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mining Way out west Australian

Copyright Reed Business Information Published 12 issues a year by Reed Business Information (ABN 80 132 719 861) Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067 Australia Tel: (02) 9422 2999 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 Publisher – Michelle Graves Email: michelle.graves@reedbusiness.com.au Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 9422 2352 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Journalist – Andrew Duffy Tel: (02) 9422 2884 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Mob: 0408 991 585 Email: sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Mob: 0407 948 774 Email: tim.richards@reedbusiness.com.au QLD and SA Sales Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@reedbusiness.com.au New Business – Alex Evans Tel: (02) 9422 2890 Email: alex.evans@reedbusiness.com.au WA Representative – Jamie Wade Mob: 0435 945 868 Email: jamie@wadebusiness.com.au RBI Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Production Co-ordinator – Mary Copland Tel: (02) 9422 2738 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley South Africa – Bob Stephen Stephen Marketing PO Box 75, Tarlton, Gauteng 1749, South Africa Tel: 27(011) 952 1721 Fax: 27(011) 952 1607 USA – Jonathan Sismey RBI 24th Floor, 125 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1) 212 370 7445 Fax: (1) 212 370 7441 Email: jsismey@ix.netcom.com Larry Arthur RBI Suite 203, 3700 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: (1) 949 756 1057 Fax: (1) 949 756 2514 Email: lharthur@ix.netcom.com Printed by GEON 20 Baker Street, Banksmeadow, NSW 2019 Tel: (02) 8333 6555

The rest of the world is late to the party as the mining boom energises a buoyant Perth.

ast month I had the opportunity to finally get out of the office and make my way west to Perth. Based as I am on the east coast, it is always good to hear about the West coast industry’s concerns from the horse’s mouth so to speak, rather than what I hear second hand, as well as getting a feeling for the mood of the region. While the weather wasn’t exactly accommodating, the people were. And the perception of these people in the West is that it is all good. There is an underlying level of excitement that seems to permeate the sector, from the miners themselves through to the suppliers and OEMs.

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au And the one story I came across time and time again when I spoke to people is just how unprecedented this boom is. Boom 2.0 shows no sign of stopping and looks set to weather the ongoing financial crisis that is strangling Europe. It is not slowing down at all, even in the face of the upcoming Mineral Resources Rent Tax. In fact the dreaded MRRT barely came up in conversation at all.

The real worry that most voiced is that the levels of work are so high that most companies are unable to keep up with the sheer demand. Although I am sure that having too much work isn’t exactly a story to break the heart of those outside of the industry, the skills shortage means that many potential developments will either be delayed or constructed at a much slower pace than forecast. But luckily, the miner-

als aren’t exactly going anywhere; they’ve been sitting there for a few million years so a few more months isn’t a worry. Although this may mean that some projects could become untenable if commodities prices drop. However, mining in the state is unlikely to stop due to investment concerns, even with the carbon tax and MRRT set to be enacted in July, investors and mining contract and supply companies from overseas are even now trying to get their foot in the door, albeit a little late. Yes, the mood is buoyant and it is unlikely that much can dent the state’s general optimism. Apart from Sunday trading hours.

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ON the front cover we have featured an Australian Mining world exclusive. In this edition we look at Davey Bickford’s latest blasting development which had made the blasting process not only easier to set up, but also much quicker to carry out, allowing miners to carry out one massive blast of close to 4000 charges instead of multiple small blasts that not only take time to set up but also run the risks of ruining blast designs or the blasting chain. In this edition we also look at just how much downtimes cost a company, and the figures are staggering.

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

NO fEaR for Rinehart Will Gina Rinehart’s investment in Fairfax sound the deathknell for media in Australia?

ina Rinehart’s investment in Fairfax Media represents a strengthening of her presence in public affairs but is nothing to be feared. A model usually preferred to Government ownership or philanthropy, private investment in news is as old as the medium itself. It would be naïve to assume Rinehart isn’t chasing her own agenda with the sale, but that makes her no different to any media owner past or present. Journalists have always done reasonably well at sticking to their agenda despite corporate ownership and at Fairfax it will be no different. And at 15 per cent Rinehart’s venture is hardly enough to buy much clout or influence on the company’s board. The only cynics crying foul over bias are the ones who have never worked at a media organisation, and know little of the day-to-day work of journalists. Nevertheless from what we’ve seen of A Rinehart D _ A Mshe J AaCstrict M A Rconservative _ 1 2 . pd and full-blown climate sceptic, and

Gina Rinehart’s additional interest in Fairfax won’t change media coverage of the mining industry. (Image courtesy of Dan Ilic.)

this influence may creep into the And the leaked Youtube footage left-leaning Fairfax, especially if she of her discussing media ownership ups her stake. Andrew Bolt’s sud- with climate sceptic Lord Monkton den appearance on television shortly was enough to raise the eyebrows of after Rinehart’s ten per cent play even her staunchest supporters. But the been Bolt’s appearance would not f in P a gTen e Network 1 2 8 / has 0 2long / 1 2 , 1 again, 1 : 4 4 AM cited as an example of her reach. have been the sole decision of Rine-

hart, and would never have gone ahead without the support of Ten’s directors. Like much of her business today Rinehart’s Fairfax interest is the legacy of her father Lang Hancock. Also a strong conservative, Hancock was politically active through the family owned National Miner, as well as donations to political parties. He also turned his hand to writing and published a book in the late ’70s arguing for Western Australian succession, an argument that can still be seen in the rhetoric of Andrew Forrest and Rinehart today. Hancock understood the importance of lobbying better than most others. His efforts to open the Pilbara and end Government restrictions on iron ore made him a true pioneer. They set the stage for WA’s boom and proved the Government wasn’t always right with its mining policy. They also proved a personal interest can be compatible with the public good. What little influence Rinehart has will likely be used similarly.

