Volvo extends offering for specialist applications

Volvo Construction Equipment Region Europe has signed a partnership agreement with Sweden’s CeDe Group AB that will see a wide range of specialist machines made available through the Volvo CE European distribution network.

The Zone 3 agreement (a partnership agreement that enables Volvo CE to provide machines for customers that are part manufactured by Volvo and part manufactured by a partner) with Sweden’s CeDe Group means Volvo customers will be able to order road-rail machines, drilling and piling rigs, forestry bucket jibs, tunnelling machines and all-terrain forklift units. The agreement will also see an extended offering from Volvo CE in the demolition and material handling segments.

The range of specialist machines will be made available through the Volvo Construction Equipment dealership network in Europe, commencing with the Nordic markets of Finland, Denmark and Norway. Speaking of the agreement, Global Director Business Development at Volvo CE, Esbjörn Fritzell said:
“This Zone 3 agreement is an ideal way for Volvo CE to grow into new areas. It will give us incremental revenue and enable us to support a wider customer base with good quality products.

“Moreover, the partnership will give us a reliable source for growth that takes us beyond our current capacities. Via this partnership we will be able to dramatically reduce lead-time for customers in these highly specialised applications.”

The agreement will see Volvo CE supply the base machines with part CE marking to CeDe Group who will then adapt them to specific market applications before gaining full CE marking. Nordic Sales and Marketing Manager for Volvo CE Region Europe, Magnus Rieger said: “We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with CeDe Group in a more structured way.

“Certainly, CeDe’s ideas have helped us meet customer needs in the past and this agreement can only strengthen our relationship. I envisage that with the combination of CeDe’s quality workmanship and the strength of the Volvo CE base products, we will be able to turn what are currently individual specialist machines into higher volume specialist machines.

“In the Nordic markets I see great scope for the rail-road machines and the tunnelling units — in both cases I believe there’s a big potential for development.” CeDe, based in Malmo, Sweden has been developing Volvo based products for the past 10 years and the Zone 3 agreement is a key aspect of the company’s ambition to launch its product portfolio in Europe.

CeDe Group’s CEO Göran Bredinger said: “We are extremely happy to sign this partnership agreement with Volvo CE Region Europe. We believe that this partnership will be able to fill gaps in the market segments, which will be good news for customers of both ourselves and Volvo CE.

“Furthermore, this agreement will reduce the lead times from concept to finished product, which should be reflected in greater flexibility and lower costs for customers.”

Mr Bredinger also stated that CeDe has a vision to become the European leader in the production and development of machines for specialist applications. “This agreement therefore represents a quantum step forwards in realising those aims.” He said.