new equipment
Volvo’s new EC950E excavator is the largest excavator the company has ever built, and was
designed to load the A60H with maximum efficiency.
the ground pressure of the A60H is better
than that of the A40G and the A35G, so it’s
not going to lose traction and slide around in
the mud. It also has several features that will
be familiar to current series A40 operators,
eliminating the need for major retraining of
operators,” he adds.
Vaughan says South Africa is one of the
bigger ADT markets in the world, with an
estimated 400–500 machines across all size
classes sold in a good year. While Volvo has
around 50% of the global ADT market share
— making it the world’s largest hauler company
— its presence in South Africa is lower, since
not all of its size classes are available in the
country. According to Alec Ruston, aftermarket
manager Hub South for Volvo AB, 25% of all
ADTs sold in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
are sold to South Africa, while one-third of all
ADTs sold in the country are Volvo machines.
has a standard bucket of 6m 3 , which allows it to
load the 34m 3 A60H in five to six passes. South
Africa is also known for its very harsh digging
conditions, and so we bring in the EC950E with
super short, reinforced boom and stick, a heavy-
duty bucket, and full roller guards.”
With over 424kN of breakout force and
408kN of tear-out force, the EC950E offers
the perfect combination of power and stability
to handle high-capacity duties in the toughest
applications. Like the A60H, the fuel-efficient
EC950E heavy-duty excavator features the
powerful Volvo D16 engine, and comes standard
with Volvo’s CareTrack telematics system.
It also features a new electro-hydraulic control
system, Volvo’s unique ECO mode, and an
ergonomic operator environment. The excavator’s
wide track gauge, long track length, retractable
undercarriage, and optimised counterweight result
in a well-balanced, solid machine.
Aftermarket support
As one of the most established and
experienced equipment suppliers in southern
Africa, with an extensive regional footprint
and a proven track record, Babcock offers full
aftermarket support services and facilities.
Both the A60H and the EC950E can be
With the A60H providing such a significant
increase in hauling capacity, it was necessary
for Volvo to design an excavator that would
complement the A60 and provide efficient
loading capability. Prior to the launch of the
EC950E, Volvo’s largest excavator was the 75t
EC750, which has a standard bucket of 4m 3 .
“The obvious step was then to design a
machine that would complement the A60, and
the 90t EC950 is the result,” says Vaughan. “It
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JULY 2017
Superior digging power
Volvo’s A60H is the world’s first 6 × 6 configuration 60t ADT, with a payload capacity of 55
metric tonnes.