Mobile crushing and screening service provider Eco-Match is noticing growing demand for mobile solutions across South Africa and the wider African mining industry, as clients require faster plant establishment times, less downtime and more operational flexibility, says Eco-Match MD Craig Allen.

Mobile plants are gradually being increasingly selected for projects where site conditions or space constraints make traditional fixed, or modular, plants less practical.

Eco-Match owns and operates a fleet of mobile crushing and screening equipment, provides a turnkey service for clients and “takes care of everything involved in processing raw material into a required product material”.

This business model, adds Allen, positions Eco-Match differently from original- equipment-manufacturers (OEMs), which typically sell equipment directly to mines or contractors, as it provides crushing and screening as a service, which is “particularly useful” for clients who do not have in-house expertise or equipment.

The company operates across a number of sectors, including those of construction, mining and industrial projects.

The company has worked on not only mining projects but also road construction contracts, renewable-energy developments, and even construction and demolition waste recycling projects. This diversity shows that mobile crushing and screening is not limited to traditional mining applications, adds Allen.

He explains that the key advantage of mobile plants is their flexibility. Fixed operations, such as can be found at traditional mines and collieries, often favour modular or fixed plants because of their permanent nature; but these operations face challenges such as raw material supply haulage and downtime when equipment has to be repaired.

“Mobile crushing and screening plants allow us to service clients in even the most remote areas and within the tightest operational footprints. Establishment time is significantly reduced and the flexibility of the processing operation enables the plant to ‘eat into’ raw material stockpiles with ease.”

Eco-Match’s mobile fleet also offers operational adaptability, which is especially valuable when dealing with resource variability – a challenge met by mobile machinery’s ability to adjust quickly, owing to its hydraulic or electronic components.

“Operators are able to modify production settings to meet specific product requirements within minutes. From crushing iron-ore or coal, to processing hard aggregate, today’s advancements in mobile crushing and screening machinery make it possible to accommodate a wide range of resources with ease.”

Reliable Service

Providing a reliable service in a sector where downtime is a reality is a challenge met head-on, says Allen.

Eco-Match uses skilled in-house staff and maintains good relationships with OEMs, the latter being employed when breakdowns cannot be resolved on site.

He adds that client expectations have shifted in recent years, with more focus on reliability, technical expertise and compliance, and many clients appoint subcontractors, such as Eco-Match, to provide a turnkey service. This includes quality output, reliable plant availability, adherence to environmental and health standards, and transparent pricing.

Environmental compliance has also become a differentiating factor, increasingly becoming a critical part of responsible operations.

He says measures such as dust suppression, noise management, contamination prevention and land rehabilitation are standard across Eco-Match’s projects. These measures are also used to reduce the negative impact on surrounding communities and ecosystems while maintaining trust with clients.

Allen believes that the demand for mobile crushing and screening will continue to grow as mining and construction projects expand into more remote areas, and clients demand more flexible and sustainable solutions.