Local contractors can now deliver desired results across a variety of applications by taking advantage of Finnish industrial machinery company Metso Outotec’s Lokotrack ST2.3 scalping screen.

Taking the nomadic nature of contract crushing into consideration, Metso Outotec paid particular attention to ease of transportation when developing the machine.

The machine enables contractors to cost effectively transfer productivity from one job site to the next, even when operating conditions change, as transporting the machine does not require a permit.

The Lokotrack ST2.3 has a compact screen box size of 3 040 mm × 1 520 mm and an optimised weight of 17 t.

The machine is small in comparison to the rest of Pilot Crushtec’s machinery equipment, though materials handling equipment supplier Pilot Crushtec sales and marketing director Francois Marais notes that oftentimes “big things have small beginnings”.

Amid record-high fuel prices, the machine’s fuel efficiency also helps fleet owners to reduce their operating costs.

Powered by a CAT C3.6 diesel engine, the machine has a 260 ℓ tank and uses about 8 ℓ/h of fuel while in use, Marais said when introducing the machine to the media last month.

Newly launched in South Africa, and available from Pilot Crushtec, the Lokotrack ST2.3 is a multi-use scalping screen that can be deployed in several applications and process various feed materials.

While the initial portfolio will be domestic, Marais is confident that Pilot Crushtec will introduce the machine to its traditional markets – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The machine has been used across Europe over the past few years.

Further, the Lokotrack ST2.3 is particularly suited for heavy-duty scalping, fine screening and recycling, and is designed to process a range of materials, from topsoil and recycled concrete waste to road base material and fine aggregates.

The machine can be used as a standalone unit or as part of a multistage crushing and screening process. Its versatility is enhanced by the various screen media options, including grizzly, punch plate, finger grizzly and wire mesh.

Despite its compact build, the machine has a 4.6 m² screening area, making it the widest in its class. This is complemented by a stroke of up to 13 mm with 5 g-force acceleration, resulting in high screening performance.

In addition, Metso Outotec’s industrial control automation system enables fleet managers to monitor, remotely control and automate the screening process for better performance.

Information on upcoming maintenance requirements are also provided; thus, fleet managers can plan maintenance breaks effectively and reduce machine downtime.

The automation also makes the work safer for operators with the remote control features, Marais said at the launch event, adding that mine safety regulations such as delayed startup processes are preprogrammed into the machine.

Essentially, contractors who use this type of mobile equipment will be able to quickly complete various operations without the need for additional investments to keep the machine up to date.

The Lokotrack ST2.3 also comes with a five-year warranty from Metso Outotec.

Consequently, Marais is confident that the Lokotrack ST2.3 will enable entry-level and medium-scale contractors to “deliver services reliably to the African market”.

“We believe that it is a compelling proposition from a pricing perspective, and that it gives smaller contractors, who can’t get the funding needed for bigger entry-level machines, the platform to get running – at the very least – and to get started on their initial contract work,” he enthuses.