< PreviousA mong the more recent entrants into the region’s trucks and heavy vehicles landscape is SITRAK, a brand owned by Chinese trucks behemoth Sinotruck. And like many of the brands from the dragon country, the journey of SITRAK has followed an expected route – from obscurity to acceptance and even preference. Shailesh Dsouza, Operations Manager, Commercial Truck Division, at Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment (GTHE) has an anecdote to share that exemplifi es this journey. Dsouza narrates the story of how in 2020, when GTHE had just taken over as the offi cial representative for SITRAK in the UAE, his team had visited a customer to promote the truck. “We initially gave several customers trial units to try out at their job-sites and applications. After a few weeks when we visited one such fl eet owner for feedback, he called his operations manager in the fi eld and asked him: ‘How is the Chinese truck supplied by GTHE doing?’” The report was good - the truck was doing its job quietly, without fuss. It was efficient, economical to run and maintain, and equivalent in all respects to other brands in the fleet, which SITRAK trucks are not only built robustly and with quality at the core, their cockpits also come with the most advanced driver aids and comforts. were the usual big-name European ones. “Based on that feedback, the fl eet owner said he would buy two more units from us, provided that we gave him a ‘special price’. So we sold him two more trucks and his fl eet of one SITRAK became three,” Dsouza explains. “Then, another 6-8 months later, we visited them again after we came to know that they had SITRAK: ON THE TRACK OF SUCCESS Putting nimbleness in R&D and rapid response to customer needs on centrestage, and being supported ably by Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment, SITRAK is a brand to watch out for in the region’s commercial vehicles space 10 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles COMMERCIAL VEHICLES The Middle East countries were among the fi rst that the trucks were exported to, Dsouza informs, followed by other key countries such as Ireland, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Russia, etc. The global reach of SITRAK is now quite big. GTHE took over the distributorship of SITRAK for the UAE in 2020, he added. “In terms of the journey so far, and the market perception, we are growing at a very good rate and our market share has increased by leaps and bounds. In 2020 we sold 37 trucks and this year we will end up selling roughly 310 units - so a 10- fold growth,” Dsouza reveals. “Funnily enough, the acceptance in the market has not been as rapid as the numbers suggest. In 2020, when we started, it was one truck per customer, mainly as a trial or demo piece. We wanted to convert the fleet customers here to the SITRAK brand. This happened very gradually and incrementally. But of late, we are seeing SITRAK really catching on in the local market.” He explains that the product quality has a lot to do with the acceptance. Once people used it and realised what it brought to the table, acceptance was inevitable. “Today in the Chinese market SITRAK is considered the leader among Chinese brands. And if you have proven yourself in the competittive and tough Chinese market then you know you already have a product that can stand the test in any corner of the world. SITRAK has proven its abilities in city transportation, municipal jobs, waste management, long- haulage and now in off-road too.” GTHE PROVIDES THE SUPPORT Dsouza add that combined with the quality of the SITRAK brand, the support of a big regional name like Galadari is also part of the winning combination for customers. “Behind it is not only the SITRAK name but also the infl uential name of Galadari with its exceptional after sales service, parts support