Pilot Crushtec International is introducing its new generation TwisterTrac mobile vertical shaft impact (VSI) crusher powered by a Stage V diesel engine in a move that, it says, could unlock new export prospects in highly regulated markets such as Europe and North America.

Designed and manufactured in South Africa by Pilot Crushtec, the TwisterTrac VS350E VSI has over the years gained popularity in export destinations such as Australia and New Zealand. To provide context, since 2013, Pilot Crushtec has sold in excess of 50 units with almost 90% of these deployed into export markets, the company claims.

To further grow its export sales, the company has become one of the first South Africa-based original equipment manufacturers to build a Stage V engine powered machine. Previously driven by a Tier 3 Volvo TAD1651GE engine, the new TwisterTrac VS350E VSI now comes with a Stage V Volvo TAD1382GE motor, allowing Pilot Crushtec to offer the legendary tracked VSI in emissions-regulated markets, in particular Europe and North America, as mentioned above.

Sandro Scherf, CEO of Pilot Crushtec, said: “The Stage V project has been in the pipeline for a while as part of our export focus. Our machine development strategy has always placed greater emphasis on offering exportable products and this move allows us to unlock new markets and grow our export sales. We are excited by the prospects of growth in emission-controlled markets such as Europe and North America. In addition, this project speaks to customers in some of our traditional markets such as Australia, where there is a strong focus on adopting high emissions standards.”

Jorge Abelho, Director Technical Support at Pilot Crushtec, says the company opted for the 13 litre TAD1382GE from Volvo because it is a powerful, reliable and economical motor built on the dependable in-line six design. The engine incorporates a suite of advanced technologies that work together to not only reduce emissions but also deliver significant improvements in power density, performance and operating efficiency. Designed for easy, fast and most economical installation, the engine’s high-tech injection and charging system with low internal losses contributes to excellent combustion and low fuel consumption.

Abelho says: “Volvo has been our preferred engine partner for a while, largely because of the efficiency of their engine technology. In addition, we find them easy to deal with in terms of information sharing and guidance on the technology. To provide context, we had a technical representative from Volvo at our Jet Park workshop for a week-long factory testing, before deploying the machine for field testing in a tough crushing application with great success.”

In addition to the transition to new engine technology, Pilot Crushtec took the opportunity to redesign some areas of the machine. For example, the machine now comes with an integrated cooling pack and the whole power pack base has become much smaller.

Abelho explained: “We have also re-arranged some of the key components to make the cabling and piping shorter and simpler. For instance, we have moved the operator panel from the left-hand side to the right-hand side of the machine. This reduces the number of cables required on the machine by bringing panels closer together. We have also made the operator panel easier to use.”

In addition, the size of the hydraulic tank has been reduced and the tank has been moved closer to the pumps. These refinements were informed by knowledge and feedback gained over the last ten years of operating the TwisterTrac VS350E in the field.

Scherf is confident that the latest developments will further entrench the TwisterTrac VS350E’s dominance in the global marketplace. Designed for tertiary and quaternary crushing applications, the TwisterTrac VS350E is renowned for its versatility, reliability and efficiency. A fully mobile track mounted VSI crusher, the machine can be easily moved between sites or within a site. Its compact design and robust construction make it suitable for a wide range of applications, including mining.