< PreviousEVENT REPORT 20 | JULY 2024plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles Volvo Days 2024 saw Volvo CE present a holistic picture of its brand, with demonstrations of several new-generation wheel loaders, excavators, dumpers and other equipment, with a slant on sustainability. Melker Jernberg, Head of Volvo CE. In line with Volvo CE’s multi-pronged technology approach to meet varied customer needs, the company unveiled a new generation of innovative excavators, the Volvo EC500, EC400 and EC230. The range, which also includes the EC210 and ECR145, has been equipped with intelligent technology in a new electro-hydraulic system and improved human machine interface (HMI), and designed for increased fuel effi ciency, productivity, safety and total cost of ownership. Also among the displays at Volvo Days was an exclusive sneak peek at the all-new A40 articulated dump truck coming later in the year, building on Volvo CE’s rich legacy as an industry pioneer of articulated haulers, and the launch of the R60 and R70 rigid haulers, signalling an expansion of hauling options for customers. Just like other conventional Volvo CE machines, the new additions to the portfolio can be powered by renewable HVO100 (hydrogenated vegetable oil), which signifi cantly reduce carbon emissions compared to traditional diesel. Joakim Arndorw, Head of Sales Region International, said: “These new ranges, alongside our electric solutions, prove that Volvo CE is well- equipped to respond to the different needs of our customers in both regulated and less regulated “The construction industry is changing and we at Volvo CE do not want to just take part in the change; we want to lead it. Volvo Days 2024 is a landmark event where we unveil our most ambitious and biggest product line-up of both conventional and electric products we have ever done” markets, leveraging our strength to implement meaningful innovation across all our offerings as we move closer towards our ambition for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.” On top of a modernisation of its conventional offerings, Volvo CE is again delivering on its pledge to lead the industry transition towards fossil-fuel free construction with several exciting electric introductions in the mid-size segment. Alongside already launched electric solutions such as the 23-tonne EC230 Electric excavator and cable-connected EW240 Electric MH, the EVENT REPORT Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comJULY 2024 | 21 Volvo Days 2024 was the fi rst major event at the company’s Eskilstuna, Sweden, faciliy after it announced the site as its corporate HQ last year. Among the brand new tech that Volvo showed off were its charging solutions for electric equipment, such as new mobile power units. Carl Slotte, Head of Sales Region Europe at Volvo CE. company presented an array of new battery electric equipment. These included the EWR150 Electric, the fi rst of Volvo’s electric wheeled excavators, and the L90 Electric and L120 Electric wheel loaders, scheduled for stepwise introductions from late 2024 in limited volumes across selected markets. They are supported by its broadest range of charging solutions yet with the launch of the PU40 mobile power unit for compact equipment, available across select markets and a welcome addition to the already available PU500 mobile power unit. Also demonstrating Volvo CE’s dedication to securing a reliable electric ecosystem is the new My Equipment digital app, to help customers manage the charging process more effi ciently. TRANSITIONING TO LOW-CARBON Carl Slotte, Head of Sales Region Europe, said: “Volvo Days demonstrates how far we have come on our electromobility journey, from our fi rst commercial launch in 2019 through to the broad line-up of electric machines and charging solutions we present today, amplifi ed by our range of smart digital tools. “The steps we are taking into the electrifi cation of medium and heavy segment machines paves the way for more customers to decarbonise their operations and seize new business opportunities as societies worldwide transition to a low-carbon future.” The event also highlighted the strength of the Volvo Group, with a number of collaborations all of which have been designed to accelerate innovation and aid the industry transformation. For example, Volvo Financial Services was there to showcase how it is customising fi nancial offerings to meet the specifi c needs of its customers, while Volvo Trucks joined to demonstrate its impressive electric portfolio. sUD TRUCKS DRIVES MARKET GROWTH WITH BRAND DAY EVENTS IN EGYPT AND KENYA Building on a record-breaking year in the Middle East and North Africa (MEENA) region, UD Trucks successfully hosted its Brand Day events in Kenya and Egypt. These gatherings brought together marketing representatives from across East Africa and the Middle East, fostering collaboration, innovation and strategic planning for the brand’s future direction. The events are benefi cial for partners and customers as they lead to the development of more tailored and effi cient solutions, improved service quality and enhanced product offerings, ultimately ensuring a better and more responsive customer experience, said UD Trucks. Additionally, by driving brand growth, these country, saw participation from a broad range of stakeholders. This included Marketing Communications teams from Singapore, Japan and the MEENA region, along with marketing agencies and key partners like Victoria Motors in Uganda and Nyala Motors in Ethiopia. INSIGHTFUL EVENTS A total of 55 participants came together for insightful discussions, strategic workshops, and interactive sessions aimed at unifying marketing efforts. These activities directly benefi t customers