Volvo says loader updates improve efficiency

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), the Sweden-based equipment producer with United States headquarters in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, says it introduced safety- and productivity-boosting updates across its wheel loader product line at the ConExpo-Con/Agg trade show in Las Vegas last week.

The product line affected include the firm’s large L350 and L260 rehandler models; its mid-size (L60, L70, L90 and L120 Electric) models; and it compact product line, consisting of the L25 electric and L20 electric. Models. Volvo also says soon some models can be equipped with a certifiable on-board weighing feature.

Volvo cites customer feedback from the construction, quarrying and mining sectors, among others, as spurring the upgrades to its large L350 model, which now runs on a Volvo D17 engine.

That engine delivers more power and up to 5 percent better fuel efficiency, says the company. The L350 also now contains Smart Control, a feature designed to improve interaction between the hydraulic, driveline and engine functions.

“High-production environments are the ultimate test of a machine’s value,” says Eric Yeomans, a Volvo CE product manager. “These updates ensure the L350 remains the powerhouse on jobsites while helping customers reduce fuel burn and lower their total costs of operation (TCO).”

The L260 rehandler, meanwhile, now features a heavier integrated counterweight designed to increase loading capacity. The L260 also incorporates an Automatic Traction Control feature designed to improve safety while reducing tire wear and operator fatigue.

In the mid-size range, Volvo CE has expanded its Reverse By Braking (RBB) and OptiShift technologies to the L60, L70, and L90. Previously used only in larger models, the features are intended to eliminate power losses, reduce driveline wear and increase fuel efficiency by up to 15 percent.

The 22-ton L120 electric wheel loader has received updates to its operational and safety systems, says Volve CE. These include a “rimpull control” designed to optimize traction in slippery conditions.

The L120 electric loader has proven particularly successful in waste and recycling applications, according to Volvo CE. Thus, a dedicated waste handling package is now available, featuring what Volvo CE calls a specialized cab air pre-cleaner and all-around machine guarding.

The third generation L20 electric and L25 electric compact wheel loaders are now available in North America, after being previously introduced in other parts of the world. The L20 electric has received a 21 percent increase in standard battery capacity, and both models now also come with expanded attachment options, according to Volvo CE.

Another update is the addition of air conditioning to the two electric-powered models, which was added in direct response to feedback from customers seeking enhanced operator comfort and productivity in any climate, says Volvo CE.

The company says its certifiable On-Board WeighingRecognizing technology and jobsite digitalization can be competitive advantages for contractors.

The on-board weighing feature is available in Europe for wheel loader models L110 through L260 (excluding the L120 Electric) and will be piloted in North America. The system can be certified for trade by a third party, making it legal for billing, according to Volvo CE.

The feature can allow trucks to bypass site scales because the load ticket generated by the loader is accurate and secure enough for direct invoicing, which can streamline site traffic and companywide administrative efficiency.

On-board weighing integrates with Load Ticket, a Volvo CE service that wirelessly transmits tickets from the machine to a site office.

“This technology digitizes the entire load-out process, from loading to invoicing,” says Jenny Olsen, another product manager at Volvo CE. “Combined with the machine updates, we’re providing solutions that offer increased productivity as a loader fills a truck, quick and accurate certified weighing, and a digital load ticket that goes straight to a customer’s [enterprise] software and an invoice to their customer—all in less time than it would have taken for the operator to stop at the scales.”