Sandvik and Volvo Penta, ten years old partnership continues

Swedish equipment manufacturer Sandvik partners with Volvo Penta on Stage V solutions for its underground loaders, mining equipment and trucks. Underground mining working conditions are among the toughest, that means more requirements than most of other industrial areas.

Sandvik’s Wayne Scrivens on the new achievement

Wayne Scrivens, vice president of Product Line, Load and Haul at Sandvik, spoke about the advantages of this new agreement: «Volvo Penta has been very accommodating in working with our technicians and designing an engine package to fit our machines. Our units have a low profile for working in confined spaces and tunnels, so they must be compact, and Volvo Penta has found solutions for us».

The 17-tons Sandvik LH517 (underground loader) has already shown positive results in test trials with a Stage V engine. «The engine has to be robust to perform well in underground conditions», says Scrivens, «both Volvo Penta’s technicians and ours have analyzed results to see wether any modifications would be needed before going into serial production. So far, things have gone really well».

Improvements are the key, says David Hamilton

Also on Volvo Penta’s side the first results have been taken positively. David Hamilton, director of global key accounts and business development at Volvo Penta, pinpointed that the company was not well known in the mining area, when they started collaborating with Sandvik ten years ago, but they improved and learned a lot: «uptime in particular is very important in underground mining. The engines are put in extreme conditions in mining and their success shows we have a robust and durable range. We have proven ourselves, and as they are a well-known international brand with many customers, we are pleased that they have chosen our Stage V solutions for their underground mining machinery. Sandvik’s commitment to our Stage V range sees them taking a step forward in our relationship».

Stage V and…

Volvo Penta’s Stage V offers a range of power between 105 and 565 kilowatt, and features high-performace engines with a tailored exhaust aftertreatment system (Eats). Moreover, explains Scrivens, «many customers embrace lower emissions engines even when the regulations in their countries do not require the strictest levels. And as Volvo Penta’s Stage V engines are certified by Msha and Canmet, it means we can offer our machines in the Us and Canada with the correct certification already in place. It’s good for us that Volvo Penta is able to support us in this way».