Spirit 38 - Volvo Construction Equipment

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saw it return to profit after several quarters of heavy losses. By the third quarter not only was the company making money but it also found itself at the top of the industry league tables. Something significant had obviously happened inside Volvo Construction Equipment... “You can’t discuss the industry today without talking about the Chinese market,” says Olof. “It’s now as big as all other world markets put together. Our investments there enabled us to have the capacity to maximize the upturn in that market and we are investing still further in China and the other BRIC markets.” Product renewal “We are also now embarking on the company’s most ambitious product introduction program, that will see over 50 new or updated products launched in the next couple of years. These premium segment machines will be of higher quality, more customer focused, cleaner and in most cases more fuel efficient than the ones they replace, which were already class leading. Quality in everything we do is our guiding principle. We will also introduce new products that fill gaps in our range where we see it makes sense for customers and for us. In the future our product development will have a more local focus, making sure we have the right products in the right markets to satisfy local customer needs. This is not limited to machines, but also financing, telematics, customer support agreements and a host of other ‘soft’ product offerings.” With a risk of a double dip recession receding, what does Olof predict for the rest of 2011? “Business is never ‘normal’ and there are always ups and downs. Markets are rarely in sync but we see good growth continuing in the BRIC markets and slower but still positive growth in Europe and North America, to which we remain committed. But whatever happens, the new-look Volvo Construction Equipment is better prepared for both upturns and downturns. We are more efficient and flexible to cope with whatever the markets throw at us.” So now that the dark days of 2008 and 2009 are behind him, is Olof finally starting to relax and enjoy his job? “Now that we are welcoming people back into the company, launching exciting new products and winning profitable market share, it’s a lot more fun,” he smiles. “We have all worked hard for that fun too; the trouble is that we have to keep on earning that fun by continuing to gain the trust and confidence of our customers.” The rigors of the last two years don’t seem to have had any lasting impact on Olof, who seems as fit and healthy as when he started. He still runs regularly and unwinds by reading and watching films. “When I am at home my focus is on home,” he “You can’t discuss the industry today without talking about the Chinese market.” says. “This isn’t a nine-to-five job, but I can switch off by watching my son play football on a Saturday and trying to help my children with their homework – not always successfully!” So, now he can put a big tick against guiding the company through the recession and reorganizing it into a leaner and more efficient organization, what’s next? “We must continue to work hard with our customers to translate the needs of the industry into a total concept that includes not just machines but all the products and services that surround them throughout their lifecycles. We can do it too, as today we are a much stronger, more closely aligned and customer focused company.” Text: Brian O’Sullivan Photography: Julian Cornish Trestrail SPIRIT8
ROOM SERVICE AT 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO Artur Torneus is a contractor with a difference. He helps build hotels. Or rather, he helps build one hotel – exactly the same hotel, on exactly the same spot, year after year after year. His tools? Four Volvos - and 900 tons of ice and 21,500 cubic meters (759,000ft³) of snow. Room made by: Benny Ekman, Hanna Tonek Bonnett ICEHOTEL 2009-2010 SPIRIT9
Page 1 and 2: Issue No.1/2011 VOLVO CONSTRUCTION
Page 3 and 4: Volvo Construction Equipment Magazi
Page 5 and 6: INSIDE TRACK Olof Persson Volvo Con
Page 7: “I learned a lot over the last co
Page 11 and 12: Jukkasjärvi Go back 20 years and f
Page 13 and 14: Volvo Unveils Its Most Advanced Mac
Page 15 and 16: oth challenging emission regulation
Page 17 and 18: At your service Volvo Construction
Page 19 and 20: “Today our growing branch network
Page 21 and 22: From Desert to one of the World’s
Page 23 and 24: Haythem Ateeli Duqm port - the bigg
Page 25 and 26: GLOBETROTTING Oman World Class dist
Page 27 and 28: The secret behind Genserv’s succe
Page 29 and 30: State-of-the-art investment shows l
Page 31 and 32: Volvo is IN an excellent position t
Page 33 and 34: eBUSINESS is smart Business! There
Page 35 and 36: “In the not too distant future we
Page 37 and 38: “The European market is not gone,
Page 39 and 40: The Russian Bear Claws Back Volvo C
Page 41 and 42: “VOLVO’S APPROACH TO BUSINESS I
Page 43 and 44: SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF VOLVO’
Page 45 and 46: “You could describe this auditing
Page 47 and 48: LIFE THOUGH A LENS COLIN MONTGOMERI
Page 49 and 50: Nine of Montgomerie’s victories w
Page 51 and 52: the xtra your business needs In a t

Spirit 38 - Volvo Construction Equipment

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