Volvo Penta and Wajax drive customer success in Canada

• Volvo Penta and Wajax have maintained a strong distribution partnership since 1988, delivering reliable off-road engines and aftermarket services across Canada.

• Wajax's extensive network of over 100 branches ensures local availability of parts and technical support, enhancing customer experience.

• MacLean Engineering integrates Volvo Penta's advanced mining engines into its underground equipment, benefiting from tailored propulsion solutions and reduced emissions.

• The collaboration emphasizes close engineering cooperation and personalized service to provide customers with dependable, fit-for-purpose power systems.

Strategic collaboration helps MacLean Engineering strengthen performance in underground mining applications through advanced, reliable off-road engines and tailored service.

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If you walk through the Wajax Corporation's head office in Toronto, Ontario, you’ll see its tagline prominently displayed on the wall: “Together we get more done.” The slogan captures the spirit of a company whose customer-centric legacy spans 168 years, built not only on advanced machinery and technology but also on deep commitment to service and partnerships.

Volvo Penta and Wajax started their own distribution partnership in 1988 and have since worked closely together on a mission to deliver Volvo Penta’s dependable industrial power solutions, along with aftermarket service and integration expertise from Wajax, to a growing range of heavy-duty industrial equipment and commercial marine vessels. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to deliver full-system, customer-centric solutions that support long-term success.

When Wajax introduced Volvo Penta’s off-road engines to MacLean Engineering, a leading designer and manufacturer of underground mining equipment, the joint support made the transition seamless, from testing and validation to implementation. Now, MacLean is integrating Volvo Penta’s mining engines into their full equipment line-up, with the first Volvo Penta-powered machine scheduled to arrive to a customer site in Quebec early this year. 

Off-road engine support

Founded in 1858, Wajax has long been a driving force in Canada’s industrial growth. Guided by its customer-focused philosophy, the company has expanded to more than 100 branches nationwide, serving diverse sectors with integrated sales, parts and service solutions. 

“What keeps us here is the customer experience and delivering solutions for our customers,” says Joe Di Pede, vice president Powertrain, Wajax. “We cover key components of engineering and OEM distribution to provide the solutions our customers demand.” 

Wajax’s strong regional service presence and parts availability, including more than 100 branches, combined with Volvo Penta’s proven off-road engine technology and technical training, ensures customers have access to reliable, efficient power systems backed by responsive support. The partnership reflects the strength of Volvo Penta’s closely-knit distributor network. 

“Volvo Penta and Wajax have enjoyed a partnership that spans decades,” says Joel Contreras, regional sales manager, Volvo Penta. “They are very experienced with our product. Distributors like Wajax are vital to Volvo Penta because they apply local expertise and talent, while we bring global knowledge and resources to support that.” 

Driving innovation for mining engines

The synergy between Volvo Penta and Wajax has been key in helping customers like MacLean embrace new off-road engine technologies, such as Volvo Penta’s D5 Tier 3 and Stage V mining engines, with confidence.

“Mining equipment demands a certain level of safety, productivity and emissions performance, and we find that Volvo Penta and Wajax bring that with their product,” says John Botelho, product manager, MacLean Engineering. “They’ve proven to be strong technical partners. Their product fits well, and we’ve had great success with it.”

Volvo Penta’s robust and reliable mining engines complement MacLean’s focus on building highly customized, purpose-built underground mining equipment with outstanding uptime, dependable performance and lower emissions that could decrease ventilation needs and lower total cost of ownership for operators. Working closely with Wajax, MacLean integrates Volvo Penta’s tailored engine systems with reliable support to maximize peace of mind for their customers.

“We’re able to provide a solution that MacLean trusts will work, and that’s achieved through close engineering collaboration between Wajax and Volvo Penta,” says Duncan Finlayson, Technical Sales Representative, Wajax. “Working with MacLean, we can ensure that what we’re proposing as a propulsion solution is going to fit for their end user.”

Process made perfect

As industries like mining continue to evolve, the Volvo Penta–Wajax partnership is helping customers stay ahead of the curve with solutions that prioritize performance, efficiency and dedicated support with a personal touch.

“One of the very important values for Wajax is to build lasting relationships,” says Yves Richard, sales manager, Wajax. “We want them to be able to reach out whenever there is a project they’re looking at. We want to be the first one they call.”

For Wajax and Volvo Penta, close collaboration that customers like MacLean count on is the key ingredient to deliver customized, fit-for-purpose equipment.

“Having a strong partner relationship between Volvo Penta and Wajax is important because it’s a global network that supplies products across many markets,” says Duncan. “It makes the end user more confident in ordering machines with Volvo Penta power.”