and pro-customer policies,” he points out. “We have our own fully-trained people form SITRAK and we also enjoy exceptional support from Sinotruk. We have their own service specialists and managers from China who are stationed in the UAE for us full-time. “For any issues that we or our customers may have, the SITRAK team is sitting in Dubai itself to resolve them. This has kept our turnover time at less than 12 hours, no matter what the problem. It just requires one call and the SITRAK team from the manufacturer is there to look into the problem.” Another advantage this provides is in developing and customising models to customer specifi cations and to the exact requirements of a job. Dsouza adds that together with SITRAK’s local team and GTHE’s dedicated sales and marketing, and after-market team, the combination is able to customise orders to customer requirements in very quick time. “As an example, we developed a new modifi ed model for a specifi c customer especially for their requirements in one particular project within the short span of 90 days. We went in, assessed the application and requirements, understood what the right truck is for them, the right GVW, engine power and transmission, and all other combinations. And it was a joint effort - both our own team at Galadari and the SITRAK team. “The requirements were communicated to the SITRAK R&D team in China and within 90 days the made-for the-task trucks were here for the customer. So our turnover is the fastest for special applications that require customisation,” Dsouza reveals. This speed has allowed SITRAK and GTHE to make rapid improvements and tweaks to its models. For example, the SITRAK Sandcat model had a 480HP engine in January this year. When its use showed up requirements for more power, by May-June it had a 540HP engine. “Not only did we have a new power train, we also had a new cabin to go with it, based on customer and driver feedback from the fi eld,” says Dsouza. With GTHE conducting its offi cial launch of the SITRAK brand with an event in Abu Dhabi in October this year, it is this speed in reacting to market requirements and customer needs, coupled with a product of proven excellence, that is seeing a major player emerge in the region’s commercial vehicles landscape. Shailesh Dsouza, Operations Manager, Commercial Trucks, GTHE. won some new projects and their requirements had gone up to fi ve units. This time when we approached him, he called his operations manager and asked: ‘How are the SITRAK trucks supplied by Galadari doing?’ “Within the space of a few months, the trucks had gone in his mind from being nondescript ‘Chinese’ trucks to standing out as ‘SITRAK’ trucks. The trucks had won over this customer with their performance and we managed to bag a big order from them.@ It was clear that the brand had fi rmly established itself in the mind of the customer. And since then, such stories have repeated on many occasions and with several customers, recounts Dsouza. EUROPEAN UNDERPINNINGS Delving into the history of SITRAK, Dsouza says the brand was developed initially by a partnership with China’s Sinotruk and a European truck manufacturer. The brand fi rst went into production in China in 2013 for the local market. And in 2019 after passing all the tests and certifying standards and quality assurances, it was proved for export out of China COMMERCIAL VEHICLES Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 11V olvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is bringing its zero-emission construction machines to the UAE to help customers meet their decarbonisation targets with high- performing electric power Coinciding with the UAE government’s Year of Sustainability, the first zero-emission equipment from Volvo CE coming to the UAE are the Volvo ECR25 Electric compact excavator, the 23-ton EC230 Electric