Following a rigorous vetting process, Babcock’s Bartlett (Gauteng) and Middelburg (Mpumalanga) branches have been officially accredited as Volvo Certified Rebuild Centres. The latest service offering helps customers in southern Africa to optimise the lifecycle of their Volvo articulated haulers, excavators and wheel loaders.

Corno de Jager, National Technical Manager at Babcock, says the certification underscores Babcock’s commitment to providing cost-effective, sustainable and high-quality solutions to its customers in the mining, construction and heavy equipment industries. Achieving the certification, he adds, is also testament to the expertise and dedication of Babcock teams.

“Following the certification, Babcock joins an elite group of only 19 other certified Volvo Rebuild dealers globally, demonstrating that our facilities meet the rigorous standards required for personnel, infrastructure, and processes,” says De Jager.

Volvo also states that, based on other dealer performance, customer cost of ownership was reduced by 8%. Additionally, Volvo Certified Rebuild, together with Volvo Financial Services, offers customers tailor-made financial support with payment periods of up to 48 months.

As capital equipment owners across industries seek for innovative ways to control their costs and meet their environmental obligations, the Volvo Rebuild Programme offers the best of both worlds. It allows customers to extend the lifespan of their existing equipment at a reduced cost of buying new machinery – a value offering for fleet owners facing economic pressures or wanting to maintain certain production levels without significant capital investment.

Moreover, rebuilding machines consumes far less energy and natural resources than building a new machine from scratch. With the global sustainability agenda increasingly important to industry, the Volvo Rebuild Programme speaks directly to the quest for a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This, says De Jager, is also in line with Babcock’s 2040 sustainability targets.

“The rebuild process is extensive and customisable. Volvo offers various approved packages, and we tailor the rebuild to each customer’s specific needs while adhering to the minimum requirements for Volvo certification,” says De Jager

Following the certification, the Bartlett branch is already hard at work with Babcock’s first ever Volvo Certified Rebuild machine, an A40 articulated hauler, which is undergoing a complete rebuild, both inside and out, including hydraulics and powertrain, followed by a fresh coat of paint. As part of this process, the machine is equipped with New and Reman Volvo Genuine Parts, allowing both the hydraulic system and powertrain to be returned to the latest engineering updates available.

According to Kobus De Wit, Workshop Team Leader at Babcock’s Bartlett branch, Volvo machines are generally designed for at least three rebuilds during their lifetime. A complete rebuild restores the machine to a ‘like-new condition’, offering customers high availability and reliability.  

“The machine that we are currently rebuilding has about 18 000 work hours. The rebuild will give it a second life. This comes at a favourable/affordable price comparing to a new machine, yet customers can have peace of mind that the replaced components come with a 2-year/6 000 hours warranty, with the option for extended coverage tailored to individual customer requirements.” explains

The Bartlett facility, adds De Wit, currently has the capacity to undertake three complete machine rebuilds per year, with advanced plans to extend the facility to increase the present capacity. Each complete machine rebuild can take up to three months, while a certified powertrain replacement alone can take up to a month on its own.

Each rebuild starts with a complete machine inspection by a qualified technician. Thoroughly testing all the major components uncovers all the issues that need attention. Addressing potential problems proactively during a rebuild can help prevent unexpected breakdowns and associated downtime in the future. After a thorough evaluation, Babcock develops a customised rebuild plan catered to the machine’s and customer’s needs.

“Central to our certification was the technical expertise within our workshop. It gives us pride to note that the two lead technicians at the centre of our first ever rebuild are women– who both came through our apprenticeship programme. They are supported by three apprentices, further highlighting the success of our internal skills development programmes,” concludes De Wit.