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HEADLINES

The latest mining news and safety Australian Mining presents the latest news and safety affecting you from the boardroom to the mine and everywhere in between. Visit www.miningaustralia.com.au to keep up to date with what is happening. Miner dies at Sunrise Dam gold mine A man died at the Sunrise Dam mine after being found unconscious at the controls of his equipment. An on site nurse attempted to resuscitate the miner, but he was pronounced dead at 9:15am local time at the AnglogoldAshanti run mine. The man is yet to be formally identified. The mine is located north of Laverton, in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields region.

Truck accident forces BMA mine closure Production at BMA’s Blackwater coal mine was suspended yesterday after a dump truck reversed through a safety barrier. According to the Daily Mercury no-one was injured in the incident and the Queensland Government’s mines inspectorate is investigating the collision. The Daily Mercury reports that a department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation spokesperson said all operations at the mine would be suspended until the inspector was satisfied. The accident follows the death of a worker at the AngloGold Ashanti owned Sunrise Dam mine in Western Australia.

WA imposes rare earths royalty Western Australia is set to impose a 2.5 per cent royalty on rare earths production as part of an amendment to its mining regulations. According to The Australian Financial Review the change was announced late last week and rare earths miner Lynas Corporation may be liable for around $17 million a year in royalties. According to The Australian WA collected $3.9 billion in royalties last year primarily from the iron ore, gold, nickel, and alumina sectors. Petroleum royalties collected by WA came close to $5 billion. The royalty hike follows a recommendation by the Commonwealth

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Grants Commission to slash WA’s share of GST grants by a record $598 million. The Commission said the state’s growing royalties and payroll taxes, collected from the high wages of mining workers, justified the cut. The decision sparked an angry response from the WA Government, but the protests were quickly dismissed by prominent economist Saul Eslake. Eslake said there had never been a part of Australia that has been “so much richer” than the rest of the country. He said the WA Government “shouldn’t expect too much sympathy from the rest of the country” in regards to its GST share.

Mine worker jailed over drug charges Police have intercepted $28,000 worth of drugs after monitoring a mine labourer’s phone calls. The Morning Bulletin reports that conversations between mine worker Luke Stiler and a relative lead to the seizure of ecstasy and cannabis. Stiler was reportedly earning $1,800 a week working at a Blackwater mine. According to The Morning Bulletin the drugs were intercepted en-route from Brisbane to mining town Blackwater in central Queensland. Stiler was sentenced to seven years jail over the offence but will be eligible for parole in 18 months. In his ruling Justice McMeekin said Stiler’s youth at the time of the offence, guilty plea, and rehabilitation attempts had earned him a more favourable decision. Earlier a former Anglo American coal worker pleaded guilty to drug possession after he was found with 109 ecstasy tablets. The man was also found with 500 clip-seal bags and a set of scales, which Crown prosecutor Michael Cowen said could assert commercial ambitions. Earlier this year a mine site drug tester said methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, was also starting to make its way to mining camps around Australia.

Australian Mining gets the latest news every day, providing up to the minute information on safety, news and technology for the Australian mining and resources industry.

Forrest believed Chinese agreements were binding, High Court hears Fortescue’s Andrew Forrest had reasonable grounds to believe the agreements with the Chinese companies were ninding contracts, his lawyers told the High Court. It comes as Forrest against faces off ASIC claims that he deliberately misled investors of the state of deals signed with the Chinese. The current case states that FMG had told the market it had secured contracts with Chinese interests to develop Fortescue’s Pilbara operations, but claimed that no such deal existed. According to ASIC, FMG made a number of announcements about agreements with three Chinese companies to build and finance mining, rail and shipping infrastructure in the Pilbara, calling the deals “binding.” The announcement of the deals is said to have led to Fortescue shares rising by as much as 35%. ASIC said that when the contents of the deals were fully disclosed, it was revealed that they were framework agreements rather than binding. The regulator claimed that Forrest and FMG failed to comply with continuous disclosure requirements, and failed to correct

misleading statements. “Mr. Forrest was well aware there was a significant and growing ‘gap’ between what the market had been told and what actually appeared in the agreements, but did nothing to correct the position and instead perpetuated the misleading statements,” ASIC said. Courts today were told that judges in ASIC’s last appeal against the miner had “misread emails” relating to the deal’s status, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Forrest’s lawyer, David Jackson, said that the email drew a distinction between the framework agreements announced to the market, and “other fuller agreements. It doesn’t lead to a conclusion that he well knew that the Chinese contractors were not obliged to build, finance, etc,’’ he said. ‘’The Full Court gave the document a meaning it doesn’t bear.’’ Prior to signing the agreements, visitors from the Chinese companies were taken to the site, and did a flyover of the prospective mine, NineMSN reported. After this an agreement was conferred upon, from which Forrest had ‘reasonable grounds to consider binding’, Jackson told the court. “As a matter of law the agreements were binding agreements.” The case continues.

Space mining on the agenda The heads of the world’s five biggest space agencies will be discussing the possibility of mining on the moon at the International Space Station members meeting. The meeting will be held in Quebec, and according to Canadian Business Canada could play a key role in future space mining. Several countries, including China, have already expressed an interest in mining the moon’s resources and a number of prototype machines already exist. According to Canadian Business moon mining prototypes, including specially designed drills, are set for testing this year in Hawaii. The Canadian Space Agency says it is waiting for Federal approval and an increase in interest from

other countries before moving forward with more advanced space mining technology. “When members of the international space community decide to go to the Moon or Mars, the CSA and Canada will be ready to contribute,” it said. The Moon contains reserves of gold, platinum-group elements, and rare earths minerals. It also contains compounds not readily available on Earth, including Helium-3, a gas that could potentially be used in power generation. According to Canadian Business drilling for resources on the Moon is not far off, with some predicting the start of the process by the end of the decade. The prospect of mining in space has long been a topic of speculation by some experts, with asteroids or meteors also potential targets.

