QR codes, or quick response codes, are matrix bar codes that supply rapid retrieval of information when a tablet or other mobile device scans the code. Starting in April, Mack will install QR codes on the vehicle’s doorframe during the manufacturing process. When the vehicle arrives at the dealership, service advisors scan the vehicle’s unique code, allowing the service advisor to rapidly access the truck’s VIN, owner information and dealer service history and automatically launches Mack’s service management system. This electronic process eliminates the potential for errors that can occur with paper-based service write-ups. 

“Uptime is a critical component for the success of our customers,” said John Walsh, Mack vice president of marketing. “Mack developed the QR code process to reduce the amount of time customers need to wait while basic vehicle data is obtained and entered into the system. They need to be spending their valuable time on the job, not at the dealership.”

The service advisor also has the ability to launch required inspections through the mobile device used for the initial scan. This step saves technicians time in completing and accurately documenting inspections and enables the truck to get back on the road faster.

Mack is currently working with dealers to retrofit QR codes on existing Mack trucks. 

The World’s Strongest Man competition, recently conducted at different locations throughout Los Angeles, pitted men from 17 countries against each other, testing the limits of human strength and endurance through a series of extreme events.   

Competitors in the truck pull qualifier wore a harness connected to a rope and were required to pull the Pinnacle tractor more than 30 meters (32.8 yards) in the shortest amount of time. Hafpór Björnsson, of Iceland, won the qualifying round for the second year in a row, finishing in 26.93 seconds. Terry Hollands and Zydrunas Savikas finished the competition second and third place, respectively.

“The Mack Pinnacle is an intimidating opponent even for the strongest men in the world,” said Tracey Craik, fleet sales manager for TEC Equipment, Inc. in La Mirada, Calif. “When the event organizers approached us for a truck to use in the contest, our first recommendation was the Mack Pinnacle model because of the truck’s big power, strength and durability – all the right elements to test the World’s Strongest Man.”

The Pinnacle model is designed for durable over-the-road hauling with a Mack Advantage chassis to optimize payload. Equipped with the Mack MP8 engine offering 1,760 lb-ft of torque and 505 hp,  the fuel-efficient Pinnacle delivers near-zero emissions through the combination of the MP8 engine and SCR technology.

Decorated with approximately 10,000 low-energy LED lights, the tree will be lit every evening throughout the holiday season.

The tree was hauled in a special trailer and pulled by a Mack Pinnacle driven by former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. A second Mack tractor hauled the ornaments and dozens of companion trees that will decorate other government buildings in Washington.

Distinctively decaled with a determined Bulldog pulling a tree across a snow-covered landscape, the Mack Pinnacle is equipped with a near-zero emissions MP8 engine with SCR technology and an advanced mDRIVE automated manual transmission, which optimized fuel efficiency and performance. The mDRIVE continually monitored changes in grade, speed, acceleration and weight as the tree traveled over mountains, through small towns and on busy highways on its way to Washington.

“Hauling the Capitol Christmas tree this year has been a special assignment that we have really enjoyed,” said John Walsh, vice president of marketing for Mack Trucks. “This is a job our trucks are built for – demanding hauls across all kinds of terrain.”

The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as “The People’s Tree,” began in 1964. National forests rotate the responsibility each year of providing a tree that will stand on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol as a gift to the nation.

1932 was the year the chief engineer at Mack, Alfred Fellows Masury, submitted a patent application for the design of the bulldog, the Mack symbol that adorns the bonnet on every Mack truck.

Alfred Fellows Masury came up with the idea of the bulldog after he had been admitted to hospital for an operation and needed something to do. Rumour has it that he made a model from soap. He submitted his patent application on 11 October 1932 and the following year the small dog made its appearance on the company’s trucks. To begin with, it acted as a handle to open the bonnet.

Unfortunately, Alfred Fellows Masury was unable to enjoy seeing his creation on the company’s trucks for long, as he died in an air crash in 1933.

Just over a century before, however, during the First World War, the bulldog had been associated with Mack. British soldiers gave the Mack AC model the nickname of “bulldog”, as they thought the truck was just as resilient and strong as a bulldog. The AC model became very popular. It was produced from 1916 for no fewer than 24 years and production totalled more than 40,000 trucks.

For the past 80 years, the bulldog has reigned supreme on the front of every Mack truck. A symbol of durability and reliability.  

You can read more about the Volvo Group history on our external website: volvogroup.com/aboutus/ourhistory.

The SmartWay-certified Pinnacle Axle Back model sleeper, provided by Mack, is hauling the tree that will light up the nation’s capital this year as part of the annual Capitol Christmas Tree Project.

