INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF DRILLING
Project Partners:
Innovating the future of drilling General Manager Brenton Wallace discusses growth, new technology, and high standards at Western Australia’s McKay Drilling Written by: Sasha Orman
Produced by: Jeffrey Bailey
3
M C K AY D R I L L I N G
I
n 1990, Mark McKay formed McKay Drilling to provide highend specialized drilling services to Western Australia’s exploration and mining industries. Today, with state-of-the-art drilling rigs established from Brazil to the Pilbara region, McKay Drilling continues its dedication to bringing innovation and new technology to the mining sector. The McKay difference What makes McKay Drilling a supplier of choice for Australia’s major mining houses? The company’s willingness and ability to invest in new ideas and technology,
4
December 2015
with the goals of improving both productivity and workplace safety. This is a desirable trait in any supplier, especially one in a section of the industry where change tends to come slowly. “There’s quite a lot of innovation going on throughout the whole business, from small changes to the master changes in the drill rigs,” says McKay Drilling General Manager Brenton Wallace. Its latest fleet includes high-tech, hands-free drill rigs from Schramm Inc. and Boart Longyear that act as the ultimate in workplace safety. “The Boart LF350 drill totally
MINING
changes the actual way of handling drill pipe,” explains “Mark McKay has Wallace. “It removes the operator, as well as the drill continually strived assistants, away from any interaction with pulling to look at different and running drill pipe in and out of the hole, from technology that commencement of the hole to finish of the hole. The sets McKay operator and the assistants don’t need to touch a drill pipe. It reduces potential for hand injuries, back strains, Drilling apart and any crushing or caught-between accidents that from other drilling can take place on drill rigs.” companies and McKay backs up the capabilities of its rig fleet changes to the with a battery of ISO certifications including ISO-9001, ISO-14001, and ISO-18001, proving way that we that its equipment is up to the highest Australian operate in the standards. With the impending acquisition of ISOfield” 55001 certification, McKay Drilling will be among the first Australian companies to achieve fleet – Brenton Wallace, and maintenance certifications to operate both in General Manager Australia and overseas.
w w w. m c k a y d r i l l i n g . c o m . a u
5
With Tatra, you don’t need to follow a path...
Offroad Trucks Australia are the Australian importer and dealer with branches in WA and QLD, and over 25 service outlets throughout the country.
Established more than 15 years ago, the company stock 100% spare parts and offer 24/7 service for the Tatra trucks and associated modules.
– Extreme toughness of frame extends superstructure durability – Operates in the hardest terrains & extreme climate conditions
Head Office 25 Garnet Way Maddington WA 6109 t: +61 8 9459 8911
Queensland 26 Heidi Street Paget QLD 4740 t: +61 7 4944 0988
e: tatra@offroadtrucks.com.au www.offroadtrucks.com.au
you create your own.
SUPPLIER PROFILE
OFFROAD TRUCKS AUSTRALIA “Offroad Trucks Australia partners with major mining, construction and emergency services operations throughout Australia. The company distributes specialist Tatra trucks that have been designed, engineered and manufactured in the Czech Republic for over 80 years. Based in Western Australia, OTA has branches in the Queensland town of Mackay, as well as over 25 other service outlets providing parts, service and technical support to customers close to their base of operations. Spare parts for engine, driveline, suspension, and bodywork for all Tatra trucks sold in Australia are all on-site at local Tatra warehouses, ensuring maximum uptime for customers in time-critical industries. Technical support is always current - Tatra service personnel are rotated to the factory annually for training by design and development engineers, all highly experienced in off-road operations in the most hostile environments in the world. Tatra’s military and exploration reach crosses all borders, largely due to the unique Tatra driveline. The all-wheel drive systems are based on independent swing-axles that distribute traction evenly across all surfaces. Full articulation is available to each wheel, independent of its opposite number, maximising tyre tread contact with the ground. Electronic axle and inter-axle diff locks are driver controlled, and all axles are supported on Tatra’s unique tubular backbone chassis, which is built in modules, allowing drive and steer axle extensions as the application demands. As a result, Tatra trucks have the unique reputation of taking high gross weights across terrain that brings other all-wheel drive trucks to a halt. The air-cooled V8 diesel engine is renowned globally for durability, and the absence of cooling fluids and plumbing systems is a major advantage in locations where ambient temperatures are extreme, and support is hours or even days away. The recent availability of Allison automatic transmissions and a ROPS/ FOPS integrated cab extends the useability of the Tatra range.” Website: www.offroadtrucks.com.au
