Crushing and screening operations frequently continue operations in the dark and sufficient lighting is essential to ensure safety and productivity and Pilot Crushtec has now introduced its own range of mobile lighting towers under the brand Mobi Light.

“Our own brand gives us the flexibility to source the right products internationally, and provide the high level of local support that customers have come to expect from us,” says Pilot Crushtec sales and marketing executive Francois Marais. “Owners of sites that operate after dark will benefit from this range, and we will also supply to plant hire companies who rent this equipment to mainly the construction and mining sectors.”

The range covers mobile lighting solutions at entry level right up to premium applications. A smaller unit with four 320 LED floodlights will achieve a lighting area up to 5 000 m2 and a large unit, as used on mines, with six 320 WLED floodlights will light up 7 800 m2.

Pilot Crushtec sales engineer Ben Armitage explains that safety is a key consideration in the way the company has positioned its offering.

“Not only do you need sufficient lighting for the stationery crushing and screening equipment on a site, but there are typically several pieces of yellow metal equipment such as excavators, trucks and loaders moving around,” says Armitage. “Good lighting is therefore a critical element of the industry’s quest for zero harm.”

He notes that insufficient lighting also affects productivity, explaining that operators tend to reduce feed rates to plants in poor lighting conditions, to avoid the risk of blockages and spillage. This can have a negative effect on production and increase the costs of operating a site.

“Another factor that the Mobi Lite tower range considers is the height of our masts,” he continues. “With our high masts at 8.5 m, this ensures an increased lighting area while reducing operator fatigue, as the light is high enough to never shine in the operators’ eyes.”

The range incorporates new LED technology that offers a longer lifespan, operates at low voltages and produces less heat.

“This has significant benefits for outdoor site operators,” he says. “LED lights light up the work area instantly and don’t require a cool-down period before the lighting plant can be relocated. These lights also consume less power, saving money, especially when on-site power is diesel generated.”

The lighting units are designed for demanding conditions and include a robust steel canopy to house the generating unit and startup panel, which helps prevent battery and diesel theft. Steel doors on each side of the lighting plant also enable ease of access for maintenance and inspection.