Issue 1, May 2006

Page 3

India is a hub for

product development &
A Newsletter from Volvo in India for the Transport Business IT sourcing in Asia

Page 4

The new Volvo FM9

Tipper
Page 12

The tale of 150

exclusive Volvo Tippers

Page 14

Flower Power

Page 20

Traditional "green"
coolant and new
"yellow" coolant.

Page 22

The all-new Volvo

EC700B and G930

www.volvo.co.in
Issue 1, May 2006

CONTENT
Volvo product development & IT
2
set base in India
Volvo product
The new Volvo FM 9 Tipper
4
and IT set
Volvo City Buses
6
turn heads in Bangalore
base in India
Volvo Penta engines for barges in
Goa and Navy Survey boats 10
Here’s how it works - Rear Axles
11
The tale of 150 exclusive
Volvo Tippers 12 Volvo in India inaugurated its
new technology centre at
Flower Power
14 Bagmane Park in
Bangalore. The technology
A passage through India
17 centre will support Volvo
Group activities in the
1000th Volvo B7R in India
handed over to KSRTC 18 areas of IT and truck
product development.
Traditional “green”coolant and
new “yellow” coolant 20 Under the backdrop of increasing levels of
operations in Asia and within India, Volvo
Volvo Adventure National Finals
21 3P, a business unit within the Volvo Group,
will now focus on building India as a base
for truck product development aimed at
The all-new Volvo EC700B supporting strategic expansion in Asia,
and G930 22 while Volvo IT will increase its local
sourcing from India as well as support its
Protect your inner Volvo growing support business in the country.
24 The Volvo IT division in India focuses on
providing IT services to the Volvo Group,
Volvo Car Corporation and other external
customers and is the hub in Asia for
Edited by Sohanjeet S. Randhawa. Designed by Shilahar Associates, Bangalore. For private circulation only. competitive sourcing. Volvo IT provides
Volvo India Private Limited extensive application management and
Yelachahalli, Tavarekere Post, Hosakote Taluk, Bangalore - 562 122, India. Telephone: 080-7965251 – 60,
Fax: 080-7965280/81 • Ahmedabad: Telephone: 02718 33131, 33132, Fax: 02718 33132
infrastructure support across Volvo's
• Bangalore: Telephone: 080 25207000 – 9, Fax: 080 25207010 • Bhubaneshwar: Mobile: 98610 60782
• Kolkata: Telephone: 033 22810794, Fax: 033 22871631 • Chennai: Telephone: 044 24329209, 24329208,
business areas including global dealer
Fax: 044 4362969 • Cochin: Telephone: 0484 666917, Fax: 0484 666916 • Guwahati: Mobile: 98640 27522 business support functions; build up of
• Hyderabad: Telephone: 040 23058949, Fax: 040 23058895 • Jaipur: Telephone: 0141 2363248, 363471,
Fax: 0141 2363471 • Mumbai: Telephone: 022 28344293 / 266 / 286, 28345020, 28345024, 28345174, SAP competence, IT infrastructure and
Fax: 022 28344263 • Nagpur: Telephone: 07104 40042, Fax: 07104 40042 • New Delhi: Phone: 011 23314262,
Fax: 011 23316702 • Raipur: Telephone: 0771 633031, Fax: 0771 633030 • Vishakapatnam: Mobile: 98481 95583 Product Lifecycle Management.

2 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006

development
On Volvo 3P
Mr. Anders Ydergard, Senior Vice
President, Volvo 3P Product
Development mentions, “The Volvo
Group's business is expanding in
Asia and we see the strengthening
of our activities here in Bangalore
as way to support this growth.
However, it is very clear that we are
in the right place at the
right time."
On Volvo IT
"The number of people in this activity
will see an increase over the coming
years with the growing business.
The speed and pace of investment
in this sector is subject to
development of customer activities and
to the extent to which we locate
skilled and competent resources",
says Mr. Ulf Nilsson, CEO,
Volvo IT.
The facility was inaugurated by
Eric Leblanc, MD, Volvo India
Anders Ydergard, Senior VP, Volvo 3P &
Mr. Ulf Nilsson, CEO, Volvo IT.
On expanding Volvo in India
"India is increasingly becoming a key
market for the Volvo Group - not only
as a market but as a sourcing hub.
With this new focus, Volvo's foundation
in India gets deeper with a presence
across trucks, buses, construction
equipment, engines, global component
sourcing, IT sourcing and now product
development" mentioned Mr. Eric Leblanc,
Managing Director, Volvo India.
WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006
3
The new Volvo FM9 Tipper
Even more abilities. Even more features.
Volvo FM Tippers are today a common presence in many a
mining & construction sites of the country. These tippers
dominate in their segment achieving productivity far higher
than normal.
The change in this regard began in 2001, when Volvo
introduced its first tipper the Volvo FM7 260hp 8x4 tipper
Euro II. Since then Volvo and its customers have gained
invaluable experience in this segment. In 2003, Volvo renewed
the product portfolio, introducing the recent Volvo FM9
300hp 8x4 tipper which was Euro III and offered many new
features in the chassis construction and ground clearance.
Now, just when we thought the standards were laid for all
to follow. Volvo Trucks in India renews its Tipper portfolio
once more!
4 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006
Enter the new Volvo FM9 340hp 8x4 tipper. With
increased gradeability, more power and a host of other
features that will help customers operations even further.
Speaking at the launch of the new Volvo FM tipper, Eric
Leblanc, Managing Director, Volvo in India said, "Volvo
has the richest experience in the country, when it comes
to high-performing trucking and today, we have renewed
our tipper portfolio once again. The FM9 340hp 8x4
tipper is an efficient, advanced and powerful tipper and
has been designed to enhance transport economy in the
mines across all elements - reliability, availability and
performance."
Over 1000 Volvo tippers are already operational in
mines across India, with many of these customers having
built fleet sizes of over 100 Volvo trucks. The new
Volvo FM9 tipper has increased power levels and higher
torque levels to enable handling of steeper gradients in
construction, mining & other infrastructure projects with
ease. Equipped with an additional fuel tank capacity of
95 litres allows uninterrupted operations for close to
18-19 hours a day.
There are a host of other new features in the FM9
tipper including vertical exhaust, increased capacity
volumes, new body design and various other features.

