Lorbrand has provided industry-leading conveyor belt systems for over a decade. Image: Lorbrand
Australian Mining spoke to Lorbrand about what makes its composite rollers stand out.
Conveyor rollers remain one of the most important conveyor belt components on the market.
As it looked to boost operational efficiency and material transportation, the bulk material handling industry had been searching for a lighter and more robust conveyor roller.
For over a decade, Lorbrand has provided industry-leading conveyor belt systems and solutions such as conveyor idlers, pulleys and rollers.
Now, Lorbrand offers a lightweight and durable alternative to standard steel conveyor rollers.
“Traditionally, steel rollers have been the way of the industry, but over the last 10 years there’s been a transition to composite,” Lorbrand general manager – Australia David Massarotto told Australian Mining.
“There’s several drivers behind the change, weight being one. A composite roller will weigh anywhere from 30 to 60 per cent less than a steel roller.”
Reduced weight offers several advantages.
“By carrying less weight, we considerably reduce the risk of manual handling issues and physical injury,” Massarotto said. “Our aim for iron ore is to get everything under 20 kilograms, which is not possible with steel.
“Miners and exporters are always looking at ways they can put more tonnes on their conveyors. So every kilogram we take off a machine means an added kilogram to their throughput.”
Available in materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and nylon, Lorbrand’s composite rollers are known for reducing noise violations and being “belt-friendly”.
“If a composite roller is to seize or fail, it won’t damage the conveyor belt allowing belt crews to plan a roll changeout or slot it into scheduled conveyor downtime rather than having to stop the conveyor to prevent damage to other conveyor componentry,” Massarotto said.
“With a traditional steel roller, if it jams or seizes and the belt runs over it, the rollers begin to wear and form sharp edges which can severely damage the conveyor belt, impairing a critical piece of conveyor componentry and leading to unscheduled downtime. This can have considerable cost implications.”
It’s no secret unscheduled downtime can cost operations millions of dollars of lost productivity per day. With Lorbrand’s composite rollers, operations can continue even if a roller fails.
“Historically, a site will immediately have to stop a belt if it has a seizure,” Massarotto said. “If you’re in iron ore, to change one roll can take between one and three hours of downtime given the associated safety measures that need to be completed first, especially on long overland conveyors.
“However, a composite roller will continue to wear without sharpening, meaning you don’t get this razor sharpness that can cause conveyor failures.
“A composite roller enables you to continue running the belt, and then when you have scheduled downtime, you can go through and change the rollers when possible.”
While many Australian mining operations are in remote regions of the country, there are also mines proximate to residential areas. Here, noise reduction is critical.
“In regions such as the Hunter Valley, you might have big overland conveyors running close to residential areas between a power station and a coal mine,” Massarotto said.
“Noise pollution can be deadened by transitioning to composite rollers, because there isn’t the shell resonance that you get with steel or aluminium rollers.
“This means mining companies and exporters can operate for longer with lower chance of noise restrictions being enforced on them.”
Lorbrand also manufactures composite conveyor guarding and composite wind guards to further supplement conveyor systems. These provide further noise reduction.
“Our guards and wind guards tend to further dampen noise around the conveyor,” Massarotto said. “Plastic tends to absorb noise, whereas steel reflects noise.
“We installed wind guards to help with corrosion and weight, but we’re seeing this product also make conveyors quieter.
“This highlights the advantages of using composite componentry around conveyors. They are safer, can drive down weight and noise and enable operators to avoid costly unscheduled downtime on their conveyors.”
Zenith plate lips currently come in standard, long and heavy-duty options to suit all application requirements. Image: Bradken
Bradken has expanded its GET range to include Zenith plate lip GET to further support Australia’s mining sector.
Given the often-harsh conditions of the Australian resources industry, it is critical that mining companies select the right ground engaging tools (GET) for their operation.
Premium GET solutions extend machinery wear life and lessen the risk of equipment failure, minimising costly downtime. The right GET tooling also delivers reduced dig energy and improved penetration.
That is why Bradken has continually advanced its own GET solutions, ensuring customers always have the right option at hand. This includes the Zenith series, the latest addition to Bradken’s GET range suited to 100–250-tonne hydraulic excavators.
Bradken GET principal product manager Glenn Baxter explained the evolution of the company’s products.
