Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and its Thai dealer, Chairatchakarn Bangkok (CHAB), have secured a major order to supply 13 EW145B Prime wheel excavators to rental company Aktio (Thailand) Co Ltd. This is the company’s first purchase of Volvo machines and currently the largest wheel excavator deal from a single customer in Thailand.

CHAB played a crucial role in the deal by anticipating rising demand for slightly smaller but more mobile excavators in the Thai market. With infrastructure development accelerating across the country, especially in strategic projects such as the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Sky Train), highways and road construction, Aktio saw an opportunity to diversify its fleet with machines better suited to urban construction environments.

A strategic shift in the market

This order reflects a shift from 20-t crawler excavators to more compact and versatile 14-t machines. The EW145B Prime is attracting attention for its powerful performance, easy transportability and reduced operating costs – all critical factors for rental businesses and contractors working in congested or urban jobsites, which are common in Thailand.

Delivery of the 13 machines has been scheduled to match project timelines. The first unit was delivered in January 2025, followed by five units in March, one unit in April, and three units in May. The final three units will arrive in June.

The Volvo EW145B Prime is suitable for a wide range of construction applications. With a high lifting and digging performance, the machine can carry out challenging tasks. The wheeled design allows for quick relocation between jobsites, minimising downtime. The optimised hydraulic system reduces fuel consumption without compromising output.

The spacious, ergonomic cab improves productivity over long shifts, ensuring operator comfort. The machine also features durable components and simplified service access, which in turn lower the total cost of ownership.

Yuichiro Abe, managing director of Aktio, said, “We’re extremely pleased with how the EW145B Prime units have performed. The machines have been working well and are supporting our customers on major construction projects. In addition, the support we’ve received from CHAB, both in sales and after-sales, has been excellent.”

Raven Chua, head of market west at Volvo CE, added, “This deal shows how Volvo CE can meet the evolving needs of rental customers in high-demand infrastructure projects. We’re proud to see Aktio embracing the EW145B Prime, and even prouder of the teamwork between our dealer CHAB and the customer that made this possible.”