ROGFAST TUNNEL VOLVO CE MASTERS ENGINE FOOD MADE TO FIT It will be the deepest Jessie Baucke won We take a look at some Meet the customer and longest sub-sea third prize in the of the alternatives fuels who owns his dream tunnel in the world. prestigious­ contest. of tomorrow. machine.

SPIRITVolvo Construction Equipment Magazine, Winter 2020

THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE: THE MEGAPROJECT OF OUR CENTURY

The $90 billion project involves connections by road, rail and sea, running from China to the UK Welcome

CONNECTING THE WORLD

ack in the day, the old Silk Road was a reduced with the con- marvel of modern infrastructure. With struction of the world’s an extensive network of routes between deepest underground China and Europe, it enabled the trading road tunnel. Currently, of goods, services and cultures on a scale commuters struggle with a Bthat had never been seen before. In short, the world daily trek across numerous­ suddenly became a little more connected. fjords that can take up And now, the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative, to 21 hours. But by keeping also known as the New Silk Road, is having a similar traffic underground, their journeys impact on the world today. Camels and horses may will become much more manageable – all the while be a less common sight, but the updated network of preserving the beautiful Norwegian landscape. trails, roads and sea routes still aim to connect the world – from China, to the Middle East, through If there’s one thing these impressive projects show ­Africa and all the way to London in the UK. We us, it is that connecting our world has never been believe that true megaprojects go beyond the more important – especially at a time of escalating ­physical­ infrastructure and should also serve to create conflicts and political uncertainty. But while better socially-sustainable­ communities for the people that roads and shorter journey times are vital to keep live there. Which is why we are proud to showcase the lifeblood of our economies going, it is more Volvo CE’s presence in Kazakhstan. Our machines heartening to see how construction can contribute can be seen on numerous construction sites on the to building a better world for the people that live route there, creating hundreds of job opportunities and work there. If Volvo CE can play a small part in and in the end creating a lasting infrastructure that this, then it will be a worthy contribution. will improve­ the lives of millions. You can read their ­stories in these pages. I also recommend taking a Enjoy your reading! ­closer look at the comprehensive map of the New Silk Road – the size and length is truly breathtaking. Tiffany Cheng Building Across the globe in Rogfast, Norway, we also see Director, External Communications Tomorrow how a long commuting journey can be dramatically Volvo Construction Equipment

Published by: Volvo Construction Equipment SA Contributors: Anna Werner, Karin Andersson, Editor-in-chief: Tiffany Cheng Carl Undéhn, Görrel Espelund, Kerstin Magnusson, SPIRIT Editorial Coordination: Marta Benitez Daisy Jestico, Amy Crouse At Volvo Construction Equipment we are driven by the idea that through imagination,­ Volvo Construction Production: OTW / otw.se Please send your editorial correspondence to: hard work and technological innovation we will lead the way towards developing a Equipment Magazine Editor: Kerstin Magnusson Volvo CE Spirit Magazine, ­Volvo Construction Art Director: Karin Freij ­Equipment, Hunderenveld 10, 1082 Brussels, Belgium­ world that is cleaner, smarter, and more connected. We believe in a ­sustainable future. Winter 2020 Cover photo: Shutterstock / OTW or by email to [email protected] And with the global construction industry as our arena, we work together with our customers to turn this belief into reality for people everywhere. All rights reserved. No part of this publication (text, data or graphic) may be reproduced, stored in a data retrieval system or transmitted, in any form whatsoever or by any means, without obtaining Volvo CE’s prior written consent Volvo Construction Equipment does not necessarily endorse the views or factual accuracy of Together we’re building the world we want to live in. the articles in this issue. Two issues per year – printed on environmentally friendly paper. www.volvoce.com/buildingtomorrow Spirit / Winter 2020 / 3 Contents

16 IN THIS ISSUE

Winter 2020

06. AT THE HEART 26. CUTTING TIME OF THE CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE FJORDS The Belt and Road Initiative, also known as Route E39 winds through the Norweigan the New Silk Road, stretches through over landscape. With seven ferry crossings, it takes 60 countries. We payed a visit to one important time to travel. The Rogfast tunnel will cut constuction site in Kazakhstan. the traveling time in half. 26 13. THE IMPACT OF 38. SAFETY FIRST 06 THE NEW SILK ROAD Working under sea-level can be risky. It will change the world as we know it, Foreman Knut Storli tells us about the and not only in trade. Greater mobility for challenges when constructing tunnels. more people will be a key benefit in the project – one of many. 24 18 40. A CHANGED LIFE Kandhula Venkatesh attended the Volvo 16. MEET THE Excavator Operator Program in India and has OPERATOR: KAZAKHSTAN switched from being a day laborer to an operator Gaziz Dusekenov has 30 years of with the world as a work field. experience in the construction business. He is proud to work in a project that will have an impact on so many people’s lives. 42. A PROUD MEDALIST Meet Jessie Baucke, who won third prize with her team in the Volvo CE Masters. The parts 18. CONSTRUCTION manager from New Zealand tells us all about the THAT CHANGED THE WORLD challenges in this prestigiuos contest. Bold, beautiful and bombastic. Throughout history, mankind has built extraordinary things. Read about six of them. 46. THE MAN AND THE MACHINE Demolition expert Wesley Princen’s dream has come true. His new Volvo EC750E HR was 22. THE YOUNGEST created in collaboration with Volvo CE – and it has COMPANY OWNER AROUND? everything he can wish for. Lance Matheson grew up around construction equipment. He holds a rather unusual title for a 14-year-old: company owner 49. FROM THE VOLVO CE UNIVERSE of a construction company. News in short from around the Volvo CE world.

24. THE RIGHT FUEL FOR THE FUTURE 51. SPIRIT ONLINE In addition to electricity, the use of biofuels can Spirit is much more than a magazine. Follow us vastly decrease emissions from diesel engines. online and enjoy videos, articles and on-site images We address three of them. from the world’s most fascinating construction sites. 42 22

4 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 5 The Megaproject Listing: Kazakhstan Photo by Shutterstock by Photo Sometimes it is good to look back at history to find ­inspiration for the future. With the New Silk Road, China is changing the world of logistic. Just as the ancient Silk Road once brought goods and ideas between the East and the West, new routes over land and by sea are again connecting Asia with Europe and beyond. THE MEGAPROJECT OF OUR CENTURY HAS STARTED

By Carl Undéhn & Anna Werner Photos by Andrey Kulagin

Old curvy roads along the original Silk Road between China and India, in Sikkim. This is now part of the New Silk Road, connecting China with Asia and Europe.

6 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 7 The Megaproject Listing: Kazakhstan

“It is an extremely long ­construction site, more than 700 kilometers and we have t has been called “the biggest project ­increase the connectivity between Asia, Europe, Africa of the century” and goes by several – and even further beyond. Panama is also partici­pating more than 1,000 machines different names. It used to be called in the initiative and there are initiatives to ­include One Belt One Road. Today the official more parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. working on it. This is the ­largest name is changed to the Belt and Road Construction projects in more than 60 countries Initiative, in short BRI. In daily use, are planned or already taking place and China has ­project of my career so far.” however, it is called by perhaps its most closed 173 deals with more than 120 countries beautiful name: The New Silk Road. It as well as 29 international organizations. As more YANG BO, PROJECT MANAGER AT CITIC GROUP is a reference to the ancient merchant and more countries are participating, the project route known as the Silk Road which ­continues to grow, and the total extent of the New 02 emerged about 2,000 years ago, as the Silk Road is still to be seen. But when finished in demand for Chinese silk increased in 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s ­Republic the West. From the former Chinese of China, this ambitious megaproject will span capital Xian, merchants travelled across at least three continents and involve over half through central Asia, passing by legend- of the world’s population. ary towns such as Samarkand, on their way to the markets in the cities of Middle East and Southern The new trade routes are ­expected to be a game IEurope. Besides bringing goods between the East changer for global logistic flows – and the effects are and the West, the trade on the Silk Road also stimu- already being noticed. lated the exchange of ideas, science and culture. Since January 2019 goods are being transported In a speech in 2013, Chinese president Xi Jinping by train on the new rail Silk Road between China officially launched the vision of a New Silk Road. and Europe. The trains are rolling at an average ­According to Xi, the project is the beginning of a speed of 80 km/h through the endless steppes of “new era of globalization” which will drastically central Asia, passing through newly built towns along the way. In some cases, these new towns have been developed so quickly that they still cannot be found on most printed maps. Yet, they are inhabited by thousands of people. 01 And soon it might be as many as 100,000, as in the case with the new city Nurkent which is being developed around Khorgos on the Chinese-Kazakhstan­ border. Here, close to the Eurasian “Pole of Inaccessibility”, which means as far away as you possible can get from any ocean and hence literally in the middle of nowhere, lies the largest dry-port in the world. 01 Khorgos Gateway, the largest dry-port Khorgos Gateway is one of the in the world. Right now, the new city of main logistical key-points on the ­Nurkent is being built around it. New Silk Road where the total 02 When finished, the new road in number of handled containers ­Kazakhstan will be over 600 km long. per year is expected to surpass 500,000 already 2020. Photo by Shutterstock by Photo