“Bradken’s GET range has evolved from being regionally based with a suite of first-generation products, to now being more globally focused with a second and third generation of innovative products, all backed by a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in Hitachi Construction Machinery,” Baxter told Australian Mining.
“The Zenith technology is Bradken’s next generation of plate lip GET products, so it’s one of the latest solutions in the Bradken GET range.”
As Bradken developed an improved GET solution for higher tonnage hydraulic excavators, the company had several research and development (R&D) objectives.
“In the development of the Zenith range, we had a focus on creating an efficient tooth system from a machine performance and maintenance perspective,” Baxter said.
“We wanted to minimise the size of the tooth (without compromising strength) so the machine uses less power during each cycle, and simplify the locking system so it’s intuitive to use and easy to maintain when required.”
The Zenith series of GET is suited to 100–250-tonne hydraulic excavators. Image: Bradken
The Zenith locking system requires only 180° of rotation to be actuated, with the locking pin pre-installed in the point, which is another simplifying aspect of the range.
Other key benefits of the unique design is the reduction in change-out time and improved safety with the truly hammer-free pin and dedicated point removal tool enabling a safer removal process. Together these improve the ease of use and enable greater diversity in the workforce.
The Zenith points currently come in standard, long and heavy-duty options to suit all application requirements. And they can be used to extract any commodity, including copper, gold, coal or iron ore.
Baxter said operators have resonated with the intuitiveness of the range with simple installation and removal, along with the flat contact surfaces between the point and the nose enabling easy rebuilds if required.
“Maintenance teams will often have a list of tasks to complete on a shift, and when they come to changing their Zenith GET, because of its simplicity, personnel can easily make their tooth changes without having to constantly refer to the instruction manual,” he said.
“GET can be replaced in a consistent short timeframe, meaning maintenance personnel can plan and spend more time on other tasks that might be of a higher priority.”
A product comparison demonstrated the efficiency of the Zenith range, with teeth able to be replaced in one minute each, whereas a generation-one tooth took on average 11 minutes to replace.
“When changes are made to six teeth, operators can save a lot of time on maintenance and spend more time in production,” Baxter said.
“Our R&D teams conducted numerous simulations during the design phases and when compared to our generation-one system, the Zenith teeth penetrated material using up to five per cent less power, which is a significant advantage over the long run.”
The Zenith range also has on average an 11 per cent longer wear life than Bradken’s first generation system, based on recent infield performances.
Bradken understands that not only can it supply customers cost-effective and reliable solutions such as its Zenith GET range, but it can also bring together solutions from other product lines to provide a holistic offering.
“We’ll continue to expand the Zenith range as part of this new generation of plate lip products,” Baxter said.
“More broadly, Bradken is combining the recent structural development work undertaken on our mining excavator buckets – including the addition of a cast upper structure – with our GET solutions on the front of the bucket.
“Our design team specifies the right sizes for the operating conditions, and by using machine parameters we can take a more holistic approach, rather than just provide the GET solution alone.”
Baxter said Bradken’s digital portfolio is also advancing.
“The advancement of our tailored condition-monitoring solutions, where we can track the performance and wear of the GET in real-time, demonstrates that there is some pretty exciting R&D occurring at Bradken,” he said.
“And through all our innovations, Bradken is fortunate enough to be backed by a Tier 1 OEM in Hitachi Construction Machinery, who support our product development and the speed with which we can innovate.”
Newmont will begin rolling out more autonomous haul trucks, drill rigs, and graders following a trial to boost the technology capabilities of its Cadia mine in New South Wales.
The gold miner will begin expanding next generation 5G wireless networks to improve safety in underground mining in partnership with Ericsson and Telstra Purple.
Before the trial, Cadia – one of the largest gold mines in the world – was limited to upload speeds of 20–30 megabits per second (Mbps) using Wi-Fi to operate autonomous equipment such as ore loaders and remote-controlled mining machines.
These wi-fi connections were unreliable and unpredictable when under load.
The new 5G network has allowed for speeds up to 90Mbps along access drives and declines throughout the underground complex, and 150Mbps upload and 500Mbps download on all-important extraction drives.
Newmont has since been able to deploy additional safety systems like radars and collision avoidance to improve overall mine safety systems.
