I suspect that many hacks will devote no more than a few sentences to the latest news from Volvo trucks that it’s investing almost SEK 1.1 billion ( £74.3m) in its cab factory in Umeå, presumably declaring it as ‘tres yawnsville’. However, it strikes Biglorryblog that there could be more to this than meets the eye!
For example, according to the official blurb the large dollop of dosh will be spent on: “…new production equipment as well as measures designed to increase capacity and flexibility in the production plant.” New 'flexible' production kit eh? Could it be that the Swedes are gearing up for the next step towards closer integration with Renault—i.e. a high-datum forward control heavy truck cabs for a new future joint tractor range?
The two truck making siblings already share cabs lower down the weight range (on the Midlum/Volvo FL and Volvo FE/Renault Premium Distribution chassis). However, right from the original merger/takeover/call-it-what-you-will, Volvo Group bosses made no secret of the fact that they wanted to achieve high economies of scales through the development of common engineering ‘platforms’.
And after kicking off with engines and gearboxes, and sharing cabs lower down the weight range, a shared high-datum forward control heavy truck cab for Renault and Volvo (and possibly even Mack) heavy tractors strikes Biglorryblog me as the most logical endgame when it comes to consolidation and integration within the group. And right now the FH and the Magnum cabs are about as integrated as gravy and custard.
So is this latest (and whopping great) investment in Umeå a sign of what’s to come asks BLB? Because I can’t believe it’s being done just to build more Volvos…. Indeed returning once again to the official blurb it seems: “…The current two assembly lines will be replaced by a flexible new system where different cab models [note that word different] can be built on one and the same line.” Hmmm interesting….or am I reading too much into it. What do BLB readers think?
Meanwhile, Volvo says its: "Cab factory in Umeå has undergone a number of changes in recent years. Now it is the turn of the bodyshop to be modernised and redesigned to suit an entirely new level of technological advancement. This latest investment encompasses the replacement of production equipment that is almost 20 years old. Previous investments have included the installation of a modern assembly line and a new paintshop – the world’s cleanest in terms of solvent emissions. With regard to the very strong global demand on heavy trucks, there is a need to increase the production volumes at Volvo Trucks world-wide, including the Umeå operation. The company will investigate the possibility to increase the capacity within the framework of the new operating licence. The new adjusted permit to expand to 66,000 cabs per year was granted in April 2007."
Hi Brian from what i read in the commercial motor about the new FH it gave the impression
that the new cabs might share the same the cab frame but the panels will be completly different will this be possible on one assembly line.
I also can't see how Renault can replace the magnum cab with the same cab frame that will replace fm.But i do remember reading an article
in the TRUCK magazine in approx 2002 that the volvo CEO said that two cabs were being developed to replace the volvo Renault and Mack cabs.