excavator VOLVO CE PUTS FIRST ZERO-EMISSION MACHINES TO THE TEST IN THE UAE and the 20-ton L120 Electric wheeled loader. According to the announcement by Volvo, the arrival of “these industry-leading electric machines” demonstrate that “more sustainable solutions are not just a promise for tomorrow but a real innovation for today”. The company added that the electric machines are the perfect partner to decarbonise construction sites in the region while maintaining high levels of productivity. They deliver the same performance as their diesel variants but with the added benefi t of near silence, fewer vibrations and a more comfortable work environment. Furthermore, they open up even greater business opportunities, as they are designed to help companies adhere to emission regulations. Having proved their potential on a variety of construction sites around the world, their introduction to the UAE comes as more and more customers in the country are embracing the ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT 12 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles Swedish giant’s electric compact excavator, electric wheeled loader and 20-ton electric excavator to begin work and testing at a customer site in the UAE in the next few weeks The Volvo ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator (above) is among the three electric equipment models that Volvo Ce is bringing to the UAE for testing, along with the 20-ton L120 Electric Wheeled Loader (opposite page). The 23-ton Volvo EC230 Electric Excavator is the biggest model of electric equipment that Volvo CE is bringing to the UAE for testing, substantial benefi ts of electromobility and working towards zero emission jobsites, said Volvo. WORK AND TESTING ON UAE CUSTOMER SITE The three units coming to the UAE showcase that electric power comes in a range of sizes, Volvo said last month, adding that they will soon begin working and testing on a customer site in the coming weeks. The UAE government has called 2023 the Year of Sustainability and has committed to fostering innovative solutions to challenges such as climate change by inspiring collective action towards more sustainable practices. Volvo Ce said that as a world leading manufacturer, it also understands the need for collective action and believes that through the development and commercialisation of its electric solutions it is not only helping to reduce its own environmental impact but that of its customers too. As such, it has set a goal to achieve net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, with signifi cant emission reductions as early as 2030. Ilkay Fidan, Commercial Area Manager at Volvo CE, said: “We are proud to bring these reliable electric solutions to the UAE as part of our mission to ensure every corner of our industry can join us on this transformation journey and enjoy the many benefi ts of going electric. Together we can achieve a more sustainable way of working, while ensuring no compromise on power and performance.” COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director, Al-Futtaim Industrial Equipment (Famco & Commercial Vehicles), added: “I am thrilled to introduce Volvo’s cutting-edge zero-emission construction machines to the UAE. This milestone marks our commitment to pioneering sustainable solutions in the construction industry. With the introduction of Volvo’s zero-emission technology, we are not only building for today but also laying the foundation for a cleaner and more sustainable tomorrow in the UAE’s construction sector.” All machines come with charging solutions allowing them to charge from 0 to 100% in under six hours. For the most accurate picture, Volvo dealers can calculate the expected operating time and optimum charging solution based on customers’ activities. With any of these machines, customers can operate in noise sensitive areas and out of standard hours, as well as low-carbon projects and indoors, without the need for costly fume extraction systems. ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 13LUBREX: SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN LUBRICANTS AND GREASES U AE-based lubricants manufacturing company, Lubrex, boasts a track record of success as a producer of high-quality lubricant products, which has paved the way to starting a new product line – Greases. The company showcased its new grease line and other innovations at Automechanika, a platform they have consistently utilised to display their technical advancements and commitment to quality. Speaking to PMV Middle East at Automechanika, Abbas Moniri, Managing Director of Lubrex FZC, refl ected on the company’s journey since its establishment in 2005. “Lubrex has experienced continuous growth since starting production in 2007. The company now serves over 80 countries worldwide, including the UK, Canada, the Far East, South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, CIS countries and the Middle East,” Abbas Moniri said. “Currently, Lubrex’ production capacity stands at 80,000 tonnes, and we are in the process of doubling it to 160,000 tonnes by Q1 2024 by adding 5 ABB units. We operate three production sites, two in the Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah and one in the Dubai mainland, to serve the local market, the GCC countries and other Arab countries.” Abbas Moniri added: “At Lubrex we have everything under control, from manufacturing our own gallons and drums to managing the blow moulding and injection moulding units. Our vertical integration is the secret recipe for effi ciency and quality. To make the process smoother, we engaged two advanced-technology robotic arms for palletisation which streamline the process and minimise the margin for error. “Our entire production process is fully automated, starting from the blending stage, where we employ ABB (Automatic Batch Blending) units, all the way to the fi nal production stage, where the products are packed and palletised by two robots.” Moniri also emphasises the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, with approvals from renowned OEM brands, namely Mercedes Benz, Porsche, VW, BMW, MAN Trucks and others. Lubrex also holds approvals for transmission and hydraulic fl uids from prominent brands and has received recommendation letters from industry giants like Caterpillar. “All Lubrex products are registered with the American Petroleum Institute and ACEA registered for the European market. Our plants and laboratory hold certifi cations for ISO 9001, 14000, 45001, and 17025, making us one of the few companies in the UAE with such prestigious accreditations, widely accepted even by governments worldwide,” Moniri points out. Lubrex maintains a dedicated R&D team and state-of-the-art lab facilities to formulate, monitor, and expand product portfolios for specifi c markets and sectors, showcasing their fl exibility and adaptability. According to Abbas Moniri, this has helped Lubrex to successfully penetrate the mining industry, by providing products that excel in challenging conditions. “Mining holds signifi cant importance for us, particularly in Africa and South America. We manufacture lubricants for high-end mining equipment — sophisticated machines that operate in challenging and demanding conditions. Consequently, our products are designed to deliver uncompromising performance in such environments,” Moniri reveales. “The approvals and certifi cation processes in these segments are very diffi cult and mostly involve fi eld testing. The performance reports of our products in these fi eld tests have been very good consistently in the mining industry. Our products have not only been well accepted but also recommended