“The trial results show the extraordinary potential of 5G to improve safety, increase the number of machines that can be operated on a single network and boost production efficiencies in underground mining,” Newmont chief safety and sustainability officer Suzy Retallack said.
“These trials are part of the new frontier of technology in mining – using innovation to make our people safer and our mines more productive.”
On the basis of the trial, 5G now has a firm place in Newmont’s communications strategies for Cadia and its other Tier 1 underground and surface mines across the world.
Newmont also garnered support from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for the trial, and has now applied to the ACMA for licences to extend and embed Newmont’s use of 5G technology across its Australian operations.
Newmont plans to expand the use of 5G networks across its global network of Tier 1 underground gold-copper mines.
“5G is enabling rapid global transformation of industry, supporting digitalisation and movement towards automated, more efficient, and safer operations across a number of sectors,” Ericsson head of private cellular networks Manish Tiwari said.
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Hitachi aims for the EX5600-7 excavator to be fitted with the boom and arm system as standard at the start of 2026. Image: Hitachi Construction Machinery
To further strengthen its EX-7 excavator series, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia is about to release two new technology solutions.
For over 50 years, Hitachi Construction Machinery has been a pioneer in manufacturing equipment, machinery and parts for a range of industries.
To expand its global footprint, the company founded Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia in 1999.
“We’re a supplier of surface mining and construction equipment to Australian operations within the mining, civil and forestry sectors,” Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia general manager – mining sales Sean Ryan told Australian Mining.
One of Hitachi Australia’s flagship offerings is the Hitachi EX-7 series of excavators, which first hit the global market in April 2019.
The operator assist system has undergone a successful trial on a Hitachi EX3600-7 backhoe excavator operating in the Pilbara region of WA. Images: Hitachi Construction Machinery
While the series has seen over 120 units sold, Hitachi is all about improving and innovating its range to meet customer feedback.
It was customer consultation that planted the seed for the long-life boom and arm and operator assist systems, both of which Hitachi has developed over the last five years.
“The boom and arm system extended the component’s maintenance life by 1.5 times, improving the durability and serviceability of our ultra-large hydraulic excavators,” Ryan said.
“To bolster durability, we have implemented cast steel technologies in high stress connection points, specifically the connection points of the boom to the arm and the cylinders to the boom. This has improved the strength and quality of those structures.”
Hitachi also placed manhole covers inside the boom to improve serviceability.
“The manhole covers have allowed easy access to the internals of the boom so non-destructive testing inspections can be carried out throughout the life of the component,” Ryan said.
“We haven’t increased the weight of the boom and arm, so we don’t reduce the capabilities or bucket sizing of the equipment.
“We also looked to improve the welding processes by using new design techniques and technologies. This included alleviating high stress areas.”
Further supporting digging and loader operations is Hitachi’s new operator assist system, which aims to reduce burdens such as operator fatigue.
With the help of sensors, a digging assist function helps to automatically improve control of the hydraulic excavator, while the loading assist function helps to avoid collisions by automatically controlling the front attachment when material is loaded onto a dump truck.
“The operator assist system makes it safer at the dig face, increasing productivity by maximising the use of the machine’s capabilities,” Ryan said.
“Rather than having a fully autonomous piece of digging equipment, which is very difficult because of the variabilities of mining conditions at the dig face, we can make part of that process automated, so operators realise the greatest efficiencies of the excavator’s capabilities.”
Ryan said decarbonisation was a key driver behind the creation of its boom and arm and operator assist solutions.
“The operator assist system is about looking at how you can get the most efficiency out of the fuel burn for your operation,” he said. “While the boom and arm seeks to extend the service life of components, therefore extending the overall life cycle.
“With every ultra-class mining piece of equipment that gets scrapped at the end of its life, an estimated 400 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) is generated. If we can extend serviceability and overall life, it reduces the need for new replacement components and it improves our decarbonisation position.”
Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia was founded in 1999. Images: Hitachi Construction Machinery
The operator assist system has undergone successful trials that commenced in early 2024. The system was fit to a Hitachi EX3600-7 backhoe excavator operating in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
As a result of the effective trial, Hitachi is aiming to achieve practical application of the operator assist system in stages from 2025.
