Construction equipment manufacturing major Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) has launched its advanced P5320B ABG tracked paver into the Indian market. 

  “With the Government of India having announced its “Make in India” initiative at the end of 2014, this newest product will have even greater appeal for customers in India having been designed and built at the company’s Bangalore factory,” says Martin Weissburg, President of Volvo Construction Equipment globally. He said that there is already a strong interest from the road construction industry for the unit’s exceptional paving quality, productivity, fuel efficiency and ease of operation.

The Indian government has accelerated road building during the past one year and targets to reach 40-km per day in the near future. To support this ambitious road building program, Volvo CE has developed the new P5320B ABG tracked paver, informed Dimitrov Krishnan, Vice President at Volvo CE India.

Commenting on the recent market scenario for construction equipment, Dimitrov said, “After a substantial slowdown, the construction equipment industry in India is witnessing encouraging growth. The overall industry has registered a 20 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year whereas the sale of excavators alone has grown by around 40 per cent during the same period. More recently, the excavators business has registered stupendous growth of 60 per cent between Q4 of FY 14-15 and Q4 of FY15-16.”

According to Volvo CE, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Volvo CE to launch the new 7-metre P5320B Paver which will deliver high productivity and excellent road finish. “The newly launched paver would be ideal for medium and large-scale paving projects where widths range from 2.5 metres up to 7 metres. We have received very positive feedback from our customers regarding the new class of pavers in the Indian market and as usual Volvo CE is at the forefront of changing the market dynamics in the Construction Equipment industry driving lowest cost per tonne,” says Dimitrov.

Lowering costs and increasing profits
The P5320B ABG’s environment-friendly engine delivers best-in-class 88 kW (118 HP) performance capable of pushing 25-tonne trucks, along with quiet, fuel efficient operation. Performance efficiency is further enhanced by the paver’s load sensing hydraulic system, powered by a variable displacement axial piston pump. Here, hydraulics are perfectly matched to all components – from hopper to screed, ensuring less maintenance, a longer lifespan and higher traction performance. An automatic hydraulic track tensioner also maintains accurate track tension for smooth operation, while simultaneously reducing wear and minimising downtime.

In addition, the paver’s material handling system is designed to incorporate hard and extra thick, wear-resistant components, resisting wear and tear from abrasive lay down material. This, together with the multi-level protection design incorporated into every bearing of the material handling system, ensure repair costs over the long-term are kept to a minimum.

Productive and safe functionality
The P5320B ABG’s ability to pave widths up to 7-metre comes courtesy of Volvo’s Omni V screed. This maximum paving width is achieved through the simple installation of optional extensions which attach to the unit’s standard 3-metre track plates. The heavy-duty screed features powerful tamping bars and vibration systems that deliver a high pre-compaction density. An adjustable mechanical crown enables the screed plate to flex at (+/-) 3 degrees as well. The screed’s electronically ignited gas heating system, designed with flame failure protection, quickly and efficiently heats the screed plate, while an LPG blower burner system provides uniform heat for a high quality consistent mat finish.

Operators benefit from the safe and comfortable dual seating position in the paver’s cab, with ergonomically-positioned controls and sliding control panel which enables excellent visibility to the hopper, material deliver truck, auger area, material flow, screed and final mat. There is an ergonomically-designed control panel that includes a colour TFT display that relays information on the paving cycle, as well as details on diagnostics and service data. An all-weather sunshade attached to the cab also reduces fatigue for increased safety and productivity, without sacrificing operator visibility. Handrails and all-weather grip walk areas permit further safe movement around all machine platforms for extra operational safety.

The P5320B ABG’s auger allows operators to adjust its height. Its reversal feature improves material control and reduces hand labour, contributing to additional productivity. For industry-wide compatibility, the electrical system fitted on the P5320B ABG is designed to accommodate standard global levelling systems.

Delivering further business value
Road construction contractors looking to minimise recurring variable costs throughout the life cycle of the paver will find reassurance in Volvo CE’s end-to-end service network. With an extensive infrastructure of technicians, workshops and dealers spread across India, a Volvo CE expert is able to respond quickly to any operational emergency.