African Review - Construction

Construction

Next-gen Volvo CE excavators redefine power and efficiency

All models support Volvo Dig Assist, an optional intelligent machine control system that enhances excavation accuracy and efficiency. (Image source: Volvo CE)

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has introduced a new lineup of excavators tailored for Africa and the Middle East

The six advanced models—EC210, EC220, EC230, EC260, EC300, and EC360—offer a combination of state-of-the-art technology, durability, and efficiency, catering to diverse industrial applications.

These excavators integrate engine-pump optimisation technology, improving fuel efficiency by up to 15% over previous models. Designed for higher productivity and lower emissions, they provide significant cost savings while maintaining superior performance. A redesigned cab enhances operator comfort and usability.

“These new generation excavators can deliver premium quality and heavy-duty performance,” commented Olle Watz, excavator product manager at Volvo CE Region International. “They mark another way Volvo CE is continuing to understand and adapt to the unique needs of customers and end-users by providing superior, highly productive options.”

How do they excel?

Suitable for sectors such as agriculture, roadwork, construction, trenching, and quarrying, the six excavator models offer reliability and efficiency. Built on decades of engineering expertise, they incorporate intelligent machine control and a strong legacy in the region.

“These machines have been developed with a focus on reliability and adaptability, ensuring they excel in varying conditions, offer best-in-class fuel efficiency, and deliver value to operators worldwide,” added Olle.

The EC210, EC220, and EC230 models handle heavy loads and rough terrain with ease, while the EC260, EC300, and EC360 provide higher capacity for demanding tasks.

A newly designed, ROPS-certified cab enhances ergonomics, streamlines controls, and features an advanced human-machine interface (HMI). Operators benefit from improved visibility, noise reduction, and an efficient HVAC system.

“With the cab, it’s a totally new design with a more intuitive layout,” explained Olle. “Whilst we’ve prioritised productivity and power, it’s not to the expense of operator comfort.”

All models support Volvo Dig Assist, an optional intelligent machine control system that enhances excavation accuracy and efficiency. Features such as real-time weighing, automated digging, and 360° machine visibility through Volvo Smart View improve on-site safety and performance. Operators can also set depth, height, and swing limits for added control.

Powered by Volvo’s trusted engines and advanced hydraulics, these machines ensure smooth, precise movements and reduced cycle times. Lower engine RPM decreases fuel consumption and carbon emissions, delivering sustainability without compromising power.

“The new generation of Volvo excavators are built to meet the evolving demands of the industrial landscape,” concluded Olle. “Volvo CE is once again helping customers have the right tools for their specific needs.”

Also read: Revolutionising hauling with next-gen Volvo models

XCMG exports heavy machinery to Simandou

XCMG is supply machinery to Guinea's Simandou project (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Africa has been one of the standout export markets for XCMG Machinery so far in 2025, the Chinese company reported in a statement

It singled out Guinea’s Simandou iron ore mega project as one that has ordered some of its heavy construction machinery in recent months.

Simandou is one of the largest mining and associated infrastructure projects in Africa right now.

XCMG said in a 24 February statement that it had kicked off 2025 with “a series of high-profile product deliveries to customers worldwide”, grouping Guinea with various other international markets around the globe.

XCMG shipped a batch of its high-end open-pit mining equipment, valued at RMB318mn (US$44mn), it noted, with a shipment that includes 90-ton, 135-ton, and 400-ton mining excavators, as well as 130-ton mining trucks.

The products were destined for major mining sites such as Simandou, as well as the Fortescue project in Australia, and several undisclosed sites in South America.

“Demonstrating its unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability and international growth, XCMG has shipped hundreds of state-of-the-art machines, including mining equipment, aerial work platforms, new energy loaders, high-end commercial vehicles and concrete machinery, to key markets across the globe,” the statement read.

The Simandou orders are significant and reflect growing interest in the Africa market by XCMG, which already has a mining truck assembly line in Nigeria.

It also reflects the scale of Guinea’s new iron ore project, which is being developed jointly by various Chinese investors alongside British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto.

The scheme includes a new railway line to carry shipments from the Simandou mountain range in the remote forests of southeastern Guinea to export ports along the coast.

The iron ore resource is estimated at around 1.5 billion tonnes.

Additionally, XCMG said it delivered its first batch of underground mining machinery for 2025 to various other international markets, including advanced models such as XUD135, XUL305A and XUL307

“With breakthroughs in remote control and autonomous driving technologies, XCMG's underground mining equipment has been exported to over 10 countries in South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia, with sales exceeding 1,000 units,” the statement noted.