8 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 9 The Megaproject Listing: Kazakhstan

Not too far from Khorgos lies the sleepy town of Usharal. Life is about to change dramatically here too. Today the town is connected to the next city via a road that has been neglected for decades. Now, a new highway is constructed that will be finalized in four years. The Chinese construction company CITIC Group is responsible for the re-construction, which is part of the Belt and Road initiative. “It is an extremely long construction site, more than 700 kilometers and we have more than 1,000 machines working on it. This is the largest project of my career so far,” says Project Manager Yang Bo at CITIC Group. He has more than 60 Volvo excavators working along the construction site and Bo is very pleased with their performance. “Volvo machines are not cheap to purchase. But they are high quality machines and we can already tell our investment will pay off in the long run,” he says.

The scale of the Usharal-Taldykorgan­ project requires a large workforce. Yang Bo has 2,000 operators ­working for him. Among them are 1,500 local Kazakhs,­ while 500 are Chinese employees. “It is complex to work in a cross-cultural­ environment. ­Chinese and Kazakh culture differs, for example in how we pay attention to time. Yang Bo, Project Manager at CITIC Group

CITIC Group has more than Usharal 60 Volvo machines working KAZAKHSTAN on site in Kazakhstan.

Spirit / Winter 2020 / 11 The Megaproject Listing: Kazakhstan

This is how the world 03 will change with the New Silk Road By Carl Undéhn But we have worked out our difficulties and today operations work very smoothly. One needs to respect Parag Khanna is a global strategy ­advisor each other and communicate to bridge the gaps,” says Yang Bo. and author of several books about He feels strong pride in the re-construction of the ­globalization. He has studied how people road from Usharal and the fact that it will improve life connect around infrastructure. We asked for the people living in the city. him how the world will look like once the “They will have a safe road that connects them 01 better to the rest of the area. This will bring work to Belt and Road Initiative is finalized. Usharal,” he says. Yang Bo feels strongly about the project from a personal point of view too. Parag Khanna has studied the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) “My grandparents worked in the former Soviet closely. He describes the BRI as the “largest coordinated Union and they told me about it while I grew up. infrastructure investment campaign in human history”. During travels in Eastern and Central Asia he has witnessed how the I feel they are sending me a message every time I see 01 The old road in the area was in a really bad state. BRI is changing not only the world of logistic but also the living a camel. Camels were the first means of transpor­­­ta­ conditions along its route. tion here back then,” says Yang Bo. 02 The construction site on the vast steppe “Volvo machines are not stretches as far as the eye can see. The BRI is said to reshape the geography of Asia, if not the Nevertheless, the New Silk Road is not only 03 In the future, the children of Usharal cheap to purchase. But will be able to travel on improved roads. whole world. What impact will it have on logistics and trade? bringing change on the steppe of Central Asia. In The BRI will accelerate the process that began in 1991 with Duisburg, Germany, another logistical key point the collapse of the Soviet Union of customs agreements and of the route has emerged. On the area of a former they are high ­quality enhanced infrastructure enabling more efficient flows of goods steelwork at the junction of the rivers Ruhr and and services across borders both within Asia and globally. We Rhine, the world’s largest inland port has been ­machines and we can are seeing Asian logistics companies merge and form joint created – and with that thousands of well needed ventures at a rapid pace, further enabling market integration. jobs in the region. Around 30 trains per week arrive ­already tell our invest- from China at Duisburg where they are reloaded Besides trade and logistic, are there other benefits or for further transport to London, Madrid or the port of ment will pay off in ­effects because of the large investment in infrastructure? Absolutely, the flows of commerce are much more than just Rotterdam. The number of “China trains” are higher trade. We are also seeing visa regulations lifted so that billions each year and play a large role in the increased rail the long run.” of people have greater ease of mobility. This too contributes freight at the port. The trains from China could bring trillions of dollars to economic growth with tourists, business much more freight if the travel time is shortened even YANG BO, PROJECT MANAGER AT CITIC GROUP travelers, students and so forth cross borders in Asia. further. The “problem” lies in Europe where the trains need about seven days from Poland to Duisburg. But When it comes to the construction of infrastructure, what the European tracks can be used more efficiently and do you think are the most important parts? the total travel time from southern China to Duisburg All categories of infrastructure are important, whether hard is possible in as little as eight aspects like roads, railways, pipelines, and internet cables, or days. That is almost the soft dimensions such as schools, hospitals, and so forth. same time needed as when shipping by air – but to a In what way will the world be different once BRI is completed? much lower cost. We are already seeing a shift towards Taking it all into consid- the greater ­Indian Ocean region of 02 eration – the speed, the “Afro Eurasia” spanning Europe, cost and the efficiency – Africa and Asia become the center makes it obvious that the of the world economy and trade. CONSTRUCTING THE resurrection of the Silk That process will be complete with NEW SILK ROAD Road will have a huge im- the full ­extension of BRI projects Photo by Arenda Ooman by Photo Watch the film from Kazakhstan pact on the world logistic across these regions. www.volvoce.com/spirit in the decades to come. Parag Khanna, global strategy ­ advisor

12 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 13 The Megaproject Listing: Kazakhstan

12,000 KM The length of the train route connecting China and the UK. THE NEW TRAVEL ROUTES OF THE WORLD

China is in the midst of re-drawing the map RUSSIA of the world. The Belt and Road initiative, We visited the construction Moscow also known as the New Silk Road, is a ­global sites around Usharal, where trade strategy based on the ancient Silk Road several Volvo machines are working. GERMANY trading route. The infrastructure ­program KAZAKHSTAN Duisburg POLAND ­concerns not just one but a number of ­routes BELGIUM UKRAINE Usharal connecting China with the world, both over FRANCE Venice land and by sea. Volvo CE is working on Urumqi ITALY Istanbul ­several sites within the initiative, Bejing Kazakhstan being one of them. GREECE TURKEY Samarkand

Dushanbe Xi’an The number of countries, Tehran CHINA including China, which IRAN are ­directly involved in infra- PAKISTAN Fuxhou structure projects within the Belt and Road Initiative. Guangzhou Kolkata INDIA The number of Volvo machines Hanoi sold for projects along the New Silk Road.

DJIBOUTI Ham- bantota Colombo MALAYSIA Kuala The number of projects KENYA Lumpor Lamu ­constructing the New Silk OVER USD 90 BILLION Road that Volvo CE China’s direct investment in the Jakarta is involved in. project from 2013 to 2018. INDONESIA

The number of days it takes to travel by train from China to the UK. The number of countries the 3,000 train tracks pass through (China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, The number of ­residents ­Poland, Germany, Belgium, in Nurkent, a town built France and the UK). comple­tely from scratch in ­Kazakhstan used to house the people constructing the new rail hub.

14 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 15 The operator profiles: Same job, different worlds

01 Work with “I am proud to a view. Gaziz Dusekenov sits work on a project that comfortably in CONSTRUCTING 01 the cab. will improve life for 02 Gaziz has so many people. 30 years of THE NEW SILK ROAD experience as I actually think of that an operator. now when I stand here, that life at this ­beautiful Excavator operator Gaziz Dusekenov in place will be better ­Kazakhstan has four children. His oldest son in the ­future.” is an operator, while his second son is training GAZIZ DUSEKENOV, EXCAVATOR OPERATOR to become one. Will the other two become ­operators as well? Only time can tell.