“The operator assist system is retrofittable, meaning it can be set up with any EX-7 mining series excavator,” Ryan said.
The boom and arm solution has also seen a successful trial in the Pilbara, trialling on a Hitachi EX5600-7 backhoe excavator for more than 12 months.
Hitachi aims to begin taking orders of the boom and arm system at the end of 2025, with the EX5600-7 excavator being fitted with the product as standard at the start of 2026.
To aid the rollout of the boom and arm and operator assist system over the next few years, Hitachi Australia has 19 mining branches located in regions such as the Pilbara, Townsville, Emerald, Mackay and Brisbane in Queensland, and Muswellbrook in New South Wales.
“With over 1300 employees, more than 900 are electric and mechanical tradesmen who are there to service our customers and their Hitachi products in the field,” Ryan said.
“We also have a division that manages any parts required for equipment across Australia and two remanufacturing centres in Brisbane and Perth where components get repurposed at the end of their lives and are sent back to customers, reducing the amount of raw material and carbon emissions that come with new products.”
Alongside its extensive excavator range, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia manufactures rigid dump trucks and wheel loaders for a variety of mining applications, among other solutions.
“We provide the whole service for overburden or mineral product removal from a mine site,” Ryan said.
Mineral exploration methods are evolving with the advent of new technologies. Image: SRK Consulting
Machine learning has proven a successful tool in expanding the exploration search space into new frontiers and refining areas for follow-up exploration.
Artificial intelligence (AI) could transform mining exploration this decade, enabling companies to analyse larger datasets and develop new geological insights.
That’s the view of Ben Jupp and Stephen Johnson, respectively principal and senior geologists at SRK Consulting, an international resources consultancy.
They believe machine learning in mineral exploration, while still an emerging technology, will become more widespread as miners and explorers use algorithms to test and refine geological concepts currently applied to exploration.
One key area in particular is the application of AI in prospectivity analysis, an area which SRK has recently seen success.
“I’m an absolute convert to using AI in mineral exploration,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen the benefits of using machine learning first-hand through a number of recent projects. The results have been incredibly powerful.”
For Jupp, the key is integrating AI with existing knowledge-driven exploration approaches.
“Essentially, AI allows us to integrate deep technical knowledge about a particular terrain and mineral system into a set of critical inputs to provide a machine learning algorithm,” Jupp said.
An advantage of using AI in prospectivity analysis is the rapid integration and analysis of large datasets by machine learning.
“Using training data such as known mines, machine learning can identify patterns and relationships in the data that geologists might overlook with traditional approaches,” Jupp said.
“Often, exploration companies will pay a highly knowledgeable expert to assist with their exploration targeting and narrow down their exploration efforts. With AI, we can use that knowledge, insight and human expertise to map out critical targeting elements and feed this into the machine learning to analyse and make predictions.”
AI is especially powerful for small and mid-sized mining companies that need to analyse large volumes of data cost effectively.
“For junior explorers with a package of tenements and limited capital, the ability to narrow exploration targeting is crucial,” Johnson said. “AI can help do that and potentially find new value in tenements that have been overlooked or are a lower priority.”
AI also removes human biases and assumptions in exploration targeting.
“A consistent theme in exploration projects is people being drawn to certain areas based on existing data and preconceived ideas,” Johnson said. “With AI targeting, you’re feeding the available data and geological layers into a model to develop a holistic view of the prospectivity of a tenement package.
“There’s no bias or subjectivity about where you should be exploring beyond what the data is suggesting.”
A group of 10 SRK Consulting geologists are using AI to develop prospectivity models for a mining project in the Middle East. Image: SRK Consulting
AI projects underway
SRK’s interest in AI emerged around 2019. Jupp and Johnson were part of a team of Australian and Canadian SRK Consulting experts who competed in OZ Minerals’ Explorer Challenge, a prominent competition that attracted more than 1000 participants from 62 countries.
The SRK Consulting team won the Fusion Prize after reinterpreting and adding value to existing datasets by applying data-driven machine learning to guide a set of knowledge-driven, mineral-system-informed fuzzy inference solutions. The result was three highly ranked iron-oxide copper gold (IOCG) targets and seven secondary targets.
In 2021, SRK began applying these and other machine-learning techniques to help companies reduce their exploration targeting at brownfield and greenfield sites.
