View source for Volvo Construction Equipment

{{Short description|Company developing equipment for construction}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = Volvo Construction Equipment
| logo             = Volvo-Iron-Mark-Black.svg
| logo_size        = 170px
| former_name      = VME Group
| type             = [[Subsidiary]] of the [[Volvo Group]]
| founded          = {{start date|1832}} in [[Eskilstuna]], [[Sweden]]
| founders         = {{ublist|Johan Theofron Munktell|Jean (Johan) Gerhard Bolinder|Carl Gerhard Bolinder}} 
| location         = [[Gothenburg]], Sweden
| areas_served     = Worldwide
| key_people       = {{Unbulleted list
  | Melker Jernberg, <small>(President)</small>
  }}
| industry         = [[Heavy equipment]]
| predecessors     = {{ublist|Eskilstuna Mekaniska Verkstad|Munktells Mekaniska Verkstads Aktiebolag|AB [[Bolinder-Munktell]]|Volvo BM}}
| products         = {{ublist|compactors|demolition equipment|dumpers
                             |excavators|haulers||loaders|material transfer vehicles|milling equipment|motor graders
                             |pavers|pipelayers
                             |road wideners||tack distributors|waste handlers
                     }}
| brands           = {{ublist|[[Volvo]]|[[SDLG]]}}
| revenue          = {{decrease}} {{SEK|50.731 billion|link=yes}} (2016)<ref name="AR2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.volvogroup.com/content/dam/volvo/volvo-group/markets/global/en-en/investors/reports-and-presentations/annual-reports/annual-and-sustainability-report-2016.pdf |pages=81, 92 |title=Annual and Sustainability Report 2016 |publisher=Volvo |access-date=2017-07-11 |archive-date=2017-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702031810/http://www.volvogroup.com/content/dam/volvo/volvo-group/markets/global/en-en/investors/reports-and-presentations/annual-reports/annual-and-sustainability-report-2016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{SEK|2.246 billion}} (2016)<ref name="AR2016"/>
| num_employees    = 13,397 (2016)<ref name="AR2016"/>
| parent           = [[Volvo]]
| subsid = {{plainlist|
* [[SDLG]]
}}
| website          = {{URL|volvoce.com}}
}}

'''Volvo Construction Equipment''' - Volvo CE - (originally '''Munktells, [[Bolinder-Munktell]], Volvo BM''') is a major international company which develops, manufactures, and markets equipment for construction and related industries. It is a [[subsidiary]] and business of the [[Volvo|Volvo Group]].

== Overview ==
Volvo CE's products include a range of [[Loader (equipment)|wheel loaders]], hydraulic [[excavator]]s, [[articulated hauler]]s, motor [[grader]]s, soil and asphalt [[compactors]], [[Paver (vehicle)|pavers]], [[backhoe loader]]s, [[Skid loader|skid steers]], and milling machines. Volvo CE has production facilities in the United States, Brazil, Scotland, Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, India, China, Russia, and South Korea.

Volvo CE sells machines under two brands: Volvo and [[SDLG]].

== History ==
Three men laid the foundation for Volvo Construction Equipment: Johan Theofron Munktell and two brothers Jean Bolinder and Carl Gerhard Bolinder.<ref name=volvoCEHistory>{{cite web|title=Looking Back - Moving Forward|url=http://www.volvoce.com/sitecollectiondocuments/VCE/History/Company/175%20years%2021A1003961-0711.pdf|access-date=5 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015234/http://www.volvoce.com/sitecollectiondocuments/VCE/History/Company/175%20years%2021A1003961-0711.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

* In 1832, Johan Theofron Munktell who was then 27, began what became Volvo Construction Equipment in [[Eskilstuna]], Sweden. In 1913, Munktell and his team produced Sweden's first [[tractor]]. Elsewhere in Sweden, other entrepreneurs were making progress. Jean and Carl Gerhard Bolinder, who were brothers from [[Stockholm]], had been manufacturing steam engines and crude engine oil since 1844.

* In 1932, a century after Johan Theofron Munktell’s began his company in Eskilstuna, Bolinder moved to Eskilstuna and both companies merged under the name AB [[Bolinder-Munktell]]. In 1934, Bolinder Munktell produced the legendary BM 25 tractor.

* In 1950, Volvo bought the machine manufacturer [[Bolinder-Munktell]] (BM). Four years later in 1954, the company produced its first wheel loader H10. It was the world's first loader to feature a parallel lift arm system and attachment bracket, establishing Volvo as one of the leading construction companies in the world. They produced the world's first articulated hauler: the Volvo DR 631 ''Gravel Charlie''-in 1966.

* In 1973, the company changed its name to Volvo BM AB. In 1979, [[Valmet]] partnered with Volvo and produced tractors under the Volvo BM Valmet brand. Valmet and [[Massey Ferguson]] agreed to produce tractors at Massey Ferguson's factory in [[Beauvais]], France. The tractor manufacturing division was sold to [[Valmet]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|title=Valmet Tractors|url=http://tractordata.com/farm-tractors/tractor-brands/valmet/valmet-tractors.html|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Tractor Data}}</ref> Also in 1985, Volvo BM joined the American manufacturer [[Clark Equipment]] and its subsidiary [[Euclid Trucks]]. The product name [[Clark Michigan]] was abbreviated to Michigan and the three brand names Volvo BM, Michigan, and Euclid were incorporated into the new company VME Group.