Other global exports shipped so far in 2025 include electric wheel loaders, aerial work platforms and various unspecified commercial vehicles.

The company also reported that it had shipped a batch of complete sets of concrete machinery, including pump trucks and mixers, to various undisclosed countries in the Middle East.

“These machines will play a pivotal role in local municipal infrastructure projects, contributing to the region's development,” it noted.

US$15bn Simandou project closes in Guinea

XCMG heavy equipment levels up with IoT services

Revolutionising hauling with next-gen Volvo models

A50 underscores the company’s commitment to meeting evolving customer needs by providing more choices and improved operational capabilities. (Image source: Volvo)

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced a comprehensive update to its globally recognised articulated hauler lineup, marking the most extensive product portfolio renewal in decades

The revamped range now includes models from A25 to A60, featuring significant technological advancements aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and adaptability for future drivetrain developments. A notable addition to the lineup is the all-new A50 model, which expands customer options in the demanding hauler segment.

A new range from A25 to A60

A pioneer in the articulated hauler industry since introducing ‘Gravel Charlie’ in 1966, Volvo CE is rolling out its latest lineup in a phased global release throughout 2025. This upgrade represents a significant technological leap, incorporating a new electronic system and an in-house developed transmission that delivers fuel efficiency improvements of up to 15%, depending on the model and application. Designed with adaptability in mind, the new haulers are constructed to integrate seamlessly with future drivetrains.

Introducing the A50 model

One of the most exciting highlights of the launch is the debut of the A50 model, which enhances Volvo CE’s offering in the hauler segment. Available in selected markets, the A50 underscores the company’s commitment to meeting evolving customer needs by providing more choices and improved operational capabilities. The updated haulers are engineered to lower the total cost of ownership while ensuring maximum safety and productivity, especially when combined with Volvo CE’s digital solutions such as Haul Assist with onboard weighing.

Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE, emphasised the company’s legacy of innovation,“For nearly 60 years we have been leading the way with our range of articulated haulers and now with today’s launch of a new range of outstanding products, including one completely new model, we prove that there are no limits to our capacity for innovation. Our customers know to expect a first-class operation when they get into one of our haulers, but that experience has just got even better with a host of cutting-edge features designed with our customers in mind.”

A circular approach to sustainability

The new range is designed to be among the most fuel-efficient hauling solutions on the market, incorporating sustainability-focused elements such as low-carbon emission steel made from recycled materials. This steel, produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas, is being integrated into the serial production of haulers at Volvo CE’s Braås site. Given that steel is a major component in Volvo CE’s products and is traditionally a significant source of carbon emissions, this material circularity initiative aligns with the company’s broader sustainability strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

A step towards the future

With over 35% of its total range renewed in the past 12 months, Volvo CE is taking a decisive step towards shaping the future of construction equipment. This latest product overhaul continues the company’s long-standing tradition of setting industry benchmarks for innovation and operational excellence, just as it did in 1966. By integrating cutting-edge features and sustainable manufacturing practices, Volvo CE reinforces its leadership in the articulated hauler segment and its commitment to meeting the challenges of tomorrow’s construction industry.

Also read: Volvo CE adopts low-carbon steel

Revamping Tanzania’s vital transport links

AfDB commits $2.5bn to Tanzania for roads, rail, airports, and connectivity. (Image source: East African Community)

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged US$2.5bn to support priority infrastructure projects in Tanzania

Mumina Wa-Kyendo, AfDB’s chief transport engineer for Tanzania, revealed that over 70% of the funding is dedicated to transport infrastructure, covering roads, railways, and airports. Among the key projects benefiting from this investment is the Tanzanian segment of the multinational Tanzania/Kenya 400-km Bagamoyo – Pangani – Tanga – Horohoro/Lunga Lunga – Mombasa – Malindi road. This corridor, currently under construction in both nations, is part of the broader Coastal Transport Corridor stretching from Lamu, Kenya, to Mtwara, Tanzania.

Infrastructure boost

According to Wa-Kyendo, AfDB has allocated US$100mn for the Tanzanian portion of the project, which, once completed, will enhance mobility along the East African coast. The improved infrastructure is expected to cut the travel distance between Dar es Salaam and Tanga by approx 90 km, saving more than an hour of travel time. It will also create a new route to Tanga via Bagamoyo and Pangani, reducing reliance on the Central Corridor.