SRK has a global partnership with DeepIQ, a leading US developer of generative AI in the oil and gas, utilities and mining sectors. SRK experts have integrated DeepIQ algorithms into their mineral prospectivity analysis at some projects.
SRK has also recently applied machine learning to exploration projects in several regional project areas, including Australia, South America and Europe, with good results.
“There’s a lot of work underway at SRK globally to test and apply AI methodology for mineral exploration,” Jupp said.
Data inputs from left to right, used to inform a machine learning generated prospectivity map. Image: SRK Consulting
Knowledge-driven targeting
SRK’s work with machine learning builds on its work in prospectivity analysis using more traditional knowledge-driven approaches for developing prospectivity maps. Methods such as fuzzy logic in mineral prospectivity analysis aim to quantify intricate relationships between geological attributes to define mineralisation potential.
“The main aim of the prospectivity analysis process is to assist our clients to narrow the focus area for exploration prior to field-based exploration, ideally as specific as the prospect area and even drill target areas,” Jupp said. “One of the key benefits of this method is you’re not reliant on the availability of training data when compared to machine learning methods.”
SRK recently applied fuzzy logic targeting on a project for Astute Metals, an ASX-listed resource company. Astute holds an 80 per cent interest in the Georgina Basin IOCG project in the highly prospective east Tennant province of the Northern Territory.
“We were successful in identifying several promising target areas in the undercover extents of east Tennant Creek,” Jupp said. “Recent drilling by the client at one of these targets intercepted strong indications for IOCG-style mineralisation that will be followed up with additional drilling to be completed later this year.”
In the Middle East, Johnson has used fuzzy logic processes for exploration targeting.
“Through our fuzzy logic approach, we developed a prospectivity model that we followed up with systematic fieldwork to validate,” Johnson said. “The outcome was fantastic because the fuzzy logic results were able to be tested and refined during follow-up phases of field work, with some really encouraging results.”
A machine learning predicted prospectivity map (left) and a structural feature input layer (right). Image: SRK Consulting
Bright future for AI
Jupp and Johnson believe industry hesitance towards using AI in exploration will fade as more results are proven.
“Some explorers have resisted the technology due to concerns that AI could overlook critical steps in the discovery process, but that will change as the industry sees meaningful exploration results from AI,” Johnson said.
“We’ve been getting a lot more enquiries on AI in exploration as interest in this area builds.”
Longer term, Johnson likes AI’s potential to challenge exploration “dogmas”.
“The mining industry has traditionally been influenced by certain dogmas about how and where exploration should be undertaken,” he said.
“Then occasionally someone makes a significant discovery that challenges this dogma and there is a rush to embrace new thinking. That will be true of AI this decade as it contributes to significant new mineral discoveries, and some early adopters are big winners from the AI revolution.”
Key considerations for AI and exploration targeting
Stay abreast of latest trends: AI technology in mineral exploration targeting is moving rapidly. New algorithms are being developed and tested, and more projects overseas are implementing the technology.
Be open minded: Because it challenges traditional approaches to exploration targeting, AI has been met with some resistance, despite the technology’s successful use in the oil and gas sector. View AI as another tool to complement and add to existing geological processes, not replace them.
Access to AI resources: There is only a small group of experts globally who are skilled in mining geology and implementing and interpreting AI-driven data models. Ensure your organisation has access to internal or external resources with knowledge of the latest AI technologies for exploration.
Understand how AI can be used: A mineral explorer could use AI to understand the critical elements that control the location of a nearby mining operation and map out areas in their tenement holding that display similar characteristics.
Focus on data: Like all data-driven models, AI is only as good as the data it analyses. Ensure data being fed into AI models is high quality and based on a clear understanding of the mineral system under investigation.
Use an iterative approach: For some companies, the value of AI is to test data collected from drilling or other exploration, and used to refine and test prospectivity models in an interactive fashion. In this way, AI is a tool to validate existing geological work by providing another layer of analysis.
Communication: Consider how the organisation will communicate the use of AI to internal and external stakeholders. Reporting of AI-generated exploration results could become a bigger issue for listed mining companies over time.