Mother of dead miner joins CFMEU campaign The mother of an Australian miner killed in New Zealand’s Pike River disaster has joined a union campaign against BHP Billiton over safety concerns. In a moving video released by the CFMEU recently Joanne Ufer spoke of the heartache of losing a loved one to mining. Ufer’s son Josh died in the Pike River disaster aged 25, soon after finding out he was going to be a father. His daughter was born six months after he died. “It’s been absolutely devastating for our family and friends,” Ufer said in the video. “I have been deeply shocked by the evidence of negligence by management at the mine and I never want any other family to have to go through what we have.” “Mine safety is a matter of life and death. It is too important to be handed over just to management.” Ufer’s short speech is followed by the words “fair go BHP, don’t undermine our safety” on screen. The advertisement is the latest shot fired by the union in its ongoing dispute with BMA over conditions for miners. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINING FAMILY MATTERS

HAPPY HOME

House rules for a Mining Family Matters outlines a routine to help families survive FIFO challenges.

ining rosters can challenge even the healthiest of relationships. We’re only human, and sometimes long days (and weeks) apart can’t help but lead to exhaustion, arguments and insecurities. There are ways to ease the pressure though: discuss these simple strategies with your better half and you’ll at least be on the same page... Show a little enthusiasm when you’re reunited. This can take an effort, especially when you’ve had a bad day or been flying for hours to get back home, but the rewards can be big. Ask questions about the daily grind. How’s work going? How are you feeling about everything? Talk (and more importantly, listen) to your partner to show you’re interested. When you’re all at home together, give each other quiet time away from the kids. Designate different

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· · · · · ·

days when you each get a sleep in. Try to remain as accessible as possible while you’re apart. Keeping in regular contact with phone calls, texts and emails makes a big difference in the continuity stakes. Once a month, book a date night. If you don’t have family and you’re on a budget, organise with friends to swap babysitting duties. If you never organise anything, get off your butt occasionally and plan a surprise outing or event for the family. Make sure the fridge is stocked with food you both like when you’re reunited, so you don’t need to waste precious time heading to the shops. Agree on a realistic list of jobs that need doing around the house on the days you’re together – and then write them down. Cuts out the need for nagging and arguments about being nagged. Don’t organise a massive amount

Fly in fly out can be a stress on families, but this can be mitigated.

· · ·

of social activities for the time you’re together. Some couples have a rule of just one catch-up with friends or family over the break at home. Next time you’re hiring a DVD, get one for him and one for her. Kids to bed early and straight on the couch. Get out of the trackie-dacks and flannel shirts every now and then – yes they’re comfy, but hardly likely to keep home fires burning. Be nice to his/her parents. Chances are they sometimes also struggle with the unique pressures of having adult children in FIFO relationships. (And happy grand-

parents are willing babysitters.) Hide little notes around the house or in the travel bag when you’re leaving. (It’s corny, but it works every time). Remember, it’s the little things that matter: fold the washing; run a bath for two; make a cup of tea; be the first to attend to screaming children. And if all else fails: cold beer for him, flowers for her. And talk openly about what’s bothering you. More professional advice and practical strategies for families in mining and resources can be found at www.miningfm.com.au.

· · ·

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Fuelling expansion As the major miners expand their Pilbara presence, oil suppliers are in turn growing the supply base.

s reported in this edition of Australian Mining, the Pilbara is set to undergo rapid expansion as both Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton pour money into their port and harbour developments. Both miners are also greatly expanding their iron ore operations on the ground, with plans to increase capacity. However, it is not just the mining companies that are looking to expand their operations in the region, as the businesses servicing the resources sector are growing to support this Pilbara push. Most recently, BP Australia has expanded its investment into the Pilbara fuel terminal facilities to feed the mining industry’s soaring demand for oil and diesel. According to BP, its ‘BP Port Hedland Facility’ is the largest servicing the mining region and represents a major investment by the company into the area. One of the newest developments at the site includes the installation of additional diesel loading arms, enhancements to the electrical systems, as well as the installation of higher

BP’s Port Hedland facility is the largest in the region.

capacity pumps, which have resulted in an overall 30 per cent increase in truck loading capacity. These terminal upgrades follow on the back of the previous commissioning of two storage tanks which grew fuel storage capacity by more than 30 per cent, from 42 million litres up to 66 million litres. BP Australia’s strategic infrastructure manager Luke

Bourchier identified the Pilbara and Port Hedland in particular, as critical to the company, stating that the investment is part of the oil and gas company’s regional commitment to address the ever growing demand from mining. “Port Hedland is the most strategic terminal in the Pilbara and we have invested significantly over the past five years to increase capac-

Major upgrades are slated for Port Hedland.

ity,” Bourchier explained. “The region’s extraordinary growth does occasionally put pressure on facilities, but we are certainly committed to servicing demand with ongoing investment,” he said, pointing to the rapid iron ore growth slated for the Pilbara. “We’re focused on improving efficiencies for our customers in the short term and are also positioned to

implement more major developments in the longer term with greenfield sites identified and approvals in place for further storage upgrades at Port Hedland.” BP also owns and operates several more fuel terminals in the state’s North West that provide scale and supply security, and source a high proportion of the Pilbara’s total fuel volume demand.

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Keeping development on track The announcement of Rio’s new automated trains is shifting the playing field.

io Tinto has always been focused on automation in the Pilbara region. From the creation of the Mine of the Future to the order and delivery of a number of fully autonomous haul trucks at sites such as Yandicoogina, Rio is slowly but surely automating all of its processes. One of the latest developments has been the massive US$518 million investment into what will be the world’s first automated long distance heavy haul mining rail network. Dubbed the AutoHaul automated train program, these driverless trains (part of the larger Mine of the Future program) are scheduled to hit the rails in 2014. It will see the miner’s current fleet of 41 trains retrofitted with software that will allow them to operate without human control. The plan is essentially the same as Rio’s previous plan for a US$371 million driverless train program, which was eventually vetoed due to constraints caused by the global financial crisis. According to Rio Tinto, the investment allows it expand capacity on the line to

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Automated heavy haul trains in the Pilbara will be a world first.

