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PT Hydraulics has provided high-quality products and services to the mining sector for over four decades.  Celebrating 20 years in 2023, since the company known today as PT Hydraulics was formed, the business has been servicing the mining industry for over 40 years in various iterations and continues to prove to be an important supplier to mining customers.   With headquarters in Mt Waverley Victoria, and regional branch offices throughout Australia and New Zealand, the company’s Industrial, Rescue and Rail divisions service prestigious clientele across the resources, civil, government and defence sectors. Internationally recognised brand portfolio A recent discussion with the company’s Marketing Manager, Melinda Norman, highlighted some of the products that are supplied to mining customers. “Our two biggest divisions…

Sandvik is introducing the AutoMine Toro LH514iE loader, a revamped version of the Sandvik LH514E with new updates to enhance safety and productivity. Toro LH514iE is the latest automated cable-electric loader designed with AutoMine integrated capabilities, offering customers flexibility to upgrade from manual to autonomous operations at any time in the equipment’s lifespan. Unlike battery electric vehicles that require battery swapping or quick-charging, or diesel equipment that needs refuelling, as long as the Toro LH614iE loader is plugged into the mine electric grid, it’s able to undertake productive work. The cable has an operating range of up to 330m. Toro LH514iE can help improve working conditions underground for operators and other mine personnel. In addition to not producing diesel emissions,…

Production and maintenance personnel are rostered around the clock to ensure plant equipment availability is maximised and running as smooth as possible while faced with the constant threat of costly downtime. Critical components must therefore be constantly monitored to prevent any potential issues where unplanned repairs will result in a complete or partial plant shutdown. Not only are machine components subject to wear and tear, abrasion, impact, dust, corrosion, humidity, and high temperatures, but there’s also the inherent health and safety risks that personnel face as they perform their day-to-day tasks. This is why intuitive condition monitoring is such an integral part of any reliable industrial operation. The ability to diagnose and eliminate faults before they happen, subsequently improving operational…

RareX (ASX:REE) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with global fertiliser trading and distribution company Nitron Group for product from the Cummins Range rare earths and phosphate project. Under the MoU, Nitron will receive offtake from stage one and stage two production from Cummins Range. The stage one offtake consists of 250ktpa of direct application shipping ore (DSO) phosphate from 2025, while the stage two offtake consists of 250ktpa of high-grade phosphate concentrate from 2028. Stage two provides an opportunity for further product from lower-grade rare earth resources, potentially expanding the volume of mineable ore from Cummins Range. RareX chief executive James Durrant says the MoU marks a step towards de-risking the company’s product and project development strategy. “The…

Mineral processing and infrastructure solutions company Sedgman has been appointed managing contractor for the delivery of a critical minerals processing facility in Queensland.  Queensland has access to some of the world’s richest critical mineral-producing areas, with the North West Minerals Province assessed to hold deposits worth $500b. Sedgeman will work closely with the Queensland Government to develop the design and construction program for the Queensland Resources Common User Facility (QRCUF). The QRCUF will accelerate the development of commercial mining projects in the State, promote investment in advanced mineral manufacturing opportunities and support supply chain and industry development. Mining companies will be able to trial mining processing techniques, demonstrate project feasibility at scale and provide product samples to accelerate commercial development…

Queensland’s resources sector has delivered a record $116.8b in economic benefits in FY23 and supported over half a million jobs in the State, according to the Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) annual Economic Contribution Report released today. This is $22.2b more than FY22, representing one in four dollars spent in Queensland, with QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane saying that this shows what is at risk from the State Government’s introduction of the world’s highest coal royalty taxes on the sector. “Queensland’s current prosperity is the result of decades of past investment by mining and energy companies from all around the world as well as by companies based right here,” he said. “Unless that level of large-scale, long-term investment continues, Queensland’s economy…

Lucapa Diamond Company, Endiama and Rosas & Petalas have unearthed a 235 carat Type IIa diamond, the second largest ever recovered from the Lulo alluvial mine in Angola. This come a week after the recovery of a 208 carat Type IIa diamond. Lucapa Diamonds managing director Nick Selby commented on the recovery. “Lulo continues to demonstrate it is a prolific producer of large diamonds,” he said. “To unearth three +100 carat diamonds, with two being over 200 carats in such a short space of time from different areas of concession, makes us more determined to find the primary source, by dedicating even more resources to the exploration program.” The 235 carat stone is the 40th +100 carat and fourth +200…

Monash University research and innovation will be brought to India’s mining and mineral development sector after individual Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and the International Centre for Excellence in Mining Safety and Automation (iCEM) in Gujarat, India. The Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub will foster collaborative research from both India and Australia, focusing on critical aspects of mineral exploration, extraction, processing and recycling. Monash University’s interim president and vice-chancellor Professor Susan Elliott AM says the strategic partnerships will foster innovation and knowledge exchange between Australia and India for global benefit. “These partnerships are another positive step towards international cooperation and sustainable developments in the critical minerals sector, increasing mining efficiency, enhancing…

A cultural heritage survey with the Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation (KAC) has been completed at the Quartz Hill project in the Central Pilbara of WA. As part of the drilling program, New Age Exploration (ASX:NAE) will target lithium, caesium and tantalum (LCT) pegmatites similar to other deposits in the area. The aim of the drilling is to test below target areas of lithium anomalism detected in soil samples. New Age executive director Joshua Wellisch says the company is pleased to have completed the survey. “We are very pleased to have completed the cultural heritage survey at Quartz Hill in preparation for an imminent drill program on the high priority lithium targets,” he said. “We now have a firm timeline to an…

Barminco has donated a Sandvik underground truck to South Metropolitan TAFE in Perth, WA, to help train the next generation of skilled mining and heavy automotive workers. The refurbished truck, worth about $1.8m new, has lived out its full mine life and will now serve as a training resource for plant mechanic apprentices, trainees and students at the Heavy Vehicle Mechanical Training Centre at the Thornlie campus. WA Training Minister Simone McGurk thanks Barminco for its generous donation, which will help train up the mining and heavy automotive workforce of the future. “Providing students with contemporary machinery ensures when they land jobs they’re already equipped with the skills demanded by industry – so they can hit the ground running,” she…