SRK Consulting is a leading, independent international consultancy that advises clients mainly in the earth and water resource industries. Its mining services range from exploration to mine closure. SRK experts are leaders in fields such as due diligence, technical studies, mine waste and water management, permitting, and mine rehabilitation. To learn more about SRK Consulting, visit www.srk.com
Weir has launched the new ENDURON Orbital range of vibrating screens, engineered for sand and aggregate, construction, and small tonnage mining operations.
The screens feature an all-bolted construction, significantly improving reliability by eliminating welding in high-stress areas and removing the leading mode of failure in vibrating screens.
Locking bolts ensure structural integrity and durability, facilitating easy maintenance with quick replacement of individual components without the need for extensive downtime.
The ENDURON Orbital range is available in two screen types: the E series (elliptical motion horizontal screens) and the C series (circular motion inclined screens). Both screen types are designed with a commitment to innovation and quality.
“We at Weir are excited to bring this revolutionary new screening technology to the market,” Weir global product manager for vibrating screens Corné Kleyn said.
“The team has worked hard for the past two years to bring our customers a product that is reliable with the lowest total cost of ownership.
“Our first screen has been successfully installed and commissioned at a large global customer and we are gaining momentum with more units planned for both the European and North-America markets.”
The modular screen construction of the new range ensures that individual components can be easily replaced. Common interchangeable screen parts reduce inventory overflow and simplify maintenance.
A wide operating window provides flexibility to adjust screen settings in line with changing applications or feed conditions, without compromising the equipment’s structural integrity and minimising the risk of structural failure related to harmonic resonance.
All ENDURON products are fully supported by the Weir service network, offering service, support, and local expertise across the globe.
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Metso has acquired Jindex, an Australian company that specialises in valves and process flow control, as part of its efforts to boost its slurry-handling abilities.
The agreement is designed to enhance Metso’s offerings by integrating its existing slurry-handling, hydrocyclones and mineral processing equipment with Jindex’s specialised valve solutions.
Metso believes the integration will strengthen its ability to provide comprehensive slurry solutions to the mining industry, enhancing productivity and efficiency in mineral processing plants.
Head of Metso’s pumps business line Tiago Oliveira outlined the significance of the acquisition.
“This acquisition is yet another important step in the development of Metso’s pumps business line offering to bring us closer to being our customers’ lifecycle partner of choice,” he said.
“Flow and isolation control play a vital role in ensuring smooth slurry handling to maximise the productivity and efficiency of minerals processing plants.
“In the past, we have collaborated with Jindex on many customer projects and are now glad to welcome the Jindex experts to the Metso team.”
Jindex managing director Stephen Fowler is excited about the acquisition
“This is a great development and an exciting next step,” he said.
“The Jindex product offering and our technical expertise in valves are an excellent addition to Metso’s pumps business and will enable Metso to provide more extensive flow control solutions to the mining industry.
“We look forward to contributing our unique knowledge and experience as part of the Metso team and providing enhanced outcomes to all our collective customers.”
Slurry handling equipment is referred to in the industry as the “heart of a plant”, as it ensures smooth flow of the process. It is vital in maximising the minerals processing plant’s efficiency and productivity.
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Hardman Bros is expanding its business by collaborating with like-minded Australian manufacturing companies.
According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, the manufacturing industry contributed 5.7 per cent to Australia’s gross domestic product during the 2023–24 financial year, cementing its place as a significant contributor to the country’s economy. By manufacturing products and goods in locally, more jobs will be created to further fuel the economy and keep industries performing optimally.
A company that understands this is Hardman Bros, a renowned supplier of gears and gear boxes suited to several Australian industries, with mining key among them.
“The Hardman group of companies is a distinguished Australian-owned enterprise that stands as a premier provider of precision machining and gear-cutting services for leading original equipment manufacturers,” Hardman Bros Group of Companies chief executive officer Simon Bell told Australian Mining.
“Boasting a rich legacy spanning over 70 years since its inception in 1953 by the visionary brothers David and Ronald Hardman, the company now thrives in its third generation of operation.”
Alongside its wide range of gears and gear boxes, Hardman Bros specialises in numerous manufacturing capabilities, including gear manufacturing, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, and general engineering.
“In a strategic collaboration, Hardman Bros and R&I Instrument & Gear have united to amplify the scope and excellence of customer services, extending our expertise from precision gear cutting to CNC machining and general engineering,” Bell said.
