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The Volvo Construction Equipment story began over 180 years ago in Eskilstuna, Sweden. In the mid-1800s, three men laid the foundation for Volvo Construction Equipment: Johan Theofron Munktell and the brothers Jean and Carl Gerhard Bolinder.

1832 - Johan Theofron Munktell starts his workshop in Eskilstuna.

1839 - The first premises were very modest, so Munktell built a new manufacturing plant that was completed in 1839.

1844 - Jean and Carl Gerhard Bolinder founded Kungsholmens Gjuteri & Maskin Verkstad in Stockholm, Sweden.

1853 - Munktells manufactures Sweden’s first locomotive.

1880 - Bolinders participates in manufacturing the world’s first functional, armed submarine.

1893 - Bolinders builds Sweden’s first combustion engine (Weyland’s patent).

1906 - Even before the age of the tractor, Munktell's started to build construction machinery and the first piece to be built was a steam-powered road roller.

1913 - Munktells produces Sweden’s first tractor.

1932 - Bolinder’s and Munktell’s companies merge to form Bolinder-Munktell.

1940 - During World War II, the company converted production to manufacture – amongst other products – aircraft engines.

1950 - Volvo buys Bolinder-Munktell.

1954 - The company's successful wheel loader history was initiated with one of the world's first wheel loader with attachment bracket, the H-10.

1960 - The line of wheel loaders is expanded thanks to the acquisition of Arvika- Thermaenius AB Arvikaverken.

1966 - Volvo BM launches the world’s first series manufactured articulated hauler.

1972 - Volvo introduced ROPS, a cab with a structure designed to protect the operator if the machine overturned.

1982 - Rigid haulers are added to complement the hauler line, following the acquisition of AB Kockum Landsverk.

1985

- The VME Group is formed.

- Volvo allies with Clark Equipment and enters the Americas.

- Michigan wheel loaders and Euclid rigid haulers are added to the portfolio.

1990 - Compact wheel loaders are added to the range thanks to the acquisition of Zettelmeyer Baumaschinen GmbH.

1991 - Volvo acquires Åkermans Gjuteri och Mekaniska Verkstad and adds excavators to its product offering.

1995

- ME becomes a fully owned Volvo company and changes name to Volvo Construction Equipment.

- Compact excavator line is extended through the acquisition of Pel-Job.

1997 - The road range is initiated as a result of the launch of the motor grader line and the acquisition of Champion Road Machinery.

1998 - The new 30 ton wheel loader Volvo L220D impressed with its productivity and low fuel consumption.

Acquisition of Samsung CE.

2001 - Volvo Construction Equipment announced the successive introduction of a new range of backhoe loaders of own design.

2002 - Launch of in-house designed backhoe loader.

2003 - Production of our skid steer loader begins in Asheville.

2005 - EC700B – an excavator in the 70-ton class – is launched by Volvo.

2006

- Volvo G900-series graders see the light of day.

- With an integrated electric-diesel hybrid concept, Volvo shows how to save energy and the environment.

2007

- Volvo launches the world’s first full-suspension articulated hauler.

- Acquisition of Chinese Lingong and Ingersoll Rand road construction.

- Volvo Construction Equipment and SDLG enter into a joint venture.

- Volvo launches the L350F, a new 50-ton wheel loader.

2014 - Volvo Construction Equipment finalizes the acquisition of the hauler business from Terex.

https://www.volvoce.com/global/en/this-is-volvo-ce/our-history/