Pilot Crushtec has its sights on West Africa

Pilot Crushtec is rapidly growing its footprint across the continent and its latest focus is directed upon West Africa, which holds a wealth of prospects for the extraction of minerals and precious metals.

According to sales manager Wayne Warren, the company's expansion in this region has been a gradual process based upon a growing knowledge and confidence in Pilot Crushtec products and the recovery in global mineral and ore prices.

"A typical example is the long-standing relationship we have with a leading gold producer in the region. It bought a Pilot Modular plant from us back in 1999 which has worked well ever since."

This positive experience prompted the company to buy a second Pilot Modular plant in mid-2011 to handle a harder grade of material.

"This proved to be a resounding success, so much so, that it purchased yet another identical plant later in December," says Warren. He adds that the customer can now feed crushed run of mine material into both its mineral sizers, giving it a major increase in productivity.

Following a decade of outstanding service from his original plant, the miner now has an impressive fleet of equipment including: a Pilot Modular BR0605 impact crusher, two Pilot Modular/TRIO MJ3042 jaw crushers, a Pilot Modular GFH560 grizzly feed hopper, five MC600 conveyors, two Pilot Modular MC1000 11m conveyors and two Pilot Modular MC1050 24m conveyors.

Warren believes that a number of important factors are contributing to the expansion of the Pilot Crushtec brand in West Africa.

"Pilot Crushtec's products are built to meet African needs and conditions. Our customers' sites are often in remote areas where even basic services are unavailable. It is absolutely vital to have a reputation as a provider of quality turnkey solutions with impeccable after sales service."

There is also a strong South African connection within the West African mining community, with either expatriates working for local mining houses or Johannesburg-based companies running their own operations.

"This is a decided advantage. We speak the same language and many of these companies have offices close to our own headquarters in Jet Park, east of Johannesburg. Being close to OR Tambo International Airport also helps as many of our West African customers call on us first when they come to South Africa."

West Africa has enormous potential for mining as well as the creation of infrastructure. Ghana, for example, is Africa's second-largest gold producer while Guinea holds an estimated quarter of the world's bauxite reserves.

Pilot Crushtec has built up its business on the strength of relationships and West Africa is no different.

"Our plan is to have a dedicated sales engineer who will concentrate on West Africa in the same way we have increased our footprint in other locations south of the Sahara. By forging new relationships we believe there are excellent opportunities for sustainable growth in the region."