Volvo and CECE discuss industry future

The subject of how technology and environmental change are shaping the future of the construction industry were discussed by CECE (the Committee for European Construction Equipment) and Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) on a recent visit to the manufacturer in Sweden.

The visit was led by the association’s secretary general, Riccardo Viaggi, and formed part of a European-wide tour to meet national member associations and companies, and discuss future technology changes, market conditions, pending regulatory issues and the current pressing concerns facing the construction equipment industry.

Volvo CE’s Construction Climate Challenge has included a recent conference in London.

Viaggi said, “An interesting element of the talks was the Construction Climate Challenge, where environmental and social responsibility is used to positively influence and leverage change in the whole construction value chain – an approach that CECE wants to follow in the Brussels arena, as recently proposed and endorsed at the CECE Summit in October.”

The Swedish visit was hosted by Lars Göran Andersson, CECE vice president and chairman of SACE (Swedish Association for Construction Equipment). It included presentations on technical policy and the future of electrification and autonomous machinery, at both Volvo’s Eskilstuna site and the SACE offices in Stockholm. Speakers from Volvo CE included Pelle Bokedal, vice president for strategy, architecture and systems, and representative for the CECE group on technical policy; Stefan Nilsson, global director for laws and regulations at Volvo CE; Carl Slotte, president of sales region EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa); and chief project manager for advanced engineering Uwe Müller.

The visitors also toured Volvo CE’s Technology Centre and the Bolinder Munktell Museum, and took the opportunity to test-drive some of the company’s latest machinery.