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“Owing to where we are located in South- ern Africa, and our support structures, Chinese companies are willing to purchase regionally. Further, African countries are insisting on better-quality infrastructure from Chinese investment, which results in their buying our modular and mobile equipment,” he says.

Henan Hongxing Mining Machinery Co., Ltd is a joint-stock mining machinery manufacturing enterprise integrated in scientific research, production and marketing. It is located at the High & New Technology Industries Development Zone of Zhengzhou,China with an area of 50 thousand m2 which includes 15,000 m2 of standard heavy duty industrial workshop. Equipments are more than 160 pieces, including large and medium sized metal processing, riveting and installing equipments. There are more than 660 workers including 80 administrators with secondary and senior occupational titles and engineering technicians. In order to promote the competitive strength, the advanced technologies have been introduced from America, Germany, Japan and Australia, which established the international advanced production line, first-class modern testing base as well as research centers of sand maker, mill and mine-selecting equipment. Scientific management, advanced processing technology and innovative manufacturing theory make the company become the mining machinery manufacturing and exporting base in China.

Further, financing issues have not hampered product exports and equipment installations as the majority of Pilot Crushtec’s Africa-based clients pay cash upfront, with no bank financing.

However, supplying into Africa does present challenges for the company, but its on-the-ground approach and emphasis on a quick turnaround have been successful for the company in the African market. “Getting the equipment to site is challenging because of transport and other logistical issues in Africa but, once equipment has arrived, our technicians take no longer than two weeks on site to commission the plant. It takes longer for our systems to reach a site than it does for the systems to be operationalised once they are there,” says Warren.

Locally, the company continues to service the South African mining industry but it has experienced a decline in projects relating to infrastructure development, owing to the completion of larger construction and roadworks projects initiated three to four years ago and the absence of new large-scale projects, explains Scherf.

Pilot Crushtec’s modular systems com- prise a standardised suite of compatible equipment including jaw, cone, impact and vertical shaft impact crushers, screens and conveyors that can be moved and configured for individual clients. Warren says that the highest demand in Africa has been for the company’s modular crushing and screening plants, owing to their ease of mobility and high production capacity.

In particular, the track-mounted MegaStak stockpile conveyors and Rubble Master mobile impact crushers have been well received in the market.

Pilot Crushtec will be holding its annual open day on October 13 at the company’s premises in Jet Park, which will feature the launch of new product offerings including the TwisterTrac VS300 VSI crusher, the Pilot Modular/TRIO MC 170 (66”) cone crusher, a MegaStak TC1050 tracked conveyor, and the CDE EvoWash 71 sand-washing plant.