Engineering News

Generac mobile tower lights have been widely used in the South African market, particularly in the mining and construction sectors, and are now operating throughout the Southern African region, as far north as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), says supplier Pilot Crushtec.

While Generac has an extensive range of tower lights, Pilot Crushtec focuses on a single model, the VTevo, available in two variants, one equipped with a Kubota water-cooled engine and the other with a Yanmar air-cooled engine. Standard features on both machines include an earth spike, a 4 kg fire extinguisher and the necessary switchgear to allow connection to a mains electrical supply when available. A low-speed, single axis towing trailer allows a high degree of mobility on site.

“The two variants both offer 4 x 320 W energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) floodlights, able to illuminate an area of up to 4 500 m2,” says company export manager Fernando Abelho.“The VTevo-Kubota, however, has some additional features that the VTevo-Yanmar lacks. These include a day/night sensor and a GTL-01 controller which provides a programmable stop/start, maintenance alarms and additional safety and protection features.”

Additional features of the VTevo include:

• A telescopic vertical raise mast with 8 m maximum height, said to be safer than alternative designs
• 340° mast rotation
• Two side doors to the engine compartment for ease of maintenance
• Forklift pockets on all sides to facilitate handling
• A silenced canopy for ultra-quiet operation

Abelho also stresses the energy saving aspects of the VTevo. “The G4 LEDs used are industry-leading and have a life expectancy of 50 000 hours. They allow up to 220 hours of runtime on a single tank of fuel. Their efficiency is such that they can save up to 75% of the fuel that traditional towers equipped with metal halide lights use, at the same time reducing carbon emissions by up to 10 t/y. We believe that the VTevo is the most eco-friendly lighting tower ever created.”