Capital Equipment News June 2017

COVER STORY

With its 55 t capacity, the Volvo A60H is ideally suited for heavy hauling in high production sites such as opencast mines, quarries and large earthmoving operations.

SIZE MATTERS

High-production sites in southern Africa can expect to keep a lid on operational costs following Babcock’s recent launch of the much-anticipated Volvo A60H articulated hauler, the biggest of its nature in the world, together with its capable loading tool, the EC950E, the largest crawler excavator in the Volvo stable, writes Munesu Shoko .

2016 in Region EMEA Hub South (Continental Africa and Middle East & Turkey). The award is based on 2016 achievements in market share growth; parts sales growth; and Customer Support Agreement growth. Dealers’ overall commitment, willingness to invest and use of Volvo CE tools and participation in other programmes were also taken into account. Reflecting further on the importance of southern Africa, Ruston tells Capital Equipment News that currently, 25% of Volvo ADTs sold in the EMEA region are destined for South Africa, and one in every three ADTs sold in the country is a Volvo. David Vaughan, MD of Babcock’s equipment business, says the company has made necessary preparations for the roll-out of the A60H and the EC950E. Volvo teams from Sweden and Korea have completed intensive sales and technical training with Babcock staff in South Africa. “We have also ensured that there is sufficient availability of spare parts and other related elements such as the larger specialised tyres for the

F ollowing the global introduction at bauma 2016 in Munich, the Volvo A60H articulated dump truck (ADT), the biggest articulated hauler in the world, has finally rolled off the production line for its debut in southern Africa. It is accompanied by another Volvo behemoth on Babcock’s new arrivals lounge, the EC950E, the biggest crawler excavator that Volvo CE ever built. The recent launch of the A60H in southern Africa – on May 4, 2017 – further underlines a number of global firsts for Babcock as far as this machine is concerned. The local unveiling was the official global customer-

based launch of the machines. In another key first, Babcock became the first dealer to place an order for the A60H when one of its long-standing customers, Burgh Plant Hire, ordered not just one, but three Volvo A60H articulated haulers. While this is an indicator of the significance of southern Africa as a key ADT market globally, it is also equally reflective of Babcock’s capabilities as a force to be reckoned with among Volvo CE’s global dealers. Alec Ruston, Aftermarket Manager EMEA at Volvo CE, says Babcock is a very special dealer in the EMEA region. Babcock was crowned Volvo CE’s Dealer of the Year

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