CJD Equipment Australia executive general manager of sales and marketing Grayden Leaver tells Quarry about goals, milestones and innovation.
What were some of the highlights of 2024?
Early this year we introduced to the market Volvo Construction Equipment’s zero-emission electric machines to the market. The first two models were the electric ECR25 compact excavator and the electric L25 wheel loader and both have been received very well.
These electric machines offer the same performance as their diesel counterparts but with zero emissions, near-silent operation as well as reduced vibrations, all of which provides a fantastic work environment.
These electric compacts can fast-charge, with an off-board solution that allows a full charge in about one hour.
We have also continued to make significant advancements in the area of Volvo Site Solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of technologies and services designed to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability in construction and quarrying operations.
What were your goals for 2024? Did you achieve them?
The first major goal we celebrated in February this year was the 50th Anniversary of CJD Equipment. We have had many events around the milestone, and it was a great opportunity to recognise the businesses’ many achievements over the years and celebrate with our founding partners Ron Rafferty and Rob Jowett and our long serving managing director and partner Alan Barnett.
One of our other main goals was to launch the electric compact excavator and loader which we have now done, and it has created a lot in interest and discussions around the product but also many companies targets and plans moving forward around sustainability, so it’s an exciting time.
What are your plans for 2025?
Our goals are simple in 2025. We aim to launch new electric models, new series diggers and haulers from Volvo and continue to build on our technology platforms and provided we do that in the most effective and professional way to allow seamless transitions and development for our customers, along with continuing to provide the high levels of support we are known for we will have achieved our goals.
What innovations are you most excited to see?
I definitely think that technology solutions will continue to evolve in the quarrying space. Data requirements are huge for any successful operation and the desire for information around performance improvements, safety advancements and operation sustainability can only come with high powered technology solutions and machines and plant that are integrated seamlessly and that dovetail into that solution.
Clearly automation will continue to develop as well the requirement for more electric and other sustainable driven machines.
How are you helping to grow the industry?
We are sure we will play a part in the requirements moving forward into 2025. The Volvo Site Solutions offerings will bring gains in productivity and efficiency, site safety as well as programs to work with our partners on measuring and reducing their carbon footprints.
Our release of larger electric loaders and excavators are already creating a significant amount of interest in the mining industry so we look forward to the many conversations we will have with mining companies throughout 2025 about them and the other sustainable product heading our way in the short to medium term.
I also think the new range of articulated haulers will play a big part in our success in 2025. Volvo is seen as a world class articulated hauler and the continued development of an already industry leading product is exciting. •
For more information, visit cjd.com.au
