The new series A60 – the world’s largest 6×6 articulated hauler – made its southern African debut earlier this year. According to Quintin O’Reilly, Head of Sales for Babcock’s Equipment business, market interest is gaining momentum.
As adoption of this new A60 gathers pace, O’Reilly expects demand for the EC950 to follow suit. Together, the A60 and EC950 form an ideal pairing for mining, high-production quarrying and large-scale infrastructure and earthmoving projects, delivering faster, more efficient material movement than any other Volvo machine combination.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) data shows the EC950 can move around 35% more material than the EC750, previously the largest excavator in Volvo’s range, while the A60 hauler delivers up to 40% greater payload capacity than the Volvo A40.
“Designed to work seamlessly together, the EC950’s optimised 3,9-5,6 m³ bucket capacity is perfectly matched to the A60’s massive 55-t payload, reducing loading cycles to just five or six passes per load,” explains O’Reilly. “The industry benchmark is typically four to six passes, or a loading time of less than 90 seconds. Fewer passes shorten the overall cycle time, helping customers maximise productivity.”
By moving more material with every pass, the combination also reduces the number of machines, operators and maintenance resources required on site. As a result, mining and quarrying operations across southern Africa are increasingly investing in multi-unit fleets of the EC950 and A60 for demanding coal and hard rock applications.
EC950 in detail
With a bucket breakout force of 424 kN and an arm tearout force of 408 kN, the EC950 delivers exceptional digging performance, particularly in hard, dense and heavy materials.
Powered by Volvo’s 446 kW (606 hp) D16 engine, the EC950 combines decades of engineering expertise with advanced technology to maximise productivity. Its powerful engine, working in conjunction with a fully electro-hydraulic system, delivers high breakout forces and rapid response, helping to reduce cycle times and boost overall efficiency.
The enhanced hydraulic system provides greater pump power for faster, smoother and more precise operation, while giving operators complete control. Intelligent on-demand flow management reduces internal hydraulic losses, improving performance while minimising energy consumption.
Working alongside Volvo’s ECO Mode, the hydraulic system reduces flow and pressure losses to improve fuel efficiency without compromising productivity. Operators can also select the most suitable integrated work mode for the task at hand, choosing from Idle (I), Fine (F), General (G), Heavy (H) or Power Max (P).
Built for stability in demanding applications, the EC950 features a wide track gauge, extended track length, retractable undercarriage and optimised counterweight, creating a well-balanced machine with excellent lifting and digging capability. The cab has also been designed with operator comfort and productivity in mind, with ergonomically positioned joysticks, keypad and LCD monitor providing intuitive control.
For added versatility, the attachment management system supports a wide range of work tools, allowing operators to pre-set hydraulic flow and pressure settings directly through the in-cab monitor for quicker attachment changes and optimum performance.
Service support
Like all Volvo machines, the EC950 is backed by Babcock’s comprehensive aftermarket support, with tailored service contracts forming a key part of the offering. These agreements help customers reduce total operating costs by minimising the risk of unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs, while ensuring machines remain in peak operating condition.
Another significant advantage of Babcock’s service contracts is access to factory-trained technicians who stay up to date with the latest Volvo CE product enhancements. As the authorised Volvo CE dealer in southern Africa, Babcock has direct access to OEM technical updates, software upgrades and product improvements – an advantage not typically available through third-party service providers.
“By using Volvo Genuine Parts and Volvo-approved oils, we keep our customers’ machines operating at peak performance,” concludes O’Reilly. “Our service contracts maximise equipment productivity, availability and reliability, while optimising overall machine performance and efficiency throughout the asset’s working life.”