and partners by fostering a cohesive strategy that enhances product offerings and ensures consistent and high-quality support throughout the region. initiatives are set to expand UD Trucks presence and infl uence in the regional markets, the heavy trucks major added. UD Trucks entered the Brand Day events with strong momentum, fresh off a record-breaking 2023 in the MEENA region. The brand achieved impressive sales growth across all segments, solidifying its position as an industry leader. The brand’s commitment to excellence was further underscored by involvement in prestigious projects like those at Neom and the Red Sea. This robust foundation positions UD Trucks for continued success as they expand their presence in East Africa and Egypt. The Kenya event, held on May 17, in Nairobi to celebrate the brand’s relaunch in the PARTNER CONTENT 22 | JULY 2024plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehicles Over 100 participants take part across events that mark launch of UD Trucks brand in Egypt and relaunch in KenyaThe Brand Day event in Egypt brought together 45 participants, including some from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE. Discussions, strategic workshops and interactive sessions aimed at unifying marketing efforts were the highlights of the Brand Day events. The 55 participants from across East Africa at the UD Trucks Brand and Marketing Conference in Kenya pose for a group photo with offi cials from the manufacturer’s regional offi ce. The second Brand Day event, held on May 21 in Cairo, Egypt, brought together 45 participants. This included the UD Trucks commercial crew alongside marketing representatives from neighbouring and regional countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE. The focus of this event was on regional collaboration and strategic alignment to ensure a consistent and impactful UD Trucks brand presence across the Middle East. UD Trucks’ entry into the Egyptian market and relaunch in Kenya were focal points of both events, which featured in-depth sessions exploring the company’s rich heritage. Participants also delved into innovative approaches to market penetration and brand positioning, tailored to the unique dynamics of each region. Additionally, hands-on workshops equipped attendees with valuable strategies for all phases of commercial activities. These sessions highlighted the importance of adapting to evolving market trends. Ultimately, the events provided a platform for collaboration, sharing best practices, and strengthening the brand’s regional strategy. Commenting on the events, Mourad Hedna, Managing Director, UD Trucks, MEENA, said: “After a stellar performance in the countries that we cover in the MEENA region for the last few years, especially 2023, we felt this was the right time to widen our reach into Egypt and Kenya. We were very happy with the response of the market in these countries and the customers who attended our events. We are looking forward to extending our performance into both Kenya and Egypt.” PARTNER CONTENT Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comJULY 2024 | 23The new Volvo FH16 is not only one of the most powerful trucks on the market, and Volvo’s most powerful truck, but it also is a very fuel effi cient one, according to the Swedish truck and commercial vehicles giant. Volvo has equipped the FH16 to run on 100% renewable fuels and said that on-road tests confi rm that the all-new engine in the FH16 achieves 5% better fuel economy and lower emissions while adding 7% more torque – a combination that increases effi ciency and productivity for the most demanding transport tasks. Volvo’s all-new D17 engine in the iconic Volvo FH16 has been engineered for the toughest transport assignments to deliver outstanding performance and durability, said the company, adding that comparing the new 17-litre 780hp Volvo FH16 with its predecessor, the new truck adds 7% torque while achieving 5% less fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The all-new engine is also available in the new Volvo FH16 Aero, offering even better fuel economy when it is combined with the aerodynamic truck cab. Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality at Volvo Trucks, explains: “Our engineers have delivered an engine that combines the highest torque and power level in any European truck, with superior fuel effi ciency. The facts speak for themselves – more torque and power with signifi cant fuel and CO2 savings is a fantastic result. This means that our customers can carry out their assignments more effi ciently and with higher productivity.” At the heart of the FH16 is Volvo Trucks' all- new D17 engine, which combines power with superior fuel effi ciency. The truck maker said that this all-new fuel-effi cient engine is one example of its continuous strive to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions from existing driveline technologies, in parallel to introducing new technologies. THREE POWER LEVELS The new Volvo 17-litre Euro 6 engine comes with three power levels; 600hp, 700hp and 780hp. Torque levels have been increased to 3000Nm, 3400Nm and 3800Nm respectively in the top version. The gearbox has been updated to handle up to 3800Nm, and internal gearbox effi ciency has been further improved on the 3000Nm and 3400Nm versions. Alternative and cleaner fuel certifi cations are also another features of the FH16’s engine. The new D17 engine is certifi ed to run on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) in all power ratings. The 700hp version is also certifi ed to run on 100% biodiesel (B100). The Volvo FH16 and FH16 Aero with the all- new D17 engine will be available for ordering as from mid-2024 and production will start in the second