By Anna Werner Photos by Andrey Kulagin

t is a sunny morning on the steppe in Kazakhstan. Operator Gaziz Dusekenov has just made the short 02 ride from the camp where he is sleeping to the construction site Iup the hill. He has more than 30 years of experience working as an excavator operator, but today is his first day on a new job at CITIC Group. “My family lives in Almaty and I had a job there. But that firm got financial problems so I started to look for another job. I am very excited I got the oppor­ tunity to work on this project,” he says.

Here at the construction site up the hill, the view is amazing. Green hills surround the vast open steppe. The new road, which Gaziz will be working on, is winding through the landscape like an ocher-colored snake. The road is one of many projects within China’s majestic undertaking to create a New Silk Road. The project will connect the East to the West in new ways and the segment which Gaziz is working on will mean a He has always liked machines. He started His enthusiasm over his career has great improvement for the people living to work as an operator three decades clearly had an impact on his four child­ along the route. Today the ride between ago while he still was living in the village ren. His oldest son is working as an Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, and the where he grew up. He has operated many operator, while his second son is training small town of Usharal is a time-consum- excavators and talks with great enthusiasm to become one. And what about his third ing and daunting experience. about what it is like to sit in the cab of the and fourth child? “I am proud to work on a project that Volvo excavator he is operating today. “My third child is a school girl. We will will improve life for so many people. I “Everything works so well. One can tell see which career she chooses when that actually think of that now when I stand that it has been designed to really serve as a time comes. My youngest son is still a here, that life at this beautiful place will working place. The levers are exactly in the small child,” Gaziz concludes and starts be better in the future,” Gaziz says with right place. It is comfortable and ­human, if up the excavator for today’s work. one of his many happy smiles. you see what I mean?” says Gaziz.

16 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 17 The Megaproject Listing: Outlook

01 Photo by Shutterstock by Photo

02 / ROMAN ROADS The Roman roads are perhaps the Roman Empire’s greatest legacy, 01 / THE IRRIGATION ­SYSTEMS crucial for its massive expansion OF THE NILE and a way to keep control over the gigantic empire. The road system The river Nile and its predictability­ covered large parts of today’s has brought prosperity to the civili­ Europe, Turkey and the northern zation of Egypt for 5,000 years. parts of Africa. Construction began The complex ­irrigation systems in 300 BC and the roads served 6 have helped the Egyptians to make several purposes. They facilitated a better use of the water from the fast movement of the armies and GAME-CHANGING river, with the first evidence of water­ trade goods, as well as civilians. control from as early as 3,100 BC. But they also served as a way to CONSTRUCTION The Egyptians took advantage of mark the borders of the Roman the natural cyclical flooding pattern Empire, to claim new territories and of the Nile: because this flood- maintain them. PROJECTS ing happened­ fairly predictably, The quality of the roads was they were able to develop their unsurpassed at its time. They ­agricultural ­practices around it. were durable, easy to navigate and The irrigation systems have lasted enabled high speed of transports. through warfare and conquest and The whole system comprised more The history of the world is full of remarkable the agricultural foundation has than 400,000 kilometers of roads remained intact throughout history at the peak of the Roman Empire. construction projects. However, just some of – proving the ancient Egyptians No fewer than 29 great military right when building their system highways radiated from the capital, them have been true game-changers in build- around the river’s natural pattern later giving birth to the saying “All instead of trying to transform it. roads lead to Rome.” ing and sustaining our greatest civilizations­ No other place on Earth has been in – provided advantage in warfare, boosted ­continuous cultivation for so long. economies and brought wealth to people. This is a list of six bold construction projects that pushed the boundaries of their time and made significant impact on a world scale.

By Karin Andersson Shutterstock by Photo

Sources: Russia Beyond, History.com, Waterhistory.org, NASA, Wikipedia. Photo by Shutterstock by Photo

18 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 19 Photo by Shutterstock by Photo

06 Photo by Shutterstock by Photo

03 / SUEZ CANAL The Suez Canal in Egypt is a water­ way that connects the Mediter­ ranean Sea to the Red Sea and is one of the world’s most heavily used shipping lanes. It was constructed­ 04 / INTERSTATE HIGHWAY between 1859 and 1869 and SYSTEM provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands It was the American president lying around the Indian and western Dwight D. Eisenhower who had Pacific oceans. The 193-kilome- the idea of constructing federally ter-long route is therefore a direct funded interstate highways, while link between Eastern and Western traveling across the country by car civilizations, shortening the distance – a trip that took over a month. He from Europe to Asia by more than not only wanted the United States 8,000 kilometers. to be ready to respond to military Apart from boosting Egypt’s conflict, but also to improve ship- economy, the canal is crucial in ping and transportation across the international trade routes – also entire country. Construction began because of its easy passage with in 1956 by building new roads and no need of locks. In recent year, converting old routes into inter- improvements have been made states. The final planned piece of to expand and widen the canal for the system was finished in 1992 06 / INTERNATIONAL SPACE easier navigation and to allow more with I-70 through Colorado. STATION (ISS) volume and higher frequency of the Possibly the most valuable largest container ships. improvement to the country’s Launched into orbit in 1998, the infrastructure and definitely one of ISS is the largest human-made the costliest projects in the entire body in low Earth orbit. The ISS is a world. The total length of the entire unique science laboratory and also system of roadways is 77,556 kilo- serves as a home or ­astronauts and meters – roughly enough to wrap 05 / TRANS-SIBERIAN cosmonauts – making it possible­ for the Earth, twice. RAILWAY people to have an ongoing ­presence in space since the ­beginning of Stretching from Moscow to the century. The crew members ­Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian conduct experiments in areas such Railway has connected the world’s as biology, physics, ­astronomy and Photo by Shutterstock by Photo largest nation for more than ­meteor­ology, enhancing life on the 100 years. Before the construc- planet and preparing for further tion of the railway began in 1891, space exploration. there was no steady connection But apart from the great­ scien­­ between European Russia and the tific importance, the ISS is also

Photo by Shutterstock by Photo Asian ­areas – making the country a human achievement. As a joint ­vulnerable to threats from foreign project between space ­agencies all powers. But the railway became over the world – former­ rivals in the more than just a way to strengthen space race – the construction and Russia’s military position. developing of the ISS shows that The completion of the railroad a cooperating group of nations can marked the turning point in the accomplish one of the world’s most 03 history of Siberia opening up vast technically ambitious large-scale areas to exploitation, settlement engineering project ever. Literally and industrialization. The Trans-­ pushing the boundaries­ of the Earth. Siberian line remains the most ­important transport link within Russia, as around 30% of Russian exports travel on the route.

20 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 21 All eyes on our customer: USA

TEEN IN CONSTRUCTION

He faces challenges common to every equipment “A lot of people owner or operator: winning bids, hitting deadlines and my age use their free dodging weather. Adding to his headaches, are the ­ time to play video hassles of finding a ride to the job site and someone games or stuff like that, and I use that time to to haul his excavators. Meet Lance Matheson, a develop a skill that 14-year-old ­construction company owner. I can use for the rest 02 Text & photos by Amy Crouse of my life.”