by one team to another, and this helped us expand our portfolio accordingly.” VENTURING INTO GREASE PRODUCTION This year has been a path breaking one for Lubrex, as it has ventured into grease manufacturing, producing approximately 25 different types of grease, including unique specialty greases targeting niche markets. In the trucking and commercial vehicles sector, Lubrex offers top-tier FA4 and CK4 products. The UK, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Costa Rica and many more are among their signifi cant overseas markets. “Lubrex products, with approvals from manufacturers like Mercedes Benz and MAN Trucks, are popular in the commercial vehicles industry, thanks to their adherence to strict standards. Our Momenta series caters to commercial vehicles, while the Velocity series serves passenger cars,” Moniri said, adding that Lubrex’ commitment to innovation and constant endeavour to stand out with new product development programmes this year has led it to start grease production - a new set of products that not many companies offer in the UAE, further solidifying Lubrex’ position as a market leader. Abbas Moniri, Managing Director of Lubrex FZC, in front of the Lubrex stand at Automechanika 2023. 14 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles PARTNER CONTENT atlas by Etihad Airways, home to award-winning content and read by over 1.3 million engaged readers a month Michael Underdown Commercial Director michael.underdown@itp.com +971 50 396 2115 +971 4 444 3566 To elevate your brand and connect with Etihad Airways’ passengers, contact: November 2023 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 3332 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | November 2023 10.1632° N, 76.6413° E10.1632° N, 76.6413° E he image of palm-lined beaches and verdant rolling grasslands sloping towards the Arabian Sea is seared into my mind after a four-hour flight with Etihad Airways into Cochin International Airport, situated in the Indian state of Kerala. As we descend, I peer out of the window to the scene beneath and I’m filled with anticipation to discover a land I’ve already heard so much about. Away from the busy streets of Mumbai and crowded Delhi, Kerala offers a more laidback atmosphere, but one that is every bit as memorable. It’s known as God’s Own Country, thanks to its vast emerald valleys and lush landscapes. The term has a mythological origin, too, tied to the belief that Parashurama, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu, a principal deity in Hinduism, threw his axe into the sea to create a home in which his followers could live peacefully. If ever a story epitomises a place, it’s this one: Kerala, born at the hands of a God for the purpose of people living in harmony. Kerala is world-famous for its houseboats that plough the glistening backwaters, a labyrinthine 900-kilometre network of brackish canals, lakes Beaches Backwaters & Kerala, India’s tropical coastal jewel, has much to offer curious travellers By Francesca Kirby November 2023 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 2524 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | November 2023 suitcase Smooth skin The Barbiere multi-action face cream for men from Acqua Di Parma combines moisturing, smoothing, and revitalising properties to combat exposure to blue light from digital screens and environmental elements. It also comes in eco-friendly packaging ($120, acquadiparma.com). Wild ocean Enriched with almond, hazelnut, and prickly pear oils, this Wildocean beard oil is designed for medium to long facial hair that needs softening ($21, beautyethic.com). 