As a local manufacturer of modular solutions, including screens, jaw crushers and cone crushers, multinational original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) group Astec Industries notes that there are significant benefits for clients choosing modular plants, which include reducing the engineering requirement for the construction of a new plant.

A further advantage is that the plant can be disassembled quickly and relocated to another site.

In this vein, Astec notes that its modular jaw crusher, cone crusher and screening plants are easy to build and are mounted on skids, making them easier to assemble.

They are also easy to transport and re-erect on a new site, with the plant designed to fit into containers when they are dismantled, which makes transportation easier and cheaper.

In a media release, Astec Industries Africa and Middle East regional sales director for infrastructure solutions Calvin Fennell says modularity gives Astec’s clients the critical ability to scale and adapt quickly in fast-changing operating environments.

He describes it as a smart solution for the challenges customers face in mining and quarrying today.

He notes that, because Astec’s modular jaw crushers, cone crushers and screens are manufactured in Johannesburg, customers in South Africa and across the African continent also have the advantage of reduced lead times and faster delivery and commissioning.

“They have full access to locally stocked spares, to minimise downtime, as well as local service, support and technical expertise, and direct communication with Astec engineering and support teams in South Africa.

“In addition, local manufacture contributes to job creation and the growth of the South African economy.”

Displaying its “state-of-the-art” facility and equipment during a recent equipment factory tour, Astec highlighted the facility's 106-year legacy in manufacturing crushers, showcasing machines such as the FT200 Mobile Track Cone Crusher and GT125 Mobile Jaw Crusher.

During the tour, Astec product management materials solutions VP Stephen Whyte outlined Astec’s future growth plans, which include organic growth and future acquisitions, highlighting specific targets set for 2030.

“We've set ourselves targets that we want to achieve by 2030 and quite a bit of that will be through organic growth, which is where sites like the facility here in Johannesburg play a big part.

“We’ve got a minimal market share, but we have already put a lot of finance and effort into growing that market share. We are pushing hard to achieve those goals,” said Whyte.

Speaking on global manufacturer of specialised equipment for asphalt road building, aggregate processing and concrete production Osborn Engineered Products’ unification under Astec in 2021, Whyte expressed that customers benefit from the combination of legacy knowledge and new features, noting that Astec has new products on the horizon.

“While we're marketed under the Astec name today, we have the proud strength of all those legacy brands behind us and that gives us a great foundation to go and do what we need to do.

“From a customer perspective, you're getting the best of both worlds, because we're taking everything that we know from a legacy perspective, adding some new features, and you have a lot of exciting new products coming here in the near future,” said Whyte.