Australasian Bus & Coach — October 2017

busnews.com.au October 2017 ABC^27

All parts of our build process are refi ned to be

ergonomically safe and smart, have a positive

workfl ow and increase the safety of workers

outcomes and choices made in
the design of our buses. We have
done it with that original desire
to build a bus with operators’
needs in mind.”

SAME QUALITY
Over time, the ownership of
Volgren has changed. In 2012
the Grenda Corporation sold
a majority stake to Marcopolo
and, more recently, the Brazilian
company took full ownership.
Critically, Smith says, this
ownership structure has not
led to a reduction in the
Australian-made component of
the Volgren buses.
“[Marcopolo] has shown a
great deal of interest in and
support for the aluminium
structures we have in the
marketplace and there is
certainly no direction to change
or alter the local content of
what we do,” he says.
The sheer size and knowledge
that comes from the relationship
with Marcopolo gives Volgren
access to the world’s best
technologies while allowing

them to maintain the standards

and relationships that they

have spent decades establishing

within Australia.

WHOLE OF LIFE COST

“Life cycle costs” is something

Volgren mentions frequently on

its website, in its advertising,

and on its brochures.

Smith mentions it more than

once as well.

When asking him about the

concept, he says that in 2016

Volgren were one of three

major Australian bus body

manufacturers that took part

in a research study by Monash

University to investigate the

costs of different bus bodies

on the Australian market. The

research analysed the initial

purchase price, the costs of

repairs and servicing, lifetime

re¾ ts and fuel economy.

The Volgren-bodied bus gave

an impressive lifetime saving

that equated to 7.3 per cent lower

costs than the other participants.

Based on a bus travelling

62,000km a year, Volgren

delivered a lifetime saving of

$36,000 in fuel and a further

saving of $20,000 in repairs and

re¾ t costs.

Volgren credits this ¾ gure

to the technology it employs,

the years of manufacturing

and industry experience it has

accumulated, and the aftersales

service it provides.

“The Co-Bolt aluminium

frame means we have none of

the common issues that can arise