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Groom yourself Men, look your best with this selection of personal care products suitcase The stylish way to travel THIS PAGE: ACQUA DI PARMA; OPPOSITE PAGE: RITUALS; ACQUA DI PARMA; APA BEAUTY; BEAUTY ETHIC 7.8804° N, 98.3923° E7.8804° N, 98.3923° E 2023 ﺮﺒﻤﻓﻮﻧ | ناﺮﻴﻄﻠﻟ دﺎﺤﺗﻻا ﻦﻣ ﺲﻠﻃأ | 2627 | ناﺮﻴﻄﻠﻟ دﺎﺤﺗﻻا ﻦﻣ ﺲﻠﻃأ | 2023 ﺮﺒﻤﻓﻮﻧ ﺔﻀﺑﺎﻨﻟا ﺔﻨﻳﺪﻤﻟا هﺬﻫ ﻒﺸﺘﻛا لﺎﻣﺮﻟاو ﺲﻤﺸﻟا ﺮﻴﺛأ ﻰﻠﻋ ةﺎﻴﺤﻟﺎﺑ ناﺮﻴﻄﻠﻟ دﺎﺤﺗﻻا ﻊﻣ ﺔﻨﻴﻜﺴﻟاو ﺰﻧارﺎﻤﻟو ﻦﻴﻟ ﺖﻴﻛ ΙήΘϟΔϗήϋϦϴΑΎϣϊϤΠΗϲΘϟϥΎϣΪϧήΤΑΓΆϟΆϟˬΖϴϛϮΑ ϦπΘΤΗΚϴΣˬΔϘϠτϤϟήμόϟΔϴϫΎϓέϭˬϲϨϐϟϱΪϨϠϳΎΘϟ ϳΰϳϦϣέΎψΘϧΎΑΓΪϳήϔϟΏέΎΠΘϟϦϣΔϋϮϨΘϣΔϋϮϤΠϣΖϴϛϮΑ ˬΔϤΣΩΰϤϟΎϬϗϮγϰΘΣήϜΒϟΎϬΌσϮηϦϣ ˱ ˯ΪΑˬΎϬϨϋέΎΘδϟ ϩάϫϲϓΎϨϘϓέΔΒΧΎμϟΔϴϠϴϠϟΎϬΗΎϴΣϰϟ·ΔΩΎϬϟΎϫΪΑΎόϣϦϣϭ ίϮϨϛϭέήγϰϠϋϑήόΘΗϲϛΔϋΎγ72έΪϣϰϠϋΔϟϮΠϟ ΔϴϮΘγϻΔϨΠϟϩάϫ ﺦﻳرﺎﺘﻟا ﻖﺒﻌﺑ ﺔﻗرﺎﻏ ﺔﻨﻳﺪﻣ ˬ ˱ ΔϴΒόηΎϫήΜϛϭΖϴϛϮΑΪΑΎόϣήΒϛΪΣˬ³ώϧϮϟΎθΗΕϭ´ ˱ΎΣΎΑλ ΔϋϮϤΠϣϰϠϋϭˬΫϮΑϦϣΕΎϓέϰϠϋήϴΒϜϟΪΒόϤϟάϫϱϮΘΤϳ ϲΘϟϞϴΛΎϤΘϟϭˬΕΎΣϮϠϟϭˬΔϠΧΪΘϤϟϢϴϣΎμΘϟωϭέϦϣΓήΣΎγ ˯ΪΗέΓέϭήοϰϟ·ΎϨϫήϴθϧϭΫϮΑΓΎϴΣϦϣΕΎϔτΘϘϣέϮμ ˵ Η ϲϓΪΟϮΘϟΪϨϋϦϴΘΒϛήϟϭϦϴϔΘϜϟϲτϐΗϲΘϟΔϤθΘΤϤϟΏΎϴΜϟ αΪϘϤϟϥΎϜϤϟάϫ ϞϜθΗϲΘϟΔϴΨϳέΎΘϟΔϨϳΪϤϟϲϫϭˬΔϤϳΪϘϟΖϴϛϮΑΔϨϳΪϣ ˱έϬυ ΔϴϨϴμϟΓέΎϤόϟϥϮϨϓΔϨοΎΣϭˬΖϴϛϮΑΔϨϳΪϣ˯ΰΟΪΣ ήμϋάϨϣΔϨϳΪϤϟϩάϫέΎϫΩίϭϖϟϰϠϋΓΪϫΎθϟˬΔϴϟΎϐΗήΒϟ ΔϴϫΰϟΎϬϧϮϟ΄ΑϙϮΗϙϮΘϟΕΎΑήϋΪό ˵ ΗϭήϳΪμϘϟϦϳΪόΗ ϡΎότϟϕΎθϋΎϣΔϨϳΪϤϟϑΎθϜΘγϻΔόΘϣήΜϛϷϞϘϨϟΔϠϴγϭ ϮϫϭˬϲΗϭήϟΎϬγέϰϠϋϭˬΔϴϠΤϤϟΕϻϮϛ΄ϤϟΔΑήΠΗϢϬϴϠόϓ ΰϛήϤϟΐϴϠΤϟϊϣϡΪϘ˵ϳΎϣ ˱ ΓΩΎϋϱήσϭϖϴϗέτδϣΰΒΧ ˬϲϬθϟϦϴϛϮϫϲϤϟΔϧϭήϜόϣϖΒσϭˬάϳάϠϟϱέΎϜϟϭϰϠΤϤϟ ΕϻϮϛ΄ϤϟϊϣΔϴϠϘϤϟ˯ήϔμϟ ϝΩϮϨϟ ΔϧϭήϜόϤϟϦϣϒϟΆϤϟ άϳάϠϟϕήϤϟϭˬΔϳήΤΒϟ ˬ³ϱΎϜϳήΗΖϴϛϮΑ´ϒΤΘϣϞΧΪΗΖϧϭϚγϮΣϒϫέ ˱˯Ύγϣ ΔϴΛϼΛϭΔϴϠϋΎϔΘϟΔϴϨϔϟϝΎϤϋϸϟϞϫάϣνήόϣϦϋΓέΎΒϋϮϫϭ ΎϫΪόΑϚΗίΎΟ·έϮλϦϴϳΰΘϟΓΰϴϤϣΕΎϴϔϠΧήϓϮϳϪϧΎϤϛˬΩΎόΑϷ ϱΪϧϼϳΎΗϲϨϴλϊΑΎτΑϢϳΪϗϢότϣϮϫϭˬ³Ύϳέ´Ϣότϣϰϟ·ϪΟϮΗ ϱέΎϜϟΎΑϥϮότϠδϟΎϬϨϣϭˬΔϳΪϴϠϘΘϟϕΎΒσϷϒϠΘΨϣϡ ˷ ΪϘϳ ϲϬϨϨγϢΛϦϣϭάϳάϠϟϱΪϧϼϳΎΘϟήπΧϷϱέΎϜϟϭˬΎϤϳήϜϟϭ ϰϠϋΔϣϭΎδϤϟΪόΗϲΘϟϭˬΔΒΧΎμϟϕϮγϷϲϓϝϮΠΘϟΎΑΔϠϴϠϟ ΔΒΒΤϤϟΔϴϠΤϤϟΔϓΎϘΜϟϦϣϭΎϫΪϴϟΎϘΗϦϣ ˱ ˯ΰΟέΎόγϷ لوﻷا مﻮﻴﻟا تاو” ﺪﺒﻌﻣ :ﻦﻴﻤﻴﻟا ﻰﻟإ رﺎﺴﻴﻟا ﻦﻣ ﺔﻨﻳﺪﻣ ﻲﻓ “ﻎﻧﻻﺎﺗ” ﻖﻳﺮﻃ ؛“ﻎﻧﻮﻟﺎﺸﺗ .ﺔﻤﻳﺪﻘﻟا ﺖﻴﻛﻮﺑ مﺎﻳأ ﺔﺛﻼﺛ ﺖﻴﻛﻮﺑ ﻲﻓ ﺔﻳﺎﻜﺤﻟا ﺔﻳﺪﻧﻼﻳﺎﺘﻟا KENZIE KRAFTA / UNSPLASH; SHUTTERSTOCKIVECO ROLLS IN THE CHANGE Commercial vehicles major pumps in over a billion dollars to renew its entire product range for the first time in its history, with a state-of-the-art, multi-energy line-up complemented by extensive portfolio of services for complete mobility solutions COVER STORY 16 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles16 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesI t’s not every day that a company invests a billion dollars into renewing and relaunching products that are already well-entrenched and among the leaders globally in their respective fi elds. What such a move takes is not audacity but self- belief and a conviction about the future direction that the company wants to take, and a commitment to values that the company holds dear. All that coupled with a zeal to make things even better. On November 15, in Barcelona, Spain, global commercial vehicles giant IVECO showed just such zeal as it presented its completely renewed range of products for 2024, done with an investment of one billion Euros ($1.08 billion). The monumental event, which took place in front of an audience of more than 1,200 people, comprising customers, distributors, partners and members of the international media, saw the IVECO top brass present the completely new 2024 range of vehicles and talk the gathering through the company’s vision, future focus and emphasis on services. And for good measure, IVECO also unveiled its new logo, showing off a new design that points to the road that the truck maker plans to take in the future. The theme of the event was “BE THE CHANGE”, which IVECO said was an invitation to join it in embracing change to win the challenges of the future. According to IVECO, in the past four years, the brand has dedicated its energy and resources to anticipating the rapid evolution of the market. It has “invested in renewing its products based on customers’ needs and expectations, accelerating innovation through partnerships with best-in-class industry players”. It has “developed a multi-energy product offering to provide customers with sustainable and profi table solutions for