Southern Coal (Pty) Ltd t/a Quantum Screening and Crushing has substantially widened its product offering since taking delivery of a Pilot Modular crushing and screening plant.

Based in Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the company specialises in the beneficiation of coal products, by devolatising anthracite in rotating kilns, for sale to customers in the steel and manganese industries, as a replacement to coke.

According to Pilot Crushtec regional sales manager Nicolan Govender, the customer’s original enquiry was for a crusher to complement its existing screen.

“When we entered into discussions with Quantum, we realised that a modular plant would provide a turnkey solution. The flexibility it offers by being able to accommodate a wide range of sizes and specifications with minimal changeover time would be ideally suited to Quantum’s needs.”

The new plant includes a Pilot Modular GFH560 grizzly feeder, a DD2412 double deck screen, a BR0605 impact crusher, a 13 metre MC600 conveyor and three MC600 10 metre conveyors.

Installed and commissioned in July, it is already achieving significant results, processing up to 40 tonnes per hour of anthracite products, nearly doubling the output previously achieved using only a scalping screen.

Quantum director Pieter Cronje comments that the plant has been a revelation as the company can now offer a far wider range of sizes to meet the requirements of both existing and new customers.

“We now have the freedom to do what we like for our customers. The modular design gives us the convenience we need as to change sizes is just a matter of moving the conveyors and adjusting the crusher. Pilot Crushtec has helped us get as close as possible to meeting our customer’s requirements,” he says.

The freezing weather provided a stern test for Pilot Crushtec’s InstalLink personnel who installed and commissioned the turnkey plant in near arctic conditions.
“Neither rain nor snow prevented us from getting the job right first time and on schedule,” says Govender. He adds that Pilot Crushtec is rapidly extending its footprint in KwaZulu-Natal, with a significant upsurge in demand for its crushing, screening and washing products.