August 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
60
In order to overcome the logistical challenges associated to rough
terrain and remote locations in Africa, mobile brick making
machines have been launched in the regional market by
Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA).
precast concrete products
PMSA MARKETING AND
sales manager Quintin Booy-
sen points out that the com-
pany delivered several mobile
plants, including a mobile
VB1X concrete block making
machine in May 2013 to a
construction client based in
the Democratic Republic of
Congo. "As Africa develops
and infrastructure is rolled
out, the demand for mobile
machines in various forms
is increasing, and PMSA has
identified this trend early."
The VB1X is capable of
Mobile solutions for
African customer base
producing up to 60 000 stock bricks per
day, and Booysen highlights the fact that
the mobile version of the machine does
not force the owner to invest in a large
capital outlay into fixed infrastructure
that is typically left behind when a proj-
ect is complete."The mobile machine can
simply be moved on to the next site,
therebyenablingcustomerstoproducehigh
volumes of bricks without constantly
investing additional capital, even in the
most remote locations," he explains.
The mobile VB1X block making
machine features remote electro-hydraulic
controls to ensure a trouble-free operation,
in addition to a high energy double-shaft
directional vibrator withmaintenance-free
dynamic braking. Booysen notes that the
electro-hydraulic operation of the tamper,
mould box and feed drawer ensures auto-
matic filling of the mould from the over-
head concrete holding bin. "An automatic
hydraulic pallet feederfeeds pallets from
the magazine to the moulding head and
ejects them onto the take-off conveyor,"
he continues.
Booysen notes that the mobile VB1X
block making machine is purpose built
for the challenging African terrain and
weather conditions. "PMSA is the leading
and largest supplier of brick and block
making machinery in Africa, and all our
equipment is capable of producing high
quality end products that meet the SANS
standards. Furthermore, PMSA also offers
both fixed and mobile machinery with
topping feed attachments for paving
manufacture that requires SANS 1058 for
concrete paving blocks."
In addition to the VB1X, Booysen adds
that PMSA also supplies the RE600, VB1
and UNI Plant block making machines in
mobile models.
"Development in Africa is taking place
at a rapid rate, and as industrialisation
continues, I believe that mining, housing
and government projects in particular will
benefit from the PMSAmobile plant range
where high capacity bricks and blocks are
required in the most remote of locations."
Booysen stresses that the company is
able to deliver the highest standards of
customer service and quick turnaround
time on spares, due to the fact that it has
a comprehensive stockholding onsite to
eliminate the associated risks of downtime
for its clients.
“PMSA prides itself on assisting its
customers in being successful in every
aspect of their business, by consistently
delivering on its promises. We always
endeavour to ensure that we can source a
part that is a non-stock item in the short-
est time possible, in order to ensure that
customers remain successful, competitive
and productive,”he says.
Booysen points out that PMSA produc-
es all the principle components and assem-
blies in-house for the range of equipment
manufactured by the company. “PMSA
reduces its reliance on outside suppliers, as
their level of service does not always meet
with the company’s high expectations
of quality, delivery and turnaround time.
By manufacturing our own components,
in-house specialists are able to source
and address any problems swiftly and
effectively,”he concludes.
●
VB1X plant with bagbreaker and gantry on site in the DRC.
