Ford is the first U.S. automaker to require certification by suppliers and is one of only a few automakers in the world to require certification of its suppliers. The requirement follows the announcement in December that Ford is the first and only automotive company to certify its plants around the world under ISO 14001 -- 140 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries. Specifically, Ford is requiring suppliers to certify at least one manufacturing site to ISO 14001 by the end of 2001 and all manufacturing sites shipping products to Ford by July 1, 2003.

To help suppliers meet these goals, Ford is offering ISO 14001 Awareness Training later this year at its Total Cost Management Center. In addition, Ford is exploring tools that it can make available to suppliers to let them benefit from Ford's experience in achieving ISO 14001 certification at its plants. The requirement affects about 5,000 of Ford's production and non-production suppliers with manufacturing facilities. Mazzorin sent letters to suppliers informing them of the requirement.

Ford decided to require ISO 14001 certification of its suppliers environmental policies and programs. Several suppliers indicated that some of their manufacturing facilities were already registered to ISO 14001. The majority of the suppliers said they planned to register their plants to ISO 14001 in the next few years.

When the first Volvo articulated hauler produced in South Korea leaves the factory, it is a new step in a success story that began in Scandinavia in the sixties.
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Main features

The main features that make the articulated hauler unique are the articulated joint and the rotating frame joint between tractor and trailer. The articulated joint gives the hauler a small turning radius and improves off-road access. The uncomplicated front axle contributes to low maintenance costs. The rotating frame joint, which can rotate 360 degrees, allows the front and rear units to work independently, this means that the front and rear frames are not exposed to excessive torsional stress. In 1969, the articulated hauler was equipped with an unique Volvo bogie rear axle design, which improved the off-road capacity since all rear wheels remain in contact with the ground. This also improved the ability to dump loads over an edge and increased stability when dumping in soft underfooting. Another important improvement of the articulated hauler was when a suspension system was introduced in 1979. The suspension made it possible to increase the speed in transporting. Thus, increasing productivity.

Fast acceptance

The articulated hauler established itself relatively fast in the construction industry world-wide mainly because of ist off-road capacity which reduced the need for haulage roads, and because it enabled the use of new methods in mass excavation in different construction sites. In combination with an excavator or wheel loader optimised for the articulated hauler's payload the haulage can be done at the lowest cost per tonne. This is possible because there normally is no need for road building or maintenance or assisting machines when dumping the load. The articulated hauler also has high availability even when weather conditions make it difficult for other types of haulage equipment to work.

Expansion over the world

Articulated hauler usage has spread through Europe and the Americas. Sweden, USA and Brazil have been Volvo Articulated Hauler's industrial hubs. That industrial structure has now been expanded by adding articulated hauler production in South Korea. Beyond these industrial hubs, Volvo Articulated Haulers have a global presence in most parts of the world, and today Volvo Construction Equipment produces and sells more than 50 per cent of all articulated haulers in the world.

South Korea - an expansive market

The choice of South Korea as the right country for Volvo Articulated Hauler's fourth industrial hub is no coincidence. The South Korean topography is an excellent match for the articulated hauler with its outstanding off-road capacity. This together with South Korea's expansive infrastructure plans promises excellent conditions for expansion. The South Korean plant is scheduled to produce the complete range of Volvo articulated haulers with payloads ranging from 25 to 40 tonnes. The plant will also produce machines tailored for tunnelling and mining, two applications where the articulated hauler has proved its advantages.

Marketing has started

The team responsible for the marketing in South Korea has been active for about a year and has already delivered machines to customers in South Korea. Now the marketing will be intensified with thorough market surveys and demonstrations. Korean customers will be offered the opportunity to purchase or rent articulated haulers. The team, which is a multi-national unit of Volvo Construction Equipment spearheaded by its Korean members, has great expectations that the technological philosophy and productivity advantages, which lay behind the articulated hauler, will be well accepted in South Korea.

Environmental Awareness

One of the elements in this technological philosophy is the high environmental awareness. The operators cab is designed to give minimal stress and exposure to noise, vibration, dust, and reduce physical effort by the operator, with fully automatic transmission, all wheel differential lock up, and a number of other features the Volvo articulated hauler is easy to operate. As a concept the articulated hauler is a cost effective solution to the transportation of materials, also. It offers an alternative to building roads and clearing work sites for construction work, which provides a minimum of damage to the environment. By utilising the capability to operate in existing terrain and on soft ground, the need of building construction roads that are not needed when the work is completed, is basically eliminated.