U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell will drive the Mack Pinnacle model delivering the tree, which will be selected from the White River National Forest in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in northwest Colorado. Campbell previously transported the tree as part of the 2000 project.

The Superintendent of Grounds for the Capitol will choose the tree from candidates selected by White River National Forest staff. Once selected, the tree will be cut in early November and brought to Meeker for a celebration. Following the celebration, the tree will be wrapped and ready to embark on its multi-week journey to the Capitol. 

Numerous cities and towns will have celebrations at stops along the way, giving visitors an opportunity to see the Mack Pinnacle hauling the massive tree. 

After arriving in Washington, the tree will be decorated with almost 10,000 low-energy LED lights and thousands of ornaments. A lighting ceremony on the west lawn of the Capitol will be conducted, and the tree will remain lit throughout the holiday season.

The tradition of “the People’s Tree” began in 1964, and national forests rotate responsibility each year for providing the tree. The Bulldog has delivered Christmas to the Capitol before, most recently last year when a Mack Pinnacle hauled a 65-foot white fir from California to Washington.

“What better way to deliver the Capitol Christmas Tree, a national treasure, than with a Mack, built, like all of our trucks, right here in the United States.” said John Walsh, Mack vice president of marketing.

The truck display concludes a month of breast cancer awareness activities for employees, including a Think Pink Awareness Fair and a Pink 5K Celebration. The Granite, owned by Virginia Paving Company, a division of The Lane Construction Corporation and sold by Tidewater Mack, Inc. in Chesapeake, Va. participates in local parades and events in support of breast cancer awareness. Virginia Paving Company regularly paints some of its trucks to support charitable causes as a part of the “Dump Trucks for Charities” program. 

Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks and Mack trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries.  Mack trucks and diesel engines sold in North America are assembled in the United States.  Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO standard for quality and environmental management systems.  Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations’ public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation’s roadways.

The Technical Center houses about 550 employees devoted to the design, development and testing of new vehicles and product enhancements for Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks in North America.

The additional 40,000 square feet allows for additional product testing equipment, 10 new truck bays and a larger design studio, which was doubled in size. A one-third mile track for testing severe heavy duty construction trucks was also added adjacent to the campus’s existing test track for a total of a half-mile test perimeter.

“This expansion allows our employees to work in a first-class environment that fosters creativity and innovation,” said Torbjörn Holmström, executive vice president, Volvo Group Trucks Technology. “Providing a highly functional space for the design, engineering and testing of our trucks supports our commitment to innovation and positions us to deliver greater value to our customers.”

Volvo Group has also announced plans for an additional $2.5 million expansion of the facility. The expansion that will take place over the next seven months will permit the relocation of the aftermarket technology services group from leased space in Greensboro in order to reduce costs, improve efficiency and streamline communication. The additional 18,700 square feet will allow for 12 new truck bays.

“These enhancements are a demonstration of our commitment to designing and delivering vehicles of the highest quality,” said Dennis Slagle, executive vice president, Volvo Group Trucks Sales & Marketing Americas.

“Expanding our manufacturing activities in the U.S. is important to Mack,” said Kevin Flaherty, president of Mack Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. “Bringing mDRIVE assembly to the Hagerstown facility while also meeting the growing demand we’ve seen since the transmission’s introduction in 2010 exemplifies our commitment to investing in what our customers need.”

More than a third of the highway trucks currently rolling off the assembly line at Mack’s Macungie, Pa. truck plant feature the automated manual transmission which is available on MACK® Pinnacle™ model highway tractors. mDRIVE, which gives customers significantly improved fuel efficiency, is designed and engineered to work exclusively with MACK MP series engines as part of Mack’s Pedigree™ Powertrain offering – engine, transmission and axles are all Mack proprietary components.

“The mDRIVE transmission allows Mack to further capitalize on its 112-year legacy as an integrated manufacturer delivering improved fuel efficiency, better drivability and enhanced driver satisfaction,” Flaherty said. “Smooth automated shifting continues to win driver favor as a growing number of customers, including liquid bulk and fuel haulers, transition their fleets to mDRIVE. The mDRIVE automated manual transmission is simple to use and contributes to safety and driver retention.”

U.S. production of the transmission was made possible through an $8 million investment in the Hagerstown manufacturing plant to create a new assembly line, install the necessary equipment and train personnel. The investment also created 50 new jobs at the facility.

“It symbolises our cultural heritage which dates back 112 years. I decided that I wanted a tattoo that clearly reflects my allegiance to Mack and our core values: customer focus, application excellence, durability and reliability. At our company, there is huge passion for our trucks and the customers we serve. All the employees here are working to preserve our belief ‘Built Like a Mack Truck’,” he says and adds that he has always had a deep sense of loyalty towards Mack.

