Volvo CE using partnerships to meet customer needs

Volvo Construction Equipment has added Unicontrol’s software and app to Volvo’s Co-Pilot in-cab technology suite to enhance its 3D machine control offerings and meet growing demand. 

The collaboration supports Volvo Construction Equipment’s digital innovation strategy, which relies on internal development and external partnerships to stay aligned with market demands, Sam Steeley, service owner for Dig Assist at Volvo CE, told Equipment Finance News. 

“It’s very difficult for one organization to have the breadth of capabilities required to develop, integrate, sell and support the technologies that have become commonplace on the job site,” he said. “Partnerships like these help us maintain pace with evolving market trends.” 

The partnership developed as Volvo CE customers gained interest in the growing Danish tech company, Steeley said. 

“We’ve started hearing requests for their solutions from our customers,” he said. “We have an appreciation for the commercial success they’ve had.” 

3D CE machine control systems 

One goal of the partnership, Steeley said, is to address long-standing challenges in the construction industry, including the complexity and cost of 3D systems. 

“3D machine control systems can be intimidating, expensive and notorious for being a closed ecosystem,” he said. “We aim to give our customers the ability to choose the level of sophistication they need, the ecosystem they prefer and a range of price points.” 

The Unicontrol3D system under development will be fully software-based, requiring no additional hardware beyond what is included with Volvo’s Dig Assist system. With the software, operators using 3D imaging can more accurately execute construction and moving tasks by managing total positioning of the machine, according to Unicontrol. 

“This greatly simplifies all aspects from design, supply chain, manufacturing and technical support,” Steeley said. “This is the future, leveraging a common hardware platform with a variety of 3D machine control partners.” 

Volvo CE and Unicontrol are finalizing the rollout strategy, but the Unicontrol solution will be factory-installed on Volvo excavators thereafter and available as an aftermarket upgrade for E-series models, Steeley said.  

Future of 3D machine control 

Volvo CE will build the development roadmap for the software and app based on customer needs, Steeley said. 

“I believe we’ll continue to see more technologies converge,” he said. “3D machine control will continue to mature toward more sophisticated automation. With enough time, I believe the industry will achieve levels of autonomy.” 

Meanwhile, Leica Geosystems and Develon introduced the Leica MC1 3D machine guidance system as a retrofit option for Develon’s latest excavators, enabling seamless integration with existing 2D sensors and calibration systems, according to an April 8 Leica release. 

“By incorporating the latest in machine control technology, Develon demonstrates its ongoing commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction,” Stephane Dieu, product manager for Develon in Europe, said in the release.  

Looking ahead, Volvo CE remains open to forming additional partnerships that expand its digital capabilities, Steeley said. 

“We believe in giving our customers choice,” he said. “Based on market trends and customer demand, we can bring on additional partners.” 

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