Modern Mining October 2017

COVER STORY

machines have now been delivered and are hard at work in open-pit coal mining applications. Other purchas- ers include a diamond miner in the Northern Cape and a Namibian com- pany, which has taken delivery of five of the haulers (with another five on order), also for use in diamond mining operations. Vaughan also mentions that Babcock has received some serious enquiries from north of South Africa’s borders, which could potentially result in further sales. Turning to the EC950E excava- tor, Vaughan describes it as a superb machine. “Previously our biggest excavator was the EC750D, which is a 75‑tonne class unit offering a gross power of 385 kW and a bucket capacity of up to 5,16 m 3 ,” he states. “The EC950E retains all the features that have made the EC750D so popu-

says Vaughan, is the attention the company gives to aftermarket support. “We strive to be the best in the country in terms of the ser- vice we offer our customers,” he states. “This is absolutely our highest priority – other than safety, of course – and we really work hard at it. Volvo CE, our principal, conducts customer surveys on a global basis every quarter. These surveys are carried out entirely independently by Volvo CE and we do not participate directly. We consistently score very highly, with many customers saying they would have no hesita- tion in recommending Babcock to other owners of plant and equipment.” Babcock’s aftermarket service is imple- mented through an extensive network of branches throughout the Southern African region. When machines bought from Babcock are deployed even further afield, the company still has the ability to provide full backup. “We have one customer who has taken our machines to West Africa and to the island of St Helena,” notes Vaughan. “In both cases, we were able to supply a service consistent with our nor- mal standards by putting spares and personnel on site. We’re very experienced in providing backup in even the remotest of areas.” Finally, and looking ahead, Vaughan says that Volvo CE will not be resting on the laurels it has earned with the A60H and the EC950E. “This is a company that constantly innovates. I’m not at liberty to go into any detail but there are some exciting developments in the pipeline, some of which will be of particular interest to our mining customers,” he concludes. Report by Arthur Tassell

lar but takes Volvo into the 90-tonne market. Offering a gross power of 450 kW and a bucket capacity of up to 6 m 3 , it is the perfect tool for demanding high-end mining applications. Not only is it a match for the A60H but it is also the ideal partner for the Terex Trucks rigid trucks which we market, including the top-of-the-line TR100, which has a 90-tonne payload.” Equipped with a powerful, fuel-efficient 16‑litre engine, the EC950E delivers over 424 kN of breakout force and 408 kN of tearout force. It features a wide track gauge, long track length, a retractable undercarriage and an optimised counterweight, resulting in a well- balanced, solid machine. It comes with a new electro-hydraulic control system and Volvo’s unique ECO mode. All machine interfaces – including joysticks, keypad and LCD monitor – are ergonomically positioned and designed for optimum control and efficiency. Operators can work with com- fort and confidence in the most challenging environments in the comfortable, spacious and low-noise cab of the EC950E. Vaughan makes the point that the excel- lent sales of the A60H and the EC950E have not been at the expense of other models in the Volvo line-up. “What is remarkable is that in the midst of a severe downturn in mining, we are doing well with the entire Volvo range, most notably the A40 hauler,” he says. “There is also strong demand for Volvo’s wheel load- ers. We’ve just sold twelve L150 models, all of them for use in coal handling and most of them going to brand new customers.” A major contributor to Babcock’s success,

The A60H is easily able to handle the poor underfoot conditions typically found in mining.

“We strive to be the best in the country in terms of the service

we offer our customers.”

October 2017  MODERN MINING  21