MINING ILLUMINATED Illumination from the Generac VTevo lighting towers is provided by four 290 W floodlights instead of conventional lamps
In addition to marketing its specialist range of crushing and screening products, crushing and screening specialist Pilot Crushtec International has made significant strides in the marketing of its Generac range of Tower Light mobile lighting systems, which has resulted in major mining contractor Liviero Mining buying a fleet of 24 VTevo light towers.
The light towers were to be immediately delivered to four of the contractor’s operational sites in Mpumalanga. Liviero mainly operates in the opencast coal mining sector and currently has several long-term contracts with several listed mining houses. To remain competitive, it has become essential for many operators to work 24/7, particularly in industries such as mining, quarrying, civils and construction.
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“When comparing competing products, we found that some could be regarded as outdated in terms of current health and safety systems.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,” he says.
Strydom adds that the lights are also more technically advanced, with illumination provided by four 290 W floodlights instead of conventional lamps. Importantly, the systems use less than 1 ℓ of diesel an hour, he says.
For Liviero, the decision to move from renting lighting systems to acquiring its own fleet not only makes economic sense, but also provides an operational safeguard, as the lights are key to safe and efficient 24/7 mining operations.
Strydom explains that the company’s capital expenditure focus, when establishing a new opencast mining operation, centres on production equipment, which can amount to hundreds of millions of rands.
In terms of cost, the purchase of ancillary equipment, such as lighting towers, is a minor consideration; however, it does mean that the company now has full control over illumination systems, which 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”.
Pilot Crushtec International CEO Sandro 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 all 24 units were ready within 18 hours of order confirmation,” he says, adding that Pilot Crushtec product manager Mervyn Moodley also conducted a detailed product training session.
The lights were functioning for the incoming night shift and feedback has been very positive, particularly comments about their brightness, Scherf says, adding that the user-friendly superior economy of the lights results in the Generac generators powering the lighting towers capable of running for up to 240 hours, on a single tank of diesel – the equivalent of twenty, 12-hour shifts.
The Generac VTevo light tower’s features include a mast with a maximum height of 8 m, which can rotate through 340º, certified wind stability of up to 80 km/h, four 290 W light-emitting-diode flood lights, street-legal, low-speed towing capability, a 3.5 kVA, 230 V power generator and a 120 ℓ fuel tank, as well as an automatic shutdown function.