Capital Equipment News February 2017

PROFILE

Click to watch the interview

David Vaughan has been appointed MD of Babcock's Equipment business.

TRUSTED TO DELIVER Babcock’s Equipment division manages the exclusive distribution and support of an array of leading international equipment brands in southern Africa. Its market-leading reputation is spurred by one key attribute: ‘it is trusted to deliver’. The appointment of David Vaughan, formerly sales director of the company and a customer-driven executive, as MD of the Equipment business, signals the company’s solid focus on strong aftermarket support and customer service. By Munesu Shoko

offer our customers quicker turnaround times on service and parts. The structure will also enhance quick decision-making processes through direct lines of communication. MS: What are your key focus markets this year? DV: We see a general recovery in commodity prices and mining promises to be a key market this year. The Mpumalanga coal mining area is a focus area for our business. We commissioned a state-of-the-art facility in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, last year to enhance our support structures for customers operating in the region. We also see recovery in pricing for platinum and chrome, and to this end, hard rock mining areas will be another key focus for us. Heavy construction and quarrying have always formed part of our strategy and we will continue working hard in these markets. Aftermarket will remain a major focus

Munesu Shoko (MS): You have taken the reins as new MD of Babcock’s Equipment division effective November 1 2016. What is your mandate in this role? David Vaughan (DV): Babcock’s equipment business manages the exclusive distribution and support of leading international equipment brands in southern Africa. We represent Volvo Construction Equipment, Terex Trucks and SDLG on the earthmoving equipment side of the business. We also have two very reputable crane brands, Tadano and Sennebogen, as well as Winget for concrete handling equipment. I am responsible for the business as a whole in

southern Africa, including machine sales, parts and aftermarket support. In this role, I am in charge of Babcock’s operations in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, as well as a sub-dealer in Zimbabwe. MS: What are some of your immediate goals as you come into this position? DV: I have a single goal in mind, and that is to further drive customer service. To this end, my first task is to lead the restructuring of the business in southern Africa in the first quarter of this year. We will divide the business into four regions – Northern, Southern, Eastern and Export. Each region will have its own regional manager. This is to

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2017 39