Since its launch in 2021, the Pilot Modular VS100 vertical shaft impactor (VSI) – a remodelled and improved version of Pilot Crushtec International’s popular entry-level Pilot Modular AC06 VSI crusher – has gained rapid traction in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, with five units sold in just under two years.
For nearly 20 years, New Zealand, a popular VSI market in the world, has been one of the most consistent markets for Pilot Crushtec’s Twister VSI crusher range. Sanland Equipment’s Trevor Heaphy, who sold the first TwisterTrac VSI in New Zealand in 2005 and has personally been involved with the Pilot Crushtec brand for some 18 years across three companies, says Twister VSI crushers have, in the past two decades, proven themselves as cost-effective and high-performance solutions for tertiary, and also quaternary, crushing requirements in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
The bulk of the machines, confirms Heaphy, have been sold during his 10-year tenure at Sanland Equipment. In fact, the New Zealand and Pacific Islands market has accounted for 10 Twister VSI units since 2018. “In the last couple of years, I would be confident to say that we have sold more VSIs than any other supplier in New Zealand,” stresses Heaphy.
Since its introduction in 2021, the Pilot Modular VS100 has been particularly successful in the New Zealand market, with five units delivered in just under two years. The machines are predominantly deployed in hard rock quarrying and sand processing applications.
“In our market, sand has traditionally been obtained from natural sources such as coastlines. However, in recent years, sourcing sand from riverbanks and shorelines has been severely restricted because of the dire environmental consequences. On the back of growing demand for manufactured sand, the VS100 is proving to be the ideal solution for sand processing operations,” he says. “In addition, customers are pleased with its ability to enhance the shape and quality of aggregates.”
One of the quick success factors of the VS100 in this market is its size, says Heaphy. With a production capacity up to 100 tonnes per hour, the machine is ideally suited to the size of customer operations and production requirements found in this market. “The VS100 is also the right fit for our market because of the 110-kW rated power. In the Pacific Islands, for example, some of the countries are very small and don’t have power reticulation to run anything bigger than that,” explains Heaphy.
While the VS100 comes at a higher price than the predecessor AC06 and AC07 machines, Heaphy says the machine is a complete package which comes with many more features and benefits. Among the key talking points is the hydraulic lid lifting. The hydraulic pack opens and automatically rotates the lid, revealing the modular rock chamber and rotor, making daily inspections easy.
Heaphy also makes special mention of the on-board jib crane installed as a standard item for safe removal of the rotor.
“The VS100 has a special design focus on ease of maintenance. The discharge chute on the machine is primarily rubber, which reduces wear. The adjustment of the motor for belt tensioning purposes is also very easy. It’s also important to point out the smart design and simple operations of the crusher,” he says.
Apart from ease of maintenance, Heaphy says the VS100 comes with more safety features, making it compliant with international safety standards. These include a new inclined staircase and a three-sided platform that is both non-slippery and chemical-resistant. The galvanised handrails and non-metallic walkways are a great benefit to New Zealand and Pacific Islands’ customers who operate close to the ocean where machines are susceptible to rust.
To ensure high uptime for its customers, Sanland Equipment not only keeps a substantial stock of wear- and spare parts, but also major components such as complete rotor and bearing sub-assemblies. Having these items off the shelf is critical in the event of any major failures.
Francois Marais, sales and marketing director at Pilot Crushtec, says years of experience and advanced manufacturing methods have resulted in the Pilot VS100. Among some of the key features, he says, is the modular rock chamber, which allows you to go from autogenous crushing to anvil ring crushing configuration, and is designed for efficient rock-box build up.
In conclusion, Marais says the success of the Pilot Modular VS100 and the Pilot Twister range in New Zealand is testimony to Pilot Crushtec’s rich heritage in the design and manufacture of VSIs, which dates back to over 30 years ago. He also believes this success speaks highly of South Africa’s manufacturing capabilities.
“Despite the array of challenges that local manufacturers have to contend with, such as labour, power supply and lack of infrastructure, potential still exists for South Africa to manufacture and export world class products. Pilot Crushtec’s success in a competitive VSI market like New Zealand is testament to the experience and expertise in our country,” concludes Marais.
