Babcock, Volvo Construction Equipment's dealer for southern Africa was recently presented with the Swedish company's prestigious Volvo Silver Partnership and an award for Operational Excellence at the 2011 Asia and International Dealer Awards held in Shanghai, China.

From left: Lars Haglund, president, Volvo Construction Equipment International congratulates the Babcock International Group representatives from the Africa Division - Equipment business unit: Nigel Russell, MD; Ben Buys, regional operations director; and Dave Vaughn, sales director.

Volvo has yet to award any of its dealers across the world with a gold certificate and relatively few are in receipt of the silver award. Babcock International Group's, Nigel Russell, MD: Equipment, says that the Silver Partnership award followed a detailed analysis and stringent verification of Babcock systems, operational processes and quality standards by Volvo. "This is indeed a great honour for Babcock and our Equipment business unit. Achievement of this certification is affirmation that Babcock has been judged to have not only developed detailed operational and customer focused management systems, but also to have implemented these systems effectively across all Babcock operations in southern Africa," he says.

"This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees who embrace Volvo's standards of operation and remain mindful of Volvo's core values of Quality, Safety and Environmental Care. Our ambition now is to be Gold certified," Russell adds.

In addition to recognising capability and performance levels, Volvo commended Babcock for excellence in general management and operational planning, staff development and sales and marketing activities which contributed to the silver level certification and the award for Operational Excellence.

The Operational Excellence award is given in recognition of exceptional performance and overall approach to providing the highest possible levels of service and product support to the market. The Operational Excellence award also confirms the company's ongoing alignment with Volvo's dealer operating standards and recognises the professional strengths within Babcock to provide quality advice to customers, top quality parts and service and a dedicated focus on after-sales product and customer support.

Russell concludes: "Volvo expectations and standards are high and Babcock is both pleased and honoured to be a recipient of the Silver Partnership certification and to have achieved an international Operational Excellence Award. Gaining this recognition is far from easy and reiterates Babcock's consistency in meeting the high standards set by Volvo. We are extremely proud to be rewarded as such."

www.babcock.co.uk