Engine - offering additional torque

The Volvo D9A 340 Engine is being fitted instead of
the D9A 300 Engine.
The following engine performance parameters have
changed:
Increased tank capacity & the vertical exhaust are some of the changes
Maximum Power :340 HP (250 kW) @ 1900 RPM
Maximum Torque : 1600 Nm @ 1200 - 1400 RPM Body Scow Angle & Body Capacity
Additional Torque of 200 Nm will further improve the The 9-degree body scow angle will now be available as a
gradeability and startability of the Tipper. standard on the rock body tippers. However, the option
of a 20-degree scow angle and rock breakers is available
The new engine is tested and complies with Bharat on request. The rock body struck capacity is now 17
Stage - III Emission Norms. cu.m in the rock body variant.

Fuel Tank Exhaust heat body

Fuel tank of 270 litres capacity has been fitted.
The additional capacity of 95 litres will help the
customer use the truck uninterrupted for another
8-9 hours.
Exhaust Direction
The exhaust direction is vertical with the exhaust routed
to the right hand side of the vehicle. The vertical
exhaust has been introduced to accommodate the higher
capacity fuel tank on the chassis.
The “heat body” is a unique optional feature. Here the
exhaust is driven through the trucks superstructure
thereby heating its surface. This helps in avoiding sticky
material to accumulate in the body. As a result, the
tipper continues to always carry full load with a direct
positive impact on the transport economy.
Already in operation with our customers in the mines
and infrastructure projects, these tippers have begun
raising expectations in the marketplace – among both,
existing and new customers.

WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006

5
Volvo City Buses turn
heads in Bangalore
Volvo city buses were unveiled Speaking at the launch, Hakan Karlsson,
at the Auto Expo in Pragati President & CEO -Volvo Bus
The entire floor Corporation, said, " Volvo city buses
Maidan, New Delhi in Jan-06.
actually kneels are today an integral part of many a
These buses are now operating key cities in the world - London,
down to enable
with the Bangalore Metropolitan Singapore, Curitiba, Shangai and
Transport Corporation, starting
easy entry. many more. Each of these cities
January 2006. enjoy one of the most flexible and