Automation will cut down on driver changeover times, Rio says.

support the Pilbara expansion without having to invest in additional trains. The program predominately involves software changes to the fleet with a few hardware changes to the trains’ braking capabilities and across the rail network. “It will also drive productivity improvements, with greater flexibility in train scheduling and the removal of driver changeover times, creating extra capacity in the rail network,” the miner said. “Other benefits include more efficient fuel use, resulting in lower energy costs and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions for each tonne of iron ore produced.”

Wood said autonomous vehicles are already taking away workers’ jobs. Wood added that once the boom slows there will be a “definite loss of jobs”. While Rio was unable to confirm or deny whether jobs would be cut due to the automation of the trains, president of Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations Greg Lilleyman said the company is yet to decide how the train program will affect employees. He stressed that some current drivers would still be required in support roles such as in the control room or maintenance positions. This was supported by Walsh, who stated that “as we expand our business we

It will also cut down delivery times, as the largest downtimes Rio faces in its rail network is the driver changeovers. Rio’s iron ore chief Sam Walsh went on to say that the company’s automation push is also an antidote to the labour crisis that is strangling the country:“Automation helps us address the skills shortage facing the industry.” However, it is this very automation that many believe may actually put jobs at risk. Around 500 train driver jobs may be lost due to the development. The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union West Australian mining division secretary Gary

will see an overall increase in job numbers and this will provide new job opportunities in the rail division and elsewhere. “As always we will engage with those affected as we gradually make the transition to automation over the next three years,” he added. Lilleyman told the West Australian that this announcement had nothing to do with recent union battles which saw the CFMEU push for the first new industrial agreement for train drivers in 20 years. According to a BAEconomics report commissioned by Rio Tinto, concerns that automation will kill jobs are misplaced.

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

A new kind of problem The long running battle over Anketell highlights the new problems of the Pilbara.

nlike years past, most of the biggest news in the Pilbara now centres on ports, rail, and accommodation. While the expansions on mine sites continue, they are increasingly becoming the easy part. Getting that ore to the coast, and finding room to export it, is now the biggest challenge for most Pilbara companies. One of the best examples of the nuance and difficulty of expansions beyond the mine is the story of Fortescue Metals Group, Aquila Resources, and Anketell port. An idea that initially garnered much excitement, Anketell is now bogged down in a mess of Government bureaucracy and company disagreement. Both Aquila and FMG are interested in build-

18 March 2012

AustralianMining

Fortescue and Aquila’s long struggle for a new port in the Pilbara has seen a number of brickwalls.

ing Anketell, just south of Cape Lambert, to provide an alternative export route outside the increasingly

cramped Cape Lambert and Port Hedland. Both companies have pitched proposals to the

Government to lead the development, but so far neither miner has been endorsed. Of the two, Aquila has been

pursuing the goal most aggressively, completing much of the initial environmental study needed before development can go ahead. Last year the Government looked to be leaning towards Aquila’s proposal, which is by far the most advanced. Observers even hinted nine months ago that the Government was “nearing a decision” on which company would lead the development. Three months into 2012 it has still taken no clear and final position. A solution still seems some way off, with Western Australian premier Colin Barnett recently proposing Aquila, FMG, and a third party join forces. The idea of a joint venture with an independent party leading construction

www.miningaustralia.com.au

PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

has long been considered, and the Government now seems to prefer the option. Barnett said he was insisting a third party be responsible for construction to ensure no company gained competitive advantage. “I’m not going to have one iron ore company control a port and hold another iron ore company to ransom,” he said. “This is not a competition for an Anketel portl, even though some of the While a joint venture has been floated, the two contenders – FMG and Aquila – don’t see eye to eye. companies may portray it that way. funding for its iron ore am- talks with Aquila over the oped rather than how was “What I would like to bitions. development. building it. see is the companies coming Fortescue Metals Group Aquila needs the project Both public comments together and appointing a on the other hand is push- online early to support its belie what must be signifithird party as the major ining for a significantly larger $5.8 billion West Pilbara cant private differences befrastructure provider. That’s starting capacity to balance API joint venture. tween the two. where we’re trying to get with its exports out of Port It’s previously indicated Aquila and FMG have to,” he added. Hedland. it would need a capacity no reportedly had private talks While Aquila and FMG A decision on which larger than 40 megatonnes over the possibility of a joint agree on the importance of route the development takes per annum, less than half venture but so far no agreeAnketell, the two companies will have important impacts FMG’s desired 100mt. ment has been made. don’t see eye to eye on the on the rest of the Pilbara, Aquila has previously Nevertheless moving details. with other smaller compa- said it would be happy to forward with the developAquila prefers a port nies also interested in using form a joint venture if FMG ment is in the interests of with a smaller initial capac- Anketell. was willing to work with it. both parties. ity, and is keen to get deAtlas Iron has already Fortescue has previously FMG chief executive velopment moving as soon expressed an interest, and said it was more interested Nev A D _ A MA X I MA R _ 1 2 . p d f . p d f Pa g e 1 1 7 / 0 2 / 1 2 , A1 M D2 _ :M 3 A3 N MP B Power O G M Ahas R _warned 1 2 . pthe df as possible to help it attract Iron Ore Holdings is also in in how the port was devel- Pilbara’s competitiveness is

at risk if the port is not developed correctly. With Aquila the concerns are much more direct, and it made this clear at the start of the year in its cashflow report. “The State Government’s decision on port proponency and ongoing delays to port and rail tenure processes are impacting on project schedules, the definitive feasibility study, and funding arrangements,” it said. “Completion of the stage 1 definitive feasibility study is expected in the March 2012 quarter provided that the WA Government clarifies by then the timing and propency of the proposed port at Anketell Point.” Like BHP’s Outer Harbour Development to the north, the Anketell project forms an important part of opening up the Pilbara for the next round of expansions. And much like BHP, Aquila and FMG face a complicated future of negotiation and compromise before P a g the e development 1 1 6 / 0 2goes / 1 2 , ahead.