every business need and has accelerated the development of its electric vehicle offering”, setting up a dedicated manufacturing hub in Ulm, Germany, where it manufactures the fi rst IVECO heavy-duty electric-born truck. It has become more connected to customers’ businesses by building a 360-degree ecosystem around their vehicles and requirements, taking another step forward in its “servitisation strategy”. In a highly dynamic industry, IVECO has quickly evolved to become a trusted partner of its customers, supporting them as they address change and successfully overcome challenges. Introducing the renewed 2024 range on stage at the event in Barcelona, Luca Sra, President, Truck Business Unit, Iveco Group, said: “Striving for change is a full-time job to which we have dedicated all our resources over the last four years. In 2019, we started a new journey, driving a profound evolution in IVECO by keeping our eyes focused on the customer and tailoring our offering to their needs, throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle and beyond. COVER STORY Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 17Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.com“We worked hard and fast, humbled by the trust that our customers placed in us, and today, we are opening a new chapter in our history. With the Full range Model Year 2024 launch, we demonstrate our capacity to fearlessly move forward and fi ght in our customers’ corner, supporting their success with a 360-degree mobility ecosystem, the choice of the technology that best suits their needs across all segments, and the most extensive service offer.” The new models that he unveiled on stage are a part of a range that has been renewed in its entirety and all at once for the fi rst time in IVECO’s history. And this has been done with a $1.8 billion investment - the biggest the company has ever made. According to IVECO, in developing this state-of- the-art line-up, it has focused on four pillars: business productivity, driver experience, sustainability and connectivity. The new features and innovations, built around customer’s businesses and aimed at making drivers’ lives easier and more comfortable, cover all vehicle systems. Improvements range from propulsion, such as the introduction of a state-of-the-art engine in the heavy-duty segment, and ergonomics with the adoption of driver-centric and car-like feel and functionalities, to advanced Human-Machine Interface with enhanced onboard technology for safer driving. IVECO’s aspiration to move society forward and power the sustainable transformation of the transport industry drives its multi-energy approach, which offers customers a choice in the technology that best matches their operational and business requirements. MAKING TECHNOLOGY MEET MISSION TARGETS Guided by the principle that technology must adapt to the mission and meet mission targets, IVECO has developed electric versions of its light and heavy ranges while continuing to improve its internal combustion engine vehicles, including those running on natural gas, to reduce their environmental impact. For the new Model Year 2024 (MY24) range, the major investments involved key areas of R&D: CO2 emission reduction and fuel effi ciency for the internal combustion engine vehicles, and a renewed zero-emission vehicle portfolio. The all-new FPT Industrial XCursor 13 multi-fuel engine on the profoundly upgraded MY24 IVECO S-Way heavy-duty truck is the latest creation of the Cursor engine since it was fi rst introduced on the market back in the 1990s; the new IVECO S-Way offers fuel savings of up to 10% in diesel and gas and, if run on bio-liquefi ed natural gas, it can completely eliminate CO2 emissions in a well-to-wheel cycle. Developments in the electric versions of IVECO’s light and heavy lines also reached new levels. The eDaily, the