Custom engineered accessibility

With Ricbuilt Heavy Industries

Safety is not optional in high-risk mining settings — it is a necessity. The colossally sized heavy equipment used across operations presents unique safety and accessibility challenges for maintenance teams and operators.

Protecting workers and expensive equipment with safe access to elevated work areas, whether for maintenance, inspection or daily operations, is critical. The demanding environment of the mining industry requires robust and reliable safety equipment to protect workers and safeguard machinery.

Ricbuilt Heavy Industries provides innovative, custom-designed solutions that ensure safe, efficient and accessible environments for maintenance teams, both in the workshop and in the field.

Since 1998, Ricbuilt has been a trusted provider of custom engineered access solutions for the Australian mining industry. Founded in Moranbah — a world-class coal mining town in Queensland — Ricbuilt continues to provide aluminium access platforms throughout Australia.

Specialising in engineer-certified access platforms designed and built to exceed Australian standards, Ricbuilt delivers reliable, long-lasting solutions to meet each projects unique requirements.

These durably designed access platforms are purpose built to give personnel easy and safe access to usually hard-to-reach areas. Ricbuilt’s platforms give technicians faster and safer access to critical machinery, in turn reducing downtime.

Custom-built safety

The team at Ricbuilt knows that no two projects are the same and tailors each solution accordingly. All Ricbuilt access platforms are engineered to meet specific project requirements and built to the highest quality, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Each product is individually fabricated and designed by Ricbuilt’s in-house drafting team and local trade-based workforce with industrial-grade finishes, ensuring it will perform even in harsh conditions.

Every platform is built to comply with AS 1657 — the Australian Standard governing fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders. Engineer-certified and delivered with full documentation, the Ricbuilt team ensures each platform provides safe working load for specific applications, anti-slip surfaces, guardrails, kickboards and toe protection as well as correct step angle and handrail heights.

Improving site safety

A prevalent risk to workers and leading cause of workplace injury across the resources sector are falls from height. To reduce this risk and provide a safe working environment, compliant and high-quality access equipment is non-negotiable.

Ricbuilt’s platforms are designed to improve safety, reduce downtime and boost productivity by providing safe access to elevated areas with stable footing and handholds for technicians and operators.

Features such as anti-slip surfaces, guardrails and compliant ladder systems create a safer environment for workers to operate in confidently.

Depending on the specific requirements of the project, the platforms can be fixed, mobile on wheels or height adjustable. This allows flexible use across a wide range of environments on various machinery providing stability and security.

Reducing downtime

Reliable access equipment, such as platforms and ladders, has a direct impact on the efficiency of maintenance and repair work. Downtime is a costly occurrence that comes with machine maintenance and inspections. Setting up scaffolding to access machinery is also a time-consuming process that prolongs downtime.

Ricbuilt’s access platforms are not only a safer alternative, but they can also drastically reduce downtime by cutting out the need to set up elaborate scaffolding. By enabling faster access to machines and elevated areas, technicians and operators can work on hard-to-reach areas more efficiently.

Ease of access not only supports worker efficiency, it also safeguards expensive and sensitive machinery. Poor accessibility can lead to missteps, trips and even improper repair techniques which can result in unintentional damage to vital equipment and compromise performance.

Engineered to perform, Ricbuilt’s platforms provide a consistently reliable area for maintenance and technical teams to work from that complies with strict industry safety standards to help extend the life of machines.

More than a company

With a portfolio of more than 1,200 products and more than 28 years of experience, Ricbuilt has established itself as a trusted partner for mining companies and an industry leader.

Between the leadership team, workshop crew and business support members the organisation has significantly grown since its origin, while maintaining the family feel and client focus.

With 20 years of firsthand experience across the maintenance field, business operations and leadership, Ricbuilt general manager Jack Alexander is steering the company into its next chapter.

“Ricbuilt is more than a company — it’s a legacy,” he said.

“Every product we offer is shaped by the hands-on experience of a seasoned tradesman who spent two decades in the field before Ricbuilt even began.”

Ricbuilt is committed to enhancing workplace safety and operational efficiency by providing the tools and support clients need to perform with confidence, reliability and precision.

“As someone who first worked with Ricbuilt products as a young apprentice, I’ve had the rare privilege of growing with the products – and with the business,” Mr Alexander said.

“We’re scaling up — but never at the cost of our character.

“We’re evolving without losing the charm that made us a trusted name to begin with.”

Through innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship, the team at Ricbuilt supports clients by providing dependable systems that streamline maintenance operations and ensure a safe work environment.

With decades of experience in fabricating heavy-duty safety access solutions, Ricbuilt delivers premium-grade products tailored to the unique needs of clients both nationwide and globally.

“We want more customers to see us, hear us and trust in the story that’s behind every product we make,” Mr Alexander said.

“Ricbuilt has always stood for quality, reliability and integrity — and it will continue to do so for decades to come.”