Modern Quarrying Q1 2020

ON THE COVER

In Volvo ADT haulers, Babcock has the most comprehensive range suited for quarrying operations.

As quarries seek some insulation against the cold whims of the construction market, improving productivity at low cost of operation is imperative. By combining Volvo CE’s quality with its own local quarrying expertise, Babcock is able to offer quarries greater reliability to maximise throughput, backed up by a full suite of services that speak directly to the quarrying sector’s needs, writes Munesu Shoko. MAXIMISING PRODUCTIVITY FOR QUARRIES

T he current aggregates business climate is characterised by price volatility, high labour costs, shrinking margins and increasing operational costs. This is exacerbated by a steady decline in the growth of aggregates demand due to the lack of meaningful construction projects. For quarries to survive andmine profitably, they need to capitalise on the opportunity to improve their productivity and focus on one factor they can control: operational efficiency. Increasing productivity is one of the key drivers to counter diminishing profit margins as it effectively reduces operating costs. However, the emphasis should not only be on increasing output with the same input, but increasing the output while decreasing the input, and ultimately adding optimum value to current resources. Research shows that an increase in production will ultimately decrease the

construction sector in 2020, David Vaughan, MD of Babcock’s equipment business, tells Modern Quarrying that, armed with its Volvo range of machinery built for optimal loading and hauling, and the comprehensive range of services, all the way from financing to parts support and service agreements, Babcock is well-placed to be a partner of choice for the quarrying industry. Load and haul masters The productivity of any quarry hinges on the efficiency of its load and haul system. Yet, loading and hauling run of mine material represents a very significant component of the total operating cost. Consequently, the incentive to reduce cost in this area remains high. Vaughan reasons that robust machinery delivering maximum uptime is thus imperative for the quarrying sector, where working conditions are tough and operational costs critical. “The versatile range of Volvo Construction

operation’s unit cost, especially fixed costs. With positive signs of recovery showing in the

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 - 2020