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It’s built on a bigger truck and put less passengers in. It may cost a little more but it’s better in the long run, giving a stronger, more reliable vehicle. Another key feature of the vehicles is inter-changeability with passenger modules that can be removed from older cab chassis and placed on a new cab chassis reducing replacement costs for companies.

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and for good reason: Isuzu isn’t just a good make of vehicle; after sales service is unsurpassed. The tilt cab of the chassis also allows easy maintenance and access to the motor. A higher ground clearance than a conventional bus chassis is also ideal for mine site and remote areas. For more information call Able Bus & Coach on 08 9371 7100, info@ablebusandcoach.com.au or visit ablebusandcoach.com.au

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AM.MAR12.PG021.pdf

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

More than machinery Mining is more than just digging, blasting, and hauling.

Advanced software is playing a major part in the Pilbara’s expansion.

The software company explained that miners like Fortescue Metals Group and BC Iron have been utilising its scheduling optimiser and MSHaulage programs to overcome some of these issues. “Whilst is not exactly new technology, optimised scheduling is

the biggest thing for us due to the requirement for it from expanding miners and the increased processing power it provides,” Gabbitus said. Part of this optimisation push has been the development of program integration, allowing software to ‘speak’ to one another, rather

than operating in silos. BC Iron has reportedly being using MineSight’s programs to eliminate this data transfer between different systems. Using the Large Gridded Object (LGO) Functionality, BC Iron’s Nullagine iron ore joint venture was able to store and display large terrain datasets such as those created by Light Detection And Ranging technology (LIDAR). Previously it was difficult to display such large datasets and even more difficult to use the data. It had to be broken up into smaller units. Now the miner is able to display one billion nodes in the X and Y directions. Despite technology evolving, it is for naught if it is not supported by appropriate training. “Support for the investment is key…buying software and not investing in training is like buying a car but never buying fuel,” Gabbitus said.

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ining in the Pilbara isn’t all about massive machines and mining equipment. It is also the centre for mining automation, remote control, and software. And this software is constantly evolving to suit the ever changing needs of miners in the region. According to MineSight’s regional business development manager Mark Gabbitus one of the major changes has been “larger datasets, more complex operations and software that has become more user friendly”. Gabbitus added that there has also been the push to more automation, and increased data size and speed so that operators can have more “automated solutions, as they try to do more with less staff”. This is particularly the case in the Pilbara as the region sees an explosion of projects and expansions; while growth is somewhat restricted by the shortfall in manpower, resulting in lower efficiencies.

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March 2012

AM.MAR12.PG022.pdf

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6/03/12,

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Dumper for the Pilbara Metso Minerals are joining the Pilbaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansions, supplying a new car dumper for Rio Tinto at Cape Lambert.

etso Minerals has joined the flurry of expansions in the Pilbara, winning a Rio Tinto contract to supply a railcar dumper to the Cape Lambert port expansion. According to Metso the new dumper is the most advanced offering from the company and will feature a single tandem configuration. The equipment forms a small part of Rioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s massive Pilbara expansions, with the company aiming to use the it to increase Cape Lambertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity. Earlier this year Rio Tinto said it expected car dumper upgrades at Cape Lambert to add an additional 20mt to the portâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity. Metso regional product manager Gary Day said the dumperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design maximised output and safety by simplifying design. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This design allows for lower maintenance and higher, more efficient material output flow, and ease of safety and maintenance is also improved through a reduction of overall components,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Delivery of the dumper cars is scheduled for 2013.

Metso said the dumperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design was achieved by working closely with Rio Tinto and the engineering team, and it was the second equipment of its kind to be delivered to Rio for Cape Lambert.

As explored this month in Australian Mining, car dumpers form one of the most important parts of a mining port operation. For many sites the equipmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure can result in significant losses to produc-

tion and company sales. Metso said it was committed to working with customers to develop and maintain its equipment and ensure downtimes were kept to a minimum. It went on to say it was looking forward to working with Rio Tinto on the project. For Metso the Rio contract marks the continuation of strong demand for mining equipment. Previously the company has announced new orders had reached record levels, with net sales increasing 20 per cent. It said demand from the mining sector was expected to remain good this year, but not as high as it had been in 2011. It said while it was difficult to read the market a potential slide in metal prices may dent demand from the mining industry in the future. Outside hardrock mining Metso said demand from the oil and gas industry was also strong while other markets had slowed or remained unchanged Delivery of Rio Tintoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car dumper is scheduled for the second quarter of 2013 .

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Ramping up Rio Rio Tinto’s multi-billion Pilbara expansions highlight the region’s growing significance to the company.

etween Port Hedland in the north and Cape Lambert to the south it’s difficult to keep track of the expansions in the Pilbara. Like any good rivals, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are not to be outdone by one another, with both recently announcing billion-dollar upgrades to their Pilbara ports. While BHP is focused on the Outer Harbour Development at Port Hedland Rio has allocated most of its funds to mine expansions. Although Rio’s Cape Lambert port isn’t the centre of attention, it will still get a giant $1.1 billion boost. Almost double that, at $2 billion, will be spent extending the life of Rio’s Nammuldi mine near Tom Price. Both investments form an important part of Rio’s plans to increase its Western Australian iron ore production by 50 per cent. AAt D _ the A M Fmoment L E M A Rit’s _ 1 unclear 2 . pd whether Rio is on target with this

More than $1 billion will be spent on upgrading Rio’s Cape Lambert port.

ambitious goal, but the billions in- Rio said it was on-track, but how vested prove it’s serious about mak- the Cape Lambert and Nammuldi will be the f ingPitawork. ge 1 1 7 / 0 2 / 1 2 , 1 expansions 2 : 0 5 P progress M In a statement earlier this year main determinants.