M C K AY D R I L L I N G
MINING
The agility to innovate Innovation has been a core value at the heart of McKay Drilling since its inception. With a lifetime of drilling industry experience, founder and managing director Mark McKay is able to guide the business with a true insider’s perspective. Focusing on this value over the years has enabled McKay Drilling to increase safety and make a true difference within its niche. “McKay was one of the first companies 20 years ago to put hands-free operations and rod loaders on their drill rigs,” says Wallace. “Mark McKay has continually strived to look at different technology that sets McKay Drilling apart from other drilling companies and changes to the way that we operate in the field.” Keeping McKay Drilling privately owned and operated has allowed the company to stay agile and keep innovation a top priority. “In corporate structures or multifaceted businesses, the ability to change direction or change the way that you operate is a bit slower,” Wallace explains. “We can be nimble and change direction very quickly as the market deems,
Mark McKay Founder, Managing Director
Brenton Wallace General Manager
“The Boart LF350 drill totally changes the actual way of handling drill pipe. It reduces potential for hand injuries, back strains, and any crushing or caught-between accidents that can take place on drill rigs” – Brenton Wallace, General Manager w w w. m c k a y d r i l l i n g . c o m . a u
9
FhekZ je X[ 7iieY_Wj[Z m_j^ CYaWo :h_bb_d]
:W_cb[h JhkYai 7Z[bW_Z[ Wh[ Yecc_jj[Z je fhel_Z[Ʊj^[ l[ho X[ij b[l[b e\ Yecc[hY_Wb l[^_Yb[ iWb[i WdZ Wø[h iWb[i i[hl_Y[$ Ekh [nf[h_[dY[Z iWb[i j[Wc YWd Wii_ij oek m_j^ oekh [dgk_h[i WdZ fhel_Z[ if[Y_Wb_ij WZl_Y[ ed ekh Yecfh[^[di_l[ hWd][ e\ l[^_Yb[i \hec b_]^j Yecc[hY_Wb je j^[ X_]][ij e\ fh_c[ cel[hi$ Ekh cW_d beYWj_ed _d H[][dYo FWha fhel_Z[i \kbb Wø[h iWb[i ikffehj _d WZZ_j_ed je h[]_edWb ikffehj ef[hWj_edi j^hek]^ekj Iekj^ 7kijhWb_W$
Schedule Your Appointment Today:
9ehd[h Iekj^ HZ WdZ 7hkcW Ij" H[][dYo FWha I7 +&'& (* >H I[hl_Y[" FWhji L[^_Yb[ Ikffehj 9Wbb Ekj0Ʊ +61 8 7129 0600
www.daimlertrucksadelaide.com.au
M C K AY D R I L L I N G
MINING
whether there’s a boom or a recession, and if there is a requirement for new technology we can interact with it very quickly.” Growing against the current While the industry has faced a downturn, McKay Drilling has continued to find success through diversification of the services it offers clients. McKay has historically focused on reverse circulation drilling, but now the company has expanded to include diamond drilling and hydro drilling in its portfolio. “We have invested $23 million in capital expansion in the last 12 months. We’ve taken the opportunity to expand in the downturn and be ready for any upswing in the market that may come in the next 12-18 months,” says Wallace,
Aaron Earl Operations Manager
McKay Drilling’s reverse circulation rig w w w. m c k a y d r i l l i n g . c o m . a u
11
M C K AY D R I L L I N G
Maintenance and Drill Team for LF350
noting that the company has made both large investments into new drill rigs and smaller investments into safety and capability enhancements for existing drills. The results of these investments 12
December 2015
are substantial: over the past year McKay Drilling has increased its staff from 45 to 142, and is on target to increase its number of drills from 14 to 22 by the first quarter of 2016, priming the company for whatever
MINING
opportunities may lie ahead. “It’s opened up the door for us to work for some blue chip clients, who are giving us an opportunity because of the reputation the business has for being focused on delivering,” says Wallace. “We’re branching into other areas systematically and at a steady pace, where we can control our expansion, but also bring new technology to the table as well.” Looking forward What does the future look like for McKay Drilling? Regardless of the state of the industry at large, the focus for McKay will be on growth, developing further relationships with junior and blue chip mining operations alike in Australia and Brazil. “The business is moving forward, with expansion and consolidating our business with a mixture of blue chip and exploration clients. We’re focusing on diversification so we don’t have all our eggs in one basket,” says Wallace. “Within the next 18 months we hope to grow to a 25 drill operation.” But the company is not focused on growth alone—the key is controlled and steady growth while continuing to improve every stop of the way. “In the process of expanding, we are bringing the rest of our equipment up to the latest standards that are out there, to offer it to our clients,” he adds. “The aim is to reduce our exposure to injuries with the help of innovation and training our people.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Drilling equipment and services HEADQUARTERS
42 Prestige Parade Wangara Western Australia Australia 6065 FOUNDED
1990 EMPLOYEES
142 REVENUE
$50 million
w w w. m c k a y d r i l l i n g . c o m . a u
13
42 Prestige Parade Wangara, Western Australia, Australia, 6065 www.mckaydrilling.com.au