Dennis Grejda is a graduate engineer. He started his career at product development and then moved on to custom engineering. He is currently Director of Mack Customer Engineering Support. In 1978, he joined the company in Allentown from the Ford Motor Company in Michigan.

“Working for Mack and returning to the family’s roots in eastern Pennsylvania was a dream I had had for many years.”

He has now been at Mack for 34 years and, as yet, he has no plans to stop. He explains that he has worked under eight of Mack’s 25 presidents and that he still has the same great passion for the people and the products as he had when he joined it.

“It’s a privilege to work here,” he says sand reveals that he actually has another Mack tattoo.

“Yes, I also have a bulldog,” he says.

The app provides access to both current and past issues of Bulldog Magazine, a 45,000-circulation quarterly publication published by Mack and enjoyed by customers, employees, retirees, dealers, collectors and fans.
Published since February 1920, Bulldog Magazine is among the oldest corporate publications in the U.S.
“Our audience is becoming more and more mobile, and the app gives them the opportunity to read and access Bulldog Magazine on the go,” said John Walsh, Mack vice president, marketing.
Readers will be notified when subsequent issues are published.

“Quality of product and reliability” is the way director of maintenance Denny Martin describes how the Pittsburgh-based hauler has expanded a successful LTL business into a supply chain solutions company serving the mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.

“The driver is one part of the equation and the truck is the other,” he says. “The truck has to safely and reliably deliver freight and Mack does that time and time again.” That’s why the company, which changed its name from Pitt Ohio Express in early 2011, is buying Mack Pinnacle models by the truckload. Pitt Ohio purchased 20 Pinnacle DayCab tractors in 2010 and is in the process of taking delivery of an additional 110 units through its Mack dealer, TransEdge in Pittsburgh.

New equipment orders feed a constant need to maintain and build the company’s reputation, as well as its fleet. Pitt Ohio employs 2,800 people in 21 terminals. It fields a fleet of 1,755 trailers, 665 tractors, roughly half of which are Mack, and 353 straight trucks. Those rigs deliver 10,200 shipments to more than 14,000 destinations each day, with a 98 percent on-time delivery record.

Jack Frischkorn, director of purchasing, says Pitt Ohio’s reputation is recognized throughout the industry. “Customers tell us, ‘You guys do what you say you’re going to do. When you say you’re going to have it there at 10 a.m. you have it there at 10 a.m.’”

Martin attributes that success to company owner Chuck Hammel III, whose grandfather got the family started in the trucking business with a horse and wagon in 1919. “Chuck truly cares about the employees and he sets high expectations for all of us. You definitely don’t want to let the owner down, and our customers benefit from that.”

Mack doesn’t want to disappoint the owner, either, but changes in environmental regulations could have jeopardized its customer relations. Pitt Ohio was understandably wary of any new vehicle from any manufacturer, given the issues many fleets had with previous equipment.

“The EPA’07 trucks from the manufacturers that we tested were just terrible in terms of fuel economy and reliability,” Martin says. “Knowing that the technology would be different, we waited to make any purchases until the EPA’10 trucks were released. We tested the Mack line with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and it performed so well in comparison to the EPA’07 trucks we knew that Mack had come up with a reliable truck. Our experience with the Mack ClearTech SCR system is good. The drivers love the way the trucks pull and are impressed by their responsiveness. Most importantly, the trucks have the best fuel economy we’ve seen since 2004 emission standards were implemented.”

What really sold Pitt Ohio was the commitment of Mack and TransEdge to their customers. “There was a period of time when we went away from the Mack line,” Martin says. “However, we still owned a great deal of Mack equipment and through that period Mack showed up to support their product. They never looked at a one-time buy; they looked at the long term. They continued to stand behind the Mack trucks we had in our fleet. We are super impressed with the way Mack handled themselves. Mack’s commitment and confidence in their product, from the factory to the dealership, was key in our decision-making.”

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the second Transformers movie to feature a Mack. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen included two Mack Pinnacle tractors and a Mack Granite mixer truck.

The cooperation is based on the Volvo Group’s commitment to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by 30 million tons from construction equipment, buses and trucks manufactured through 2014. Volvo’s joint-venture company, SDLG, which manufactures construction equipment in China, will also become the first-ever Chinese company to be a member of Climate Savers.

 “By expanding the partnership with the WWF  to include our buses and construction equipment, the Volvo Group demonstrates that it is serious about continuously raising our targets in terms of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions from our products, by complying with our vision for sustainable and carbon-neutral future transportation,” says Volvo’s CEO Olof Persson.