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

The company was tight lipped on the details, but a spokesperson told Australian Mining it had not yet given “the full tick” to the expansion. Joint venture and regulatory approvals are still in the pipeline, with environmental clearances also expected later this year. While primarily controlled by Rio, ownership of Cape Lambert is also shared with Japanese firms Mitsui Iron, Nippon Steel, and Sumimoto Metal. “We’ve sidelined funds for a dumper car upgrade to tide things over while the entire expansion awaits approval,” they said. Rio said it expected the car dumper upgrade to add an extra 20mt to Cape Lambert’s capacity. As an investment spanning several years Rio Tinto said the deci- The port will add an extra 70m tonnes to annual production. sion indicated its faith iron ore prices would continue to perform price still remains well above his- is forecast to grow strongly, while well. torical levels. industry supply growth remains Most producers in the Pilbara Earlier this year Rio Tinto iron constrained,” he said. have already signaled that prices are ore and Australia CEO Sam Walsh According to Rio Tinto the total unlikely to reach the record levels indicated his faith in the iron ore Pilbara expansion has been planned they set in 2011. price and said Rio’s Pilbara expan- in three stages, with the largest left Rio and other Pilbara miners, sions would let the company take until late 2015. such as BC Iron, have hinted at pric- full advantage of the prices. Rio’s current operating capacity es around $US140 a tonne this year. “We are bringing new iron ore stands at 225mt, with the company r While . p d fsignificantly P a g e lower 1 3 0than / 0 4 production / 1 0 , 1 on : 3 stream 0 P M at a time hoping to boost that to 230mt by the 2011 heights of $US180, the when demand from Asian markets the end of the first quarter of 2012.

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This first stage will be an incremental increase to Dampier port that is already in implementation. The second stage will boost production to 283mt by the end of the second half of 2013. Rio said this development would be a 53mt upgrade to Cape Lambert, which was also in implementation. The final push to 353mt by the end of the first half of 2015 will be achieved with a 70mt boost at Cape Lambert. This final development is currently undergoing feasibility studies. While Rio Tinto is a diversified mining company like cross-Pilbara rival BHP, the $3.1 billion expansion highlights the growing importance iron ore makes to the company’s profit. In recent times iron ore has accounted for close to three-quarters of the company’s profits, and these expansions look set to raise that contribution further. In its earnings statement last month Rio drilled this home, reporting net earnings 59 per cent below 2010 with an $8.9 billion hit from its aluminum business. Nevertheless the company said it would continue forward with global growth focused “mainly in the Pilbara”.

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March 2012

AM.MAR12.PG026.pdf

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CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

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AustralianMining

ueensland’s mining industry is booming. Its ports in particular are seeing their highest ever levels of export. So ensuring that conveyors and shiploaders are working is crucial to preventing bottlenecks. Which is why ESS Engineering was brought in to assess problems a Queensland coal terminal had at the head ends of two of its conveyors. The port had installed head end hungry boards to centre and contain the materials going into the head chute. Skirt seals fitted to the containment plates were wearing excessively and tearing away. The trough rollers under the skirted area were difficult and dangerous to replace due to the elevated work area and the inability to lift the belt. While ESS replaced the skirt seals and modified the feeder plates at the start of the skirted area for better protection and seal life, the trough roller frames remained the main issue. An obvious solution was a retractable idler frame. However the coal port had trialled a number of retractable idlers in the past, but none had provided a solution. The problem was complex as the size and loading of the belt meant the application required a heavy duty solution; but the conveyor’s location required its removal to be easy with low operator effort.

According to ESS Engineering, its Standard Trac-Mount design would have been too light for the application, so ESS developed a Heavy Duty Trac-Mount. Speaking to ESS managing director Bob Law, he told Australian Mining this Trac-Mount was specifically designed for easy maintenance and to provide access to the idlers. “It was designed to be safer and to dramatically reduce hazards.” They idler frames reduce the need for special tools or lifting gear. It also eliminates the need for maintenance crews to reach into or under the conveyor while at the same time causing no belt load on the rollers during withdrawals. The Heavy Duty Trac-Mount design incorporates dual cross members for increased strength and stability, as well as a rounded track with no sharp edges or potential catchpoints to ensure easy an withdrawal of the idler, and a stainless steel construction to combat exposure from the port’s salty air. As the head end of the belt is in a transition area, the trough angle and height was different for each roller frame. ESS carried out measurements of the existing frames and overcame this problem by providing packing pieces combined with multi-hole angle adjustments for each frame. Continued on page 28 www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMETMAR_12.pdf

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MT244a Australian Mining Full Page Performance Solutions Advertisement February 2012.indd 1

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CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

Continued from page 26 This allowed the installers to tailor each frame to the exact shape of the belt at the installation position. The result was a set of six retractable idler frames at six different trough angles. Rollers supported and contacted the belt adequately, while at the same time providing safe and quick roller retraction. Following this, the company was tasked to implement the same retractable frame design to a flat return application on another of the portâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conveyors. ESS saw that a flat return belt would exert loading on the roller and retraction would bed difficult. So it designed a rotary belt lifting mechanism in each roller frames, which allows the belt to be lifted by 10mm with little effort. After the successful application on the conveyors it was asked by the port to design and supply the Heavy Duty Trac-Mount Idler frames on applications where height and access restriction problems create hazards when replacing idlers. Seeing the application of these idler frames, ESS has since been awarded a contract to supply the coal with 1268 A Dport _ AM ROC S E PTrac-Mount _ 1 1 . pdf Pa ge 1 5 / 8 / 1 1 , 9 : 3 3 AM The company was contracted to install heavy duty idler frames where height and access restriction problems created hazards. ilder frames for its expansion.

