ETHEKWINI Municipality’s Durban Solid Waste (DSW) department has invested in 22 new 30-ton Volvo articulated dump trucks (ADTs) to be used at four landfill sites in KwaZulu-Natal.
Supplied by Babcock, the exclusive distributor of Volvo Construction Equipment in southern Africa, the A30G dump trucks will be used as standard ADTs, water tankers and for hoisting of skips with hook lifts.
Babcock partnered with ETT to undertake the modifications, transforming standard Volvo A30G dump trucks into water tankers and hook lifts. ETT specialise in specially engineered vehicle solutions for mobile industrial equipment. Other modifications included installing of fire suppression and degreasing systems, and branding in DSW’s signature blue and white colours.
DSW took delivery of eight A30G trucks in June, with a further eight trucks to be delivered in September and October. The final six will arrive in South Africa in early 2022.
Jay Moodley, Regional General Manager at Babcock, says that the company has supplied Volvo ADTs to other government departments in the past, and the trucks’ proven productivity and reliability played a key role in the sale, combined with the outstanding after-market support offered by Babcock.
“These types of trucks operate in a very high productive environment, working long hours every day, sometimes 24-hour shifts. It can cost customers millions if trucks are standing. We aim to keep our customers up and running 24/7,” said Moodley.
“To provide support to our KZN-based customers and the fastest response times in the market, we have a service facility in Pinetown that is equipped with a workshop with six bays (excluding the wash bay), and a parts centre that holds over R5.5 million worth of spares. Our team of technicians, apprentices and foreman pride themselves on their professional, fast service and excellent workmanship.”
Craig Sanday, Sales Manager at Babcock, said that strength and durability are hallmarks of the Volvo articulated hauler, and that the Volvo A30Gs are ideal for this particular application.
“Designed for heavy hauling in severe off-road operations, the trucks’ underfoot capabilities are excellent, especially on higher inclines. The drive train is fully Volvo, with no mix-n-match componentry, making servicing and accountability a lot easier,” Sanday said.
He added that the A30G machine delivers “unbeatable” off-road performance in its class with features such as Automatic Traction Control including 100% differential locks, all-terrain bogie and hydro-mechanical steering. The trucks are optimised for efficiency with higher payload capabilities.