battery-electric version of the DAILY, now has a range of up to 400km in urban real-world usage, and 20 minutes of rapid charging delivers 100km of autonomy. The IVECO S-eWay is the fi rst electric-born software distinctive heavy-duty truck engineered and manufactured by IVECO; it offers a range of up to 500km under full load and normal working conditions, with 80% recharging in 90 minutes at 350kW of rapid charging. Connectivity is a key feature that is now standard on all models and versions in the new range for real- time tracking and fl eet management. IVECO offers a comprehensive portfolio of telematic services based on Artifi cial Intelligence algorithms – such The IVECO Eurocargo is the company’s offering for the medium-duty, short-haul and urban segments. COVER STORY 18 | DECEMBER 2023plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesLOADED WITH TECH: THE POWER OF CONNECTIVITY All new IVECO vehicles come with a connectivity box installed, allowing customers to choose between a wide range of services designed to address their needs specifi c needs and aimed to improve their productivity and maximise vehicle availability. Owners can operate their vehicles and fl eet more effi ciently with the Remote Control function, remotely controlling the vehicle’s settings and ADAS, doing tasks such as scheduling the heating to fi t the driver’s work plan with the Easy Daily app or through the IVECO ON portal. Fleet users can even lock functions such as Hi-Matic settings and Eco Mode from the web portal and manage van sharing among drivers using the remote lock/unlock function. On board, drivers can use the DRIVER PAL voice assistant to operate a number of in-cab functions such as lights, windows and climatisation on vice control with ALEXA, so they can focus on the job at hand. Connected services designed to maximise uptime include Over the Air Updates, so that the vehicle does not need to be taken to the dealer workshop to update its software. Predictive maintenance can also be done based on the data generated by the vehicle on its state of health, which enables optimisation of maintenance and repair operations. as predictive functionalities, route optimisation, driving style evaluation, etc. – developed to improve the productivity and profi tability of customers’ businesses. These services can add an extra 4% effi ciency to a vehicle, IVECO claims. Today, around 100,000 IVECO vehicles are connected, and the company’s ambition is to reach half a million by 2030. Safety was a priority as well in the new MY24 models. Various Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – such as a blind spot warning information system, driver drowsiness attention warning and traffi c jam assist – have been incorporated in the new range to enhance safety in and around the vehicle, extending beyond regulatory requirements, with protection for vulnerable road users. The most extensive service offer to provide complete mobility solutions . SERVICE SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT CUSTOMERS And to go along with the path-breaking renewed range, IVECO has also brought out service solutions that support customers. Complementing the vehicle offering is a rapidly evolving ecosystem of solutions - IVECO Services - designed to support customers in managing their vehicle or fl eet easily and effi ciently, reduce their Total Cost of Ownership and ensure business profi tability. The offer also includes services developed to enhance drivers’ lives on the road, improving their comfort and safety. IVECO is also supporting its customers’ transition to zero-emission mobility with eMobility- The IVECO DAILY is available in van and cutaway chassis versions, and now also comes in an electric version - the eDAILY. COVER STORY Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comDECEMBER 2023 | 19Next >