With a reputation built on safety that starts with design and flows through to engineering, manufacturing and assembly, there are no cutting corners when it comes to any aspect of their business.
In Australia, Volvo Trucks has an assembly plant in the Brisbane suburb of Wacol where they assemble both Volvo and Mac trucks for the Australian market from parts sourced from Sweden, America and Australia.
And according to Volvo Trucks Australia’s Production Engineering Supervisor, Bryan Graves, the issue of safety is always upper most in everyone’s mind, particularly when it comes to class one joints.
“Our Wacol plant has a production capacity of 16 trucks a day and its primary function is to assemble or modify the various trucks to meet customer expectations, including Australian Design Rule Specifications. “Due to the nature of the modifications we have numerous uses for nutrunners on the assembly line and use several brands, including Atlas Copco products. For the fitment of wheel nuts (a critical class one joint) we use the Atlas Copco LTP 51 shut-off nutrunners.

“The LTP 51 has been used in Sweden and Australia for years and the feedback has always been positive, particularly when it comes to repeatability. With the LTP 51 we always know that we are getting the same torque requirement every time, which means that productivity is up as there’s no need to double check the joints with a torque wrench.
“We’ve found that the LTP 51 offers exceptional levels of control, which for class one joints, even soft joints, means that we are confident that we are sending the trucks out right. This is vital, as the wrong torque setting could potentially cause a wheel to loosen and result in an accident.
“From an engineering perspective, Atlas Copco is viewed as being one of the top manufacturers with a reputation for quality and exceptional design, and it’s clear that Atlas Copco have done their homework on the LTP 51.
“Twin motors make it faster than other nutrunners, and we have the option of pre-set torque settings to provide greater flexibility – especially useful in our re-work bays where different class joints require different torque settings.

“The LTP 51 is a sophisticated tool, it’s accurate, quiet and extremely fast – up to four times faster than single motor nutrunners in fact.
“Features like auto shut-off and an audible shut off signal when the selected torque is reached greatly improves productivity. The LTP 51 Multi Torque tools can have up to four torque settings, which can be changed in seconds with the flick of a switch, so they are in effect 4 torque shut off tools in 1. Like all LTP 51 tools they deliver extreme torque precision, so there is no need to test the torque once it’s finished tightening.
“At the heart of the LTP 51’s speed are twin motors. The first gives high speed at low torque for rapid run-down and when it’s complete the second kicks in working a higher torque and lower speed to tighten to the torque selected.
“And safety is paramount with the LTP 51. There are various retraction devices available. The multi point reaction bar features a sliding bracket that gives the operator a selection of reaction points, while the geometry of the S-Bar has been optimised to provide a maximum number of reaction points.

“With the introduction of the new LTP 61 series tools, you’ll be able to use the S-Bar in about 80% of all applications straight out of the box”, Andrew said. There are 27 models in the standard  LTP 51 nutrunner range, plus another 10 models in the LTP 51 MT range, offering multiple torque settings. Torques from 45 to 4,100 Nm can be tightened.
Atlas Copco’s imminent release of the new LTP 61 range will re-define the market with more benefits and features, which include:
• Virtually silent and vibration free operation
• Lightweight and well balanced design and
• And a rundown speed 10 times faster than conventional mid size nutrunners.
In fact, the new LTP 61 has the same accuracy as the LTP 51 but with a rundown time that’s nearly twice as fast.
For more information contact Atlas Copco Tools Australia on (02) 9621 9900 or email andrew.murison@au.atlascopco.com