6 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006

cost economic solutions for bus
transport system. We are glad to
include India to this list, starting with
Bangalore. This is a first step though.
The following is an article that appeared in Deccan Herald following the reporter’s visit to Bogota where Volvo City
Bus have changed the landscape of the city. Can this happen in our cities too?
Mayor of Bogota
He freed a city, gave it life
Enrique Penalosa:
Life is on the surface.
L
istening to Enrique Penalosa, it’s
hard not to feel wistful about
what he could have done for a city
like Bangalore. The passion with which
the former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia
speaks on urban governance, is infectious.
It’s not all words. In three years – between
1998 and 2001 – he has transformed a
notorious city into a respectable
metropolis; changing it from a city of cars
to a city offering quality living for people
across classes. Today he has become an
inspiration for urban planners and city
administrators across the world.
As mayor of Bogota, the capital of
Colombia, he dumped a $600 million
elevated highway project and developed
Transmilenio, a $300 million Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) system which carries nearly
lakhs of people each day. He motivated
private bus operators to run city buses
under Transmilenio. Today, Bogotá’s BRT
continues to inspire many US cities to
improving their bus networks. Penalosa
developed more than 1,000 parks, 350
kms of bike paths – billed as the best in
developing countries – and closed 120km
stretches for seven hours for motor
vehicles on Sundays. He ensured that cars
were off the roads for two hours during
peaks hours, two days a week. He also
reclaimed he sidewalks from motorists. A
17-km-long pedestrian street was
developed. Forty-five kms of Greenway,
which was earlier earmarked for an eight-
lane highway, was built. There’s more. He
constructed 52 new schools, renovated
150 old ones and provided 14,000
computers for schools. The crime rate was
down by two-thirds. He planted 1,00,000
saplings, built three big libraries and 100
nurseries for children below five. All this
happened in three years.
We started with a small step in inter-
city buses 4 years ago and I am glad
to see the progress made and the
strong partnerships that we have
Deccan Herald, April 5 2006
As mayor, he launched a war on ears
because he was convinced that roads were
meant for the majority. All his actions were
through referenda. He asked the public to
contribute money voluntarily one time for
the BRT and increased the tax on gasoline to
mobilize funds for infrastructure. Remember,
he faced no opposition – either by the
public or political opponents. Of course,
unlike Indian mayors, Colombian mayors
have immense authority. There are more
than 10 lakh vehicles on Bogotá’s streets. A
vehicle restriction rule called pico y place is
in force – you cannot drive your car on
certain days if you think Bogotá is a small
city unlike Bangalore and that rules work,
think again. Bogotá’s urban area is 384.3sq
km compared to Bangalore’s 437 sq km. The
Colombian capital almost touches a
population of 70 lakh, while Bangalore’s is
more than 90 lakh. An able economist and
administrator, Penalosa is also a visiting
scholar at New York University. He holds a
Bachelor’s degree in economics and history
from Duke University and Masters and
Doctorate degrees in Management & Public
Administration from a Paris university. He‘s a
candidate for the Presidentship of Colombia.
He visited New Delhi once. This Deccan
Herald reported interacted with him in
Bogota recently. Excerpts;
Bogotá’s traffic problems, I had many battles
to fight, including ones with real estate
developers. Only 20 per cent of the people
owned cars and 80 per cent were dependent
on public transport. The cars were causing
huge traffic jams. For the sake of 20 per
cent, the 80 per cent was suffering.
Discussions were held with the nearly
60,000 private bus operators and we
established Transmilenio which has now
more than 6,000 shareholders. There are
dedicated lanes for buses in the central areas
developed with our private & state
customers in the country. I am sure
that this will now be repeated with
our customers of city buses."
of the city. We‘ve been building cities for
vehicles rather than for the public. I
wanted to retrieve the public place for all
classes of people. Parks walk paths, cycle
paths and dedicated roads for buses were
introduced. BRT is now being run
without subsidy.
On the mass rrapid
apid rrail
ail system
It’s not the question of protesting against
the rail system. My question is why
should people live like rats? Life is on the
surface. Why should we build roads and
let only car owners use them? There
should be equal access to all when it
comes to society’s resources. That is the
essence of democracy. The money spent
on subways and unfortunately, the Third
World thinks that development means
using modern cars.
No restriction on new cars
cars..
We only imposed restrictions on the use
of cars on certain days. We widened
footpaths by taking space from car roads.
The system is so cost-effective and
scientific that my successors are
continuing the work I initiated. Bogotá’s
road network has also pushed up real
estate business dramatically.
Infrastructure development
Infrastructure
We need to go in for the cheapest
transport mode, and definitely, cars cannot
solve T-problems. Create a vision of your
city and implement it. We live the way
we want and a city is only a means. We
need parks, footpaths, playgrounds, water
and an affordable mode of safe transport
to live happily, even if we are poor.
WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006
7
A new concept. The latest For the long run
technology This is the motivation Volvo city buses can eventually play
The Volvo B7RLE City Bus is the that will make citizens the role of a key hardware in the
latest model from the Volvo product to shift over from their development of an efficient bus
programme to be introduced in India. personal vehicle to transport system.
Equipped with a 7-litre engine that public transport and
free city space! As Jan Vandooren, Head & Vice
meets the Euro 3 emission regulations,
President, Volvo Buses mentions,
the body is built on the same design
“I am quite certain that once one has
as the Volvo 8700, which is currently
automatic transmission - which experienced the Volvo City Bus, he
used in Europe. This is a low-entry bus
simulates the best driver practices. or she will continue to look forward
providing ease of bus travel for all -
Passengers taking a ride in the bus to traveling again. That is the kind of
the young and the old.
will experience a fluid movement motivation, that will help citizens to
where the braking & typical jerks are shift over from their personal
Designed to care for people
hardly noticeable. vehicles to public transport."
The Volvo low-entry city buses are
built for the needs of efficient, safe and
comfortable city travel. At the heart
of this efficiency and performance lies
the Volvo bus chassis. The Volvo
city bus is fitted with wide,
automatic doors to help quick &
stepless entry and exit even
during rush hours. The entire floor
actually kneels low to come in level
with the bus stop height. This means
that a wheel chair too can be easily
pushed through the doors.
The Volvo City Bus offers in-climate
control through an integrated air-
conditioning. The bus includes

Interiors of Volvo B7RLE City Bus

The Volvo City bus includes automatic transmission and wide automatic doors

8 WHEELS • Issue1
Issue 1••2006
2006
Volvo & the City
Volvo Bus Rapid Transit System concept
H alf the world’s population
currently lives in cities. This
proportion is continuing to increase
swiftly. At the same time, continued
positive development is under threat
by increasingly tougher burdens on
the infrastructure and environment,
not least owing to considerably
increased traffic. In order for the city
to retain its attraction and dynamism,
it must also be a good place for
people to live and work in. One of
the most important tasks facing
politicians, transport companies and
infrastructure planners is therefore
the creation of efficient, safe and
environmentally suitable transport
systems that can grow and evolve
with the city. It should be possible to
create such systems with a modest
investment and they should be able
to bear their own running costs.
These systems must offer a real
alternative to the passenger car and
motorized two-wheeler.
More and more cities are therefore
regarding Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as
a highly promising solution.
With separate bus lanes on the city
streets, efficient ticketing, modern
buses and high-capacity passenger
terminals, BRT can compare with rail-
bound system with regard to travel implemented within 1-2 years. Rapid Transit system requires
time, punctuality and passenger It's a proven concept, exists already adequate planning, so Volvo Bus
capacity. A single modern high- for more than 20 years now. Bus Corporation also provides system
capacity bus can replace a number of Rapid Transit also means using consultation, transportation
smaller, older buses, thus also modern high capacity buses in metro management and intellectual
reducing both traffic congestion and environment. passenger information system.
emissions. Over 85% are Volvo Buses with
Volvo Bus Corporation is also the
At the same time, the investment leading Bus Rapid Transit buses city-adopted Bus Rapid Transit system
cost is only between five - ten supplier in the world, with its’ city such as Curitiba, Sao Paulo-Brazil,
percent of what is required for buses consisting of all kinds of buses Bogota-Columbia, Leon-Mexico,
corresponding rail-bound system. from 12 meters up to 27 meters Gothenburg-Sweden and Santiago-
The complete system can be articulated bus. The design of Bus Chile.

WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006

9
Volvo Penta engines for barges
in Goa and Navy Survey boats
The Indian shipbuilding industry is making
strong progress in manufacturing boats
to satisfy the growing domestic and
export markets. The market has
now opened for imported engines, from
previously being supported by domestic
production under license. Consequently,
Volvo has recently signed two important
orders in India.
The first order relates to diesel engines for freight barges,
each to be fitted with two Penta D12-300 engines with
300 hp each. The order comprises delivery to seven Survey motor boats for Indian Navy
barges, or a total of 14 engines.
The barges, being built by Mandovi Dry Docks in Goa on
India's West coast, will operate on the Goa River and
transport coal and ore from the inland mines, to the ports
on the coast.
The D12-300 is a compact, fuel-efficient and fully
electronically controlled marine diesel with a 12-litre
displacement, delivering 300 hp. It complies with all
international emission requirements, including EU 2006 Volvo Penta has also signed an order to supply the
and EPA 2. It has been inspected and approved by the Indian navy. The order pertains to 10 nos of 9.2 m
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Survey Motor Boats (SMB), each to be fitted with two
D3-160 engines with Duoprop drive.

Technical data: The D3-160 is an advanced five-cylinder marine diesel

with an electronically controlled common-rail fuel-
Engine designation : D12-300
injection system, variable geometry turbocharger, and four
Crankshaft power : 300 hp/220 kW valves per cylinder among other features. The aluminum
Number of cylinders : 6 cylinder block combined with the Duoprop drive weighs
Displacement : 12.1 l only 330 kgs.
Emission requirements : IMO, EPA 2 and EU 2006 Fuel consumption is low, as are emissions. The engine
complies with all international emission requirements.

Indian freight barge

Technical data:
Engine designation : D3-160
Crankshaft power : 163 hp/120 kW
Number of cylinders : 5
Displacement : 2.4 l
Drive options : Duoprop drive or a drive
for straight axle or waterjet.
Emission requirements : IMO, EPA 2 and EU 2006.

10 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006

Here's how it works
Rear-axles
The truck's rear axle is not perhaps the component that you might think
about often - but it is vital for ensuring the truck's optimum performance.
The rear axle - a vital part of the truck. Do you often wonder about how your
truck's rear axle works? Probably not. That's now all set to change as we tell
you all you need to know about rear axles.
The rear axle is the final link in the chain that transmits
power from the engine to the truck's driven wheels.
The latest generation of rear axles are characterised by
compact design. The rear axle casings are cast in nodular
iron and the brackets and spring plates are integrated
directly into the casings. This design gives the rear axles
higher ground clearance.
Truck rear axles are generally equipped with a
differential lock. When this is activated, the left and
right wheels both rotate at the same speed, improving
traction when the road surface is slippery.
The rear axles are equipped with maintenance-free unit
bearings that are fitted in the wheel hubs. They consist
of conical roller bearings that are lubricated for life at
the factory. The hubs and bearings are also removed and
installed as a single unit, making workshop operations
both quicker and easier.
Thanks to new production methods combined with the
latest special lubricants, Volvo's rear axles benefit from
extended oil change intervals.
Trucks intended for somewhat lighter loads often use
a single axle with a single reduction gear. This means
that the entire ratio step-down takes place in one single
stage in the final drive, which imposes high demands
on the components. At the same time, they are lighter
and therefore suffer lower internal frictional losses,
thus cutting fuel consumption.
Trucks for use in tougher conditions or for hauling
heavier loads are often equipped with a single axle with
hub reduction. Here, the ratio step-down takes place in
two stages. The smaller step-down takes place
in the final drive and the larger step-down in the hub
reduction unit. As a result, the load is spread and stress
on the driven axles and final drive is low.
For the heaviest transport operations, tandem drive
is also used - two driven axles with single reduction
or hub reduction. The front driven axle has a transfer
gear, while the final drive in the rearmost axle is a
single reduction unit. The task of the transfer gear
is to distribute drive evenly between the two
rear axles.
Tandem drive of this rear axle combination means that
considerable drive power can be transmitted down onto
the road surface since the total axle pressure is high.
Other benefits are excellent get-you-there ability and
low tyre wear.
WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006
11
Volvo Century Customers – B. Girijapathi Reddy & Company

