Skip to main content

Volvo CE R&D to drive down product cost

New Volvo Construction Equipment president Martin Weissburg has revealed a new emphasis for the company’s future R&D strategy – and stressed ongoing work to boost profitability. Speaking during the Swedish manufacturer’s Conexpo 2014 press conference, Weissburg, who assumed his role in January 2014, said, “There will be greater allocation of our R&D dollars towards innovations that reduce product cost. This will not be at the expense of quality or durability.”
March 7, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Volvo CE president Martin Weissburg said the manufacturer will focus R&D dollars on innovation that drives down product cost
New 2394 Volvo Construction Equipment president Martin Weissburg has revealed a new emphasis for the company’s future R&D strategy – and stressed ongoing work to boost profitability.

Speaking during the Swedish manufacturer’s Conexpo 2014 press conference, Weissburg, who assumed his role in January 2014, said, “There will be greater allocation of our R&D dollars towards innovations that reduce product cost. This will not be at the expense of quality or durability.” 

Of Volvo CE’s current trading priorities, Weissburg added, “Volvo Construction Equipment has a focus on profit improvement. We are not pleased with recent results, and our focus, resources and energies are very much on gaining [market] share, improving profitability at the same time, and the continuous improvement programme that is already in place on operating efficiency, expense reduction and getting greener.

“We are in the process of improving our profitability as a global organisation. We are not and will not wait for market growth to solve this for us. We do not as of today see significant levels of growth. On a global basis, we see things as relatively flat.”

Volvo CE has used Conexpo 2014 to unveil its new range of Tier 4 machines including the E-Series excavators, G-Series articulated haulers and H-Series wheeled loaders.
www.volvoce.com

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Wacker Neuson wants to grow in the US
    March 7, 2014
    Wacker Neuson’s preliminary results make promising reading, with group revenue rising by 6% in 2013 to €1,160 million. Since 2009, revenue has almost doubled, rising from €597m. Speaking at Conexpo, CEO Cem Peksaglam stated the group’s intent to grow its business outside Europe: “Over 70% of our revenues are in Europe, but that proportion has been falling for the past two years, which is strategically important,” he said, “because in the long-term, we believe that the European share will fall to 50-55% and
  • Volvo CE to show “caring side” at bauma China
    November 13, 2014
    Volvo Construction Equipment says it will demonstrate how Caring drives innovation at its interactive bauma China stand. Under this theme, the company’s 1,804m2 exhibition area will play host to several important new products and demonstrate Volvo CE’s pledge to providing excellence throughout the product ownership lifestyle. “Star products at the show neatly underline Volvo CE’s long term commitment to the China market,” says the company. These include the new P6820C and P8720B pavers; EW60C wheeled exc
  • Volvo CE to show “caring side” at bauma China
    January 6, 2017
    Volvo Construction Equipment says it will demonstrate how Caring drives innovation at its interactive bauma China stand. Under this theme, the company’s 1,804m2 exhibition area will play host to several important new products and demonstrate Volvo CE’s pledge to providing excellence throughout the product ownership lifestyle. “Star products at the show neatly underline Volvo CE’s long term commitment to the China market,” says the company. These include the new P6820C and P8720B pavers; EW60C wheeled exc
  • Volvo CE starts testing world's first prototype hydrogen articulated hauler
    June 14, 2022
    Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has started testing of the world's first fuel cell articulated hauler prototype, the Volvo HX04.