First Volvo R70 in Europe begins work at German limestone quarry

Built at Volvo CE’s Motherwell plant in Scotland, the Stage V machine has been delivered to SHF Steinbruchbetriebe for use at its Bettenfeld Quarry.

The R70 offers a 65-tonne payload and a 42.4m³ body capacity. Its V-shaped body is designed to for efficient loading and rapid material discharge, while quick lifting and lowering cycles aim to increase productivity.

The hauler also uses MacPherson steering geometry, with compact struts mounted at the top of the body and at the bottom of the single lower wishbone. Volvo CE said the configuration improves manoeuvrability, ride comfort and control on uneven quarry haul roads.

Volvo CE’s R70 rigid hauler offers a 65-tonne payload and a 42.4m³ body capacity. (Image: Volvo CE)

SHF’s rigid haulers typically accumulate between 25,000 and 35,000 operating hours over their service lives.

“Fuel consumption is important to us, and so is the overall economic performance of the machine,” said Klaus Schneider, managing director at SHF.

“We want to embrace and test new technologies,” added Sven Kersten, co-managing director at SHF. “But ultimately it comes down to cost-effectiveness, value for money and keeping our operators satisfied.”

SHF has operated rigid haulers since the late 1990s and previously relied on Terex machines. Volvo CE acquired Terex’s rigid hauler manufacturing operation in Motherwell in 2014.

“The customer was looking for a Volvo machine that could deliver both efficiency and performance,” said Volker Bonnke, technical product specialist at Volvo CE. “The R70 has been designed to meet those expectations, combining high productivity with operator comfort and safety.”

Sven Kersten, co-managing director at SHF, Volker Bonnke, technical product specialist at Volvo CE and Klaus Schneider, managing director at SHR (Image: Volvo CE)