The tale of 150

Volvo Tippers

A proud Mr. I Sudhakar Reddy with his new Volvo 340hp 8x4 tipper

12 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006

 exclusive
It's not about numbers. Because if it
was so, B. Girijapathi Reddy would
have bought typical trucks and in
that case he probably would need 700
of them and that number sounds big.
But well, instead he chose Volvo
Tippers, and that is why he needs only
150 of them for the same job – with
an exclusive fleet of Volvo Tippers.
This story is about productivity,
performance and most importantly a
strong business partnership. And more
and more customers have come to
see it that way, just as more and
bb.com/in more Volvo Customers begin to join
what we call the “Century Club”
Nevertheless, it was a matter of great
pride when on April 11th, Volvo
delivered the 150th Volvo Tipper to But the next 50 came faster - in just
B. Girijapathy Reddy & Company's 10 months. And the last batch of 50
owners - I Sudhakar Reddy & in even lesser time - just 5 months!!
Umapathy Reddy. We like to see this as a function of
Founded in 1987, the company trust & exchange of value between
began their business as irrigation two partners – a key foundation in a
contractors in AP. Soon they had sound business relationship.
expanded into Coal Overburden Things have significantly changed for
removal in the year 1991, with a the customer since he first began his
contract from Western Coal Fields. business. About 6 years ago, he used
It was in 1999 that the company 150 typical tippers on two sites,
commenced operations in Singareni employing 300 drivers. Today, he uses
Collieries, an year after Volvo came 150 Volvo Tippers to do work in four
to India - a year before we sites, all-day, all-year long while
introduced our first FM 8x4 Tipper. employing 400 drivers.
As fate decides fortunes, Volvo and Its clear that the key change lies in
B.Girijapathi Reddy joined hands enhanced productivity, high
within an year's time, when the performance and the transport
owners took delivery of their first economy. Something easily summed
Volvo Tipper in January 2000. It up in the fact that B. Girijapathy
took 5 years for the company to Reddy today is at least 30 times a
build their first lot of 50 Volvo bigger company than they were 5
tippers (by Feb 2005). years ago.

WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006

13
 FLOWER
ATTRACTIVE TRANSPORT

POWER Flower transport of the kind described in this

article maybe rare in India today – but here is a
case which provides insight into the extremes of
modern logistics practiced around the world –
where the truck engines hardly ever get cold.
A factor, which will increasingly become more and more
important in India too as we see more and more professional
transporters, better roads and greater demands from the final
users of transport?
TEXT TOBIAS HAMMAR PHOTO ERIC JOSJÖ

I
T'S SIX-THIRTY ON THE
morning of a cold grey November
day. In a small room inside a big
building, just two kilometres
south of Amsterdam, there's a hive
of activity. Hundreds of people are
seated in close formation in front of
a long row of wagons loaded with
flowers in every imaginable colour as
they roll slowly past on the floor below.
On the wall in front, the information
is displayed in quick succession:
"Gerbera Mini Explosive", 50
centimetre stalk, highest quality,
minimum quantity: two boxes...
A gigantic "clock" on the wall
indicates the flower's current price
today: a red lamp drops anti-
clockwise through a sinking price
scale and stops only when one of the
buyers presses a button: 40 cents...30
cents...20 cents... and suddenly: 18
cents per flower. The deal is done.
Just a second later all the
information in the display has been
replaced, it's time now for the day's
first crop of bright yellow "Gerbera
Prairie" to go under the hammer.
WELCOME TO AALSMER'S Flower
Auctions, the world's largest single
flower market.
This is the place for everyone who
wants to see how "logistics" can be
transformed into pure art. More than
20 million flowers and plants change
hands here during a few hectic
hours between dawn and lunch,
every single day. In one long,
uninterrupted transport chain, 6000
Dutch growers reach out to flower-
lovers the world over via more than
a thousand exporters and wholesalers
who expertly pack, sort and load
flowers for further transport in every
direction of the compass.
"The roses you see here arrived
during the night. Our goal is that
they should be able to be sold on
the street in any city in the world
within 24 hours," says Adriënne
Lansbergen, press officer at the
flower auction, and continues: "The
average flower has a "lifetime" of
about a week. This means that it
loses about 15 percent of its value in
one single day. Therefore only three

14 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006

things matter in our business: to be
quick, to be quick and to be quick...".
It's just after 12 noon and Piet
Visser climbs into the cab of his
chalk-white, brand-new Volvo
FH12. A cowboy's Stetson graces
his head.
"I drive better that way," he says and
laughs. Today he's in a hurry, like on
most other days. He has just loaded a
trailer full of flowers. In just another
hour or so the rig will be rolling on
board the high-speed ferry to
England, where four flower-shops are
awaiting new deliveries. "The
customers don't like to wait. I have
to deliver my load before four
o'clock tomorrow morning, so it's a
matter of picking up the pace and
keeping things moving."
Piet Visser drives trucks for Hilverda
De Boer, one of the leading Dutch
flower exporters. The company's head
office is located just a stone's throw
from Aalsmer's flower auction and is
linked to it via an automated
conveyor belt hovering about ten
metres above the ground which
carries fresh flowers from the trading
floor at the auction-house directly
into the company's warehouse.
On the floor of this 90,000 square
metre facility the pace is as fast as it
is inside the auction-house across the
street. Flowers enter at one end in
the morning, are taken in, repacked
and despatched to the loading pier
Facts, Aalsmer ’s flower auction

A cooperative owned
Has an operational hall which are used only for
by just over 3000 growers totalling 1 million square roses.
in the Netherlands. 1800 metres, corresponding to
The clocks work
employees from 135 165 football fields. according to the “Dutch
countries.
The most important pricing “system, whereby

One of a total of seven product is roses, followed by the price begins high
flower auctions in the tulips and chrysanthemums. and gradually falls to the
Netherlands. The largest Annual turnover of more level at which the first
single flower market in the than two billion roses. buyer bids. This system
world, with a daily turnover counteracts price rigging