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected environmental organizations, whose vision is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.  WWF’s Climate Savers program involves multinational companies in the battle to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.

In autumn 2010, the Volvo Group became the world’s first automotive manufacturer to join Climate Savers, in an agreement whereby the Group’s truck brands committed to reduce the total amount of CO2 emitted during the lifetime of trucks manufactured and sold from 2009 to 2014, by 13 million tons, compared to trucks manufactured in 2008. This will be accomplished by launching the latest technology in fuel efficiency. 
In the next step, starting January 1, 2012, Volvo Construction Equipment and Volvo Buses will be included in the agreement. Thanks to improved fuel efficiency, the total amount of CO2 emitted by trucks, construction equipment and buses manufactured within the Volvo Group through 2014, will be reduced by more than 30 million tons, compared to vehicles manufactured in 2008. 30 million tons is the equivalent of the total carbon dioxide emitted by Sweden in a seven month period.

The agreement between Volvo and WWF applies for AB Volvo and the Volvo Group’s brands Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Buses, Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks and SDLG. SDLG manufactures construction equipment in China, and will be the first Chinese company ever to join Climate Savers.

“I am incredibly proud of all the skilled and committed employees worldwide, who make it possible for the Volvo Group to continuously make the progress necessary to be in the forefront of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions. By setting tough environmental targets, we contribute to sustainable development, while our products become more competitive and we reduce fuel costs for our customers,” says Volvo’s CEO Olof Persson.

In addition, Volvo Buses has also committed to expand the number of field tests with plug-in hybrid buses during the commitment period. The plug-in technology has excellent fuel-savings potential for city buses.
During the development of fuel-saving technology, Volvo Construction Equipment will prepare a new prototype with additionally improved fuel performance, compared with existing models.  

The agreement between Volvo and WWF also states that:
• Volvo will develop a new truck prototype with 20% lower fuel consumption than a corresponding truck manufactured in 2008. 

• Prior to 2014, Volvo will offer the commercial market trucks that operate on renewable gas.

• The Volvo Group will also reduce CO2 emissions from its production plants by 0.2 million tons (12%) before 2014, compared with 2008.

Independent technical experts will monitor and control that the Volvo Group is complying with its commitments.

The Volvo Group works continuously to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from products and production units, an effort that includes technologies for enhancing fuel efficiency and finding alternative fuels. Major resources are spent on developing such alternative drivelines as hybrid solutions and engines that are optimized for renewable fuels.

In 2007, the Volvo Group presented the world’s first carbon-neutral automotive plant in Ghent, Belgium, where the electricity derives from wind power. The long-term objective is to make all facilities carbon-neutral.

Follow Volvo Group and Climate Savers on Twitter

Learn more about WWF Climate Savers

A heavy-haul Titan by Mack™ takes center stage as its Mack MP10 engine – top rating of 605 hp and 2,060 lb-ft of torque – rugged Mack Cornerstone chassis and air-ride equipped cab come together to form the most powerful truck Mack has ever built.
“Filming a show about Mack trucks was definitely one of the coolest gigs I’ve had,” said Ultimate Factories associate producer Francis Cordero in her blog about the episode. “There are hundreds of people involved in the making of this truck in three main facilities. We filmed at all three locations, the first at the Macungie Assembly plant where the trucks drive off the line. The second facility was the Powertrain center where the Mack engines are made. The last location we filmed at was the Customer Care Center where Mack trucks are test driven on a closed course.”

Ultimate Factories is produced by National Geographic Television for the National Geographic Channel.   

For more information about Mack, visit our Web site at www.macktrucks.com

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Images can be viewed and downloaded at www.mackmediabank.com Login with Username journalist and Password journalist.  Click on Images, then News Release Images.

During a December 6 ceremony, second grader Johnny Crawford, a California native, joined Speaker of the House John Boehner to flip the switch, lighting the 63-foot white fir tree and ushering in the holiday season.

Prior to arriving in Washington, the tree traveled from California behind a Mack® Pinnacle™ Axle Back model truck, custom decorated for the journey with Mack’s iconic Bulldog pulling a fir across snowy terrain.

On November 5, the fir was loaded onto a special trailer, to be hauled across the country by the SmartWay-certified Mack Pinnacle sleeper model.  Professional truck drivers from Royal Trucking Company spent nearly three weeks on the road, touring California and making special stops across the country to celebrate the magnificent tree and the Christmas season.

