--- title: Collaborative safety upgrade enhances Volvo EC400 for Tru 7 Group’s True Plant division description: Collaborative safety upgrade with Xwatch enhances Volvo EC400 for Tru 7's True Plant division, showcasing precision engineering and advanced electronic control systems. image: https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-09-10%20at%2017.01.13_04f16ec7.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/collaborative-safety-upgrade-enhances-volvo-ec400-for-tru-7-groups-true-plant-division#main-content) ![CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright](https://thecea.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright.png?width=3390&height=1817&name=CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright.png) - [Home](https://thecea.org.uk) - [About](https://thecea.org.uk/about) Show submenu for About - [Governance](https://thecea.org.uk/governance) - [Meet the Team](https://thecea.org.uk/meet-the-team) - [CESAR Scheme](https://thecea.org.uk/cesar-scheme) Show submenu for CESAR Scheme - 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[ELITE Consultancy Network](https://thecea.org.uk/elite-consultancynetwork) [ All posts ](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/all) September 12, 2024 # Collaborative safety upgrade enhances Volvo EC400 for Tru 7 Group’s True Plant division   Louise Carney  ·  2 minute read The versatile Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon’s XW4 system has been successfully integrated into a Volvo F-Series EC400 by the expert team at Road Rail Plant, led by skilled engineer Ross Hewer, in collaboration with SMT Volvo. This ‘safety’ upgrade for Tru 7's True Plant division demonstrates the precision and reliability of modern safety systems and the exceptional engineering behind them. Ross Hewer, Managing Director of Road Rail Plant, has shared insights into the successful collaboration between his company, Xwatch, and SMT Volvo, involving installing the Xwatch XW4 safety system on an F-Series Volvo EC400. This heavy-duty excavator, with an operating weight of 40,170 and 42,800 kg, is part of Tru 7's True Plant division. The XW4 monitors heavy machinery’s height and slew movement. It has been designed to accurately restrict a machine's height and left/right slew parameters using feather touch proportional hydraulic control, ensuring operator and machine safety, safety, and comfort for the operator and the environment around the machine. The Xwatch XW4 system manages motion cuts, a safety feature that automatically limits or stops machine movement to prevent accidents***. For the system to function seamlessly, an electronic servo control solution was required to integrate the safety features with the EC400, which did not initially support the motion cut technology.*** ***Ross said, “We had to install an electronic servo control solution to get the motion cuts working.”*** ***This project demonstrates how modern machinery, like the Volvo F-Series, relies on advanced electronic control systems for improved precision.*** ***“The Volvo F-Series uses electronic servo control rather than traditional pilot control for machine movements. This uses PWM signals from potentiometers in the manipulators over hydraulic pressure to the valve block.” Explained Ross*** Unlike older hydraulic-based systems, where machine movements were controlled directly by hydraulic pressure, the Volvo F-Series machines employ electronic servo control’. This system uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals sent from potentiometers—devices that measure the position of control levers or joysticks. These signals control the flow of hydraulic fluid through the valve block, allowing for far more accurate and responsive machine movements. Traditional pilot control systems involved manual adjustment of hydraulic lines using levers or pedals, offering less precision. In contrast, the electronic system in Volvo's F series provides operators with finer control over machine actions by using sensors and electronic signals to manage the machine's movements. This shift towards electronic control represents a significant advancement in machine operation, ensuring greater efficiency and safety. ***The collaboration between Road Rail Plant, Xwatch, and SMT Volvo demonstrates how skilled engineering can navigate the challenges of integrating motion-cut safety features into heavy machinery. With the right expertise, the Xwatch XW4 system is the best safety solution, offering reliable protection while ensuring the Volvo F-EC400 operates at peak performance. This project highlights how modern technology and thoughtful engineering come together to make job sites safer without sacrificing machine efficiency.*** ***![WhatsApp Image 2024-09-10 at 17.01.13_04f16ec7](https://thecea.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-09-10%20at%2017.01.13_04f16ec7.jpg?width=2048&height=1536&name=WhatsApp%20Image%202024-09-10%20at%2017.01.13_04f16ec7.jpg)***   Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/collaborative-safety-upgrade-enhances-volvo-ec400-for-tru-7-groups-true-plant-division) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/collaborative-safety-upgrade-enhances-volvo-ec400-for-tru-7-groups-true-plant-division) [twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/collaborative-safety-upgrade-enhances-volvo-ec400-for-tru-7-groups-true-plant-division) ## Related posts [![](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/True%206.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/true-group-expands-with-hyundai-hx300a-l-excavator) #### [True Group expands with Hyundai HX300A L excavator](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/true-group-expands-with-hyundai-hx300a-l-excavator) [![](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/JCB.%20Tru7%20Group.%20Press-1.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/tru7-group-has-invested-in-a-fleet-of-20-new-jcb-140x-tracked-excavators) #### [Tru7 Group has invested in a fleet of 20 new JCB 140X tracked excavators](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/tru7-group-has-invested-in-a-fleet-of-20-new-jcb-140x-tracked-excavators) [![](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Nuh-Cement-1024x683.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/abb-complete-retrofit-of-haul-truck-from-diesel-to-zero-emission-fully-electric-propulsion) #### [ABB complete retrofit of haul truck from diesel to zero-emission, fully electric propulsion](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/abb-complete-retrofit-of-haul-truck-from-diesel-to-zero-emission-fully-electric-propulsion) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Louise Carney", "url" : "https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/author/louise-carney" }, "dateModified" : "2024-09-12T11:58:05.518Z", "datePublished" : "2024-09-12T11:58:05.000Z", "headline" : "Collaborative safety upgrade enhances Volvo EC400 for Tru 7 Group’s True Plant division", "image" : [ "https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-09-10%20at%2017.01.13_04f16ec7.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://thecea.org.uk/member-news/collaborative-safety-upgrade-enhances-volvo-ec400-for-tru-7-groups-true-plant-division", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Logos/CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_TwoCol.png" }, "name" : "Construction Equipment Association" } } ```