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January - February 2017 MODERN QUARRYING 5
New MD for Babcock
Previously Babcock’s sales director
of Babcock, Dave Vaughan has been
appointed MD – Equipment for the com-
pany. He has been with Babcock since
2005 when he joined the company as a
regional general manager.
Babcock’s equipment business
manages the exclusive distribution and
support of leading international equip-
ment brands in Southern Africa, includ-
ing Volvo construction equipment, Terex
Trucks, Tadano and Sennebogen cranes,
Winget concrete handling equipment
and SDLG construction equipment.
“With indications of recovering
commodity prices, our customers are
positive about the outlook for 2017,”
Vaughan says. “I have a single goal in
mind, and this is to focus on customer
service. To this end we will be restruc-
turing our regions in the first quarter of
2017 to provide our customers with a
quicker turnaround time
on service and parts.”
Engineers concerned about infrastructure spend
The recent PPS Graduate Professional
Index conducted among 400 South
African engineers, indicates that only
4,0% of the respondents believe that the
South African government is effectively
delivering on its promises on infrastruc-
ture spend. The survey was conducted
by PPS, the financial services provider
focused on graduate professionals.
According to Motshabi Nomvethe,
technical marketing specialist at PPS,
91% of the respondents indicated that
they do not think that the government
will meet their infrastructure objectives
as set out in the National Development
Plan (NDP). In its NDP, government states
that by 2030 key services such as com-
mercial transport, energy, telecommuni-
cations and water has to be strengthened
to ensure long-term sustainability.
Commenting on the results Vaughan
Rimbault, CEO of the South African
Institution of Mechanical Engineering
(SAIMechE), says that we need proactive
collaboration between the government
and engineering professionals to counter
these issues.“The government is the big-
gest potential client for any engineering
company, so when massive construction
projects are rolled out it is vital that engi-
neers with the right engineering skills are
chosen to do these projects. Improved
collaboration between the government
and engineering associations will facili-
tate communication and in turn encour-
age support from these professionals to
have more faith in government’s infra-
structure expenditure.”
Rimbault states that government
also has a responsibility to employ local
South African businesses to handle these
big projects rather than employing skills
from overseas.“There is an abundance of
engineering talent in South Africa that
should be given the opportunities to
work with the State.”
According to Nomvethe, it was, how-
ever, extremely positive to note that
64% of the respondents indicate that
they would encourage their children to
enter the engineering profession, with
51% stating that it is because the skills
are really needed in South Africa.
When it comes to training of engi-
neers, Rimbault explains that it might
be worthwhile to include a form of
national service as part of the engi-
neering degrees, as per the community
service year that is a requirement of
medical degrees. “Should a newly-grad-
uated engineer conduct a year’s service
with the Public Works Department, they
will obtain invaluable experience that
can only be taught out in the field. A pro-
gramme of this magnitude would ensure
that all our young engineers enter the
profession with a foundation of basic
experience, which means they can then
contribute in a business environment
from day one.”
When it comes to employment,
Nomvethe notes that 36% of the survey
respondents are concerned that unem-
ployment in the country will encourage
skilled professionals to work overseas.
Rimbault believes that engineers
should consider moving into positions
within the small andmedium-sized enter-
prises in South Africa as an alternative.
“A small manufacturing company might
need a professional to give input on their
systems. Seasoned engineers will be able
to contribute greatly to these types of
businesses, which in turn will allow South
African businesses to improve their reve-
nue through improved systems.
“Every economy in the world needs
as many skilled engineers as possible
and universities can never over-pro-
duce engineering graduates. We have to
encourage youngsters to study toward
an engineering degree and to get rele-
vant experience soon after they gradu-
ate,” he concludes.
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
Customer-oriented: Dave
Vaughan, MD for Babcock’s
equipment business.
It has been suggested that it might be
worthwhile to include a form of national
service as part of the engineering degree,
as per the community service year that is a
requirement of medical degrees.
IQSA diary
Please diarise the following Institute
of Quarrying Southern Africa events:
AGM Conference and Exhibition
at Coastlands Hotel, Umhlanga:
April 20-21
Golf Day: August 1
September Conference: September 14-15
End of Year Function: November 2