Following Babcock’s recent unveiling of the much-anticipated New Generation Volvo articulated dump trucks (ADTs) in southern Africa, leading mining contractor Zizwe Opencast Mining has commended the massive scale of novelty within the range. CEO Kobie Pruis believes that the updates, which are said to be the most significant to Volvo CE’s ADT range in over 20 years, will “hold the industry in good stead for the next ten years”.

After months of anticipation, the New Generation Volvo ADTs hit the South African shores at the end of June, with Babcock, the southern African Volvo CE dealer, unveiling the range to its clientele at its Middleburg, Mpumalanga facility. The setting could not be better; the Middelburg branch is situated at the heart of the coalfields, where a dense base of Volvo ADT customers is active.

One such high-profile customer to grace the grand launch event was Kobie Pruis, CEO of Zizwe Opencast Mining, who brought with him a formidable entourage of his management team. Zizwe, a leading opencast mining company headquartered in Mpumalanga, has a large footprint in coal, chrome and platinum mining, with a wide project base in both the eastern and western Bushveld regions of South Africa.

Zizwe operates a large fleet of ADTs, and Pruis confirms that the existing fleet is 100% Volvo and, over the years, the company’s business has been “built around Volvo”. The arrival of the New Generation ADTs in southern Africa – initially the A40, A45, and the all-new A50 – has therefore sparked enthusiasm for Zizwe, says Pruis, who makes special mention of the A50, which marks Volvo’s debut into the 50-ton (45-tonne payload) hauler category.

“We particularly like the A50,” declares Pruis. “Plugging the gap between the existing A45 and the A60H, we believe that the A50 – with its 45-t payload – hits ‘a sweet spot’ for our operations. From what we gather, it has already shown excellent cost-per-tonne results in global trials.”

Offering 10% more productivity and 8% greater fuel-efficiency when compared to the previous generation A45GFS, the A50’s service costs are reduced by up to 6% over 12 000 hours of operation due to simplified servicing, longer change intervals and easy component access, making it an efficient choice for high production mining operations.

Pruis is excited about the special design focus on efficiency across the whole range, which he says is a parameter of paramount significance, not only to contract miners, but also to the mining industry at large. The updated models mark a significant technological leap forward thanks to innovations such as the new electronic system and an in-house developed transmission, delivering fuel efficiency improvements of up to 15%, depending on model and application.

Pruis also highlights features such as Volvo drivetrain with Terrain Memory, which ensures superb fuel efficiency without compromising on power, as well as Volvo Co-Pilot, which provides real-time payload data to prevent overloading and minimise carryback, thus maximising productivity and also reducing fuel consumption and machine wear.

Given that fuel is a major operating expense in mining, says Pruis, improving efficiency directly translates into lower costs and higher profits. In addition, amid growing environmental concerns, improved fuel efficiency correlates with reduced carbon emissions, allowing both mines and their contracting counterparts to meet their sustainability targets.

Not just a machine for today, the new generation of Volvo ADTs is future-enabled thanks to a new software architecture which allows customers to adapt to changing needs and seamlessly incorporate future upgrades and new smart solutions. This ensures that their equipment stays up-to-date with cutting-edge technology. “We are thoroughly impressed by the overall technological innovation that Volvo CE has put together, which we believe will hold the industry in good stead for the next ten years,” says Pruis.

Pruis also commends the special design focus on operator comfort, which he says directly impacts productivity, safety and the well-being of the operator. Uncomfortable operators experience fatigue and physical discomfort, leading to reduced concentration, slower work, increased errors and a higher risk of workplace accidents.

Already regarded as the operator’s machine of choice, Volvo CE’s updated articulated hauler range takes operator comfort to a whole new level, thanks to the new cab with a modern styling. The new cab, designed from ground up, gives more space to the operator for superior comfort, leading to higher productivity over the full operating cycle.

In an environment where downtime is out of the question, Pruis commends the closely-knit relationship between his company and Babcock. Timely and professional customer service from Babcock, he says, has over the years made a significant difference, especially when urgent part replacements are required. He commends Babcock’s dedicated support teams, efficient logistics and clear communication. “They are very much on top of their game,” concludes Pruis.