Bachelor and Master Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the real-world lifetime of heavy off-road construction equipment and tiltrotators by integrating operational and service data from Volvo CE, Engcon, and other partners. The study will compare assumed 10-year lifetimes with actual usage across markets and product categories, and identify how ownership patterns, operating conditions, and maintenance behaviors influence lifetime variation. Based on these insights, the thesis will assess the implications for sustainability and life-cycle assessment (LCA), supporting more accurate lifetime assumptions and improved circularity strategies.

• RQ1: What are the real-world lifetimes of construction equipment and tilt rotators across different markets, and how do they differ from the commonly assumed 10-year lifetime used in industry and LCA models?
• RQ2: How and why do equipment lifetimes vary across markets, and what are the implications of these variations for sustainability assessments and circular business opportunities?                                                                                

Education in one of these areas (Industrial engineering and management, product development, product and process development, innovation management, and business management) and familiar with circular economy, life cycle analysis, business models, and sustainability assessement.

Volvo CE. You will work with Volvo CE, Engcon, and other related actors in the ecosystem. The thesis will be conducted as part of the Circle-E project (Advancing Circular Lifecycles in Construction Equipment).