Volvo Construction Equipment inaugurates new customer centre

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has inaugurated its new North American customer centre. Congressman Bill Shuster, Congressman Lou Barletta, Congressman Scott Perry, Volvo CE Americas President Göran Lindgren, Swedish Ambassador to the US Björn Lyrvall, and other dignitaries, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. The inauguration marks the realisation of Volvo CE’s US$ 100 million investment in its Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, facility, which was announced in 2011.

The investment confirms the company’s long-term commitment to the North American market. The opening of the customer centre represents the consolidation of Volvo CE’s operations on one site, which included moving the Americas sales headquarters from North Carolina to Pennsylvania and localising machine production in Shippensburg. Volvo’s continued investments reinforce its belief that the economic climate for the construction industry in the region is improving.

“The investments we have made show that Volvo CE is better positioned than ever before to support our dealers and offer our customers a unique experience,” said Volvo CE Americas President Göran Lindgren. “The customer centre is designed to give our customers and dealers hands-on experience with our machines and provide the help they need to put them to good use through training, information and support.”

Left to right: President of Volvo CE Dealer Advisory Council Brad Stimmel, Swedish Ambassador to the United States Björn Lyrvall, U.S. Congressmen Scott Perry, Volvo CE America’s President Göran Lindgren, U.S. Congressmen Bill Shuster, U.S. Congressmen Lou Barletta, Pennsylvania Senator Richard Alloway and Pennsylvania Representative Rob Kauffman.

Customer centre

The 40 acre Volvo CE customer centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to combine sales and operator training with customer and company dealer visits, as well as large-scale events. It includes a 20 000 ft² (1858 m²) customer event facility for the company’s dealers and customers. A new equipment demonstration area replicates actual job sites, helping to accurately demonstrate real world equipment performance. The customer centre will also house the road institute for customer training in the near future.

Lindgren estimates that more than 6000 customers, operators and dealer personnel are expected to visit the new complex for training, as well as sales and marketing activities, annually. An important feature is a demonstration area where customers get firsthand experience of the features, benefits and advantages of Volvo construction equipment. Customers can get hands-on understanding of more than 70 different models to experience the machines’ capabilities. Segment areas will be designed to not only highlight the company’s GPPE, Utility and Road Machinery products, but also specialty machines such as Volvo CE’s pipelayers and high-reach demolition excavators. The segment areas will also include:

• Gravel and dirt mounds for excavation.
• A challenging 1.5 mile test track with steep grades.
• A purpose-built ground structure to demonstrate the articulated haulers.
• A replica quarry application for the L350 wheel loader.

The Shippensburg facility makes more than 50 models of construction equipment, including wheel loaders, soil and asphalt compactors, motor graders, pavers, screeds and milling machines. Operations include welding, large machining, paint and assembly. About 1000 people are employed at the facility.

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/27062014/volvo_construction_equipment_inaugurates_new_customer_centre_432/