LANCE MATHESON, SAGE DEMOLITION AND LAND CLEARING 01 A 14-year old with a rather unusual title: Company owner. 02 s baby boomers retire and skilled Lance grew up around equipment thanks to his dad 03 Lance Matheson with Dee Knight, trades struggle to come back from Dwayne Matheson’s construction and landscape one of his mentors. 03 Like father like son. Dwayne the recession of the late 2000s, recycling company, Evergreen Soils. Matheson is also in the construction Lance is setting an example for his At age 13, he earned his state-issued general con- business. peers of how rewarding it can be to tractor’s license (B-100) and engineering/demolition Aget into the construction industry. license (E-100). He incorporated Sage Demolition “A lot of people my age use their free time to & Site Clearing, with assistance from his sister, Aubrey, play video games or stuff like that, and I use that who is an accountant, while sister, Amy, chipped in for time to develop a skill that I can use for the rest of marketing support. my life,” says Lance, owner of Sage Demolition and The venture has become a full-fledged business that Land Clearing in Layton, Utah, just off the eastern has impressed many in the local construction ­industry As for equipment, Lance himself credits for much shore of the Great Salt Lake. – and beyond – earning him larger jobs. For example, of his success and growth, too. Lance was subcontracted by Target ­Demolition on a “My dad had an old L90C wheel ­loader that is multi-million dollar Salt Lake project. the first piece of Volvo equipment I ever ran,” says Besides winning large jobs, Lance and his father Lance. “I recently traded my 210C excavator in for a keep safety and training in the forefront as well. 220E and I really like this machine because it’s fuel “He figures things out pretty easily but at the ­efficient. It’s fast. It’s precise and it’s reliable. Now we same time, the experience that I have is necessary have three Volvo exavators and six Volvo loaders.” to keep things in line,” says Dwayne. “Some jobs I Thanks to the reputation he’s built, Lance has a let him do completely on his own. Some jobs I’ll very clear vision for what’s to come. drop him off and pick him up several hours later. who hired Lance to demolish several structures on “In 10 years, I would like to have a well-­ Other jobs I’m right there with him the entire way. his property. He says: “What parents and school established demolition business, have enough teachers should be teaching the youth today is to go employees and be able to run two crews,” he says. Lance’s work ethic and passion for the industry are out and get trained. A four-year college degree or a “With those two crews, I would like probably two unique for a 14-year-old, and more up-and-comers post-graduate degree is not the answer to everything. 220 excavators­ and maybe two 220Es, and then like him are desperately needed. They’re good and we need those degrees out there mini and demolition excavators, dumps with the “Skilled operators of heavy construction as well, but we need skills training. I would encour- higher capacity stuff, and then a roll-on truck for the ­equipment, it’s a dying art,” says Dean Garrett, age them to look into the trades. The trades are ­smaller stuff. Then maybe a loader to clean stuff up 01 co-owner and president of Morgan Pavement, going to pay well in the future.” and that’s pretty much it.”

22 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 23 Sustainability Photo by Shutterstock by Photo 3 ALTERNATIVE FUELS IN SHORT

THE FUELS HVO HVO stands for hydrotreated vegetable oils. It is very similar to conventional fossil diesel and OF OUR FUTURE can be produced from a range of different bio-oils, such as pine oil, palm oil, animal fats or waste vegetable oils.

The diesel engine is an indispens­able part at ­construction sites all around the world. But the ­engines don’t ­necessarily need to run on ­diesel. With the use of alternative ­fuels ­emission can be vastly ­reduced – or fully ­eliminated with electrification. Photo by Shutterstock by Photo

By Carl Undéhn

DME DME stands for Dimethyl Ether and is s a clean-burning and non-toxic alternative fuel that can be produced from biomass­ or fossil sources, such as natural­ gas. DME is a gas at atmos- pheric pressure­ but is liquefied­ ­at a low pressure,­ 5 bar. n recent years, biofuels have become overshad- engine. But more often, RME is added to diesel in ­feed­stocks used. HVO produced from waste oils owed by the ongoing shift to electrification. various amounts. and animal fats generally have a better climate But when used with ­engines such as Volvo’s “If these biofuels are blended into diesel at their ­performance than using virgin vegetable oils,” RME AND FAME latest Stage V compliant­ range, biofuels have recommend limits, gener­ ­ally no modification of the ­Stephanie Searle explains. FAME stands for Fatty Acid the advantage­ of reduced emissions already engine is necessary,” says Stephanie Searle who is Less commercially used, but never­theless promising, ­Methyl Esters, and is manu­ Itoday. Yet, despite the diversity of biofuels – or because in charge of the Fuels program at the ­International is dimethyl ether (DME). The clean burning gas emits factured mainly as RME, that of it – fossil diesel remains the fuel of choice. Council on Clean Transportation­ (ICCT). very low emissions of NOx and Volvo Trucks have in turn stands for ­Rapeseed Oil “It’s a big challenge for ­manufacturers to build and The independent, non-profitorganization ­ done field-testing withengines ­ modified for DME. Methyl Esters. It is based on guarantee an engine’s ­performance with all the bio- provides research and analysis for environmental But being a gas it needs special injection systems. rapeseed, and trans-­ esterified­ fuels available,” says Robert Ericson, Chief Engineer ­regulators to improve the efficiency of transport with methanol to attain a higher for heavy duty ­platforms at Volvo CE. – for instance by the use of biofuels. The biggest change in the near future is the replace- cetane number and ­reduce Still, Volvo performed tests ment of diesel engines for batteries. viscosity. It is a ­biodegradable, with trucks running on biofuels Where RME is regarded as the first generation of “When it comes to lowering CO we can’t ignore and renew­ able,­ bio-mass 2 based fuel. “It’s a big challenge more than a decade ago. biodiesel, its successor hydrotreated vegetable oil the impact of electric, and we are actively develop- And since the 1990s, diesel (HVO) is a more complex product with better ing this technology,” says Toni Hagelberg, Director of for manu­facturers has been blended with biodiesel, performance characteristics. engine systems at Volvo CE. to build and guar­ or “Fatty Acid Methyl­ Esters”. “HVO is the best of these fuels in terms of com- With improved storage capacity, ­batteries might be They include a range of patibility with existing vehicles.­ It is chemically sim- able to fully replace even larger combustible engines. an­­tee an engine’s synthetic fuels made from ilar to diesel and can be used in high rates without Already next year, Volvo CE launches electric vegetable oils, with rapeseed any modification,” says Stephanie Searle. compact excavators and compact wheel loaders ­performance with methyl ester (RME) being­ the Volvo CE vehicles are certified to use 100 % ranges. The L25 Electric compact wheel loader and all the biofuels most common. With some HVO which, depending on the manufacturing the ECR25 Electric compact excavator will both ­adjustments, it is even ­possible ­process, can reduce the CO2 emissions up to 90 %. ­offer eight hours of emission-free runtime as well as available.” to use 100 % RME in a diesel “The climate impacts depend mostly on the greatly reduced noise pollution. Shutterstock by Photo

ROBERT ERICSON

Source: ICCT

24 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 25 The Megaproject Listing: Norway Photo by Øyvind Ellingsen by Photo

RE-CONSTRUCTING THE NORWEGIAN WEST COAST

Route E39 in Norway winds through spectacular ­coastal landscape. But with seven ferry crossings, it is a time-consuming drive. Now, Norway embarks on the country’s biggest infrastructure project in modern ­history. A pioneering tunnel and bridge construction will cut travel time by half.

By Görrel Espelund Photos by Tove K. Breistein

26 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 27 The Megaproject Listing: Norway

Trondheim

he sun is shining on the cold, and deepest sub-sea road tunnel. It will be a twin- glittery water of Boknafjorden. tube 27 kilometers long tunnel that crosses two fjords Two ferries, one in each direc­ and at its deepest will be 392 meters below sea level. tion, are just about to leave Being a spectacular construction in itself, the Rogfast the shore. On the surface, all link is just one part of a bigger scheme, The Coastal is serene,­ but a revolution has Highway Route E39 Project. ­begun underground. A drilling-rig The project will re-shape the Norwegian West manifests itself like a giant spider Coast and is the biggest infrastructure project in the inT a tunnel 150 meters below sea level. Saltwater is country’s history. “It’s an dripping from the ceiling and one can smell the scent “It is an enormous national investment plan and it’s of ammonium in the air. The scent lingers since the very exciting to be part of it,” says Frank Grønvold, enormous national­ Rogfast latest detonation. Another section of the new tunnel Project Manager for the tunnel project at the contrac- NORWAY is about to be carved out. The torch lamp on Arne tor NCC, one of the leading construction businesses Oddvar Haugeland’s helmet throws some light on the in the Nordic countries. investment plan E39 walls. He is a foreman operator and has worked in Kristiansand tunnels his whole career, 42 years. The Coastal Highway Route E39 runs between and it’s very ­exciting “What can I say, I have always ­Kristiansand in the south and Trondheim in the enjoyed it. To drive the machines north. The road passes through six counties and to be part of it.” down here, I am proud of that through the cities of Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund FRANK GRØNVOLD, skill,” he smiles. and Molde. About a third of Norway’s 5.3 million PROJECT MANAGER NCC people live along the West Coast. Route E39 is Meter by meter Haugeland and an important artery for Norwegian businesses, as his team are excavating what some 60 percent of the country’s export goods are Arne Oddvar will become the world’s longest produced on the West Coast. Haugeland

