Volvo has achieved the landmark of producing 75,000th articulated hauler. The 75,000th machine ? one of the new generation A45G full suspension models ? rolled off the production line in late June at the factory where the first machine ? the DDR631 or ?Gravel Charlie? ? was made, in Bra?s, Sweden. The 75,000th machine is staying relatively local, going to Norwegian customer Leonhard Nilsen & S?nner AS.

?There?s no question that we have the best product, says Esbj?rn Fritzell, Vice President of Volvo CE?s Trucks business platform. ?The fact that so many of our haulers are still working around the world is a testament to their usefulness and durability ? it?s almost impossible to kill a Volvo articulated hauler!?

While it took a while for the world to fully appreciate the benefits of articulated haulers, the machines are now in demand as never before, finding work as production machines in mines and on all types of infrastructure projects. This is driving the trend for larger machines ? such as the newly introduced 41 tonne class size of the 75,000th machine, the A45G. According to the company, Volvo CE?s A60H is the largest on the market, and can deliver 40 per cent higher production than Volvo?s previous largest machine ? the A40G ? with hardly any increase in the ongoing cost of ownership.

?There?s not many companies can say that they are still the market leaders half a century after they invented a concept,? says H?kan Ask, business platform leader for Trucks at Volvo CE. ?Having made 75,000 machines, we are still showing the way, building more productive and fuel-efficient machines that are the envy of the industry.?