DynamiTrac provides homegrown solution

"The mining and construction industries have become even more competitive as a result of current market conditions, both locally and globally," says Pilot Crushtec International CEO, Sandro Scherf. "This in turn puts increased pressure on margins and, as a result, more emphasis than ever on designing and building equipment that will bring down the average cost per ton of a given material. That is the purpose for which the DynamiTrac is intended."

The unit is by far the largest product ever built at the company's Jet Park-based manufacturing facility situated close to OR Tambo International. The track mounted, mobile triple-shaft, triple-deck horizontal screen is designed to produce as many as four products simultaneously with a capacity expected to easily exceed 350 tons per hour.

Export market

Scherf believes that the DynamiTrac is poised to succeed in both domestic and export markets. "On the one hand, it will serve as a key import replacement, providing local operators with a homegrown solution for the cost effective production of high quality aggregate. We do believe however, that the economies offered by the DynamiTrac also make it a paying proposition in export markets, especially with exchange rates at current levels."

The TDH6118 will be going into production around the last quarter of the year; however, in the interim, the initial prototype is undergoing an exhaustive 2,000 hour field trial at a quarry in Ventersburg, 180km north of Bloemfontein.

The site belongs to SANRAL and is currently servicing five separate road renovation projects. Danoher Contracting, which is managing the operation, is keeping a critical eye on the DynamiTrac and director Royden Webster is impressed with the machine's potential.

"Even at this early stage we rate it as a very capable screen, highly productive and easy to operate. As this is a brand-new product, we're taking things cautiously and operating at around 150 tons per hour, but estimate that it could be capable of delivering as much as three times that amount."

Operational efficiency

Webster adds that in addition to the DynamiTrac's capabilities in volume terms, it also offers other capabilities that assist operational efficiency.

"The machine is currently producing four different sizes of material, ranging from fines to oversize, and it is getting each product right first time without the need for rehandling. Another advantage much appreciated by our site team is the quality of design, especially the layout of the engine bay. The space available allows for easy access to the power plant for routine inspections and maintenance which is a major time saver during site operations."

With more than 1,000 hours already completed, engineers from Pilot Crushtec International and Volvo (suppliers of the power plant), are satisfied that the DynamiTrac is performing in exact accordance to its design specification. Another important learning arising out of on-site experience is this large screen's inherent stability and manoeuvrability. With the aid of the on-board remote control system, it was easy to slot the screen into the quarry production train as well as to negotiate relatively steep gradients.