The Lokotrack LT120 mobile jaw crushing plant, which SPH Kundalila acquired earlier this year, has been added to its crushing fleet at an open-pit platinum mine near Rustenburg in the country's North West province.
SPH Kundalila has been conducting crushing operations for its customer at the mine since 2013, although it has undertaken other contract activities at the site since 2010.
Graeme Campbell, group commercial manager at SPH Kundalila, said: "The new machine is part of our ongoing plant renewal process, ensuring that our fleet performs optimally with high uptime levels. We already have four of these models on other operations, and they have all been strong and reliable production units."
The crushers at the platinum mine process 350,000-400,000t per month of platinum ore for the site's processing plant. The material that enters the crusher can be up to 800mm in size, and the crusher reduces it to a size of 250mm or less before it is transported to the plant.
Pilot Crushtec noted that the mobility of the LT120, which is track mounted, provides the needed flexibility for the mine as it can be moved to treat ore from different parts of the site, providing a consistent ore grade to the processing plant.
Dean Zeelie, operations manager at SPH Kundalila, stated that the team can relocate the crusher in as little as 30 minutes, which avoids additional costs from loading and hauling, thus providing significant savings to the mine. He also noted that previous Metso Outotec mobile crushers have been reliable in SPH Kundalila's contracts at hard rock mines, and one unit has achieved nearly 25,000 hours to date.
Zeelie added: "The Metso Outotec technology allows us to closely monitor machine running time and operating time, so that we can schedule regular service interventions. Our on-site maintenance team ensures that all delivery targets are met, as our role in maintaining mine throughput is vital."
The mobile crushers can be completely refurbished at long-term intervals by SPH Kundalila at its workshop in Potchefstroom, which is also in the North West province. According to Pilot Crushtec, this enhances their reliability while lowering the total cost of ownership.
Campbell said that SPH Kundalila has been buying Metso Outotec crushers from Pilot Crushtec since 2007, and the companies' relationship goes back more than 23 years. He added that the companies work together at the early stages of SPH Kundalila's potential contract prospects, and Pilot Crushtec helps with testing then recommends the equipment that would be the best fit for the contract. Metso Outotec's Bruno software program, which is designed to find the optimal solution for a project, is a tool that the company uses for this.
Francois Marais, director, sales and marketing at Pilot Crushtec, noted that the Lokotrack LT120 has an excellent capacity as it features a Metso Outotec C120 jaw crusher that has a 1,200mm x 870mm feed opening. He added: "The hydraulic drive ensures trouble-free operation and enables crusher direction to be changed in case of blockage or alternatively the on-board hydraulic hammer can be used, while the Caterpillar C13 engine module delivers optimal power to the high inertia flywheels. Its compact dimensions, combined with agile tracks, also make it easy to transport. The chassis design features good clearance at both ends, enabling simple loading on a trailer.
"To deliver on our mandates to customers, we rely on high quality equipment like Metso Outotec crushers, and the experience and support of Pilot Crushtec."