In addition to the drivers, Royal Trucking, a Concord, California-based carrier, provided a second Mack tractor to haul 3,000 handmade ornaments and 113 smaller fir trees to decorate various government buildings in Washington.  Mack and Royal also donated the two trailers that were needed for the project.

Almost 10,000 low-energy LED and 3,000 ornaments adorn the tree, which will be lit from night fall until 11 p.m. each evening through January 1, 2012. When the holiday concludes, the tree will be chipped into mulch and placed throughout the Capitol Complex.

“This is one of my greatest passions. I am a real enthusiast when it comes to hybrids and I’m delighted at their success,” he says and explains that the new technology was not just accepted from the beginning.
”Research on hybrids has been in progress in the Group since the beginning of the 1980s, but an enthusiastic group of us started working on it in earnest just over 10 years later. It goes without saying that many people were sceptical and questioned whether we actually needed to develop an alternative to the diesel, which was already so effective,” he explains.
Anders Kroon goes on to talk about the work on the first early concept vehicles and the discussions about which technology was best, parallel or series operation. He draws diagrams to illustrate this on his notepad.
“As the name suggests, the series hybrid has a series of components that are interdependent. The combustion engine powers a generator that produces electric current and it then powers the electric motor that drives the wheels. There are large energy losses in a bus or truck which is built as a series hybrid,” explains Anders Kroon.
“In a parallel hybrid, on the other hand, the wheels are driven by either the combustion engine or the electric motor in a parallel system – or both at the same time. Even if the technology is more complicated, it’s better for customers. It costs less and saves more fuel. That’s why we chose to invest in a parallel hybrid for both buses and trucks and I’m convinced that this is one of the reasons why the Volvo Group is so far head when it comes to current hybrid technology,” adds Anders Kroon.
In 2004, when Toyota released its hybrid car, the Prius Generation 2, it was an indication that the market was starting to accept the technology, according to Anders Kroon.
“We already knew that we were at the leading edge and it was simultaneously both nervous and fantastic,” he says.
Two years later, in 2006, the Volvo Group was able to present two prototypes, a bus and a truck, to the press. At the same time, the then CEO, Leif Johansson, said that these vehicles would be on the road within the following three years. That was when the real work began, according to Anders Kroon.
“Until then, we had only built demonstration vehicles. We were now going to develop an entirely new driveline for vehicles on the market. It was an adventure,” he says and describes many late evenings with an “unbelievably enthusiastic team” of engineers from different parts of the Group.
The work paid off. The vehicles were launched and Anders Kroon and his colleagues were presented with the 2009 Volvo Group Technology Award.
Hybrid technology is ideal for Volvo Buses’ products. Short driving distances with many stops and starts enables the technology to be utilised to the full. In addition, many bus companies have to comply with the demands imposed by cities and the authorities to cut emissions and so they are investing in hybrids, just as London has done.
Moreover, the Group’s truck companies are also working to develop hybrids
Since 2006, Thierry Perret at Volvo 3P has been managing a project designing hybrid trucks for the European market. Approximately one hundred people from several of the Group’s companies have been collaborating closely and the production of the first Volvo and Renault trucks recently began.
“The team has really worked together very well and we have succeeded in developing hybrid trucks with fuel savings of between 15 and 30 per cent and can sometimes reach 40 per cent,” he explains.
Earlier this year, Volvo Trucks launched its Volvo FE Hybrid truck. Christina Eriksson is head of the Group’s business operations when it comes to alternative fuels in Europe.
“The truck has been given an excellent reception. It’s alert, distinct and quiet,” she says and adds that the Volvo FE Hybrid is ideal for distribution or refuse collection.
“The truck customers who invest in a hybrid are often the ones with a clear-cut environmental profile which they want to make visible. So far, this only accounts for a very small part of our business, but it’s absolutely essential that we demonstrate that we have mastered this technology and have alternatives. Working on alternative fuels is extremely stimulating. The customers are often enthusiastic and we are strengthening our environmental profile and brand,” she says.
Karine Forien, the person responsible for the development of alternative fuels at Renault Trucks, also believes that it is important to offer customers alternatives.  “At the present time, eight in every ten Europeans live in cities. They expect to get their goods delivered in time, but, at the same time, they also want a good environment and quality of life as citizens,” she says.
Since the end of 2008, Renault Trucks has been developing and testing its hybrid truck, the Renault Premium Distribution Hybrys Tech, as a refuse truck in Lyon, and with Colas, a company that delivers construction materials, among other things. 
“Everyone is extremely pleased. Colas has, for example, noted fuel savings of 20 per cent and, at the same time, the truck is given top ratings by drivers because it is easy to drive,” she says.
Mack is also working on the development of hybrids. The company is one of the leaders in the USA when it comes to refuse trucks and, in New York, a Mack TerraPro hybrid refuse truck is currently in operation.
At Volvo Construction Equipment, Jenny Elfsberg, director of emerging technology, talks about the construction equipment that could be suitable for hybrid technology. 
“Large machines that don’t move very much, like the ones in stone quarries, are one example. Our products have the potential for energy recovery in both the driveline and the working hydraulics systems. This explains why our solutions differ from those that are suitable for buses and trucks. Both hydraulic and electric hybrids are relevant at Volvo CE, as we have many different machines that are used in various ways,” she explains.
As yet, Volvo CE has no hybrids on the market, but, according to Jenny Elfsberg, work on developing the different technologies is in progress within the company. 
“This is a strategically important area for us, but it also needs to be profitable for the customer. If customers are to invest in hybrid machines, it’s important that they benefit both their business operations and the environment,” she adds.

