which

willreducetheburdenonouroperatorsandmake

accesseasier,”Heidrichsaid.

NSW crane changes

Above: The notices will
reduce the need for permits

Left: Volvo says the investment is “is a big statement

to customers and the industry about our commitment

to building tomorrow”

big dollars

for swedish site