Other priority projects funded by AfDB include the Nyakanazi – Kabingo – Kasulu – Kumnazi road in western Tanzania, the Mawala – Masasi road in the south, the Tabora – Kigoma – Uvinza railway extending to Musongati in Burundi, and Dodoma (Msalato) International Airport in Tanzania’s capital.

Wa-Kyendo made these remarks in Tanga after a two-day inspection of the Bagamoyo-Pangani-Tanga stretch. The mission included representatives from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, Tanzania’s Ministry of Works and Transport, Kenya’s Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure, the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA).

AfDB’s funding is contingent on the efficient execution of projects, which is crucial for securing additional support. Wa-Kyendo emphasised the importance of transport infrastructure in facilitating trade and regional integration, urging greater collaboration between the Northern and Central Corridor transit authorities.

“We need to have a region where transport works, put in place roads and railways of the best standards. This is because national and supra-national interests sometimes conflict,” Wa-Kyendo noted.

He also highlighted an oversight in the management of the corridor linking the Northern and Central corridors, calling for urgent intervention by EAC Partner States.

The EAC is currently conducting a feasibility and funding options study for the Kenya/Uganda multinational Kisumu – Busia / Jinja – Kakira – Malaba (including Busitema – Busia Spur) Expressway, aimed at improving transport efficiency along the Northern Corridor.

Also read: Tunisia to upgrade road infrastructure through AfDB support

Second Condra crane for Tongaat Hulett

Workshop_showing_construction_of_metal_crane_cabin

Condra works on second crane order (PHOTO CREDIT: Condra Cranes)

South Africa’s Condra is to manufacture a second overhead crane for Tongaat Hulett’s Maidstone sugar mill in KwaZulu-Natal

The order is for a 23-metre-span double girder electric overhead travelling crane with 25-ton main hoist and 8-ton auxiliary, to work in conjunction with the existing millhouse crane and a 10-ton Condra crane commissioned in the bagasse store in March 2024. The value of the order was not disclosed.

Maidstone is one of four South African sugar mills operated by Tongaat Hulett, a leading agriculture and agri-processing company.

In the bagasse store, the 10-ton crane is already used to move and position conveyors feeding fibrous raw residue (bagasse) into Maidstone’s secondary processing system. Left over as waste after harvesting juice from the sugarcane, bagasse is used after processing as a biofuel, and in the manufacture of paper pulp and building materials.

The new 25/8-ton crane will help operate and maintain the mill house.

“Condra was able to meet Tongaat Hulett’s technical requirements for Maidstone’s new crane because of modular products that facilitate manufacture of a customised lifting solution; this instead of having to shoehorn a standard machine – often imported – into the application, an approach frequently followed by rival firms,” the company said in a 3rd February statement.

“Such modular design comes very close to the theoretical ideal: all elements of the crane – hoist, crab, end-carriages, drives and controls – are themselves assembled from a wide array of component parts. Only the crane girders are manufactured from scratch.

"For Tongaat Hulett’s new mill house crane, Condra precisely tailored its design to match the specification, paying particular attention to combinations of rope, drum and pulley to achieve the necessary hoist reeving arrangements for accurate load positioning over the considerable lifting heights of 12 metres on the main hoist, and 12.2 metres on the auxiliary.”

A striking feature will be the air-conditioned control cabin with docking station for the remote control instead of the more usual hard-wired control panel.

This will allow the operator to use the same control unit for remote operation from the floor, from overlooking office, or docked within the cabin as an integral part of the cabin’s dashboard.

There will be digital read-outs from hoist loadcells, while an independent pendant control will provide back-up and additional flexibility.

An ultrasonic anti-collision system will reliably prevent accidental contact with the existing mill house crane that will remain in the bay.

Other features include frequency drives on the long travel, cross travels and hoists, full-length walkways with fibreglass grating on both sides of the crane, IP65 brakes, IP65 panels, stainless steel fasteners, floodlights, safety lights and siren, full seam welds with rounded edges, lifting lugs and a special paint finish.

Besides the installed 10-ton crane and 25/8-ton crane on order, Condra has previously delivered a monorail hoist and crawl to Tongaat Hulett’s Zimbabwe mill.

Delivery of the new 25/8-tonner is scheduled for April, with installation and commissioning to be executed by authorised agent Natal Cranes & Hoists.

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