Browns Radiator Service trusted for four decades

In 1983, Perth based radiator and coolant specialist Browns Radiator Service commenced operations as a small radiator service and supply company but has since evolved into one of Western Australia’s most agile and knowledgeable radiator companies servicing the mining and other sectors right across the state.

Headed up by director Glenn Brown, who took over the business from his father Robert around eight years ago, the proudly second-generation family-owned business initially started out by selling and servicing copper, brass and bolted tank radiators before gradually progressing to become a much more multifaceted operation with almost everything being done inhouse.

Throughout the years Browns Radiator Service has worked closely with original equipment manufacturers to overcome and redesign cooling system issues to suit the harsh Australian conditions and the company now has the capacity to handle all cooling system repairs; the manufacture and design of radiators, oil coolers and fuel coolers and the repair and manufacture of fuel tanks.

Browns has an onsite service which can care for any project from its inception to completion and sometimes this can involve deploying cranes to lift the new cooling package into place.

Based in the Cannington area, the company also has a fabrication workshop on premises and is adept at copying an existing radiator and redesigning it to create an even better product.

With many radiators these days having a plastic tank and aluminium core for example, the company can fabricate one to the exact same specifications but produce a steel tank with a copper core which is of superior quality and lengthens the life and serviceability of the radiator.

To benefit the mining and industrial sectors the company has several workshops onsite that enable it to provide the best possible service alongside custom made orders. Its welding workshop boasts three welding bays – each with Miller Dynasty water cooled TIG welders – Kempe MIG Welders and Hypertherm hand plasma cutters.

For onsite work the company uses gasless MIG and Stick welders, all of which are either Miller or Lincoln. It also has mobile Oxy equipment.

For its fabrication requirements, Browns use a house guillotine, a 135 tonne CNC press brake, a CNC plasma table for cutting up to 25mm of steel, in house CAD design for any customised work needed and computerised systems, which supply the capacity to repeat manufacture items needed quickly and effectively.

Speaking exclusively to the Australian Mining Review (Mining News), company director Glenn Brown says he believes it is the businesses’ knowledge, agility and capacity for extremely good turnaround times that set it apart from others in the sector.

“Our turnaround times are very good and we have the ability to move quite fast when required particularly if a client has an urgent need.

“If someone needs a complete radiator built for example, we can have it drawn up and completed in three to five days if they are small to medium size and between five to ten days for large industrial radiators.

This is partly because we are not top heavy in management terms. As the director I make the decisions and we don’t suffer from excessive red tape or hoops as others can.

We also carry a lot of stock for Caterpillar, Komatsu, Kenworth, Mack, Western Star and others”.

The company also says that it aims to provide products and services that will give the best value for money in the long term.

It provides advice and recommends products that will give not only long-lasting cooling systems, but also ones that provide better longevity of life to items such as engines, gearboxes, diffs etc.

This comes from many years of field testing a vast array of components such as cores, fans and coolants.

For the customer, this means all the research and effort in trialling products best suited to the requisite environments and needs has been done, saving both time and money.

“We always ask ourselves – if we owned this machine, what could we do to extend the life of the machine and get the best performance from it?” adds Glenn.

With extensive experience on a range of OEM equipment – From Caterpillar and Hitachi to the Komatsu 830E-5 and general mining vehicles – Browns Radiator Service services the entire scope of mining operations that depend on radiators, coolers and fuel tanks to keep machinery moving and productive.

It works both directly for big mining companies as well as mining contractors for all their needs, whether it is onsite in the Pilbara or the Goldfields, or fabricating, servicing and supplying from its Perth workshop.

Onsite power generation is also a speciality with Browns Radiator Service boasting the ability to travel anywhere in the state and take a project from inception to completion stages.

Measuring up gen sets, returning to produce the CAD design, building the generator, managing all logistics and travel is all part of the company’s expertise.

Browns Radiator Service has had the privilege of working with some great people on projects such as Rottnest Island generator cooling packages.

Services

Fans

One of the most important components for any cooling system is an adequate fan. Browns stocks and supplies electric fans; multi wing fans and others. Also kept in stock are a number of extreme performance Spal fans.

Fuel Tanks

All service, repair and fabrication work as required.

Industrial Radiators

With decades of years’ experience in designing and building cooling packages for drilling rigs, compressors and earthmoving machinery the company can create any requirement.
For different applications Browns can design a product that will perform and also supply excellent service life. For example, if the machine is working in an environment with corrosive elements cooling units can be built that will outlast all others, stainless steel bolts and even stainless-steel tanks if required.

In stock are a large number of replacement bolt on tanks to suit Mack, Kenworth, International and more and are normally on shelf with gaskets and ready to go. If not, the company will custom make a new tank for whatever the need.

Intercoolers

Browns stock a large number or Intercoolers on its shelf alongside intercoolers with Tube and Fin, Bar/Plate or rubber mounted cores with extended warranty. Custom made intercoolers are also easily produced.

Oil Coolers

There are a lot of oil coolers available off the shelf, but if an entirely new cooler is required, Browns can design and build the cooler necessary for the job, whether it is Pin Fin, Bar/Plate, Tube and Fin or a complete steel cooler.
The company also manufactures and supplies remote oil coolers with their own fan and sensor. This means they can be mounted anywhere and the sensor with have the fan come on when necessary, keeping the oil at an optimum temperature.

Welding and Fabrication

The company offers a complete welding and fabrication service.

For further information go to:
www.brownsradiators.com.au or contact
Glenn and his team on (08) 9451 8093