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The Volvo Dumper was Created in the Småland Forests

Småland ingenuity comes in many forms. One of the engineers working at the Lihnell brothers’ wagon factory in Braås came up with an idea for something that would become a future export success.

On a piece of paper, he sketched out an idea for a new type of vehicle. He and a few trusted colleagues kept the idea quiet while they—in utmost secrecy and in just a few weeks—built a prototype. The year was 1966, and there, in the forests of Braås in Småland, Volvo’s, and in fact the world’s first, articulated four-wheel-drive dumper was invented. A vehicle that became indispensable in the development of the Swedish welfare state and a success around the world.

A Revolutionary Invention Inspired by Forestry

The engineer, who had his roots in forestry, had long been pondering how to improve the mobility of tractor units in rough terrain. It was often the small front wheels that got stuck, causing a loss of steering control. By removing the tractor’s front axle and instead steering the unit with hydraulic cylinders in the joint between the tractor and the trailer, the world’s first articulated and four-wheel-drive dumper was born. It was nicknamed “Gruskalle” after the company’s CEO, Carl Lihnell.

The concept was a perfect fit for an era that had a great need for machines and vehicles that accelerated the construction of the new world in the 1960s. And for nearly 60 years, the Volvo dumper has been a Småland export success.

Leading the Industry from Braås, Småland

Volvo Construction Equipment is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction machinery, and also the industry’s pioneer in sustainability. The main factory remains in Braås, near Växjö, and exports to 150 countries.

Read Volvo’s history here.