Modern Mining December 2022

SUPPLY CHAIN News

Babcock introduces new Volvo EC550E in southern Africa

Following its global debut at the start of this year, the Volvo EC550E crawler excavator is now available in southern Africa. Ideal for mining, quarrying and large infrastructure

projects, the new 55-t class machine deliv ers up to 35% more productivity and a 22% improvement in fuel efficiency. In January this year, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) announced the expansion of the distribution of the Volvo EC550E crawler excavator to Tier 3 mar kets, including Africa and the Middle East. Babcock, the authorised Volvo CE dealer in southern Africa, has brought in its first unit, which has already been delivered to a cus tomer, confirms Lance Mannix, GM sales and equipment at Babcock’s Equipment division. With the EC550E, Volvo CE managed to break the norm by introducing the

Independent Metering Valve Technology (IMVT) hydraulic setup, in conjunction with a totally new engine trim on the D13 engine block and electrohydraulic command for the joysticks. As a result, the machine punches well above its weight, offering production more in line with bigger class machines in the 60 - 65 t range, despite the decals stating 55 t. Boasting remarkable levels of power and productivity, the EC550E can fill a 35-40 t hauler or on-highway truck in just four to six passes – the result is optimum pass-match ing and high-levels of production at a low cost per tonne, the company said. 

The Volvo EC550E crawler excavator is now available in southern Africa.

Tailored manifold manufacturing from Hytec Engineering

Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group Company, Hytec Engineering, has moved beyond its niche offering of hydraulic cylinder manu facturing, repair, and maintenance to include general engineering work and the manufacture of hydraulic manifolds. The decision to

the company’s engineering facility in Spartan, Johannesburg. To ensure that all manifolds are manufactured to exact specifications, two CNC (Computer Numerical Control) vertical milling machines and various specialised tools are used. “The decision to include hydraulic manifolds in our engineering offering was made as it was a good fit with our existing skillset, facilities and process,” explains Hytec Engineering’s general man ager Andre Lindeque. “Clients seeking these manifolds benefit from their compact design, which simplifies installation and space requirements, as well as limiting any hydraulic pipe installation requirements,” he adds. The company manufactured its first manifold in August this year and subsequently received a large manifold order from fellow Group Company Hytec South Africa’s Cape Town office. 

diversify its offering took around six months and included extensive market research and a facilities audit, with the latter used to ensure that the engineering team could meet all clients’ expectations. Manu f a c t u r ed f r om locally sourced and certified materials, the manifolds are engineered and manufactured at

Hytec Engineering expands offering to include hydraulic manifolds.

New high-tech facility for SEW-EURODRIVE

Index to advertisers Allied Crane Hire 7 bme 3 Goldore IFC Botswana Conference IBC Brelko OFC, 39 Komatsu 38 Maptek 32 Martin Engineering 25 Mining Indaba 36 Nkwe Platinum 17 Vega OBC (AfCFTA) protocol, which came into effect in early 2021, and a push to grow manufac turing on the continent, we are expecting African markets to account for around 50% of our turnover within the next few years,” says Obermeyer. 

SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, a specialist in drive and control technologies, moved into its new state-of-the-art 26 000 m 2 headquar ters complex in Aeroton, Johannesburg, earlier this year. The com plex more than triples the floor and factory space available at its previous premises. Built and equipped at a cost of R200 million and modelled on SEW-EURODRIVE’s

showcase factory in Graben-Neudorf, Germany, the facility – which accommo dates around 150 employees – makes extensive use of the latest technologies to effectively network people, processes, ser vices and data. The investment reflects SEW-EURO DRIVE’s confidence in the future, of both South Africa and the African continent. Comment ing on the investment , Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, says: “This is a bold step that demonstrates our commitment to being part of solving South Africa’s problems and developing the econ omies of countries across Africa.” SEW-EURODRIVE currently services, from South Africa, 23 countries throughout the continent. “With the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area

SEW-EURODRIVE moves into a new high-tech facility.

40  MODERN MINING  December 2022