28 March 2012

AustralianMining

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AD_AMNACMAR_12.pdf

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Helping haulers Specially designed containers are making export easier for junior miners.

he rotainer system has made it easier for miners without rail access to export their ore, essentially opening up a whole new market for junior miners. This is especially the case out of South Australian ports, for companies such as IMX and Iron Clad. They are now able to transport the ore via shipping containers moved on the back of trucks. However, containers always had to be co-opted for the process, making transportation more difficult than it needed to be. SCF Group, an Australian container manufacturer and supplier, has become the first company in the country to specifically design a container, with a removable lid, to work with the rotainer system. According to the company, it was able to manufacture and deliver a unit within only 90 days, as compared to the standard industry time of six months. Group ARichard D _ A MSykes, S A R SCF FEB _ 1 2 chief, . pd said the latest container had been

The containers can be built in only 90 days, instead of six months.

tailor made for Hillgrove Resources tion when the tippler system lifts the to move copper concentrate from its unit into the hull of the ship. The lid Kanmantoo copper mine to an inner will then be removed and the conharbour facility at Port Adelaide. tainer rotated 360 degrees, before “The container is fully loaded on back on the unit,” f Pa ge 1 1 0 / 0 1 / 1 2 , 9 the : 1 lid 7 isAplaced M the wharf with the lid firmly in posi- Sykes said.

“The unit’s design also reduces the environmental impact of the copper concentrate as the lid is on the container at all times except when being unloaded inside the ship’s hull.” Dust suppressors hve also been designed in place to ensure there is no contamination. To date the SCF Group has created 450 of the specially designed environmentally friendly containers for Hillgrove Resources. The containers measure approximately 20 foot, and are half height open top units. According to Sykes there are a number of features to be considered when transporting sticky products such as copper concentrates, such as the addition of a special anti-corrosion non-stick paint. He went on to say that the internal hopper of the container has also been designed to reduce product hang up and sticking by using a five degree slope with no sharp corners or cross members.

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CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

Sealing the deal An internal conveyor and transfer point seal is aiding in material retainment.

t is almost impossible not to lose product when transferring it. Through dust or product simply escaping at the transfer points, a number of minute losses can easily build up into a significant amount over time. So a critical component of any conveyor transport line and transfer points is an effective sealing system. To keep your ore in line, the seals should be located where the materials are being loaded and continue along to where they become stable. This is the last position an operator has to effectively control material spillage, and in turn dust. Kinder has designed the K-Containment seal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an internal conveyor skirting sealing system to contain larger bulk materials within the

Transfer points are where most operators see material spillage.

The abrasive formula of the seal provides increased resistance.

chute walls while at the same time minimising the gap between the belt and chute. The majority of sealing and skirting products run either above or on the outside of conveyor belts. The K-Containment seal is used to increase effectiveness of any outer seals or skirting that has already been

fer the K-Containment seal should be installed inside of the chute to handle the high internal chute pressure while it also reduces the load on the external skirting seal. In a number of cases, operators reported to Kinder that their outer flexible seals were ineffective in controlling spillage, and the belt becomes

installed, when the loading area is properly supported. According to the materials handling equipment manufacturer the extremely abrasive formula of the conveyor seal also provides high resistance to wear from the belt and materials. To effectively contain the bulk materials during trans-

unsupported in its attempt to contain the full weight of the material loads and inadequate for its role. The slotted arrangement of the seal also allows for installation adjustments to ensure that any ores or materials can not become trapped in the skirting, leading to wear and premature belt damage.

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AustralianMining

Isolating conveyors for emergency maintenance can take up to an hour at some mines.

Isolating ingenuity The development of an automated conveyor isolation system is increasing safety.

he catchwords in mining are safety and efficiency. Ensuring that your work force is producing as much as possible, with minimum risk is the main focus of most mining companies. But despite this focus on efficiency you can’t predict unplanned downtimes. When conveyors go down and remedial mechanical repairs such as tramp metal removal, idler replacement or rip detector restringing are needed, a full electrical isolation needs to occur. But waiting for an isolation officer to carry out a manual isolation can take an hour or more before repair work can be start on the fault, and then a similar time to de-isolate and return a plant to service. During this time they may also be exposed to a potential arc flash when operating the isolate mechanism in the sub. The downtimes alone, ignoring the damage, can cost millions. Seeing this issue, the ICM Group has launched the REMSAFE remote isolation system. According to ICM, REMSAFE is an isolation system for fixed plant that must be isolated from its energy sources before it can be safely access for maintenance or repairs. It allows a plant operator or maintenance person, through the master control room, to isolate equipment

quickly, and de-isolate just as fast. Speaking to Australian Mining, an ICM spokesperson explained “on site a isolation an literally take up to an hour, wherceas with REMSAFE, from the moment you identify an issue to isolating it can be a little as three minutes”. The machine has a Safety Integrity Level 3, integrates with SCADA and site control systems. It is driven by a PLC, and isolation and verification is automated – eliminating the need for an isolation officer. The company stated that it has already seen application in certain Pilbara iron ore mines. In one study it found that when the conveyor stopped due to detects tramp metal or similar faults, it had to be isolated before it could be accessed. This required the attendance of the isolation officer- who could be anywhere on site. These officers had to travel to one or more substations, and suit up for arc flash prevention, withdraw and lockout the circuit breaks. Some sites were able to do this in 25 minutes, but it found other took nearly three hours, even if the fixing the fault took five minutes. ICM says this system is has developed is the only isolation system like this in the world. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Heavy duty switches Control logic has released a range of heavy duty belt alignment and slack wire switches for the mining industry. Whilst the belt alignment switch has been long recognised in the conveyor and bulk handling industries due to its robust design and use of long life rollers, the slack-wire switch is seldom acknowledged as an aid to detecting the loosening or breaking of drive belts in transmission systems. Manufactured by Schmersal, the stainless steel rollers and cast iron Certified to IECEX standards. bodies of the switches have created a heavy duty, long life unit with the support of the Schmersal now. the company reportedly now has IECEX Certification for their 250 and 441 Series belt alignment switches, as well as the t3Z068 Series pull wire emergency stop switch. According to Control logic the switches are certified to the IECEX standard for use in explosives environments. • Control Logic 1800 577 705 www.control-logic.com.au A D _ A ML A N MA R _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 1 7 / 0 2 / 1 2 ,

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AM.MAR12.PG038.pdf

Page

1/03/12,

10:23

MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Maintaining quality Sandvik’s mining maintenance sites are providing a leading edge in underground safety.

