In addition to marketing its specialist range of crushing and screening products, Pilot Crushtec International has made significant strides in the marketing of its Generac range of tower lighting systems.

To be competitive it has become essential for many operators to work 24/7, particularly in industries like mining, quarrying, civils and construction.

This was illustrated recently when major contractor Liviero Mining purchased a fleet of 24 VTevo Light Towers for immediate delivery to four of its operational sites in Mpumalanga. Liviero mainly operates in the sphere of opencast coal mining and is currently serving several long-term contracts with listed mining houses.

Liviero plant director Hendrik Strydom explains that the purchase decision was made following a careful study of available lighting products.

“When comparing competing products, we found that some could be regarded as outdated in terms of current health and safety systems. Generac lighting towers offer a superior design, and feature telescopic masts rather than the older folding variety. They are also more technically advanced with illumination provided by four 290w floodlights instead of conventional lamps.”

For Liviero, the decision to move from renting lighting systems to acquiring its own fleet not only makes economic sense but provides an operational safeguard as the lights are key to safe and efficient 24/7 mining operations.

Strydom explains that the company’s capex focus when establishing a new opencast mining operation is directed on production equipment, which can amount to hundreds of millions of Rands. In terms of cost, the purchase of ancillary equipment like lighting towers is a minor consideration, but it does mean that the company now has full control over illumination systems that are critical to the success of its capital intensive mining operations.

Pilot Crushtec International’s reputation for providing a comprehensive service, from advice on product choice to after sales support, commissioning and training, was a determining factor in the deal and according to Strydom the experience more than matched high expectations.

“Their product specialists were on call every step of the way but it was Sandro Scherf who set the tone with his hands-on approach before, during and after the sale was made.”

Pilot Crushtec International CEO Scherf has always maintained that his team delivers world-class after sales service under any conditions and Liviero proved to be no exception.

“We understood the lights had to be operational from the word go and so the day after they arrived on site our product manager, Mervyn Moodley, arrived at 6am to conduct a detailed product training session.

“The lights were up and running for the oncoming night shift and feedback has been very positive, particularly comments about their brightness. Another user-friendly feature is their outstanding economy. The Generac generators that power the lighting towers can run for up to 240 hours on a single tank of diesel – that’s the equivalent of 20 12-hour shifts.”

The Generac VTevo Light Tower is just one of its range of products which can suit applications as varied as industrial and mining sites, airport and security locations and outdoor events.

Features at a glance:

• Mast – maximum height 8 metres, can rotate through 340˚
• Certified wind stability up to 80kph
• Four x 290w LED flood lights
• Street legal low-speed towing capability
• 3.5kVA 230v power generator
• 120 litre fuel tank
• Automatic shutdown (no fuel/no oil/no water)