Scania World Millennium

During the 1980s, Scania introduced two new modular truck ranges.
Intensive technical development on many fronts also enabled the
company to manufacture "made-to-measure" trucks based on
customer orders.
In 1980-81, Scania introduced the new Program Scania range of trucks.
Encompassing trucks in the 16-36 tonne gross weight range, it was based
on far-reaching modularisation not only of engines, gearboxes, propeller
shafts and final gears, but also chassis components such as axles, frames
and especially cabs. This enabled Scania to respond to market demands
for solutions tailored to different transport needs, while satisfying demands
for more economical production. Using a limited number of components,
Scania could build an almost unlimited number of truck variants.
Scania T112 E6x2 tipper and Scania T112 E6x4
dumper in 1981.
The new range had been preceded by methodical development work. As
early as 1974, Scania's long-term planning department had been assigned
to study existing and future demands in various market segments. Once
these had been analysed, it was possible to begin technical development,
which was crucial to Scania's continued competitiveness. The man in
charge was a far-sighted engineer, Stig Ericsson, who assumed a position
as head of chassis design and production.
Scania pursued its modular development
work consistently and systematically. In
disciplined fashion, pre-production
engineers accepted the constraints that the
modular philosophy obviously imposed on
their freedom. Their work was richly
rewarded, as the new cab range in
particular demonstrated. In principle, three
different cab families were replaced by a
single modular family. As a result,
customers were offered greater variety
while the number of items in the full cab
Scania R92 Brasil in the 1980s.
range shrank by 70 percent. The number
of sheet metal parts, which required
expensive investments in press tools, was
reduced to a minimum and average working hours per cab fell by about 30 percent.
The new Program Scania range marked the return of efficient modular thinking as
one of the cornerstones of Scania's corporate philosophy. Due to thorough
modularisation, Scania trucks were characterised by high quality and cost-effective