The future for hybrids looks bright, according to Anders Kroon.
They think the demands major cities impose are going to be stepped up, so that more hybrids or even clean electric vehicles will be required in city centres. The city bus segment also offers the greatest potential. Volvo Buses also recently announced that it is testing a plug-in hybrid bus in Gothenburg in Sweden. It can cover long distances powered exclusively by electricity.
 “The dream continues. Developments are moving forward towards even better, more advanced technology. It’s fantastic to have been part of things since the very start,” says Anders Kroon.

The first fire at which the fire brigade was able to use this water cannon occurred on 12 August in the same year. These specially produced vehicles were used at a total of 2,200 fires and were phased out of service in 1982.
However, Mack’s history began at the end of the 19th century in the USA, with the three brothers, Jack, Augustus and William Mack, who manufactured carriages, among other things, and eventually began to take an interest in engines.

In 1922, Mack adopted the bulldog as its company symbol and, five years later, the company introduced its B Series. When it became increasingly common to use trucks to transport goods, the demand for heavier vehicles with higher capacity was stepped up and Mack’s B Series was the perfect match for this concept. During a period of more than 14 years, Mack
produced in excess of 15,000 vehicles in this series.

Read more about Volvo Group’s history on our corporate website

“So far, Volvo’s EPA2010 solution has exceeded all the expectations we had,” says Dan Einwechter, president of Canada’s largest private transport company, Challenger Motor Freight.
He is one of very many satisfied customers in North America who have invested in vehicles equipped with the Volvo Group’s SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology. However, as so often happens when people are presented with a new technical solution, there was some degree of hesitation about the decision, primarily because this technology had never previously been used in the North American market. So, when Dan Einwechter was given the opportunity to travel to Europe to take a closer look at SCR technology, which was already being used in hundreds of thousands of vehicles, he realised that this was a chance to collect the information he needed.
“It helped me to resolve the questions I had. As things stand now, I can see nothing but benefits from this technology and, in my opinion, there are no other solutions,” says Dan Einwechter.

The Volvo Group’s journey relative to the design and development of the new engine began back in 2007, shortly after the introduction of the US07 engine. The US07 engine was used as the base and, using what is known as a “carry over”, vital components and technologies was transferred to the next generation. At the end of 2008, a little more than a year before the new EPA2010 emission standards were due to be introduced, it was decided that extra efforts would be made to improve the US07.
“Everyone involved combined forces and made an enormous effort and we were therefore able to make the improvements in time,” explains Lars-Inge Grahn, Chief Project Manager Volvo Powertrain.
The Volvo Group was by no means the only manufacturer that had challenges in US07. The manufacturer experiencing the greatest problems was Caterpillar ending up with them withdrawing from EPA2010

