Celebrating 125 years of service excellence
Babcock flourishes in Africa and around the world
At Babcock, we design, build, operate and maintain infrastructure to meet the complex challenges of organisations around the world. We manage critically important assets that help to bring power to our homes and businesses. We manage complex fleets of varied equipment within the mining, petrochemical and construction sectors and enable the long haul collection and delivery of goods within Southern Africa. In 2016, we celebrate a significant milestone: 125 years in business.
Humble beginnings
When Stephen Wilcox and George Babcock patented a water tube boiler in 1856, they could not have known that this singular invention would later pave the way for our company to grow into a global organisation with more than 34 000 employees.
The first Babcock boiler was supplied to South Africa’s gold mining industry in 1891. Decades later, in the 1920’s the company made its debut in the local power industry with the supply of coal-fired boilers to Eskom Colenso in the Natal Midlands.
Babcock’s construction equipment business is established just after WW2 as a result of the company’s internal equipment requirement.
One small step for man, one giant leap for…
In1969, as astronauts walk on the moon’s surface for the first time, Babcock made giant leaps in the power industry with substantial orders from Eskom for 7 of their power stations.
In the late 70’s, Babcock started up its welding business with the supply of Lincoln Electric products. A significant juncture in our company’s history came about in 1974 when we received an order worth (in today’s terms) R2bn for the first South African 6 x 600MW power station for Eskom Matla. Another sizable order for Lethabo power station followed in 1984. Nine Babcock group companies were involved in the design and build of Lethabo. A few years later, a tube bending fabrication facility was opened in Jet Park. In 1994, the company’s plant hire business formed and a little over a decade later Babcock added the transmission line business to its growing list of capabilities.
At the turn of the 21st century, Babcock was appointed sole distributor of Volvo Construction Equipment in southern Africa. The company now represents a number of leading international brands including Tadano mobile cranes, DAF trucks, SDLG Construction machinery, Winget concrete machinery and Terex Trucks.
In 2012 Babcock International Group joined the UK FTSE 100 as the UK’s leading engineering support services organisation.
A promising future
Today Babcock International has an annual revenue of GBP 4.5bn, manages customer assets worth more than GBP40bn and delivers 600 services across 6 continents.
The future promises opportunities and challenges that can be tackled with assurance. The skills and foresight of our employees gives us the resources and flexibility to meet industry needs for the 21st century and beyond.