Category: Mine Maintenance

AUSTRALIAN company Visy Load has launched a new load sensing washer that it says will be a game-changing, money-saving device for mines, the construction sector and other industries. Managing director Phil Hempenstall said the Visyload washer lets people know, at a glance, the working load limit on a rock bolt or threaded anchor, and hence whether it is safe to suspend a certain load from a rock bolt or threaded anchor. He said load sensing washers are not new but his firm has spent five years developing a far more effective product, not seen before in the marketplace. The Visyload washer has tabs that curl down when they deploy. This indicates the applied tension or torque. There are different models...

TYRE fitting in the mining industry is a tough job, with wheel and tyre combinations weighing many tonnes, bolts needing to be torqued to hundreds of foot-pounds and some fittings located metres off the ground. Fitters are often required to hold heavy tooling overhead in awkward positions for wheel, tyre and suspension maintenance. Despite following industry best practice, worker fatigue and Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) are still serious issues that need to be mitigated in the tyre bays of modern mining operations. They say a problem shared is a problem halved, and this certainly rings true for several companies that have been working towards creating a world-class tyre facility at Bengalla’s multi-million tonne coal operation in the Hunter Valley Coalfields...

NIVEK Industries’ Track Elevating Device (TED) originated as a tool to help mine maintenance personnel safely remove and replace belly plates on heavy equipment. This ingenious machine is fully mobile, remotely operated, powered by a rechargeable battery and able to deadlift up to 800kg safely.Given the widespread uptake of TED at mine sites across Australia, it is little wonder that both the Nivek team and their clients are constantly thinking of new applications for this tough, yet nimble, platform. The latest development, requested by one of Australia’s biggest mining companies, is the Steer Idler attachment, which was specifically designed to remove and replace steer idlers on ultra-class dump trucks. Typically weighing around 380kg, the massive steer idlers must be supported...

GOOD old customer service is a rarity these days but if the stellar rise of MHM Contracting is anything to go by, service is definitely not lost on their mining customers. The company started operations in April 2018 and has grown rapidly in that time. Its operation now has a head office in Applecross, WA, and workshops in both Port Hedland and Perth. MHM is active on 21 mine sites across WA and that number is expanding as new customers begin to appreciate the company’s work ethic, loyalty, transparency and honesty. According to business owner, Michael Higgins, the company started out being customer-focused. “We have continued that ethos since our inception,” he said. “All our staff are hand-picked to ensure...

ROBOWASH is an Australian manufacturing success story. Since 1993 the company has been designing and building automatic parts washers from its manufacturing facility in Henderson, WA. The company started with smaller units suitable for automotive workshops but the range has now grown to include the largest parts washers in the world designed to clean 6t, 20-cylinder train and earthmoving engine blocks and components. With more than 35 years of experience in the mining and earthmoving industry, Robowash has developed a unique and innovative way to automate industrial cleaning, and offers an environmental alternative to conventional hydrocarbon and caustic cleaning methods. Effective cleaning principle The Robowash machine cleans parts using the same principle as a household dishwasher. The parts to be...

DIESEL engine performance and efficiency generally deteriorate with age. To a large degree this is due to the progressive accumulation of deposits throughout several parts of engines. Piston ring grooves, valves, diesel injectors, diesel particulate filters, turbochargers and exhaust gas recirculation valves are typical places where deposit build up occurs. One of the more visible, early signs of deteriorating performance is dirtier engine oil, a direct result of increased oil soot levels. It’s a direct indicator that all is not right. Elevated soot level is the main culprit in limiting the oil service period.  It’s also known to increase engine wear and shorten service life. Taking corrective action to physically remove these deposits will immediately restore operating performance and efficiency,...

THE most valuable result emerging out of the data age is the ability to extract deficiencies in a mining operation. When it comes to haulage, it’s become pretty clear there are some serious gains to be made with the right maintenance regime. Tyre destruction, high fuel usage and premature wear of haul truck suspension have all popped up on the radar in this big data era. Now we know the problem, how do we fix it? Comprehensive studies into haulage profitability point back to haul road integrity, surface conditions and an obstruction-free working surface. These are all areas that South Australian company Broons has been specialising in for close to 50 years. The company’s unique towed rollers have been maintaining...

THE best tools in the world are usually designed by people who see a need to improve the efficiency or safety of their own job. Nivek Industries’ ingenious new Lift Assist 40 tool manipulator arm is the perfect example of a workplace solution based on real world experience. It was designed and built in Australia by Nivek’s founder Kevin Cant, who was a maintenance fitter for several years. The tool manipulator is designed to take the weight out of a wide range of tooling, including rattle guns, impact drivers, pneumatic torque guns (including Rad and J-guns,) air sanders and more. Its 40kg SWL capacity allows these heavy tools, which can be in use for hours at a time, to be...