From the very start, EPA2010 was a top-priority project for the Volvo Group and there was an need to improve the execution compared to previous project. So one of the first things that was done was to study the learnings (White Books) from other Volvo Group projects and apply those learnings to EPA2010.
 “What’s more, we really invested in the time and energy that was needed to work with what we learned from the White Books in order to ensure that previous learnings was taken into account” says John Gurley, Chief Project Manager Volvo 3P.
One important discovery was that the collaboration between the various project partners, Volvo Powertrain, Volvo 3P, Global Manufacturing, Mack and Volvo Trucks North America, could be improved.
“We learned from this and improved our cross BA/BU communication strategy which allowed us to keep one another informed. When the work was at its most intensive, Lars-Inge, my counterpart at Volvo Powertrain, and I were in almost daily contact. This helped us prioritize and tackle the problems the moment they occurred. In order to assure crisp communications to the BA/BU’s, Lars-Inge and I reported jointly to the executive management when it came to the status and forecast of the project,” explains John Gurley.
“This helped us create trust and transparency in the project and contributed to the creation of confidence between the teams,” he adds.
Another important finding from the study of the US07 White Book was that several non product related projects was run in parallel with major product project. For example, major changes had been made to production at New River Valley, which was producing trucks for both Volvo Trucks and Mack at that time. 
“These trucks had previously been produced on separate lines, but production was merged so that they were assembled on the same line. This took place at the same time the assembly workers were supposed to be learning to assemble the new engine, with all the new components that entailed. There were quite simply too many new procedures at the same time,” explains Patrick Collignon, Vice President & General Manager of Volvo Trucks North America’s plant in New River Valley.
As a result of this learning, when it was decided that the production of Mack trucks was going to be transferred to Macungie, the company made sure this activity was coordinated with the EPA2010 project and completed before production began.
“This enabled us to avoid implementing process and product changes simultaneously,” says Patrick Collignon and he goes on to describe the precision with which the start of production was planned.
“As early as six months before EPA2010 came into force, we began building trucks with the new engines in batches of 15-20, in parallel with normal production. We then took a break lasting several weeks in which we evaluated our own way of producing vehicles and looked for areas for improvement. This then gave Volvo Powertrain and Volvo 3P time to analyse and process the data for input to possible areas for improvement. By doing this for several months, we made sure we were completely ready when the new vehicles were introduced.”
The trucks that were produced during this period were both internal test vehicles and vehicles for customers and this generated valuable information about the way the trucks performed.
“At the same time, however, it was a way to train and educate the employees so that we were ready when things kicked off in earnest,” adds Patrick Collignon.
At the Mack plant in Macungie, similar preparations were in progress. 
“As much as 2.5 years before the start of production, we began test assembly operations using digital models and 3D animation,” explains Jim Goodell, Vice President & General Manager of Mack’s Macungie plant.
“As we started so early, we were able to build our first EPA2010 truck in October 2008 and it was then tested first by us and then by a customer. All the data and feedback we received were sent directly to Volvo Powertrain and Volvo 3P.”

From a technical angle, the new emission standard was an enormous challenge. The Group’s engineers were expected not only to reduce fuel consumption by several percentage points but also virtually to eliminate the emission of particulates and nitrogen oxide. In North America, the US07 emission levels had been met by using so-called EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) technology. In short, this means that part of the exhaust gas is cooled and returned to the engine, thereby substantially reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. In parallel with this, the automotive industry in Europe had chosen a different technology route for meeting EU emission standards by utilizing SCR technology, whereby emission control takes place in a separate system after the engine. To realise the objectives for EPA2010, which is classified as the world’s most rigorous emission standard, neither SCR nor EGR technology alone would suffice.
“Together, however, the two technologies would comply with the requirements, so we simply took SCR technology from Europe and combined it with EGR technology from North America. We took advantage of our strength as a global player,” says Lars-Inge Grahn.
This is also reflected in the work that was done on developing the different 11-, 13- and 16-litre engines, where Volvo Powertrain used its test laboratories in Sweden, France and the USA.
“No other engine in history has been tested as carefully and comprehensively as the EPA2010; firstly in simulation programs in a lab environment and then in reality, by both us in our labs and at customers in real conditions,” explains Carlos Hungria, SVP Operations Volvo Powertrain, who at the time served as head of Volvo Powertrain North America in Hagerstown, Maryland.
In all, the different engine versions were subjected to durability and reliability tests corresponding to 21.0 million kilometres. Two success factors: having started the reliability program in very early phases of the project with the first prototypes and extensive field evaluation.
“We can safely say that the new engine has been tested in every conceivable way and so we felt extremely confident about the entire product even before production got under way.”

This was exactly what was needed to increase customer confidence and capture market share. While Mack only produces trucks with Volvo Group engines, Volvo Trucks’ customers can choose between engines from Volvo or Cummins.
“We had a high of 60 per cent Volvo engines in our trucks prior to the launch of the US07, but this figure had fallen to 50 per cent at the end of 2009,” explains Ron Huibers, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing Volvo Trucks North America.
This negative trend was not reversed until the launch of the EPA2010 products.
“The reception that was given to the new trucks was fantastic and we have now achieved a record of 80 per cent Volvo engines in our trucks. Our target is to increase this percentage still further.”

As the price of diesel continues to rise steadily in North America, fuel consumption is becoming increasingly important. At the end of the day, a reduction of just one or two percentage points can represent major savings for transport companies.
“Many customers are currently experiencing fuel savings of up to five per cent, in some cases even more,” says Ron Huibers, who adds that Volvo’s market share in 2010 increased by more than 20 per cent, from 7.5 per cent to almost 9.4 per cent.
“We must now regain our customers’ confidence and capture even more market share. The target for 2011 is a market share of 10.6 per cent,” he says.