half of 2024. VOLVO INCREASES POWER AND REDUCES FUEL EFFICIENCY ON NEW FH16 TRUCK All-new engine equipped to run on 100% renewable fuels, providing 5% better fuel economy and 7% more torque The new Volvo D17 engine can run on diesel and renewable fuels. TRUCKS 24 | JULY 2024plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesTo help customers' transition to electric transport, Swedish commercial vehicles giant Scania has announced that it has formed a new company named Erinion that specialises in private and semi-public charging solutions. The strategic move will see 40,000 new charging points installed at customer locations and will strengthen the Scania Group’s e-Mobility offer in the future transport ecosystem. The new company, Erinion, is founded by Scania to provide solutions for depot and destination charging, with the aim of accelerating electric truck adoption in line with Scania’s purpose of driving the shift towards a sustainable transport system. Erinion’s solutions will empower customers to seamlessly transition to zero-emission fl eets with premium uptime. This will be a key factor in fulfi lling Scania´s declared ambition for 50% of its sales volume in Europe to be electric by 2030. Announcing the new company, Scania said industry studies suggest that depot charging will be the primary source of energy for both short and long-distance operations. As a compliment to public charging networks, depot and destination charging offer dedicated charging infrastructure at the customer’s home depot or other pre- defi ned locations. This has a lot of advantages, Scania added: predictable charging schedules ensuring fully charged vehicles, increased uptime and, ultimately, maximum operational effi ciency and cost savings through predictable and stable energy costs that are matched to each customer’s specifi c operations. By providing predictable energy costs and tailored solutions for each customer's operations, depot and destination charging also enable optimised charging power levels and schedules, while improving battery life and overall vehicle effi ciency. Also, because depot charging often occurs during off-peak hours, this means lower and more controlled electricity rates, while destination charging can happen on an opportunistic basis while a driver is resting or delivering goods. Scania said its research, validated by pilot programmes with customers, reveals the potential for signifi cant cost savings with the enhanced charging solutions. Customers can expect reductions in investment needs by up to 50% and operational savings of up to 15,000 Euros per truck each year. With the new company, Scania's transport customers will be able to take advantage of advanced integrated software and hardware, as well as operational services and support. The purpose-built and modular solutions can be offered as a standard re-seller model (with cash payments) or a hybrid-fl exible pricing model that lets customers combine down payments, fi nancial leases and rolling fees for service and maintenance. Initially, the new company will establish its presence in Northern and Western Europe, with plans to install a minimum of 40,000 charge points until 2030. A global rollout will follow in due course. The brand-agnostic approach ensures that businesses of all types, regardless of vehicle brand, can benefi t from Erinion's charging infrastructure and operational services. SCANIA GOES INTO CHARGING SOLUTIONS WITH FORMATION OF NEW COMPANY ERINION Providing private and semi-private charging solutions, the new entity targets 40,000 new charging points in Europe by 2030 before global roll-out Scania is proposing a brand-agnostic charging approach with Erinion. TRUCKS Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comJULY 2024 | 25COVER STORY 26 | JULY 2024plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / VehiclesGARGASH GETS GROWING With big names such as LiuGong and KCP in its bevy of brands, Gargash General Trading is ready to make an impact on customers in the UAE by bringing in the latest versatile equipment from its principals’ extensive portfolios and backing them with meticulous support COVER STORY Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comJULY 2024 | 27Being part of an established business house with a great legacy to fall back is a bonus for any entity, but it also comes with its own challenges – mainly the expectations that you put on yourself to excel and live up to that legacy. Gargash General Trading (GGT) is no different. The company is part of the well-known UAE- based Gargash Group, which has a track record of success in various segments for decades now. GGT falls under the automotive vertical of the Group, and, just like its sister entities in the Group, it represents some of the biggest global brands in its fi eld in the UAE. Describing the scope of GGT’s services, Anas Al Shaikh, Head of General Trading at Gargash Motors and General Trading, says: “GGT has multiple product offerings. We cater to various sectors in the market with our heavy equipment division, lubricants, pumps and energy divisions. And then there is of course the aftersales business, which looks after all these products in terms of the service, spare parts and all other sorts of back-up support for our customers. “And within GGT, the major part of the owners and senior management, who believed there was huge potential in the company, which is increasingly being realised. Al Shaikh adds that the transformation has been led by the new brands GGT has acquired, especially LiuGiong. Another brand that has been instrumental in GGT's recent emergence is KCP. Moreover, launching the rental and leasing programmes have also helped the company change the game, “both for ourselves and