Hardman Bros can gear cut up to 1.5m and gear grind up to 850mm in diameter. The company can also carry out CNC simultaneous five-axis milling and CNC machining, with CNC lathes up to 1.15m in height and 950mm in diameter.
“We possess the capability to fulfil any additional needs for machining, fabricating, and industrial mechanical assembly,” Bell said. “We are also specialists in general engineering techniques such as turning, milling, grinding, honing, slotting and keyseating. We do it all.”
Hardman Bros has significantly grown since its early days and now operates with an extensive capacity, boasting over 140 machines.
The company has a robust capital expenditure plan that will see new machines introduced over the next five years, increasing capacity and capability to ensure Hardman Bros remains at the forefront of the industry.
“Hardman Bros has built a strong reputation through the dedication and expertise of its skilled personnel,” Bell said. “The company consistently reinvests in quality plant and equipment, ensuring that our manufacturing capabilities remain at the forefront of industry standards.”
Hardman Bros also credits its growth to building strong relationships with other like-minded companies, such as Eilbeck Heavy Machining.
With an Australia-wide presence, Eilbeck Heavy Machining is a fourth-generation family-owned manufacturing and engineering company that specialises in CNC machining, gear cutting, fabrication, painting, refurbishment and reverse engineering, assembly and turn-key solutions.
Eilbeck has a gearing capacity of 500mm to 5000mm. Hardman Bros recognised the strength of Eilbeck Heavy Machining’s offerings and reached out to work with the company in February.
“Hardman Bros and Eilbeck Heavy Machining share parallel visions as to what they want to do and achieve within the Australian manufacturing space,” Eilbeck Heavy Machining head Charlie Eilbeck told Australian Mining.
“Both companies sell Australian-made products for a wide range of industries and possess similar capabilities and turn-key solutions.”
While the companies share many similarities, they also complete each other’s knowledge and skill gaps.
“Hardman Bros has some capabilities that we don’t have, and vice versa, so by collaborating we can fulfil the needs of larger projects together,” Eilbeck said.
Both companies also believe in adopting a modernised, high-end approach to manufacturing.
“Hardman Bros’ main objective is to expand our high-value offering to like-minded partners and developing growth for the industry as a whole,” Bell said.
“The company is investing heavily in new equipment geared towards expanding capability, quality and speed to market. This is opening new doors across the mining, rail and energy sectors, where we can use our scale to penetrate and build our presence.”
Kinder Australia offers the option for customised solutions as well as its DustScrape range to settle the dust for cleaner operations.
In enclosed transfer points, the accumulation of pressure can result in the build-up of dust.
This dust is problematic for conveyor componentry function, operational site cleanliness, as well as environmental and personnel health and safety.
Kinder Australia’s DustScrape has been developed by engineers to effectively resolve and mitigate dust formation, transforming the way industries handle dust-related challenges.
DustScrape does this by incorporating a specialised filter cloth. This cloth captures fine dust particles produced during bulk material transfers.
Its intelligent design allows for air permeability, accommodating the resulting overpressure. By reducing the pressure while containing the dust, DustScrape facilitates the settling of bulk material, ensuring a cleaner and more efficient conveyor system.
Key features and benefits:
1. Quality stainless steel: DustScrape is available in a stainless steel option, ensuring durability and resilience in various environmental conditions and material applications.
2. Installation simplicity: Operators can integrate DustScrape into their existing conveyor systems.
3. Versatility in application: DustScrape is adaptable to conveyor belt widths of varying belt widths.
4. Maintenance free: DustScrape operates without direct contact and requires minimal maintenance.
5. Self-cleaning efficiency: The unique self-cleaning feature of DustScrape enhances its overall effectiveness and longevity.
6. Reduces Dust Up-Drift: DustScrape actively suppresses dust up-drift, for an efficient and reliable containment.
7. Compatibility with Extraction Systems: DustScrape may work together with dust extraction systems if required.
8. Synergy with AirScrape: When paired with AirScrape, the patented sidewall seal (not included) forms an exceptionally effective system that combats dust generation.
Get in touch with Kinder’s field application specialists and engineers to discuss how DustScrape can benefit an operation at conveyorsolutions@kinder.com.au or 03 8587 9111.