28 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 29 The Megaproject Listing: Norway 02 “I spend quite some time queuing for the ferries. A lot of time can be saved in the ­future when I will be able to When E39 leaves Norway it proceeds to ­Denmark, just drive under the fjords.” making it an important entry point to the ­European continent. The route is beautiful, winding through HÅVARD LANGÅKER, TRUCKDRIVER the spectacular coastal landscape. But the ­stunning fjords have also made the route a painfully time-­ consuming ride, with seven ferry crossings. All in all, the route takes 21 hours to drive. Today, that is about to change. Apart from repla­ 04 cing ferries with tunnels and bridges, several sections of the road across the country will be upgraded. The improvements will cut the current travel time in half and the route, which measures 1100 kilometers, will be 50 kilometers shorter. A preliminary price tag is set at approximately 340 billion Norwegian kroner (the equivalent of 39 billion US dollars), according to Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

For Håvard Langåker, truckdriver at Vassbakk & Stol, the E39 is his workplace. He looks forward to the transformation. “I spend quite some time queuing for the ferries. A lot of time can be saved in the future when I will be able to just drive under the fjords,” he says. 01 Fjord view. With the His standard route is Apart from tunnels and bridges, other spectacular new tunnel, the nice constructions are in the pipeline for the improved the ­between Bergen and Stavan- views will be preserved. ger and today he drives a load E39. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration 02 Busy ferry traffic. is considering a completely new construction: the of excavated rock from the 03 The waiting in line for Rogfast tunnel construction world’s first submerged floating tube bridge (SFTB). the crossover will Håvard at Boknafjorden. “The SFTB could be applicable for some of the soon be over. Langåker deepest and longest fjords where suspension bridges 03 Ready for the cab. or floating bridges would be difficult to build,” 04 The tunnel is being ­explains Kjersti Kvalheim Dunham, Project Manager carved out meter by at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. meter. However, at the moment the engineering and testing of the SFTB is under development. “With construction well underway, we expect that 10 percent of the Coastal Highway Route E39 01 ­project will be completed this year. More than one third of the project will be completed by 2030, and the finances for our current projects are already in the National Transportation Plan,” concludes Kvalheim­ Dunham.

Håvard Langåker is on the road again and Arne Oddvar Haugeland and his team continue drilling in Boknafjorden. For Haugeland, the Rogfast DRIVING UNDER THE FJORDS tunnel will be his last project. Watch the film from Norway “Tunnel work is basically the same as when I www.volvoce.com/spirit started, even if the machines and the explosives have improved greatly. What I will truly miss is the camaraderie within the team,” he says.

30 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 31 The operator profiles: Same job, different worlds

THE CHALLENGE OF WORKING ­UNDERGROUND

Blast, load and dump. The pre-work of constructing a tunnel may sound like a simple, mechanic job, but it holds challenges that you do not see at first glance. Blasting foreman Arne ­Oddvar Haugeland is a pro and has been in the industry for nearly half a century. Every day, he faces the risks of working ­sub-sea. Then it is important to be able to trust your colleagues.

By Kerstin Magnusson Photos by Tove K. Breistein

32 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 33 Deep underground, the work ­environment is dark, and ­requires good lightning.

Arne is soon ready for retirement and Rogfast will be one of his last projects. “Safety is key. I’m on a When he started out, back in 1974, a lot was different on the sites. team with two ­other “It has definitely changed to the better when it comes to safety and work guys on our shifts, and ­environment. The machines are also so much better.­ The job is easier now than it is important that we it was then.” Moving closer to retirement, there is one thing he really will miss. trust and look after “The companionship, for sure. But I 01 look forward to just relaxing as well. My each other.” plan is to buy an apartment in Spain and ARNE ODDVAR HAUGELAND, perhaps move there.” FOREMAN OPERATOR Sunny Spain will be a big contrast to the obscure sub-sea environment in Rogfast. Arne agrees and laughs, before turning the light on his head torch back on again, preparing for another blast.

01 Arne in the cab. He has always loved machines. 02 Good friends. The collegaues mean the world.

02

nch by inch, the machines move home that I loved to work on too. And FOUR SHORT forward, dig deeper and are slowly working on a tunnel project is excit- ONES WITH ARNE forming what is to become the ing and challenging. Take the dark for In the lunchbox: Nistepakke, ­Rogfast tunnel. When finalized, ­example. We work with head torches a packed lunch with sand­ it will be the longest and deepest and lamps, but one should remember wiches. I put salty sausages I­sub-sea road tunnel in the world – 392 that these are the only light sources we or cheese and pepper on. meters below sea-level and 27 kilometers have, so it is still challenging,” he says. long. On site, the contractor NCC is build- Favorite machine: The Volvo A30. This model has great ing two supporting tunnels, each 2 kilo­ When constructing a tunnel, there is comfort. meters long. They will serve as ventilation ­always a large portion of explosives shafts once the main tunnel is ready. Down involved. In turn, you always risk Listens to in the machine here, it is dark, but surprisingly warm. slides on site. cab: Nothing. I know many Foreman operator Arne Oddvar “Safety is key. I’m on a team with two others do, but there are so Haugeland has just transported a load of other guys on our shifts, and it is important many other noises around, ointment from a blast. He disembarks that we trust and look after each other.” and I want to be able to concentrate.­ the Volvo articulated hauler and closes And working together for hours in the door to the cab. ­darkness and in a quite challenging environ- Best construction job so far: He conducts and also performs the ment, brings even more, according to Arne. I was in the Dominican Repub- detonations on site in the Rogfast project “You become really tight. It is camara­ lic for two years with a project. and has worked shifts under water for derie. It’s a very important part of this Great people, great place. I a while now. You can tell that he both job, to get along and to know what to do saw Shakira in concert there, enjoys and masters the tasks at hand. when you are down there. In the end, it’s and afterwards I named my “What can I say, I have always loved a special feeling when you realize that you German shepherd Shakira. machines. I had a Harley motorbike back master the machine and the environment.”

34 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 35 The Megaproject Listing: Outlook

NINE OF THE Photo by Shutterstock by Photo 04 / LAERDAL TUNNEL, WORLD’S MOST NORWAY Length: 24.5 kilometers SPECTACULAR The tunnel is located in North 05 Norway and is 24.5 kilometers long, making it the world’s TUNNELS longest road tunnel. To drive through takes 20 minutes. The sheer length of the tunnel led

One was dug by hand in China, ­another Shutterstock by Photo to studies in driver psychology which was used to evolve the ­reshaped the geography of Europe and a design of the tunnel. The stud- ies resulted in a design where third doubles as a drainpipe. Welcome to lit caverns every 6 kilometers creates variation and alleviates the ­fascinating world of tunnels. claustrophobia and tiredness. 02 / SEIKAN TUNNEL, By Anna Werner JAPAN Length: 53 kilometers 04 08/ SPIRALEN TUNNEL, Sources: CNN Travel, Wikipedia 05 / TOKYO BAY NORWAY The Seikan is a railway tunnel AQUA-LINE,­ JAPAN in Japan. What makes it Length: 1.65 kilometers Length: 14 kilometers unique is the fact that a The Spiralen road tunnel, 23-kilometer stretch of the It is easy to mistake this built in 1961 and comprising tunnel is 140 meters below sea ­tunnel for a bridge because six spirals ­covering 1,649 level. Until the Gotthard Base part of the structure com- 06 / EISENHOWER ­meters leads to one of the Tunnel was built, it was the prises a 4.4-kilometer span TUNNEL, USA most specta­cular viewpoints longest and deepest rail tunnel as well as a 9.6 kilometer Length: 2.72 kilometers in the industrial town of in the world. The Seikan tunnel sub-sea conduit. The Aqua Drammen. The tunnel opens spans the Tsugaru Strait, The Eisenhower Road Tunnel Line crosses Tokyo Bay and out to a dramatic view of

