PILOT MODULAR PLANT PERFORMS WELL IN
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY APPLICATION
Quickstone Crushers (Pty) Ltd has put a Pilot Crushtec modular crushing
and screening plant to work on a mine dump recycling operation at Aquarius
Platinum’s Kroondal mine. This operation provides an environmentally
friendly service to the mine, whilst generating a usable and marketable
product.
The crusher is producing sand, 13 mm aggregate and 19 mm aggregate, the
majority of which is in turn being used by two Rustenburg companies. The
first is 3Q Concrete, which uses the sand and the 19 mm stone produced for
readymix concrete. The second company, Precrete, makes use of the sand and
13 mm stone for shotcreting underground at the mines.
The two companies each own 50% of Quickstone Crushers. Any aggregate and
sand that is not used by these two operations is supplied to the outside
market.
Alfrancois Henning, one of the owners of Quickstone Crushers, says that
the Pilot Crushtec modular crushing and screening plant has been in
operation at the mine since January, and is operating extremely well. The
static Twister AC 210 VSI crusher is crushing approximately 220 tph of
material.
“This is the first time we have purchased equipment from Pilot Crushtec,
but their offer was extremely competitive and we are more than satisfied
with the plant’s performance,” he comments.
The components of the Pilot Crushtec modular plant include a feed bin and
an MC 800 conveyor which feeds the Twister AC 210 VSI crusher; with
additional MC 600 conveyors feeding a 36/25 double deck screen and then a
24/12 double deck screen.
The first screen removes the sand and the oversize material (material
greater than 22 mm), whilst the second screen removes the 13 mm and 19 mm
product. The oversize aggregate gets fed back into the crusher and goes
through the process again.
“This is essentially a secondary crushing operation – the biggest size of
aggregate that it crushes is 26 mm, so it is essentially forming the
product to its final size and shape and grading it via the screening
process,” Henning explains.
He points out that one of the benefits of using the Pilot Crushtec
crushing and screening plant is that the structure is light and being of a
modular construction is quick and simple to assemble on site. “There was
minimal delay time so we were able to get the operation up and running
very quickly, fulfilling everyone’s needs fast and efficiently,” he
comments.
The plant is also user friendly to operate and maintain, and is powered by
electricity rather than diesel. Although installing the electrical supply
involved an initial cost for Quickstone Crushers, it has proved a cost
effective option.
Henning concludes that the operation creates a win-win situation for all
parties, and he foresees Quickstone Crushers expanding and requiring
further equipment in the future.
