Volvo machinery ‘paves the way’ for Ukrainian road improvements

A fleet of Volvo wheel loaders, excavators and graders have been helping keep road construction company Lutskavtodor Group running smoothly and safely in the Volyn region of Ukraine for more than 25 years.

The Volyn region of Ukraine is home to 578 explored mineral deposits and the Lokachynsk gas deposit which supplies more than 7 billion cubic meters of gas annually. With such a large number of resource reserves in the region it is necessary to have infrastructure capable of supporting the movement of these resources and the machinery required to extract them.

Lutskavtodor Group consists of road construction contractors, granite quarries and concrete plants, aiming at increasing the quality of roads in the Volyn region of Ukraine. The company is currently working to improve over 40 roads and highways in the region and has used Volvo machinery since it was founded in 1992.

Decades of reliability

Contractor Lutskavtodor Group’s first Volvo purchase was the Volvo L90 wheel loader. Delivered in 1992, the machine has been running smoothly for 27 years and continues to do so. Oleg Gitonets, chief engineer for Lutskavtodor Group says: “As of now, the loader manufactured in 1991 has 27,500 operating hours. The machine is still very reliable and durable.” 

Lutskavtodor Group purchases its machines from Ukranian Volvo dealership ETC and has done since its formation. The director of the company Yuriy Olkhovo says: “We believe in long term partnerships, and when you have a fleet from one supplier it is easier to maintain the machines and make further expansions.”

The reliability of the machinery is down not only to their durability but also to the regular maintenance operations carried out by ETC. “We carry out warranty and post warranty services for Volvo machines. The response time for breakdowns is fast and we have a stock of spare parts nearby,” says Artem Mischenko, regional sales director for ETC.

Regular maintenance of the fleet helps prevent unplanned stops and keep to tight schedules imposed by the short five-month season in which road improvements can be carried out in the Volyn region. 

Innovation allows for expansion

While the older machines in the fleet provide evidence of Volvo machinery’s reliability and durability, it is the Lutskavtodor Group’s recent purchases that show how innovation can improve productivity.

The company’s most recent acquisition is the Volvo EW60C wheeled excavator. Used mainly in urban environments, its wide range of working tools allow for quick refinement of roadside areas. The operations can be carried out without damage to trees and plants along the roadside and without causing inconvenience to pedestrians.

Business manager for Volvo CE Oleg Nikitin talks of the importance of innovation: “Despite market growth, the competition in the road construction industry is tough and success requires investment in new technology.”

Lutskavtodor Group’s fleet also includes a Volvo G960 grader and an EW145B excavator. The wide moldboard and powerful 2-wheel drive of the G60 grader make it ideal for fast paving operations, while the EW145B excavator’s low emission six-cylinder engine provides excellent fuel economy even when performing large excavation operations.

Operator satisfaction

Volvo machinery’s reliability and innovation not only improve productivity but also help to improve the work life of the machine operators themselves.

The comfortable environment of the cab helps excavator operator Sergey Parnas feel satisfied at work. He says: “I have worked as an excavator operator my whole life. To sit in my Volvo machine and work is pleasurable. I don’t need to think about breaks or troubles, all I need is to come to work, sit in the cab and enjoy my work.”

The comfortable cab and ease of use mean that even on the longest of shifts the operators are still content in their work. “It’s not only my friend but my livelihood,” says grader operator Nikolay Kolodiy.

The comfort of the cabin isn’t the only bonus for the operators but as operator Nikolay Salo says: “The machine is productive and responsive. The grading operations become very easy with this machine.”

The reliability, ease of use and innovation provided by Volvo CE machines are helping Lutskavtodor Group improve the infrastructure of the Volyn region of Ukraine. This not only benefits the people of the region but also the industry. Improving highways allows for the growth of other industries in the region, allowing for greater prosperity.