01 Shutterstock by Photo connecting Aomori Prefecture in Colorado is one of the connects the cities of Kawa- Drammen Valley. on the island of Honshu to the saki and Kisarazu. It reduced world’s highest tunnels, locat- island of Hokkaido. Work on the journey time between the ed 3,401 meters above sea the tunnel started in 1964 and two from 90 to 15 minutes. level. The tunnel is the longest was completed in 1988. The tunnel is considered the mountain tunnel and consti- 09/ SMART, MALAYSIA Photo by Shutterstock by Photo precedent for constructing tutes the highest point on the Length: 9.7 kilometers two-lane road tunnels. Interstate Highway System. 06 The tunnel carries Interstate The tunnel, the longest in 03 / CHANNEL TUNNEL, 70 (I-70) under the Continen- Malaysia, was built to solve UNITED KINGDOM tal Divide in the Rocky Moun- the problem of flash flooding AND FRANCE tains and opened in 1973. The in Kuala Lumpur. SMART is westbound bore is named an acronym for Storm­water Length: 50 kilometers 07/ GUOLIANG TUNNEL, after Dwight D. Eisenhower, CHINA ­Management and Road ­Tunnel. SMART can operate The Channel Tunnel is not only the U.S. President. Length: 1.2 kilometers one, but three tunnels. Two of in three ways: them are meant for railways Before the construction of and the third is for service and this impressive tunnel, the 1. When there is no flooding, security purposes. The tunnel only way to access the village it serves purely as a road runs between Folkestone in of Guoliang was via a narrow tunnel. 01 / GOTTHARD BASE ­TUNNEL, SWITZERLAND England and Pas-de-Calais in path carved into the side of 2. When there are floods, Length: 57 kilometers northern France and is used for the Taihang Mountains. In rainwater can be diverted 1972, a group of 13 villagers into a lower channel, and

The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest and both freight and passenger traf- Shutterstock by Photo deepest tunnel. It runs under the Swiss alps between the fic. The 50-kilometer-long tun- decided to construct a tunnel, the upper level will remain towns of Erstfeld in the north and Bodio in the south. The nel is largely considered to have which they dug by hand. open to traffic. tunnel is 57 km long and reaches a depth of 2,300 meters. defined the term megaproject. Three villagers died during the 3. When exceptionally heavy 07 Trains reaching speeds of up to 250 kilo­meters an hour can It changed the geography of construction, but the tunnel floods occur, the tunnel travel through in 20 minutes, according to the Swiss Travel Europe and helped reinforce transformed the village and closes to all traffic and wa- System. The tunnel has helped to decrease the travel time high speed rail as an alternative became a tourist attraction in tertight gates open to allow between Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy, by an hour. to short-haul flights. its own right. floodwater to flow through.

36 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 37 Business Perspective: Norway

“YOU ALWAYS NEED TO BE 110 PERCENT SAFE”

A tunnel under water – how can that be done? With more than 40 years of experience of constructing tunnels, Knut Storli, ­Foreman at contractor NCC, is one of Norway’s tunnel experts. Here are the challenges of building tunnels under the sea.

By Görrel Espelund Photo by Tove K. Breistein

istory holds several exam- tunnels that will be used for transport of in the tunnel are of vital importance to the ples of tunnel construc- ­excavated materials during the construc­ rescue work.” tions under water. The tion of the two main tubes. When first, The Thames Tunnel Rogfast opens, the cross-cut tunnels will What kind of equipment is needed? in London, was inaugu- be used as ventilation shafts.” “We use a mix of Norwegian and Hrated in 1843 and considered a civil ­Swedish tunnel rigs. We also use wheel engineering success. Since then, Norway How do you tackle the challenges of loaders, articulated haulers and trucks that “I have just left a ­ has picked up the mantle as the world’s building a tunnel under water? move the blasted rocks out of the tunnel.” foremost tunnel­ builders. The country “To make sure we don’t run into any project on the Faroe holds examples of several spectacular water or softer layer of rock that is difficult Why are Norwegians so good at building tunnel constructions. One of them being to work through, we drill probe holes with tunnels? the Laerdal Tunnel, the world’s longest the tunnel rig, normally 24 to 27 meters in “We’ve been doing this for a very Islands which was one road tunnel. Now, Norway is planning front of the tunnel. If we discover any leak- long time, so we have highly developed the world’s longest and deepest under- age, we seal the tunnel by drilling several competence­ and techniques. Also, we of the most exciting water road tunnel. holes around the tunnel profile and pump have a lot of experience in building under­ Knut Storli, Foreman at NCC, is one a water cement mix with high pressure water tunnels for hydro power. I have just projects I’ve done, with of the experts working on the first phase into the rock cracks. Another challenge is left a project on the Faroe ­Islands which of the tunnel. the risk of salt water that can seep through was one of the most exciting projects I’ve and cause damage to the equipment. done, with an underwater roundabout an underwater round­ How do you start with a project such as From an environmental point of view, near the city of Torshavn.” an underwater tunnel? there are very strict rules for what we can about near the city “When constructing a megaproject such dump back into the sea. The water and What makes the Rogfast tunnel special? as Rogfast, you need to take it in several mud from the drill and blast construction “It will be the deepest and longest of Torshavn.” steps. The first thing you do when starting must be decontaminated and cleared of underwater tunnel in the world. But a project is a thorough geological and any oil remnants or other impurities. Once constructing it will need the same KNUT STORLI, FOREMAN AT NCC seismological investigation of the area to the construction is complete, ventilation equipment and the same expertise as get a proper picture of the rock mechanics is a major issue. The cross-cut tunnels we for any other underwater tunnel. You you are going to work in. Then, we will are building will be used for this purpose. always need to be 110 percent safe when start by constructing two parallel cross-cut In case of a fire, controlling the air currents working on such a project.”

38 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 39 01 Social sustainability: India Photo by Bikshapathi by Photo

HE MASTERS Bikshapathi by Photo HIS OWN DESTINY

Kandhula Venkatesh went from being a day laborer to a skilled senior operator – but the road was long and winding. It all started with a three-month operator course provided by Volvo Construction Equipment in India and The Excavator the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF). Operator Program Started in 2012. Till date By Kerstin Magnusson more than 700 ­candidates have been trained in close to 45 batches conducted across the two centres 02 with almost 100 % place­ ment for all pass-out candidates.