Has five auction
of 19 million cut flowers and favours open
chambers with a total of 13
and two million plants. buyers’ clocks, three of competition.
with its eight bays at the far end of dispatched by air. The companies have
the building. about twenty buyers located
throughout the flower market, each
The entire warehouse is air-
specialising in a handful of flower
conditioned to maintain the correct
temperature for the vulnerable flowers varieties whose characteristics and
at all times. The same applies to the commercial viability they know inside-
company's eight trucks. out. What is more, the company also
buys flowers directly from growers in
"On average we maintain between five
the Netherlands and abroad.
and six degrees in the trailer,
depending on outside temperature and For Johan Hilarides, President of
the type of flowers we're Hilverda De Boers, every new day in
carrying. Roses, for example, the flower business is a new,
should preferably be demanding and exciting challenge.
transported cold. Orchids, on
"I know of no other market that is so
the other hand, don't like
open and transparent as ours is. All the
the cold," explains Piet Visser.
competitors sit beside each other near
HILVERDA DE BOER exports the clock and know exactly what the
flowers to the whole world. However, others are buying, how much and at
it's only the customers in Europe who what price. We trade in identical goods
get their colourful loads delivered by and can only compete on the basis of
truck. Flowers for customers in Asia, our peripheral services, such as various
the USA and the Middle East are logistics solutions or service packages.
WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006
15
"So all told, we have to be alert. If
you don't like competition, you're in
the wrong business!" he continues
with a laugh.
NONETHELESS, THE FUTURE OF
the Dutch flower industry looks
fairly promising. Traditional large
export markets such as Germany
and France may admittedly be
satiated for the moment, but further
to the east new, growing markets
have opened up in recent years
owing to the expansion of the EU
and the increased trade and growth
that this brings.
"Flowers are a luxury product tied
rather closely to income-related
demand. Sales increase in good
economic times, although things
can change very quickly if taxes
are raised or the economy suffers
a downturn," says Johan Hilarides.
In the courtyard below his office
window Piet Visser rumbles away
with his fully loaded truck, heading
north for the coast. Today he is
driving alone, as always on the
shorter routes. For longer runs, for
instance up to Scandinavia, the
company always uses two drivers.
"All so as to keep the truck rolling
as much as possible. It is immensely
important that the deliveries get there
quickly," explains Johan Hilarides.
And it's easy to take him at his
word. Just after three in the
afternoon, most of the deliveries
have been sent on their way. Out in
the warehouse, the buzz of activity
is beginning to slow down.
A hectic working day begins to draw
to a close.
A short distance away, Adriënne
Lansbergen walks quickly through
the flower auction's enormous
working hall. The occasional fork-lift
truck slides by with the last of the
many flowers that have to be shipped
off, out into the wide world beyond.
On the floor are the last
remnants of the day's
business: crushed flowers
and torn leaves are mixed
with plastic strips and bits of
colourful cartons.
"Now you can see what we really
work with here: it's not about
flowers, but about logistics," she says
and continues:
"We break up the "bulk". The trucks
that come in here in the morning
are filled with flowers of one and
the same sort. That trucks that leave
here later carry a wide range to
several florists. In the period between
the two we set prices for the flowers
and ready them for export."
Sounds simple. But still: flowers are
an extremely demanding commodity.
Sensitive and short-lived, they are
sold at low prices and in large
volumes, in the face of razor-sharp
competition and on markets that are
anything but predictable. Making a
profit from them is no easy task.
"However, our goal as a cooperative
is not to turn a profit but rather to
set optimum prices for our members'
products," says Adriënne Lansbergen.
Facts, Hilverda De Boer

Part of the Hilverda Group and one
of Holland’s leading exporters of cut
flowers..

Has 250 employees and exports to
50 countries the world over.

Head office in Aalsmer, Holland, with
sales offices in the USA and Japan.

Has eight trucks for the company’s
own transport requirements. Seven Volvo
FH12, of which three were purchased in
spring 2005.

Each of the trucks covers about
200,000 kilometres a year, mainly
travelling to Sweden, Britain, Germany
and France. For the other markets, the
company uses external haulage firms.
Since 2003, the American journalist Tim Barton started an exciting journey around
the world. The ambition was to cover as many countries as possible in the Volvo
world and to tell the story from the roads. His plan? To go around the world in 80
Volvo trucks! Here is the snap shot of Tim’s passage through India in a Volvo truck

“In the seventh month of a circumnavigation of the globe

sponsored by Volvo Trucks, I find myself on the Indian National
Highway, going from Bangalore to New Delhi. It is the twenty-
fifth Volvo in which I have ridden in over thirty countries. This
experience is unique among them all. In Brazil and Bolivia, I
travelled on dirt roads that had been pioneered by a Volvo
customer in Volvo FM12's. I have ridden across the
Arabian Peninsula and back again. In
Australia, I have crossed the Outback in
road trains 50 meters long. But conditions
on India's highways are more challenging
than any of these experiences.
It took four days to reach New Delhi, a
distance of 2500 kilometers. Driving a Volvo
FM9 300, with no trailer, we were able to move rapidly
among the great variety of vehicles and living things that use
the road. In India as nowhere else, the road becomes the
substrata upon which people live their lives. It is not simply
that all kinds of freight are moving to distant destinations.
Rather it is that trucks, cars, rickshaws, bicycles, water buffalo,


