Exploring Volvo CE’s Coolest Tech and Latest Compact Equipment with President Scott Young
We Also Talk to Products Experts in Compact Wheel Loaders, Mini Excavators and Connected Services
The borough of Shippensburg offers a beautiful backdrop to operate construction equipment. Tucked into the Cumberland Valley, in the shadow of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, Shippensburg is home to the North American headquarters of Volvo Construction Equipment. It’s where the brand manufactures soil and asphalt compactors and wheel loaders. It’s also where you’ll find Volvo CE’s North American Customer Center, which has one of the best equipment machine testing grounds in the United States. This past fall I got the opportunity to operate iron on this awesome 40-acre outdoor machine arena, with tree-covered Appalachian ridges silhouetted in the distance.
Volvo Days 2024 attracted not just me but 1,000+ customers and dealers to its North American Customer Center, an every-few-years event held since first launching in 2014. The center houses the Volvo Brand Shop, Volvo Museum and its new Technician Training Center, but all the action was outside. About half of the 80-acre site has been developed to offer a unique experience for machine demonstration and training. This giant outdoor operational area is a contractor’s/machine journalist’s dream. For the event, the proving grounds were broken up into equipment and application stations. Pros could jump on every type of iron — from mini excavators to giant haul trucks — experiencing the newest machines in real-world conditions.
Passion for the Future of Construction Equipment
“Our purpose here at Volvo Days is to really showcase that customer experience,” explained Scott Young, president and head of region North America for Volvo Construction Equipment. “We also really get this one-on-one experience with the dealer and customer. For a solid day and a half, we’re answering all their questions. We want to show our customers that Volvo Days is also about showcasing the passion that we have for innovation of the future of this industry. That’s really a big part of why we have Volvo Days, so that we can get people’s minds, hearts and hands around products and the things that we’re passionate about.”
Some of the passion projects I saw at the event included focuses on electrification, jobsite management, compact equipment, attachments and an improved overall customer experience. Lots of new equipment showcased these motivations. Let’s dig in.
Cool Big Units
The theme for Volvo Days 2024 was “Access Granted.” The experience was one of exclusivity. Each customer was hand-picked by a dealer or strategic account director for a unique machine adventure. To get things warmed up, Volvo invited these customers and dealers to an impressive nighttime equipment and drone show the evening before (photos below). We all watched these same Volvo machines perform acrobatic feats of amazement. The next day was dedicated to equipment operation and exploring Volvo’s latest services and model offerings. More than 65 machines from across the Volvo product lineup were on display.
A lot of the new equipment highlighted at the event were bigger units. Volvo announced the expansion of its compaction range with the new SD125 soil compactor. This 12-ton model is now the largest in the company’s soil compaction lineup. It’s also a timely introduction as the Shippensburg production site enters its 50th year of compaction engineering and manufacturing. Volvo also grew its rigid hauler family from one model to three with the launch of the R60 and R70. These units were super popular with the customers at the event.
“We’re really excited about our next generation of haulers,” said Young. “That’s something that our history is deeply rooted in.”
Electric Models Announced
Two of the new products in the spotlight were new mid-size electric machines. The all-new L120 Electric wheel loader and the new-generation EC230 Electric excavator continued to prove Volvo’s commitment to zero-emission solutions. The company also showcased its L20 and L25 Electric compact wheel loaders and its ECR18 Electric and ECR25 Electric mini excavators, but those are not new (just still cool).
“We’ve really leaned in, and we are now a leader when it comes to sustainable power systems,” said Young. “We have the broadest portfolio of zero-emission machines that are out today, and we have compaction machines. We have compact equipment. Then on top of that, we have the EC230 Electric, [which is a 23-metric-ton electric excavator]. Then soon in November we’ll have the launch of the L120 electric, and I think you will begin to see customers’ interest start to grow for these larger products.”
Volvo’s EC37 and ECR40 Mini Excavators
Mini excavators continue to grow in popularity with American contractors and rental houses. Volvo is fully invested in the sector with 14 models overall. That includes one wheeled variant (the EW60E) and three electric units fitted with lithium-ion batteries. The diesel models range from 16 to 63 hp. The newest units are the EC37 and ECR40, which launched in January 2024.
“The 3- to 4-ton size makes up about a quarter of the compact excavator market in North America, so the EC37 and ECR40 will likely be very popular,” explained Darren Ashton, product manager for compact equipment. “They were designed with the operator’s experience in mind, so the controls, HMIs [machine human interface] and hydraulic settings are highlights. They also have an elongated undercarriage for more stability, and this reduces the dreaded rocking chair effect for operators too.”
These models offer enhanced operator comfort. Those also boast 10 percent better fuel efficiency and improved stability and easier maintenance. They are replacing the older EC35D, ECR35D and ECR40D models. Both machines share the same platform. The EC37 features a conventional upper carriage, while the ECR40 has a short swing radius for working in confined spaces. These excavators boast a spacious, ergonomic cab with outstanding visibility, floating armrests and intuitive controls. I got to experience this firsthand during operational time. New features include Eco Mode, auto engine shutdown and customizable hydraulic settings. Operators can easily adapt controls to personal preferences, thanks to the advanced 5-in. touchscreen.
Excellent Hydraulic Capabilities
“Having easily adjustable auxiliary hydraulics means a machine can be used in more ways, which is one of the top reasons people like mini excavators in the first place — for their versatility,” said Ashton. “I always suggest looking for a minimum of single-acting and double-acting hydraulics to support a variety of attachments. Luckily, the industry has done a good job of standardizing attachment interfaces to improve compatibility. We also offer customizable settings and work modes for multiple attachments to make operators’ jobs even easier.”