The Operator he story begins in the Nirmal District in “I am a completely changed man now. I have Training Program Telangana, India. Kandhula Venkatesh was transformed my life and my destiny from being Started in 1997. Recog­ pre-destined for them,” says Ramesh ­Choppara, born and raised in the village of Perakapall. a daily laborer to a highly paid professional,” tells nized by the Indian govern­ ­Deputy Program Coordinator at GMR Group. He married at the age of 21 and then Kandhula Venkatesh. ment and the industry. quickly needed a way to support his After training, the partici- The Excavator Operator’s program is one of two pants receive a certificate family of eight members. The option at hand with only The Excavator Operator­ course started in 2012, ­projects continuously running in India. The second T on behalf of IESC. More little education was a job as a daily laborer at construc- when Volvo CE India and GMRVF decided to join than 1,000 operators were one is the Operator Training Program. It is ­conducted tion sites. Not satisfied with the job, he tried to find forces to help underprivileged youth in India and trained in 2018. by Volvo CE India in collaboration with dealer another occupation in Mumbai, but again had to settle take them from poverty to being employable in the ­partners all over the country. The program consists of with a day-to-day job as a construction laborer. He construction equipment industry. a 2–3 day workshop held by a Volvo CE Operator, soon returned to Perakapall, disappointed. “It is a three-month course that provides basic who trains existing operators in the industry. Not to give up, Kandhula kept exploring more operational and technical information about Volvo “The objective is to help the participants to under- options that would go with his minimal education. excavators, including operations, maintenance, best stand design concepts, maintenance, and, very impor- Through some friends practices, operational safety, cabin control and appli­ tant, machine safety and personal safety around the he came to know about cation training,” explains Vijay Simhans, ­Competence machines. We have done the training in several rounds “I am a completely GMRVF in Hyderabad Development Manager at Volvo CE India. and it is always very popular. It is very rewarding to 03 and their training pro- The training is delivered through theory classes, be part of something that contributes to improved changed man now. grams. He was admit- hands-on training on excavators and one week of safety,” says Surat Mehta, Head of Marketing, Retail & I have transformed my ted at the Excavator training on sophisticated excavator simulators at the Kairi Satyam by Photo ­Competence Development at Volvo CE India. Operator course, which Volvo Training Centre in Bangalore. 01 After classes, there is always life and my destiny­ is offered in partnership “Most of the trainees have progressed very well in room for some play. As for Kandhula Venkatesh, the opportunities after from being a daily with Volvo. After com- their careers with quickly progressing to being the 02 The Excavator Operator the training in the Excavator Program have been sever- pletion, Kandhula has main operator. There has been continuously high ­Progam consists of three months al. For example, he has built his own home. Moreover, ­laborer to a highly­ had several jobs within demand for the course and the initiative is helping the of intense education. he is already thinking of the next step in his profession- the construction industry, industry as well as the trainees. They get the chance 03 Kandhula Venkatesh is now al life: “I am planning to purchase my own excavator. paid professional.” for example in Iraq. to face another life than the one that ­perhaps seemed a proud excavator operator. Then I can fully become a master of my own destiny.”

KANDHULA VENKATESH

40 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 41 The Volvo CE Masters Photo by Lars by Photo Bruch

A TECH MASTER

Teamwork, knowledge and stamina. All are put to the test in the Volvo CE ­Masters. 26-year-old Jessie Baucke, a Parts Manager from New Zealand, can now proudly call herself a prize winner in the construction industry’s toughest ­challenge. Doing so, she is also ­following in her father’s footsteps. By Kerstin Magnusson & Daisy Jestico

ack in the days, Jessie Baucke’s father, also working in the industry, partici- pated in Volvo CE Masters with great success. Like Jessie’s team, who won third prize, he also made it to the finals. B“It was actually my father who gave me the tip about a vacancy where I work now, TransDiesel, a Volvo CE independent dealer. He had worked with Volvo machines for years and that made me familiar with the machines to some extent,” tells Jessie. She has been with TransDiesel for four years now and teamed up with two other guys at work for the Masters’. Here, skilled mechanics and parts experts on Volvo machines compete in solving different problems. The rounds are held in different parts of the world. “We call ourselves Tech Blacks. It has been great Jessie Baucke with her to be able to test my knowledge against the best in team mates in “Tech the industry in these series of challenges. That and Blacks” , that won third the fact that we got to travel the world and meet prize in the latest edition people from different countries has been the best of Volvo CE Masters. part,” she says.

42 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 43 The Volvo CE Masters

“Not only does the ­contest 01 identify the best of the best, but it also boosts the

Photo by Alexandra by Rudenäs Photo ­reputation of hard-working dealers­ everywhere­ and shows just how much skill is needed to deliver a world-class service to our ­customers.”

HANS-JUERGEN SALAU, GLOBAL MANAGER TECHNICAL TRAINING AT VOLVO CE VOLVO CE MASTERS / BASIC FACTS The Volvo CE Masters competition is arranged by the global and regional ­aftermarket training organizations. It is open to technicians of authorized Volvo Volvo CE Volvo by Photo To perform well under pressure require skills – but Hans-Juergen Salau, Global Manager Technical CE dealers with a clear focus on know- also practice. The Tech Blacks prepared well before Training at Volvo CE, who organizes the competi- how and practical knowledge. The aim is the finals in Eskilstuna, Sweden. tion together with Jan Fogelberg, Manager Technical to help employees develop and improve “Besides the day to day working environment, we all Training, says: their knowledge, skills and ability to work as a team. The competition is also flew down to Christchurch, New Zealand, for a two “Not only does the contest identify the best VOLVO CE MASTERS – THE PROCESS a way of showing how much hard work day training course. There, we caught up and went over of the best, but it also boosts the reputation of that is carried out at dealers all over the some of the new features we hadn’t seen yet.” hard-working dealers everywhere and shows just world, and that we together invest in Nevertheless, Jessie reveals that there were some how much skill is needed to deliver a world-class what our customers appre­ciate most – extra tricky parts in the actual competition, where she service to our customers.” 01 / Registration opens world class service. Everyone who wants can and the team were put to the test a little bit more: register online. “An extra challenge was working on Volvo pavers, 02 / Individual online test and Volvo E-series excavators with dig assist. I had A test to try individual skills. never seen a paver before. Everything was completely Afterwards, the teams can be new to me. We don't bring these into New Zealand.” VOLVO CE MASTERS 2017–2019 formed to represent the 03 / Team online test This edition had over 3000 applicants, dealership in the competi- The Volvo CE 02 The teams will face Masters are divided in different rounds, and in the end they were boiled down to tion’s second round. theoretical questions starting at the dealer level in each country and then one winning team of three persons. The ­regarding products, parts leading up to the regional and global final. It all teams were judged on various perfor- and service according to happens during the course of almost three years. It mance metrics. Their technical and parts 04 / HUB competition Volvo protocols and was launched as a novel way to showcase the talents systems knowledge and skills were The competition takes a standards.­ of the many parts and services technicians working evaluated, alongside their judgement leap across international across Volvo CE’s dedicated dealer network. When around the proper handling of tools, and ­borders, where the best dealer it began­ in 1990 individual­ participants were pitted demonstrations of Volvo’s brand values. teams at the hubs compete against each other. against each other and tasked with completing a series Jessie’s Baucke and her Tech Blacks 05 / Regional finals of machine tests. Fast came in third place. Based on the outcome, forward almost 30 years the best teams are drafted 01 Full concentration. and the contest­ – now to the Regional Finals where 06 / Global finals In the Masters, prob- they go head to head with the judged in teams – has The finalist teams from each lems are also partly winning HUB dealers. of the APAC, AMERICAS, grown into the industry’s­ solved via digital tools. EMEA and CHINA regions biggest and most 02 Happy campers. At are flown to Eskilstuna, the prize ceremony in challenging technician ­Sweden, for the final leg of Eskilstuna, Sweden. battleground.

Photo by David Akpone by Photo the competition.­

44 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 45 All eyes on our customer: Belgium

Volvo EC750E HR

Maximum allowable tool weight* with 36m 3-piece demolition CREATING high reach equipment: 3,600 kg / 7937 lbs

“The Beast” in all its glory on Lam Peter by Photo site in Schelle, Belgium. Maximum allowable tool weight* PURPOSE-BUILT with 26m 3-piece demolition high reach equipment: VOLVO MACHINES 5,000 kg / 11,023 lbs Operating weight: 103,028 kg Max. pin height: 36 meters Max. pin reach: 22,273 milimeters Engine gross power: 393 kW A more powerful machine with a capacity to go through really­ thick walls. The specification in demolition expert Wesley­ *Working 360 degrees ­Princen’s head was clear. The result? The Volvo EC750E HR – made by customers’ demands. “It is really a dream come true. Finally, I can work with this + 100 tons machine that we have named ‘The Beast’. It is a jewel,” he says.

By Kerstin Magnusson

magine knowing exactly what you want, but Wesley Princen communicated the needs that then realizing that you can’t make it come he had identified: a stronger excavator suitable for true by yourself. About two years ago this was industrial demolition, for example at power stations. the situation for Wesley Princen, a demolition He didn’t specifically need a very high reach like expert in Belgium. He is considered among most demolition customers ask for. On the contrary, Ithe best in the world at high-voltage demolition and a shorter one would enable him to use stronger has recently even moved into nuclear demolition. and heavier tools, cutting through thick concrete This new kind of job calls for a strong excavator that walls and steel bars at can work well with large tools through thick walls. power stations. “In the special appli- “In the demolition Wesley Princen was the first Belgian customer who cation solution team at owned the Volvo EC480HR D-series. Now, he Volvo CE, we work hard segment, collabo­ opened a dialogue with Volvo CE representatives in to take in feedback from order to create something new. customers and create ration with custom- “In the demolition segment, collaboration with something that meets ers is key. They know customers is key. They know the application the ALL their needs. In best and are facing the danger and challenges in demolition, safety and the ­application the demolition work every day. We have had a dialogue transportability are also with Wesley throughout, although the team also of immense importance. best and are facing gathered input from major demolition contractors Those kinds of machines the ­danger and chal- around the world,” says Peter Lam, Volvo CE’s need to be safe and easy Demolition and Solutions Specialist in Europe, the to transport from site to lenges in demolition Middle East and Africa. site,” says Peter Lam. work every day.