N
camels, compete for space and subsistence in a constant dance.
It is a dangerous environment yet people react casually to the
danger. The habits created from living close to speeding traffic
is in itself a kind of protection that enables people to go about
their daily lives without
constant fear.
For this visitor from
America, where the roads
are orderly and traffic is
almost solely trucks and
cars, India's national
highway demonstrate how
much cooperation is
possible among a wide
variety of machines and
living things. It is humbling
to recognize the extent to
which this cooperation
permits the flow of traffic
to move forward while
creating an intimate texture
of metal and flesh”.
Tim Barton,
theroadaround.com
1000th Volvo B7R
handed over to KS
On 10th April 2006, Volvo rolled out
its 1000th Volvo Bus into the Indian
market for KSRTC. This 1000th Bus
was flagged off from the Volvo’s
Hoskote Plant by Karnataka Chief
Minister HD Kumaraswami, in the
presence of Jan Vandooren, Head &
VP, Volvo Buses, South Asia.
The Volvo B7R inter-city buses being
delivered to KSRTC, is the 111th
for the Corporation, and is the
3rd generation of the B7R model
in India.
Speaking to the media in Bangalore,
Mr. Jan Vanderoon, Head & Vice
18 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006
President – Volvo Buses, South Asia
said, “The 1000 Volvo Buses in India
provide value that is far greater than
the numbers they represent. These
1000 buses connect over 100 key
destinations across the country and in
each case, they redefine the way we
experience bus travel in terms of
comfort, safety and efficiency. For
our customers, it’s a clear competitive
advantage. The first lot of our buses
are still going strong, even after
clocking 1,50,0000 kms. The amount
of savings in terms of total life-cycle
costs and fuel efficiency has been
significant. We are doing more with
less - more passengers moved, with
greater comfort and safety; with more
kms clocked per month but with
significantly lesser fuel consumption,
lesser emissions released, lesser risks
on the road and fewer unplanned stops.
Eventually, it is our customers who
are driving the change. Such as
KSRTC, who have not only
successfully inculcated the concept
and driven it forward but have
ensured that they add-on even higher
value to their passengers through
well-trained drivers, customer
conveniences and streamlined &
efficient operation.
KSRTC is one of the largest bus
operators in the Southern Region
offering an extensive service network
in Karnataka and also to important
destinations in the neighbouring
states. The key bus routes they cover
are from Bangalore to adjacent states
and the longest route amongst these
is from Bangalore to Mumbai
covering 1100 kms.
in India
SRTC

Jan Vandooren, Head & Vice President - Volvo Buses, South Asia handing over the keys to
Sri N Chaluvarayaswamy Transport Minister, Government of Karnataka

WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006

19
 Traditional "green" coolant
and new "yellow" coolant
New Volvo coolant for modern Volvo truck engines
A brand new Volvo coolant is now available for the new generation of Volvo truck engines.
The new "yellow coolant" or Volvo Coolant VCS is a new, effective solution, which contains
organic acids and does not require a coolant filter.

Coolants are useful in cold countries during the winter
months. Apart from offering anti-freeze protection,
the use of a coolant also prevents corrosion on metal
surfaces, protects rubber and plastic components from
cracking and decomposing and protects the engine
from over-heating. It also eliminates deposits in the
cooling system.
Until the autumn of 2005, Volvo Trucks only offered
one coolant product, the "green" Volvo Coolant. In
combination with Volvo's coolant filter, this product
provides excellent anti-freeze and corrosion protection
for truck engines.
Now Volvo has developed a new coolant solution, for
the latest generation of Volvo truck engines, Volvo
Coolant VCS or "yellow coolant". The new inhibitor
package is based on organic acids, rather than the more
traditional silicate. Neither coolants contain nitrate,
amine or phosphate.
It should be noted that different types of coolants
should not be mixed, as the two products are build on
entirely separate technologies and contain inhibitors that
can not be used together. Furthermore, Volvo Coolant
VCS must not be employed with the coolant filter that
was used in older trucks.
"Our customers need to know that there are two Volvo-
branded coolants in the market, a new one for modern
trucks and the previous one for older models. Most
importantly, they need to know which product is
appropriate for the engines in their vehicles," comments
Lars Forssberg, Product Manager Nordic Region.

