Babcock customers can now look forward to achieving production targets faster as the new range of Volvo Construction Equipment rigid haulers becomes available in southern Africa later this year following the official launch in Scotland in April. The new Volvo Construction Equipment hauler range consists of the 45-tonne R45D, 60-tonne R60D, 72-tonne R70D and the flagship 100t/95-tonne R100E, a completely new rigid hauler featuring new technologies and a striking new design. 

David Vaughan, Managing Director for Babcock’s equipment business, attended the launch at Volvo’s Motherwell facility where guests had the opportunity to test drive the R100E and see it in action at a nearby quarry.

Vaughan says that the R100E rigid hauler, built for surface mining and quarrying applications where operational costs are critical, took centre stage at the event, and expects the machine to attract a strong following in southern Africa.

“Despite the fact that the R100E will be competing in one of the most contested segments of the rigid hauler market, this top-performing machine with optimal production and minimal operational costs will be a strong contender in the mining and quarry market segment,” he says.

The groundbreaking R100E is engineered to perform and is built on strong Volvo DNA. Offering a true 100t/95-tonne payload, the R100E allows operators to meet production rates faster while simultaneously providing low cost of ownership and ease of serviceability.

The R100E’s 60.4m3 capacity V-shaped body for optimum load retention and minimal material carry-back enhances cost saving and customers can expect to spend less per haul, while the industry-recognised load profile policy enables the operator to meet a consistent average target payload of 95 tonnes.

Central to its powerful and efficient performance is the R100E’s new fully electronic 783 kW Cummins QST30 engine for superior power and fuel efficiency, backed by an improved ‘connected’ drivetrain delivering high torque capabilities, excellent pulling performance and class-leading rimpull. The Volvo Adaptive Shift Control provides automated adaptive shift schedules for excellent performance and fuel efficiencies in all operating conditions.  

Intelligent monitoring systems such as the On-Board Weighing (OBW) option ensures the machine moves the optimum safe payload to further boost production and minimise operational costs.

Other features that make the R100E more durable, cost-efficient and comfortable than any other rigid hauler in its class include a speedy body-tipping system ensuring fast cycle times for an all-round efficient performance; a new suspension design and wheel track configuration to absorb high levels of ground impact shocks; and an ergonomic cab layout for improved operator experience and a 360-degree visual system for safe and efficient operation.  

Vaughan says that the R100E has undergone extensive field testing at mining sites in both Sweden and South Africa, a key market for rigid haulers, with the machine tested in both cold and hot climates and in hard rock and coal environments. As with all Volvo machines, the R100E is built to the highest safety standards for the protection of both the operator and site staff.

Babcock expects the new Volvo R100E, with its focus on low total cost of ownership at the forefront of its design, to be a hard hitter in the southern African mining and quarrying sectors.

The three D-Series rigid haulers – the R45D, R60D and R70D – are all based on the existing and well- proven Terex Trucks TR-Series, now with Volvo updates and modifications to meet the brand’s exacting standards. Covering payload capacities from 41 to 65 tonnes, the D-series rigid haulers are designed to reduce fuel consumption while promoting safe operations and ease-of-use. Also powered by premium engines, the R45D, R60D and R70D rigid haulers achieve high performance, torque and up to 567 kW (760 hp) power, even at low engine speeds. With impressive tractive effort, generated by the complete drivetrain design and configuration, the R45D, R60D and R70D rigid haulers are the ideal machines to traverse the steep slopes often found on mining and quarrying worksites.

The R100E and the D-Series machines will be backed by the same aftersales support, immediate access to parts and qualified service technicians, and well laid out service points for quick maintenance and increased machine uptime that is standard for all Babcock-distributed machinery.

Babcock’s aftersales service has earned the company the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Best Dealer Volvo Services Award, announced earlier this year at the Volvo International Conference held in Portugal. Undertaken by an independent company appointed by Volvo, the survey measures aftersales service according to customers, with Babcock receiving top honours in the EMEA region.