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SANDVIK TO ACQUIRE MINE OPTIMISATION SOFTWARE VOLVO MAKES E-HAULER INVESTMENT
PROVIDER Volvo Construction Equipment said it is investing into the future of
Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire Polymathian its facility in Braås, Sweden, the home of its range of articulated EQUIPMENT
Industrial Mathematics (“Polymathian”), an Australia-based haulers, as a signal of its commitment to lead the transformation
provider of advanced mine optimization software and services. across all products toward a more sustainable construction future.
Polymathian’s product offering includes mining operations The company has announced its intention to invest SEK 360 million
optimisation and simulation software for areas such as extraction – approximately US$32.7million – into its production facility in Braås,
process, material flow, energy and fuel consumption, and Sweden between now and 2027.
maintenance efficiency. The facility in Braås specializes in the design and manufacture of
articulated haulers for the global market. It produced a fossil-free
construction machine that was the first in the world to be delivered
to a customer - an A30G which is now in use on customer NCC’s
worksite.
The decision to invest in Braås was made by AB Volvo’s board of
directors and means that the factory will be adapted over the
coming years to enable it to produce a larger range of articulated
haulers with different types of powertrains to reflect the shift in
demand towards equipment with more sustainable power sources.
Polymathian will be a part of Business Unit Deswik and remain The investment will be used to extend production capacity at
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) agnostic. Sandvik says the 45,000 m² site in southern Sweden to broaden the product
that the acquisition will enable them to further accelerate the range going forwards, with the addition of new buildings and
development of its end-to-end optimisation, BEV (Battery Electric production equipment. Volvo CE will also invest in automation and
Vehicle), and AutoMine offerings. ergonomics to both reduce the need for employees to engage in
“With the acquisition of Polymathian we continue to broaden our repetitive tasks and create a safer work environment.
offering to enhance productivity in our mining customers’ value Volvo CE said that pioneering manufacturing techniques is nothing
chain. Polymathian’s automated decision-making and process new for Braås. Since producing the world’s first series manufactured
optimisation, together with Deswik’s software tools for planning articulated hauler, the “Gravel Charlie”, a 10-ton hauler in 1966,
and managing production, represent a unique combination in the facility has been at the forefront of innovation. As well as
the market,” says Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik. constructing the world’s first articulated hauler made from fossil-
free steel, the site was instrumental in the building of the world’s
NEW FEATURES FOR SENNEBOGEN first prototype articulated hauler powered by hydrogen fuel cells
DEMOLITION EXCAVATOR – the concept Volvo HX04 – which is currently the focus of testing
At the demolition site, two factors determine to develop future hydrogen solutions.
the success of a project: high safety and Braås is also leading the way in environmental protection and was
time- and cost-saving solutions. the first in the construction industry to achieve a carbon neutral
German equipment manufacturer operation powered entirely by renewable energy. In 2018, the site
Sennebogen believes it has met both also became a zero-landfill facility.
requirements with its multifunctional 830 “The transport and construction industry is undergoing a
Demolition machine. The new demolition transformation with, among other things, an increasing number
machine now reaches a height of 23 m (75 of electrified vehicles,” said Jonas Lakhall, site manager at Volvo
ft). It showed the 48 t demolition machine at the recent Bauma CE in Braås. “This investment will enable us to adapt and extend
exhibition with two new equipment features.In addition to three- our production facility so that we can offer a broader range of
part demolition equipment with a maximum pin height of 23 m machines – with different powertrains – to our customers and help
(75 ft), the machine also features a fully hydraulically unloadable them meet their emission reduction ambitions.”
counterweight. Thee 830 Demolition machine, which is described
as suited to applications in inner-city sites, has an outrigger with
a standing width of up to 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) and an elevating cab
that can be tilted up to 30 degrees and give the operator a view
of the equipment that keeps them clear of the danger zone, while
an optional unloadable counterweight reduces transport weight
by around 10 t. According to Sennebogen, the new longfront
equipment for the 830 Demolition enables “even greater distance
from the demolition object and thus even more safety.
“With the AB23 three-part demolition equipment, the 830
Demolition offers higher reach than previous models and work
over projecting edges with the new articulated boom,” the
company said.

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