CONE CRUSHER CLOCKS 30 000 HOURS AND COUNTING
• PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Supplied by Pilot Crushtec
CONE CRUSHER CLOCKS 30 000 HOURS AND COUNTING
A Metso LT300HP mobile cone crusher with over 30 000 hours is tracked into working position .
As is customary with Metso equipment , in another show of unparalleled longevity , a Metso LT300HP mobile cone crusher owned and operated by Danoher Group , a leading mining contractor in southern Africa , has clocked more than 30 000 hours , and counting .
Acquired in 2012 , the mobile cone crusher is currently deployed at a job in Mbombela , Mpumalanga , where Danoher Group is contracted to produce 350 000 tonnes of road stone for the rehabilitation and upkeep of the N4 Toll Concession .
Previously , the machine had been deployed on some flagship projects in South Africa and Botswana . Over the past 12 years , the machine has been in Botswana on four occasions , where it executed some major projects at flagship mines such as Debswana ’ s Orapa Diamond Mine and Khoemacau , a long-life copper-silver mine located in the Kalahari Copper Belt . In addition , it has also been deployed at Danoher ’ s own Kgale Quarry in Gaborone .
With just over 30 000 hours on the clock , the machine is one of the several Metso units in Danoher ’ s crushing and screening fleet with such a long lifespan . In fact , says CEO Scott Danoher , the company has neither retired nor scrapped a single unit in the past 15 years , shining the spotlight on its drive to achieve extended operational lifecycles out of its capital assets and a testament to the quality of the products .
Danoher Group places value on several factors when investing in capital equipment , such as standardisation of equipment and relationships with suppliers . However , one of the principle factors that informs the company ’ s buying decisions is equipment longevity . While there are various elements that influence longevity , Danoher stresses that the fundamental ‘ raw material ’ is the design of the machine , which is why the company trusts Metso for its comminution equipment needs .
“ We do not necessarily buy a crusher or a screen , for example , for whatever amount , we buy the number of hours that the machine gives us ,” says Danoher . “ For us , it is also not about the price tag , it is more about the cost per tonne or cost per hour – ‘ cradle to grave ’, which is a totally different approach . We are prepared to pay a premium upfront in exchange for , say 30 000 trouble-free hours out of our crushing equipment .”
By sticking to a trusted brand like Metso and Pilot Crushtec as well as implementing proactive maintenance strategies , Danoher Group not only extends the operational lifespan of its capital assets , but also optimises equipment performance , minimises downtime and reduces costs to ensure smooth and efficient operations .
“ Proper maintenance and care throughout the lifespan of equipment significantly contribute to its longevity . To get the best out of our maintenance efforts , we largely use Metso OEM parts and spares from Pilot Crushtec International ,” says Danoher .
Over the years , Danoher Group and Pilot Crushtec , the Metso dealer in southern Africa , have built a strong working relationship . “ Relationships play a crucial role in what we buy . For us , Pilot Crushtec are more than just suppliers : they have become trusted business partners ,” concludes Danoher . •
Source : supplied by Pilot Crushtec
We buy the number of hours that the machine gives us .
HAGGLANDS QUARTER
68 • African Mining • January 2025 www . africanmining . co . za