Category: Tech Talk

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…

PULFORD Air & Gas is one of Australia’s oldest air compressor companies, specialising in the design, manufacture and service of quality air compressors and nitrogen gas systems since 1925. Since 2005, Pulford has concentrated on developing a nitrogen inflation system for the mining industry to increase the safety level of operators and site staff. Its NitroPlus range of nitrogen tyre inflation systems are used across the transport and mining industries in Australia. With systems currently in operation in the Hunter Valley and Surat Basin, as well as numerous South Australian and Western Australian mine sites, Pulford’s experience in the field has given them the capability to design custom systems to meet each client’s specific needs in harsh Australian mining conditions.…

EXPOSED hot exhaust manifolds, pipes, mufflers and turbocharger housings are a safety hazard. A glowing turbo exhaust housing can reach well in excess of 800 deg C, which far exceeds the flash point of diesel and even heavy engine oil. Any such fluid leaking or spraying onto such a surface will result in a significant fire that can jeopardise expensive machinery and worker safety. The answer is to cover those dangerously hot components with a custom-fitted thermal blanket to insulate them from ignition sources and maintenance personnel. Pyrotek designs and fabricates a wide range of thermal blankets and exhaust covers for use in the mining and oil and gas industries. Mine-approved covers Pyrotek’s mine-approved covers are made to meet strict…

TOBCO was founded by Sam Turnbull and Glen O’Brien in 2012. After long careers in large scale civil contracting, Mr Turnbull and Mr O’Brien became frustrated with corporate red tape and branched out to form their own company. They wanted to get back to what it was all about – actually constructing things. With a ‘can-do’ attitude and a passion for construction and machinery, TOBCO secured a place in 2016 as Australia’s third fastest growing company with revenue growth of over 200pc. Again in 2018 it was listed in the top 100 and it boasted a FY2019 revenue of more than $27m. The business is expanding while consolidating its position in the industry. Which industry? Initially, TOBCO brought civil engineering…

FROM design and manufacture to installation of heavy-duty exhaust systems, Aletek specialises in tailor-made solutions for diesel engine applications for the underground mining sector. The company is committed to tackling the issue of DPM (Diesel Particulate Matter) and exposure to harmful emissions for underground workers. It offers a specialised range of DPF (Diesel Particular Filters) and Emission Control Solutions to directly address this problem. Continual exposure to diesel emissions is hazardous and may result in long-term health problems and the risk of developing cancer. DPM has been labelled as ‘the next asbestos’, and in 2012 diesel emissions were classified as a Class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation. Small particles, big problem In response to addressing the issue of…

GLOBAL Tyre Information (GTI) has been supporting the WA tyre industry for more than 33 years, and has applied that wealth of knowledge and experience gained into developing the GTI tyre monitoring system. Development started in 2004 to design a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that would be a standalone plug-and-play unit with no infrastructure needed on site. A lot of trial and real time testing was carried out on one of GTI’s client mine sites to fine tune and create a robust and real time output tyre monitoring system. Whether it is a mine site or a construction site, operations rely heavily on equipment, and equipment relies heavily on its tyres. Employing a robust system such as the one…

WHEN it comes to measuring serious torque and horsepower, a chassis dyno doesn’t cut the mustard. It takes a water brake engine dyno to pull down 5000lb/ft and hold that torque for accurate measurement and testing. What is a dynamometer? Water brake dynamometers have been around for decades and they basically work on the principle that water cannot be compressed; therefore if the engine is forced to work harder and harder driving a water pump that applies more and more resistance, in theory the dyno should be capable of stalling the engine. As the engine works to overcome the load placed on it by the water brake, Newton’s law of equal and opposite reaction is put into practice and all…

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…

THE Brawler HPS Soft Ride tyre is Trelleborg’s premium solid OTR tyre, specifically designed for the toughest climates and industries on earth. The tyre has re-defined what operators can expect in terms of comfort and what owners can expect in terms of equipment longevity when using solid tyres. The purpose-designed ‘soft ride’ compound, together with the unique elliptical apertures and deep tread layer, mean the Brawler is fast becoming a solution for mining applications around the world. In comparison to its predecessor, the unique design of the Brawler HPS Soft Ride significantly reduces vibration to give ride comfort equivalent to a foam/solid filled pneumatic L5 tyre, while delivering the durability and toughness of a solid tyre. This demonstrates Trelleborg’s commitment…

BIG data is everywhere. It has the ability to improve the operation and monitoring of just about every bit of equipment on the mine site or in the quarry. It is a tried and tested way to cut downtime, proactively maintain equipment to avoid expensive repairs and to improve the overall productivity of assets. Now, data-driven remote monitoring for rockbreakers has finally been developed by Rammer, the world-leaders in rockbreaking solutions. Rammer continues to be the leading supplier of rockbreaker technology in Australia and has just added the first ever monitoring system for hydraulic rockbreakers – RD3, the first cloud-based monitoring device for hydraulic rockbreakers. It attaches to the rockbreaker and then reports detailed information about the operation in real-time…

SINCE its inception in 2012, Nitro Sibir has worked in partnership with its clients to deliver a comprehensive range of market-leading products backed by a highly responsive client focused and ‘safety first’ culture. The company continues to diversify its service offering and expand its geographical presence, and its capability continues to broaden. This currently includes projects for key clients across the gold, lithium and bulk commodities sectors, where Nitro Sibir provides value-adding services both in the underground and open cut market. Nitro Sibir business development manager Christine Everett said that the company was focused on being proactive in managing major projects while maintaining the required flexibility to respond quickly to client needs. “Our approach is all about flexibility,” she said.…