TAKRAF Australia: growing from strength-to-strength
TAKRAF Group project highlights in Australia. Image: TAKRAF Group
TAKRAF Group is one of Australia’s leading OEM (original equipment manufacturer) suppliers of new machines and equipment to the mining and resources industry. The Group also boasts an in-house capability to provide comprehensive aftermarket and maintenance support for its own and other OEM equipment.
With Australia’s mining and resources industry seeking to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability and social responsibility, TAKRAF Group is ideally positioned to support the local industry in the next stage of development of this ever evolving and dynamic sector.
Through its long and distinguished history in Australia, TAKRAF Group has developed an innate understanding of local mining conditions, standards and requirements, enabling its Australian offices to provide its clients with the most suitable solutions to their unique project requirements.
As a result, the Group boasts an extensive and increasing reference list of projects in Australia, covering both TAKRAF and DELKOR technologies.
Its reputation as the world’s leading technology provider in run-of-mine and bulk material handling has meant that its TAKRAF brand portfolio is in considerable demand from Australian operations, from its technologies for overburden removal and raw material extraction through processing to ship loading.
Recent project examples include the supply of a rail-mounted, slewing and luffing stacker for an important bulk export terminal. This machine, with its 62-metre curved boom is one of the largest and technically advanced globally.
A TAKRAF double jib level luffing ship unloader replaced two existing machines at an important deep-water port on the Australian east coast, enhancing the capability of the port in handling a range of commodities.
Other TAKRAF equipment currently in operation at Australian mines and ports ranges from semi-mobile crushing plants to bridge-type bucket-wheel reclaimers, stackers and trippers, radial stackers and portal scraper reclaimers.
The DELKOR liquid/solid separation range of technologies is also seeing increasing application in Australia, and globally, for their ability to enable the optimum recovery and recycling of water, reducing freshwater intake into the plant and enhancing environmental sustainability.
DELKOR dewatering equipment, such as its high-rate and high-density thickeners, are specifically designed for the needs of the mining industry and the ongoing transition from wet to dry tailings deposits.
In a recent order, TAKRAF successfully commissioned a 30m diameter DELKOR tailings thickener for a plant in Australia.
DELKOR has also provided four of the largest DELKOR belt linear screens (40 square metres) available globally to a gold mine in Australia, while its new generation BQR flotation cells, equipped with the MAXGen mechanism, have found wide acceptance in the country, with orders coming from several gold mines to a nickel restart project.
TAKRAF Australia’s countrywide presence includes office representation in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, close to its clients’ registered offices; as well as smaller satellite offices close to its clients’ operations to support them in their day-to-day operational requirements.
Such long experience, combined with the wide extent of its network, has enabled TAKRAF Australia to establish strong working relationships with some of the largest diversified mining companies, as well with the smaller mid-tier and junior players.
In addition, its services, both technology supply and aftermarket support, are enhanced by solid partnerships with local Australian suppliers.
TAKRAF is one of the largest and most experienced full-service suppliers of mining industry equipment, supporting not only its own machines over their full product lifecycle, but also that supplied by other OEMs.
Given the importance of quickly identifying and solving issues before problems occur, TAKRAF Australia’s satellite offices are conveniently located to timeously and efficiently provide customised maintenance solutions.
These solutions range from continuous condition monitoring through regular inspections, spare parts supply, on-site repair support and stock management, to site assistance for troubleshooting and major repairs including complete refurbishments as an alternative to purchasing new equipment, as well as equipment relocation.
“Worldwide, the resource industry is facing complicated challenges in transforming towards a sustainable future,” TAKRAF Australia managing director Ivan Agostini said.
“As a result, TAKRAF Group focuses on areas that are critical for reliable and sustainable operations, providing innovative solutions that save energy, lower environmental impact and meet or exceed operational requirements.
“This, together with our commitment to innovation and technology development, means that we are well placed to support our clients in Australia towards the next significant step in our industry’s move towards greater environmental sustainability – an area in which the combined strengths of our TAKRAF and DELKOR portfolio will provide for fully integrated solutions that make the difference.
“Furthermore, we believe that our commitment to fostering collaboration between owners, operators and original equipment providers is the best approach in building systems that exert real savings on energy and water consumption.”
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