20 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006

TVS School, tops
Volvo Adventure National Finals
This year, students from TVS HSS School,
Madurai bagged the first prize, competing
with over 50 Indian schools for their
project on “Wastage of drinking water”.
This team has won an all-expenses paid
trip to attend the Global finals of the
Volvo Young Environmentalists Awards
in Goteborg, Sweden. The second prize
was jointly awarded to Padma Seshadhri
Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School,
Chennai for their project “Milestones in
Chennai’s waste management”, along
with the team
‘Plastic Assassins’ from Hyderabad for their project
promoting ‘Eco-friendly Bags’. Both the teams will
receive cash grants in support of their projects.
Dr. Madhav Gadgil, eminent environmentalist from India
who also judge the competition commented on the
winning team “The project from TVS School, Madurai
addresses a concrete and immediate environmental
problem for the students, namely, wastage and
consequent unavailability of drinking water in later part
of the school hours. Having verified that there should be
adequate water for the student body if it was efficiently
used, the students identified the root causes, namely
leaky taps, waste of water while drinking with cupped
hands and use of water for non-drinking purposes. The
solutions were straightforward, but involved disciplined
behaviour on part of all concerned. These were
implemented leading to a very substantial reduction in
water requirements, ensuing drinking water supply till
end of school hours. It is a neat model of how social
discipline and cooperation could alleviate many of the
world’s environmental problems.”
There were many a projects from
India which, could be classified as
international class. These projects
ranged across a variety of topics -
solid waste management, recycle of
plastic, solution to pesticide pollution,
propagating the use of bio- diesel,
rainwater harvesting, running a
systematic campaign on saving the tiger
and many others.
The winners from TVS school will now travel to
Sweden to participate in the global finals in Goteborg
with 10 international teams.”
The Volvo Adventure programme started
back in 2002 and is now running for the
fourth consecutive year. It is a joint project
run by the Volvo Group, Volvo Car
Corporation and United Nations
Environment Programme, UNEP. Volvo
Adventure is open to young people around
the world aged between 10 and 16 years.
Teams must constitute between two to five
young people with one adult as supervisor.
Read more about Volvo Adventure Project
at www.volvoadventure
www.volvoadventure.org
.volvoadventure.org
WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006
21
The all-new Volvo EC
The EC 700 - an aggressive! rugged! stout! powerful! balanced! Machine
At a splendid launch, Volvo Construction Equipments
launched its new EC 700B Excavator and G930
Motor Grader.
Both these equipments EC700B and G930 come with
specialized features giving it an edge over other similar
products existing in the market.
It is the new gold standard in production digging. Built on
extensive customer inputs and exhaustive research, the
Volvo EC700B excavator has a commanding performance
profile.
With world-class Volvo power and advanced hydraulics,
the EC700B powers through its cuts, then moves quickly
and smoothly to either load or dump. The EC700B is 70
tons of steely resolve with an 80-ton resume. It moves
22 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006
material with power and purpose. It sips the fuel while
cutting the trench and loading the bench. It wears like
iron and won't back down. A complete revolution in the
world of production digging.
The EC 700B is so comfortable that it is like an
operator's second home. Everything is within easy reach.
A great seat. Climate air. Well-placed controls, expansive
view, quiet; it has all that it takes to make the best cab.
Keeping a 70-ton production excavator finely tuned and
primed for work is crucial to the success on the job site.
The Volvo EC700B is built for easy serviceability and
maintenance. After all, the faster routine checks, filter
changes and greasing are done; the faster the machine
gets back to where it belongs and that is working.
Mrityunjay Singh Head of Volvo Construction
Equipments division India said, "When we designed the
new EC700B, we examined every component of our
excavators to determine how to maximise comfort,
reliability, productivity and serviceability. We focused on
a few key areas to make it happen. The result as you can
see is an all-new, Volvo-designed engine that is reliable
and performance-driven, built to perfectly match
hydraulic output levels for maximum productivity. A
hydraulic system that is both tough and intelligent,
designed to respond to the slightest operator command.
A cabin with a full range of operator conveniences and
comforts to help the work day go smooth".
700B and G930
The Volvo G390 Motor Grader
Volvo
Another state of the art addition to Volvo's range of
Motor Graders is the G390 used for mining and road
building construction. It's high blade down force of 8244
kgs allows deep cuts without front-end drift. G930's
strong blade pull of 9675 kgs helps get the most out of
each pass. Its high performance, heavy-duty 6-cylinder
turbocharged diesel engine giving maximum net power of
145 kW allows to get more done with less effort.
This machine gives the flexibility of multiple operating
modes and smooth shifting for fast cycle times. Its
shuttle shifting allows reduction of cycle times and
operator fatigue.
A heavy-duty front axle gives greater manouverability
with a shorter turning radius and excellent ground
clearance.
Both the EC700B and G93 are Volvo's new products
that have high reliability in terms of power, production
and profitability that anyone working with construction
equipments demands. With these machines, people can
work confidently with peace of mind because of its
inbuilt features that makes operator, jobsite and
environmental safety as important as engine power. Volvo
is a company that diligently trains employees to put
sensitivity toward the environment in everything they do.
WHEELS • Issue1 • 2006
23

An "X-ray" view of a Volvo truck.
The "Inner Volvo" campaign highlights the features and
components that are not clearly visible on the outside,
yet perform vital functions on the inside.
A brand new, shiny Volvo truck is only as good as the
technology it contains under the surface and the service
it receives during its life. While customers choose Volvo
for quality and safety, some then go on to buy service
and parts elsewhere. This appears to be an unnecessary
saving, considering how comparatively small the cost of
parts and service actually is.
"According to our research, the cost of parts represents
only five per cent of the cost of buying and running a
truck. It cannot be worth compromising on safety and
quality for such a small amount of money,
comparatively," says Lars Öwrin, Project Manager, After-
market Marketing.
24 WHEELS • Issue 1 • 2006
PROTECT
YO U R
INNER
VOLVO
By always insisting on Genuine Volvo Service,
carried out by skilled technicians, according to Volvo
specifications, you are taking measures to safeguard
the quality and life-cycle of your truck. Only then,
can you be sure that Genuine Volvo Parts are used
every time and in the way Volvo intended.
"We have the parts that were originally intended for
the vehicle. Our experts have selected that particular
technology for a reason. Don't look elsewhere for the
sake of a small saving as you risk losing so much more
in the long run," Lars Öwrin explains.