Babcock has introduced the new Volvo A60H articulated hauler to the southern African market following its much-anticipated unveiling at bauma 2016. The 60-tonne articulated dump truck is the largest machine to be built by Volvo Construction Equipment and is said to be the largest of its kind in the world.

The A60H’s higher payload represents a 40% increase on Volvo’s current A40 models, significantly lowering the cost-per-tonne ratio for hauler customers.

An added advantage of the A60H is that it has many features that will be familiar to A40 operators, eliminating the need for any major operator training. “It will be an easy transition for operators with only a short orientation course needed,” says David Vaughan, sales director – Equipment at Babcock.  “Furthermore, technicians who regularly service other Volvo haulers will have knowledge of many of its elements such as a front grill that swings down, opening up a service platform with anti-slip steps, and an electric hood that opens to 90°, allowing full and safe access to the engine compartment,” adds Vaughan.

The A60H has been launched locally in conjunction with the new Volvo EC950E, a 90-tonne crawler excavator. Vaughan says this excavator is suited to the southern African market and fits right into Babcock’s product line, as well as complementing the A60H hauler. “The A60H is ideal for hard rock mining, coal mining, general mining and big quarry applications, and the EC950E has been designed to load the massive A60H, so they work hand-in-hand,” explains Vaughan.

“Moreover, the Volvo A60H is designed to keep fuel consumption to a minimum while the EC950E heavy-duty excavator delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency and features a powerful 16-litre engine, a new electro-hydraulic control system, Volvo’s unique ECO mode and an ergonomic design.”

Vaughan goes on to say that extensive market research recently undertaken by Babcock among its local customers within the mining and quarry industries revealed that two thirds of its clients believed there was definitely a niche for a bigger articulated hauler in South Africa. However, he points out that while Babcock is excited and optimistic about the positive response to the A60H, it in no way eliminates the need for the Volvo A40 in the industry.

“The A40 still has its place in the market. It all depends on the volumes you need to move, your loading tool and the size of your loading area.  If your volumes are smaller and your loading area confined, then you will go for the smaller vehicle,” he adds.