WESLEY PRINCEN, AANEMINGSBEDRIJF PRINCEN

46 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 47 All eyes on our customer: Belgium In short THE VOLVO CE NEWS Wesley Princen’s top 4 favorite things about the EC750E HR:

Stability Halls Oliver by Photo “I don’t have to worry about the undercarriage. This results in higher ­productivity and less stress as an operator.”

Transportability “We can easily transport it in three parts, boom, counterweight and base machine.”

Comfort SAVE THE DATE FOR “Sitting in the cab is like CONEXPO sitting at home in the living room.” North America’s largest construction trade show, ConExpo will be held March Esthetics 10–14 in Las Vegas, U.S., with over 2,800 “Last but not least! equipment manufacturers exhibiting in ­Everyone seeing the over 2.8 million square feet of space. ­machine loves the sight.” Wesley Princen from the demo­­ Volvo CE is planning an ambitious lition company Aannemings­ ­ConExpo customer experience that will 2 2 bedrijf Princen in Belgium. stretch over 3,345m (36,000 ft ) on the outdoor Festival Grounds, booth F3432. FIRST CUSTOMER Over 30 machines and related uptime and productivity services will be on display, TRIAL FOR THE ­including several making global and regional­ ECR25 ELECTRIC debuts. Volvo’s electromobility evolution After months of work and feedback from the in- shear we could get a reach of the pin of 21,4 m. French contractor Spac, part of the will be center stage, and in keeping with the Building Tomorrow theme, watch for a volved customers, a final version of the EC750E HR That means an awesome stability and an incredible ­Colas Group, has received the first motivating­ new announcement at the show. was ready to be launched at the end of 2018. Other reach. The second job, where the EC750E HR is ECR25 ­Electric, in the customer trial phase. Spac is using, since August Demonstrating the scope of the Volvo customer feedback asked for a very high reach, and still working, is a powerplant in Antwerp, Belgium. Group, Volvo CE will be joined in the that was created as well. Princen started to use it on There, we have to demolish a high voltage substa- 2019, the 2.5-tonne excavator to dig ­trenches at a golf course just outside ­ConExpo booth by Volvo­ Penta a project in April 2019. tion plus the cooling water inlet and channel. In this Paris, France. and Volvo Trucks as well “The first job I did was at a powerplant in Liège, phase, we are using the digging boom equipped with “For residents and cities in ­general, as our other equipment Belgium. We did this with the 26 m HR boom an 8 tons hammer and a ripper bucket. For this job, it makes our worksites more accep­t­ brands, Terex Trucks attached and a 5 tons concrete shear. We tested ‘The Beast’ is showing its incredible stability and able because it limits carbon emissions and SDLG. the 750 to the maximum and even with the 5 tons power ripping out giant foundation blocks.’’ and noise disturbance,” says ­Benjamin Silvent, site manager for Spac. As for the future, Peter Lam and the Volvo special ap- The Volvo ECR25 Electric ­replaces Register on plication solution team are constantly listening to more a combustion engine with 48-volt ConExpo’s­ website. “I am dreaming about doing something­ feedback from customers and they plan to continuous- ­lithium-ion batteries and an electric ly grow the number of purpose-built excavators. motor that powers the hydraulics to with an EC950E or an HR or a tool “This is an on-going work. And we are lucky to move the machine and attachments. carrier with high oil cooling capacity have the experts right in front of us – they become The batteries store enough energy to like a family. The close contact we have with them is power the machine for 8 hours in typ- 1 MILLION CONNECTED CUSTOMER ASSETS ical applications, such as utility work. and high flow possibilities. That way, key,” he concludes. AT VOLVO GROUP An onboard charger enables overnight And Wesley Princen is looking forward to more you can easily work all day long with ­charging via a regular household plug In October, the Volvo Group passed a true milestone; reaching one million customer collaborations with Volvo: socket. A fast charging option, requir- assets in terms of delivered trucks, buses and construction equipment. The large amount hydraulic tools.” “I am dreaming about doing something with an ing more powerful grid access, will of data collected is now used to improve productivity by increasing vehicle and machine EC950E or an HR or a tool carrier with high oil cool- also be available. uptime, reduce emissions and noise and also to improve traffic and site safety. WESLEY PRINCEN, DEMOLITION EXPERT ing capacity and high flow possibilities. That way, you Signifying the passing of this milestone, Volvo CE handed over four excavators can easily work all day long with hydraulic tools.” This machine will be available in – each complete with Volvo’s built in telematics system CareTrack – to Danish rental ­selected countries later on this year. ­company GSV Materieludlejning in Kirke Hyllinge, Denmark.

48 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Spirit / Winter 2020 / 49 In short Explore Spirit

A GROWING SPIRIT ONLINE CONNECTIVITY ECOSYSTEM­ The ­magazine you are holding in your hands is just one part of Nowadays advanced machine control systems can help improve Spirit. On our global website volvoce.com, you will find more the quality and reduce the time it takes to ­conduct construction site ­exclusive ­content from films to articles from around the world. ­activities. There is a range of components installed in our machine in Here are some highlights. order to making machine control a reality – here we list the top ones.

01 / SENSORS 02 An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is an electronic device that measures and 03 reports the specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the orientation of the thing it is attached to – for example, a bucket, boom and arm of an excavator.

02 / IN-CAB TOUCHSCREENS Simple and intuitive, touchscreen ­tablet computers allow operators to set up projects in just a few touches. The Volvo Co-Pilot for example, is a state-of-the-art touchscreen tablet that powers all Volvo THE WORLD IS GOING Assist applications. 03 /GLOBAL NAVIGATION ELECTRIC – BUT THERE ARE STILL SATELLITE (GNSS) ANTENNA CHALLENGES AHEAD AND GNSS RECEIVERS Cleaner, quieter and more productive This refers to a constellation of satellites ­electric machines are a commitment that together provide signals from space to building a better tomorrow. But now that transmit positioning and timing data to that the future of construction equipment 01 GNSS receivers. The receivers then use this has arrived, there are still a few more data to determine location. GNSS and Global hurdles to jump before electromobility Positioning Systems (GPS) work together, becomes mainstream. but the main difference between GPS and GNSS is that GNSS-compatible equipment can use navigational satellites from other networks beyond the GPS system.

04 / REAL TIME KINEMATICS (RTK) RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematics and is a technique that uses carrier-based ranging and provides much more accurate position- ing than using normal GPS ­systems – as accurate as 1 cm. FOLLOW MEGAPROJECTS

AROUND THE WORLD DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE A KEY TO SUCCESS Florida, Paris, Dubai, ­Bolivia, Come with us to these fasci­ Sundarbans and Cairo have one nating places and meet the Balance is always better when it thing in common – they are all people working on the mega comes to business. Which is why home to a mega project. In The projects. Video material, on Volvo CE embraces a culture that Megaproject Listing we follow site images, interviews and puts diversity and inclusion at the projects which re-shape society more on volvoce.com/spirit. center of its success. and truly build tomorrow. 04

Read all about the news at volvoce.com

50 / Spirit / Winter 2020 Meet the new Volvo ultra-compact line

The new fully-immersive line of Volvo construction machines from Dickie Toys is its biggest – and smallest – yet. These realistic play sets are ­designed to open up Volvo Construction Equipment to a whole new ­audience of little diggers. All they need is some imagination and ­buckets full of dirt. Children large and small can now discover the thrill of ­construction without setting foot on the job site.