our customers”, he reveals. “We provide an extensive portfolio of machines on rent or lease – from earthmovers of all sizes, capacities and types to various concrete pumps. We are able to rent or lease out any machine from this wide model range. “In fact, at GGT we have activated all the sales sssschannels that could be activated, and we are benefi tting from that. When it comes to the equipment business, you cannot rely fully on only direct sales where customers purchase the equipment outright. That is not a conducive business model anymore because the market does not operate like that these days. Instead, there are multiple ways that customers and users source With LiuGong's global reputation of excellence in the wheel loader segment, Gargash General Trading is looking to make an impact in the UAE market with the Chinese powerhouse's 5- and 7-tonne models. business is the heavy equipment side, where we offer multiple well-known brands spearheaded by LiuGong, which is one of our recent acquisitions as authorised representatives. We also have KCP, the Korean concrete pump specialist, as well as some other prominent ones in segments such as pumps and utility equipment.” LIUGONG IN FOCUS LiuGong is a big focus of GGT. The giant Chinese brand is one of the largest manufacturers of construction equipment in the world and has been in the market for decades, proving themselves to be quality producers of equipment on the world stage. And now they are in the UAE with GGT, marking the perfect marriage of two of the biggest names in their industries, locally and globally. “We see great merit in aligning ourselves with LiuGong in the equipment business, which is why we are very focused on the brand here in the UAE,” says Al Shaikh, adding that this focus has come with major changes in the business dynamic within GGT in the last 18 months to two years. This has been led by the vision of the Group’s COVER STORY 28 | JULY 2024plantmachineryvehicles.comPlant / Machinery / Vehiclestheir equipment now, giving us multiple channels to reach them.” Al Shaikh added that the sales channels GGT has activated include direct cash sales; fi nancing for customers who require it; lease programmes, including lease-to-own; and of course rental channels. “All this together has defi nitely been a game changer and has had a positive effect on our bottom line and the way customers think about us,” he adds. As a product brand, LiuGong has also been hugely instrumental in the way GGT has emerged in the last 18 months. Both Gargash and LiuGong have dived into this relationship with a fresh mind- set of providing the best to the market, and so far it seems like a win-win situation for all with the promise of continuing to be so in the future, Al Shaikh emphasises. “The products that LiuGong is offering is extremely wide in its range and covers literally the entire construction equipment industry, and this has also helped us a lot. When you are not limited by the types of products that you can offer, you can make a different impact on customers. When you cater to the entire sector, it helps in changing the picture.” Describing the LiuGong-Gargash partnership in the UAE, Al Shaikh points out that the brand is one of the giant Chinese manufacturers with a long established presence. LiuGong has been manufacturing equipment since 1961 and now offers a full range of earthmoving equipment, we are actually involved in the testing right now,” “We are testing its capabilities in the hot weather, humidity and sand of our region, especially in this summer period. We could have done the test during winter but we as Gargash told our principal that we preferred to do it in summer, because we want to give that confi dence to our customers that we are convinced about the product ourselves in the way it holds up to and performs in the worst of our conditions in the region.” GGT is an integral part of that testing alongside the LiuGong product management team, which has stationed its experts in the UAE for the tests. The traditional bread and butter area for LiuGong, however, has been the wheel loader business in which they are well known worldwide and have been among the highest sold brands. LiuGong is also increasingly focusing on electric wheel loaders now, globally. Initial introductions of LiuGong excavators by GGT include the 20-, 30-, and 40-tonne models. GGT is planning phased launches of several machines from LiuGong's 38 different product lines, from dozers to cranes. lifting and access equipment, as well as other machines utilised on construction sites. “Currently they have around 38 different product lines, and we are their exclusive dealers here in the UAE. Of course, we are focusing a lot on earthmoving equipment and LiuGong is well- known for its quality in this segment, especially in wheel loaders, crawler dozers, excavators and motor graders. When it comes to dozers, it is well known that LiuGong acquired the Polish bulldozer manufacturer Dressta sometime back. Dressta has been a specialist dozer maker for a long time and has carved a great reputation for quality and effi ciency in the market. Now those dozers have been integrated under the LiuGong brand in the region," details Al Shaikh. "We have the new LD series of dozers now - which is actually Liugong Dressta. These new dozers are currently being tested in the UAE, and at GGT “Our service team is on call round-the-clock and fully mobile to provide on-site assistance to customers wherever they are in the UAE. We've attended to numerous customer calls way past midnight and on public holidays. We know that for our customers, work never stops, so our support never stops either” COVER STORY Plant / Machinery / Vehiclesplantmachineryvehicles.comJULY 2024 | 29Next >