For Solly Madibela, owner of MYSOL, all that glitters is not gold, but it’s in the gleam of chrome that he’s found true value. A key component of stainless steel production due to its non-corrosive properties, demand for chrome continues to rise, with South Africa holding approximately 70% of the world’s total chrome reserves. Combining unwavering determination to achieve his dreams with the power of Volvo Construction Equipment, Madibela has established himself as a successful chrome mining contractor, poised to mine 200 000 tonnes of chrome per month with his own machinery by 2025.

Madibela’s first experience with Volvo Construction Equipment was while working for a mining contractor who used Volvo crawler excavators. “The performance of the Volvo machines was excellent, and I noted that the technology was updated on every new model,” he recalls.

In 2018, Madibela set out on his own, and has never looked back. He began hiring machines that were used for screening and crushing at an opencast chrome mine as part of a joint venture with another mining contractor, until he was able to purchase his first machines in 2021 – a Volvo front-end loader and Volvo EC550E excavator.

This was the start of his relationship with Babcock, the sole distributor of Volvo Construction Equipment in southern Africa, and Madibela’s first steps towards establishing an impressive fleet of Volvo machinery. In the same year he bought another EC550E excavator, followed by the 90-tonne EC950E. These were soon followed by two more EC950Es and three EC750Ds – the latter proving to be Madibela’s favourite Volvo excavator.

“Although the EC950E has a larger capacity, I prefer the EC750D for our application as it’s so fast and reliable. If you get the right fragmentation on the blasting, the EC750D works amazingly well. You should see that machine working!” enthuses Madibela.

MYSOL’s high productivity yielded a contract for a second opencast chrome mine, and in 2024, Madibela started adding Volvo articulated dump trucks to his fleet. In September 2024 alone, MYSOL took delivery of 18 A40 ADTs, four EC750Ds and two EC950Es to further increase his productivity.  

The perfect partners for mass excavation, Volvo’s crawler excavators and articulated dump trucks work in tandem to deliver durability, high performance and enhanced fuel efficiency. No task is too tough for the powerful Volvo A40G, built to handle heavy-duty applications with ease, while for ultimate performance and low fuel consumption, the EC750D crawler excavator provides excellent control for faster cycle times. Volvo largest crawler excavator, the EC950E, combines power and stability to handle a higher capacity in the toughest applications.

“In this industry, performance is everything. Every cube that we move from the mine counts, so I need machines that are reliable and efficient. Thanks to the performance of the Volvo machines, and the support that I have received from Babcock, MYSOL has been able to considerably expand over the last few years,” says Madibela, adding that the company has placed a further order of 27 ADTs and 9 excavators to be used for three new mine contracts from January next year.

“Babcock have supported our growth from the start, from structuring finance deals to safeguard our cashflow, to ensuring quick turnaround times of machines and parts, and providing fast responses and solutions to any queries we may have,” says Madibela.

“They understand that our business is based on production, and that if we don’t produce, we don’t make money. Availability of our machines is critical, so Babcock have provided us with four on-site mechanics to service our machines as part of our maintenance contracts. Their parts availability is excellent, and if a specific part isn’t available, they will make a plan for you.

“Babcock don’t only care about selling me machines – they really care about my business. Their team is very hands-on and they find the best solutions and prices. Rob Baker drops by regularly to check on the machines or to see if they can help with anything. Babcock have helped me to perform better, and thanks to them, I’m getting more business.

“As my business grows, I intend to continue using Volvo Construction Equipment exclusively, as these powerful machines add leverage and value to my tender applications, affirming that MYSOL can deliver for our clients,” he concludes.