Pilot Crushtec Has Record-Breaking 2011

Crushing and screening specialist Pilot Crushtec had a record-breaking 2011 Financial Year End. The Jet Park-based company, which celebrated its 21st year in business in 2011, achieved a best-ever sales performance, finishing nine percent ahead of target and a resounding 19% up in sales compared to the previous year.

According to director sales Graham Kleinhans, this was the result of many factors coming together, not least the company's decision to stick to its guns in terms of advertising and promotional activities throughout the depths of the downturn.

"Pilot Crushtec's success has been entirely due to sheer hard work, great products, great service and detecting and capitalising on market opportunities," says Kleinhans.

Africa has been a strategic focus point, especially with current demand for minerals, ores and precious metals from China and India. To meet these demands, many African countries have had to invest in the creation or replacement of infrastructure, all of which is good for the sale of crushing and screening equipment.

Pilot Crushtec's penetration into these markets has not come easily or overnight: "It is the result of constant direct one-on-one contact with potential clients in remote areas. In many of these regions, the Pilot Crushtec sales engineer is the only representative buyers see."

The year was also one of change in the way Pilot Crushtec services its domestic market and the results have been exceptional. "We have broken away from the traditional practice of basing the entire sales team in Jet Park. We now operate with a regional focus, something which began when we gave our regional sales manager Nicolan Govender a permanent base in Durban."

The results speak for themselves, says Kleinhans, adding that Kwazulu-Natal was the company's fastest growing region in 2011, recording a massive 235% growth over the previous year.

Kleinhans has not been slow to build on this success, which has been followed by the appointment of Mark Reeves as sales engineer for the Eastern Cape with a Cape Town placing imminent.

While 2011 was Pilot Crushtec's best year ever, Kleinhans believes that there is still a great deal to come.

"We have seen a significant upturn in demand for our modular plants and there is little doubt that this trend will continue. In addition, we will be introducing a raft of new products that will definitely add value to our customers' operations."

Kleinhans lists a formidable range of new offerings, including the acclaimed CDE washing plants, the Pilot Modular/TRIO MC170 (the largest cone crusher in the range), an all-new tracked roll crusher and the brand new TwisterTrac VS300 vertical shaft impact crusher.

Added to these are several practical peripheral items, including the MegaStak TC1050 tracked conveyor, TowerLight illumination units and Dust Fighter dust suppression systems.

"These additions to our existing range serve to underline our premise that we don't just sell products; we provide sustainable solutions," says Kleinhans.