Category: Tech Talk

Supashock produces Advanced Mobility and Motion Control Technology for global OEMs operating in defence, commercial, mining, through to high level motor sport.  It produces systems that use advanced intelligence technology with AI capabilities to improve the functionality of mining operations and other industries. The Supashock Advanced Suspension system is a patented suspension and levelling system. It is fully scaleable and has been fitted to all sized vehicles from haul trucks to hi-lux.  It runs off low pressure so works well in an underground environment. To combat the effects of the very acidic environment found in underground mines, Supashock has developed a special coating that is applied to each part of the system affording high level protection. Increased Stability and Payload…

Anyone involved in the taking of oil samples would be aware that sampling methods and technologies have barely changed in the past 30-years.  Improvements have occurred in minor areas however a methodology remains which relies on a person interacting with live equipment to take a representative oil sample in a bottle which is then sent to a lab for analysis. As the rest of the industry moves towards autonomous vehicles, Industry 4.0, and AI, oil sampling of mining equipment still requires placing people in potentially hazardous environments which are often noisy, hot, and have the ever-present danger of rotating equipment, pinch points, vehicle movement, or stored energy release. Over the years, countless injuries and tragically, even deaths have occurred caused…

BEARING reliability is a crucial component of productivity and uptime in expensive machinery and plant throughout industries such as mining, manufacturing, bulk handling and primary production.   If a bearing fails, production can grind to a halt.  Bearing failures can be caused by a number of factors, including:  Fatigue, which can occur naturally over time, but also occurs prematurely if the incorrect bearing is chosen for the task.  Incorrect installation or mounting, which can lead to significantly higher wear and tear and ultimately premature failure.  Examples include misalignment, incorrect fits – too loose or too tight, out-of-roundness in shafts or housings.  About 25% of bearing failures occur because of incorrect mounting.  Lubrication problems, which can occur if too little, too much or…

Integrated Reliability Solutions has been involved specifically in the management and servicing of lubricants and lubrication systems for the mining, power generation and associated industries since 1987.  The company’s experience and success has been, in part, based on the integration of good lubrication process, innovative system design and commitment to quality client service.   From managing lubrication and fuel assets to productivity improvements, maintenance of hydrocarbons on site and in transport, IRS has a solution to fit specific requirements.  Australian Mining Review spoke to IRS Managing Director Mark Drayton about the company’s products and operations.  Asset management  Mr Drayton stands firmly behind the principle that an integrated approach to plant maintenance is essential for maximum reliability.  “IRS provides a targeted range of specialised…

AT the Robit Group, the focus is on drilling – further, faster. Robit consumables are designed to provide the end user with the most productive and cost effective drilling regardless of commodity being drilled. The company recognises that productive, cost-effective drilling is influenced by mother nature, driller capability, preventive maintenance and drill consumable selection and quality. Robit’s focus is ensuring that end users get the right tools, knowledge and support for their operations. The product is backed up by a large global network, expert support and cutting-edge Sense technology. History With its origins in Finland, Robit supplies and services customers with drilling consumables for applications in mining, tunneling, geothermal heating and cooling, and construction industries. The company’s business is divided…

IT goes without saying that for safety reasons, solid ventilation systems need to be in place in mining environments, whether above or below the ground. Ventilation is the control of air movement, its amount, and direction, and although it contributes nothing directly to the production phase of an operation, the lack of proper flow can cause lower worker efficiency and decreased productivity, increased accident rates, and even absenteeism. Air is necessary not only for breathing, but also to disperse the chemical and physical contaminants such as gases, dusts, heat, and humidity. Underground mine ventilation provides a flow of air to the workings of a mine of sufficient volume to dilute and remove dust and noxious gases (typically nitrous oxide, sulphur…

AN increase in haul truck rolling resistance has been found to have a significant triple effect on costs, according to a recent study. Research by Western Australian School of Mines professor Dr Rodger Thompson showed that fuel burn, plant damage and cycling times all suffer at the hands of a poor haul road surface. He found three factors of a failing or uneven haul road sent operational costs up. Firstly, the energy required to ‘climb’ the weight out of each depression in the road was adding up to 5pc in fuel costs; secondly, the increased cycling of suspension and friction on tyres was accelerating truck maintenance; and lastly, the cycle times were suffering badly. The study found that the addition…

THESE are challenging times, as the world comes to grips with the effects of COVID-19. Every resource sector has been affected, but most companies are making efforts to consolidate and prepare themselves for the recovery phase that will occur once the catastrophe has passed. Australian Mining Review interviewed Aussie Pumps managing director, Warwick Lorenz, about how he views the situation. Q: What’s the connection between mining and this horrific pandemic? A :I haven’t heard of anybody blaming the mining industry for the coronavirus. No doubt sooner or later, somebody from a new age political party will find a way to make a connection, especially if it has something to do with coal. However, mining does have a very strong connection,…

TYPICALLY, it begins with a phone call or email early in the morning, even before Tony Ferencakovic has time to open up shop. Such is the popularity and reputation of his custom fabrication company, Tony’s Engineering, that he has become first port of call for firms looking for that urgent or necessary modification. Australian Mining Review spoke to Tony about his WA-based business, which provides product development, fabrication and repair services to the mining and construction industries in Perth and across Australia & overseas. Water tanks While Tony’s Engineering specialises in producing, rebuilding and repairing items such as loader blades, excavator buckets, face shovel buckets, dozer blades, and excavator booms, the demand is particularly strong for customised water tanks and…

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…

WA is undeniably the resource centre of Australia, contributing about 58pc of Australia’s mineral and energy exports. But with 92pc of its 2.6m inhabitants living in the southwest corner, the rest of WA is a variation of the “Wild West” –– sparsely populated towns with poor infrastructure, rugged terrain and a landscape of reds, greens, coppers and browns that stretch into the horizon. In other words, when someone pictures the Australian outback, they’re picturing WA. That same rustic beauty and isolation, though, can make surveying a challenge. And it makes surveying for mining a real test of adaptability and logistics skills. It can take about 1.5 days to get to the first site, and once there, there is total isolation,…