Babcock, the exclusive distributor of leading international equipment brands in southern Africa, is confident that 2017 will be an exciting year for the company’s equipment division.
“With indications of recovering commodity prices, our customers are positive about the outlook for 2017,” said David Vaughan, Managing Director, Babcock’s equipment business.
Babcock is the sole regional distribution and service agent for Volvo construction equipment, Terex Trucks, Tadano and Sennebogen cranes, Winget concrete handling equipment and SDLG construction equipment.
“The mining sector remains an integral market for Babcock, particularly customers operating in the coal fields of Middelburg,” said Vaughan, who was previously Sales Director of the equipment business and has been with Babcock since 2005.
“At the beginning of last year, we opened an ultramodern sales, parts and service dealership in Middelburg to offer responsive support and service across our entire equipment product range to customers in the region.
From this new flagship branch we have been able to deliver improved service and a faster turnaround time, and the response from our customers has been exceptionally positive” said Vaughan.
“The facility is world-class and well-stocked with inventory lines, so we very seldom have to wait for parts. The sales team is always willing to assist us at the drop of a hat,” said Mark Johnstone, Managing Director, Atlantis Mining, an opencast coal mining subcontracting company.
Vaughan further commented that the demand for larger construction equipment continues to prevail as customers are always looking for the most cost-effective way to move material.
“Babcock is renowned and respected for delivering high production machinery that is also fuel efficient. This year we’re adding the Volvo A60H, the largest ADT to ever be launched commercially by Volvo, to our product range. Unveilled at Bauma 2016, this heavyweight 60-tonne articulated hauler is the largest of its kind in the world.”
The Volvo A60H’s higher payload represents a 40% increase on Volvo’s A40 models, significantly lowering the cost-per-tonne ratio for hauler customers, while its stability, comfort and high hauling speeds are ensured by the matched drivetrain, automatic drive combinations, all-terrain bogie, hydro-mechanical steering and active suspension, further optimising production and minimising operational costs.
The first Volvo A60Hs are expected to reach South Africa’s shores by March and will be launched into the southern African market by May, together with the new Volvo EC950E, a 90-tonne crawler excavator that combines power and stability to handle a higher capacity in the toughest applications.
“The A60H is ideal for hard rock mining, coal mining, general mining and big quarry applications, and the EC950E has been designed to load the massive A60H, so they work hand-in-hand.”
Babcock has already pre-sold three Volvo A60H articulated haulers, as well as one Volvo EC950E excavator to Burgh Plant Hire, a long-standing customer, at the Bauma 2016 exhibition. Stanley van der Burgh, CEO and Owner, Burgh Plant Hire, owns at fleet of more than 100 Volvo machines for his company’s coal mining operations – the majority of them articulated haulers – so has full confidence in the new model.
Babcock will also be bringing the ground-breaking Volvo A45G articulated hauler to our shores this year. Designed for heavy hauling in severe off-road operation, this ‘ultimate hauler’ delivers unbeatable off-road performance in its class and an increased two tonnes payload on the A40.
Volvo is the world’s leading manufacturer of articulated haulers and the new A45G displays all the hallmarks of Volvo’s articulated haulers, including strength, durability and fuel efficiency.
Another first for Babcock in 2017 will be the Generation 10 TA300 and TA400 articulated dump trucks from Terex Trucks.
According to Erik Lundberg, Business Manager, Terex Trucks in sub-Saharan Africa, the Generation 10 ADTs are the first new Terex Trucks products to be launched by the company since Volvo CE acquired the Terex Trucks brand in June 2014, and Babcock’s subsequent appointment as the official distributor in southern Africa of these powerful articulated haulers and reliable rigid haulers.
Terex Trucks are renowned for delivering a robust performance in the steepest, deepest mines and largest quarries around the world while simultaneously providing durability, comfort and efficiency.
The Generation 10 TA300 and TA400 reflect Terex Trucks’ reinvigorated attitude to performance and quality, and have been designed to improve customer productivity and enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness of the ADTs in the toughest job sites.
The TA400 ADT is the largest of the company’s new Generation 10 articulated dump trucks that excels in large-scale construction projects, quarries and mine sites alike.