The counterweight has been standardized across these two models and the bigger ECR50 and ECR58 units. This simplifies component needs for fleets with multiple models. Other optional features on the EC37 and ECR40 include a float blade and LED work lights. Maintenance is also simplified with 50-hour greasing intervals, a patented hydraulic oil filter and easy access to engine components.
The L30 and L35 Compact Wheel Loaders
Volvo CE also recently updated its L30 and L35 compact wheel loaders. These latest compact wheel loaders are aimed at customers looking for those 1.3- to 1.6-yd3 bucket capacity or 2.4- to 2.6-ton fork payload applications. The revamped L30 and L35 are coming to market with some operator-focused improvements. I got to experience these in the cab. These updated models provide an even greater range of sight to the front and sides, thanks to a slimmer dashboard. Operators will benefit from more intuitive functions with a larger display. It’s navigated via a jog wheel and a more ergonomic multi-function joystick.
“No more dashboard reduced a lot of the switches,” noted Ashton. “If you look at where we used to have a keypad and a myriad of switches, we moved almost all of it to the jog wheel. It is also the same screen that we have in all our compact products now, so it’s starting to get a common look.”
Wheel Loader Attachment Takers
The attachments and autos are cool on these units too. A new feature unique to this size class is an advanced boom kick-out and bucket leveler option with boundary limits. This can automatically lift and tilt the bucket to pre-programmed positions. Attachments are increasingly becoming a focus for Volvo’s tool carriers. An electro-hydraulic main control valve enhances the flow sharing among the hydraulic functions. The adjustable boom and tilt function (optional) allows the operator to set the flow of these functions using the jog wheel and display. This enables customized flows for specialty buckets or attachments.
A big change for the new L30 and L35 is the addition of an eight-pin harness on the boom. This can be activated by a button on the joystick. It allows a wider range of attachments to be used without installing additional wiring. This is a major convenience for both operators and service techs. The company showed this off on site with an adjustable set of pallet forks and its shifting carriage.
“A lot of times we use snow pushes up where I live, so they have these wings that can fold in and back out,” said Ashton, giving an example of an electric attachment function. “They can be used as an angle blade and then you can bring it to capture the snow to pile like a box blade. That type of stuff we used to have to do manually in the past, but now it can now be done from the cab.”
L30 and L35 Maintenance Features
The new-generation L30 and L35 come with additional sensors to monitor engine and cooling performance. The standard reversible cooling fan is adjustable to handle dusty and high debris conditions. Two popular maintenance features remain from the last series. These are ground-level access to service points. These include fuel, oil, air and hydraulic filters, battery, radiator, oil dipstick and hydraulic oil level gauges. With CareTrack telematics, customers can see trends in the operation of their L30 or L35 to help plan maintenance, control costs and boost profitability.
Jobsite Management Tech
Volvo Days 2024 was more than just a machine showcase. It was a deep dive into the innovations shaping the future of construction equipment. From hands-on demos to intimate talks with industry leaders, Volvo provided a platform to explore its cutting-edge technologies and solutions that continue to redefine the equipment sector. The company put a big focus on its Connected portfolio — Connected Map, Connected Load Out and Performance Indicator. For instance, Connected Map is a positioning solution that provides real-time visibility and control of all machines, personnel and vehicles on the jobsite.
“When we talk about productivity, we have a lot of features on the machines that make our machines great, but we really need to take the next step,” explained Jenny Olsen, product manager of connected services. “We can’t do that without looking at the complete site, making sure machines work efficiently together on a site level. To do that, we need to not only look at one machine but how they all connect together. How do we take that data and really optimize a site to run more efficiently? We’re early in this journey, but we’re taking steps towards being closer to the customer and helping them optimize their sites rather than just optimizing their machine.”
Connected Load Out and More Tech
Another example is Connected Load Out. It’s designed to improve the efficiency and productivity of the load out process by connecting the loader operator, site office and trucks. It is a digital solution for Volvo wheel loaders with Load Assist and On-Board Weighing and Volvo excavators with Dig Assist and On-Board Weighing. Add all these technologies together and contractors can begin to create an impressive system to collect data, automate machines, track usage, mold operator habits, ensure uptime and make jobsites more efficient. At Volvo Days 2024, the company showcased a ton of different tech and services that can help in this process. These included My Equipment App and Dig Assist to ActiveCare Direct and Site Simulation.
More to Come for Volvo’s Compact Equipment
Volvo Days 2024 offered a big glimpse into the future of construction equipment. It blended hands-on machine demonstrations with innovative technology and insights from industry leaders. Whether it was operating the latest compact models like the EC37 and ECR40 excavators or exploring the possibilities of advanced electric machines and cutting-edge site management tools, the event underscored Volvo’s commitment to sustainability, productivity and customer satisfaction. From their new electric excavators to jobsite connectivity solutions, Volvo is clearly leading the charge in shaping the future of construction.
“We have a lot of technology that’s coming at us all at once,” said Young. “It’s a transformation, but it’s a transformation that we aim to do with our customers. We want to make sure that we’re partnered up with our customers and our dealers to build those solutions. We want to build the world that we want to live in. And I think you’ll see that the important thing too is that with all this technology, it still takes passionate people to make it work. Some of those people, you met here today.”
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