Everyone involved agrees that the EPA2010 project was a success. Two of the main reasons were the application of the White Book learnings and the excellent collaboration between all of the stakeholders.
“I have been working at Volvo since 1995 and I have witnessed all the product updates and launches in the heavy-duty and medium-duty segments. I have to say that the work that was done on EPA2010 easily surpasses the best I have ever experienced,” concludes Patrick Collignon.

Two-Day Stop at Mack Customer Center and America on Wheels Transportation Museum in Allentown, PATwo-Day Stop at Mack Customer Center and America on Wheels Transportation Museum in Allentown, PA 

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA (May 12, 2011) – With a new MACK® Pinnacle™ model leading the way, State Farm’s “Agents on a Mission” tour for Cars 2 – the action-packed international adventure from Disney•Pixar that hits theaters June 24 – recently stopped in Allentown, PA.  The tour features life-size models of three of the film’s main characters – Lightning McQueen, Mater and, new to Cars 2, British super spy Finn McMissile – each roughly fifteen feet long, about seven feet high and weighing between 1760 and 2700 pounds.  The first stop – for Mack employees, dealers, customers, local leaders and their families – was at the company’s new 160,000 square foot Customer Center off of Lehigh Street.  The following day, Mack brought Lightning, Mater and Finn to the America on Wheels museum on Front Street, where the display was available to the general public.    

In the new film, star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car.  

The character based on a MACK® truck – appropriately named Mack (voice of John Ratzenberger) – is Lightning McQueen’s trusted long-haul driver.
 
The State Farm “Agents on a Mission” tour promoting Cars 2, which kicked off March 10 at the Minneapolis Auto Show, hits Los Angeles for the film’s red-carpet premiere on June 18, and will have stopped in more than two dozen U.S. cities before wrapping up in Northern California in late June. 
 
The highly fuel efficient Pinnacle model truck Mack has provided to move the tour around the country features advanced safety technology and the company’s ClearTech™ system that reduces levels of regulated emissions to near-zero.  Mack also provided a truck for the tour promoting the 2006 release of Disney Pixar’s Cars. 

“What better truck to lead this tour across America than a Mack, built in the U.S., with the cleanest emissions in the world?” said Kevin Flaherty, Mack senior vice president, U.S. and Canada. 

“We’re particularly pleased to have brought the tour to the Allentown area, which has been Bulldog country for more than 100 years.  Every truck we sell in the U.S. is produced here, at our Macungie Assembly Operations.  The Mack Customer Center gives us a powerful new tool for showcasing our industry-leading products and storied history.  It’s to this region that we continue to bring customers for the true Mack brand experience.” 

Mack Trucks, Inc. is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and one of the world’s leading producers of heavy-diesel engines (9-16 liter).  The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service.  The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets.  Volvo Group sales for 2008 amounted to over $46 billion.  The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.  Volvo Shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange and are traded OTC in the U S.

For more information about Mack, visit www.macktrucks.com

In 1959, looking for a modern alternative to its existing engine, transmission and carrier facility in Plainfield, NJ, Mack decided to invest $45 million in a new one million square foot plant on 280 acres in Hagerstown.  With construction complete, the first Mack engine rolled off the assembly line in 1961.  As the company’s products have become more advanced over the years, so have the capabilities of the Hagerstown plant, thanks to continued investment and a commitment to excellence.  Today, the facility is approximately 1.5 million square feet – the area of more than 30 football fields – with a high degree of robotics, automation and assembly controls helping ensure product quality.  More than $300 million invested since 2001 alone has brought significant upgrades, like an Engine Development Lab used to provide customers with increasingly fuel-efficient engines – which today are the cleanest in the world in terms of regulated emissions. 

One thing that hasn’t changed is the dedication of the employees working in the plant, or the value placed on their input.  Employees regularly meet in small groups on the plant floor, working together on continuous improvement.  The process is called kaizen, but what really matters are the results – competitive products built in the United States.

“For half a century, the heart of every Mack truck has originated in Hagerstown,” said Kevin Flaherty, Mack senior vice president, U.S. and Canada. “We’ve always been an integrated manufacturer, with engines, transmissions and axles specifically designed to work together.  Delivering on the Mack brand promise of reliability, durability and application excellence starts with the powertrain – and our hats are off to everyone in Hagerstown as they celebrate this milestone.”

For more information about Mack, visit our Web site at www.macktrucks.com