Babcock is a key supplier to the mining, quarrying, forestry, material handling, road building, transport and construction industries in southern Africa. In June 2000 the company was appointed as exclusive distributor for Volvo Construction Equipment in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Lesotho.
The pipelayers will initially be used by Basil Read subsidiary Valente Bros. on the Olifants River Water Resources Project, where the company will be laying approximately 40 km of welded steel pipelines on behalf of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) for Phase 2 of the project. Phase 2 entails bulk water transfer pipelines and a storage reservoir intended to supply bulk water for domestic and mining use in the Limpopo Province. Established in 1948 and acquired by Basil Read in 2011, Valente Bros. specialises in the construction of bulk infrastructure, specifically pipeline infrastructure and pipe jacking.
“Notwithstanding the immediate requirements for the Olifants River project, this acquisition also strengthens the Basil Read group’s position in the pipe laying industry, enabling us to tender more competitively for large diameter pipe line construction projects,” says Roelof Van Der Merwe, Managing Director Plant at Basil Read.
Supported by an extensive product line including articulated haulers, asphalt pavers, backhoe loaders, compactors, milling machines, motor graders, pneumatic tyre rollers, tracked excavators and wheel loaders, Volvo pipelayers can be converted to standard Volvo excavator configuration, ensuring full machine utilisation and ease of operation. “Key to making the decision to purchase the fleet were the enhanced safety features that the Volvo PL4608 pipelayers come standard with,” says Van Der Merwe. The wide working platforms reduce the risk of tipping, and highly visible green, amber and red light bars are mounted at either side of the boom tips, reflecting the state of the load. The boom foot is mounted as far inboard as possible, moving its centre of gravity closer to the machine's centre-line, for enhanced stability. The hydraulically elevating cab improves overall visibility, especially into the trench and increasing site safety in general. Standard on the PL4608 model is the hydraulically variable undercarriage which expands by 500 mm, making it extremely stable in lowering and laying in operations.
The unique, state-of-the-art Load Management System enables the operator to see what he can safely pick up. Real-time information is displayed on an in-cab monitor, together with visible and audible warning signals when the safe load limit is being reached. The system measuring all relevant angles and the load on the hook, including when working on steep slopes, to notify the operator of the safe working range at all times.
For ease of transport, the counterweight can be lowered to the ground and removed using the standard, hydraulic counterweight removal system. The PL4611 features two track frame mounted counterweights that can easily be lifted off with help of the boom and winch and retractable jacks provide complete machine support for removal of the track frames. After the frames are hydraulically disengaged, heavy lifting eyes on the track frames provide optimum lifting points for removal and reassembly. Removal of side track frames and rear counterweight reduces the machine weight and width to fulfill on-road transportation regulations. Once raised on the hydraulic jacks the machine can be lowered directly onto a trailer.
The pipelayers will officially be handed over to Basil Read by Babcock on 12 June 2012.
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Issued by: Serendipity Events, Promotions & Exhibitions
On behalf of: Basil Read
Editorial contact: Loll Thomson (011) 467 2133
Mail to: loll@sepe.co.za
Client contact: Jenny Smith (011) 418 6466 / Roelof Van Der Merwe (011) 418 6551
Mail to: jsmith@basilread.co.za / rvdmerwe@basilread.co.za