* In 1991, the [[Åkermans_Verkstad]] (in Swedish) became part of the VME Group and continued to strengthen its position in the construction equipment market. The company had a history of innovation, with AB Åkermans Gjuteri & Mekaniska Verkstad building the first line excavator in 1939 and the first hydraulic excavator in 1962. AB Landsverk also contributed by introducing its own hydraulic excavator in 1968. By 1972, excavator production at AB Landsverk was transferred to AB Åkermans Gjuteri & Mekaniska Verkstad, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.volvoce.com/global/en/products-and-services/past-products/crawler-excavators/kerman-ec-series/ |title=Kerman EC Series - Volvo Construction Equipment|access-date=2025-05-08}}</ref>

* In 1995, VME became a fully owned Volvo company and changed its name to Volvo Construction Equipment. In 1998, Volvo CE became the first foreign company to invest in [[Korea]]. The acquisition of Samsung Heavy Industries (Construction Equipment Division) increased its sales and presence in Asia.

* In January 2007, Volvo purchased 70% of [[SDLG]]. In April of the same year, Volvo also finalized the acquisition of a division of the American company [[Ingersoll Rand]]. The division manufactures machines for road construction. In July 2020, Volvo Construction sold [[Blaw-Knox]] pavers to Gencor Industries Inc. which is in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.equipmentjournal.com/construction-news/blaw-knox-volvo-ce-gencor/ |title=Volvo CE sells Blaw-Knox pavers to Gencor|date=2020-07-31|access-date=2020-08-10}}</ref>

* In December 2013, VCE agreed to pay US$160m for the heavy haul truck line of U.S. manufacturer [[Terex]],<ref>[https://investors.terex.com/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2013/Terex-Agrees-to-Sell-Truck-Business-to-Volvo-for-160-Million/default.aspx Terex Agrees to Sell Truck Business to Volvo for $160 Million] investorsterex.com December 09, 2013</ref> Including Terex Equipment Ltd (TEL) of Scotland.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.quarrymagazine.com/2020/03/19/volvo-ce-takes-on-terex-trucks/ | title=Volvo CE takes on Terex trucks | date=19 March 2020 }}</ref> 

* In December 2020, Volvo began delivering all-electric ECR25 Electric compact excavators to customers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lambert|first=Fred|date=2020-12-17|title=Volvo begins deliveries of its electric construction machinery|url=https://electrek.co/2020/12/17/volvo-begins-deliveries-electric-construction-machinery/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Electrek|language=en-US}}</ref>

* In September 2021 VCE dropped the Terex name and rebranded the business [[Rokbak]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/volvo-drops-terex-brand | title=Volvo drops Terex brand }}</ref>
* In June 2024, Volvo CE completed the divestment of its global ABG paver business to the [[Ammann Group]]. The transaction included ABG’s production and technology centre in [[Hamelin|Hameln]] and paving businesses in [[Bengaluru|Bangalore]] and [[Linyi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01 |title=Volvo Construction Equipment reaches agreement to divest the ABG paver business |url=https://www.volvogroup.com/en/news-and-media/news/2023/dec/volvo-construction-equipment-reaches-agreement-to-divest-the-abg-paver-business.html |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=www.volvogroup.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ammann finalises ABG paver acquisition |url=https://www.globalhighways.com/wh3/news/ammann-finalises-abg-paver-acquisition |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=World Highways |language=en}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
BLAST on Hercules Kiruna 2005.jpeg|A heavily modified Volvo is used during the launch of large [[high altitude balloon|balloon]] payloads at [[Esrange]] in northern [[Sweden]]
Traktor Volvo BM, augusti 2005.jpg|Volvo BM tractor
2009-07-29-schiffshebewerk-ndf-by-RalfR-40.jpg|Volvo A25D
Volvo excavator on construction site, Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Długa Street.jpg|Volvo excavator on construction site in [[Tomaszów Mazowiecki]], Poland
Terex 6300AC.jpg|A Terex 6300AC "Heavy Hauler", one of the biggest dump trucks in the world. c. 2000<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Largest Dump Trucks on Earth|date=April 2008|url=https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/0804dp-10-largest-dump-trucks/}}</ref>  Volvo began to acquire the brand in 2013, and dropped the name in 2021
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commonscat-inline|Volvo construction machines}}
*[https://volvoce.com Volvo Construction Equipment]

{{Authority control}}
{{AB Volvo}}
{{Automotive industry in Sweden}}

[[Category:Construction equipment manufacturers of Sweden]]
[[Category:Volvo Group|Construction]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1832]]
[[Category:Diesel engine manufacturers]]
[[Category:Forklift truck manufacturers]]