Sandvik Mining Australia maintenance and repair facility in Wollongong has become the nation’s first to be accredited for safely working on underground mining diesel engines. The equipment rebuild and repair facility at Fairy Meadow is the first Australian site to be accredited under the new stand AS/NZS 3584 diesel engine systems for underground coal mines Part 3: Maintenance. The objective of the standard “is to control risks to the health and safety of people from the use of diesel engine systems in underground coal mines by providing requirements and guidance for maintaining the safety and integrity of diesel engine system”. According to the company this new standard allows for better forward planning of safe maintenance practices and controls for diesel powered machinery underground. The NSW Department of Primary Industries initially ordered

mining industry service workshops recognise, implement, and receive certification for AS/NZS 3584 Part 3 in 2010. While the standard was still in draft form, interim licences were issues to organisations and sites which had fulfilled the basic criteria for it until the final standards had been released and total compliance was achievable. At the time four of Sandvik Mining’s sites in New South Wales and Queensland had applied, and were found to comply, with the existing draft criteria, and were issued one of the interim licences pending full certification. In late December, after a complete compliance audit by SAI Global, Sandvik Mining’s Fairy Meadow site was recommended for certification under AS/NZS 3584 Part 3 – the first site in all of Australia to receive the accreditation. Glen Manning, Sandvik Mining Australia’s quality manager, said “this certification was the result of

The facility is the first in Australia to receive accreditation.

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personnel, both at Fairy Meadow and the other sites in NSW and Queensland”.

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Avoiding unplanned shutdowns Keeping equipment running is the aim of the game, Brett Biondi* writes.

istorically, only critical assets and process equipment that had the potential to cause severe impact financially, or result in an environmental or safety incident, were protected and monitored for signs of imminent failure. However recent studies have revealed that ‘essential assets’ without online monitoring had accounted for almost 43% of either shutdown or production slowdowns and almost 80% of these could have used technologies available today to predict pending failure. A classic example in mining would be conveyor header drums/motors where the cost of replacing the motor or gear box pales into insignificance compared to the production losses associated with getting the ore off the belt, conducting the repair and restarting the process. To stay competitive, engineers are expected to have a better understanding of the business side and the impact of decisions made with operations and maintenance. Optimisation of production volumes at minimal cost begins with capturing the measurements on the process and the assets themselves. Field devices are becoming more intelligent. HART capable devices have long held information about device health which predicts and alerts to pending device failure. However, more recent innovations go well beyond device health to encompass process diagnostics (e.g. entrained air, flame instability, cavitation, leakage, silt/sand in separators etc) as well as electrical connection diagnostics (e.g. water in terminals, corroded terminals, power supply stability, wiring/grounding issues etc). Much of this information was accessed in more traditional manners such as handheld communicators but this was on an ad hoc basis relative to application need or as per ‘walk around’ maintenance schedules. As good as it was, point data like this couldn’t predict upsets in the process resulting in assets going down and either slowing production or worse creating a shut down situation. A way in which to provide device and process information continually was needed to be found and it was. In addition to more intelligent field devices, there have been both introductions and advances in ‘asset 40 March 2012

AustralianMining

The starting point in avoiding shut downs is recognising production pinch points.

monitoring applications’ with an in- Newer devices enabling sophisticreasing array of features and user- cated analysis of vibration such friendly functionality. This has now as Emerson’s 9420 vibration senmoved to integration with device sor combine with more traditional information and providing ‘proac- measurements to detect changes in tive’ warning on pending device and the process and the assets health. process issues. With skilled labour More recently released products increasingly difficult to find, addi- provide online monitoring of steam tional advances incorporate more traps and environmental releases, ‘human centred design’ interfaces reducing energy consumption and with click throughs and provisions the processes carbon footprint. for manuals as part of the active So can we predict asset failure? link. Further developments include In truth the technology has been the ability to produce ‘job cards’ available for some time and with rerelative to liable results device inforbut as alCan we accurately predict asset mation so ways subject failure before it occurs? engineering to capital can incorbudgeting porate this with project planning requirements. Capital is a resource activities to schedule engineering/ that is always in scarce supply and maintenance activities. Enter wire- rightfully there should always be less connectivity – the glue that justification for its use in projects. binds everything together. Wireless However, oftentimes what is lost in technology is not new to the Aus- a cost-benefit analysis/decision maktralian industrial landscape but with ing is the opportunity cost of losses advents in wireless technology it is in production as a result of producnow more cost effective to monitor tion slowdowns or stoppages. Every critical and essential assets. During plant has engineering personnel asthe last decade, wireless has entered sociated with it that can almost ‘at a new era in sensor based, self-heal- will’ identify assets who for reasons ing, self-organising mesh architec- of poor design planning and alike are ture. at risk of creating production slowMoreover, advances in wireless downs or stoppages. It goes without technology have been matched with saying that assets such as these readvances in sensor based technolo- quire greater attention in deciding gies not just limited to the tradition- what course of action is required. al temperature, pressure, level, flow. Historically this would have meant

running of cables, junction boxes/ marshalling racks etc. With wireless, much if not all of these requirements have been removed. Now, more than ever it is more cost effective to retrofit and/or apply wireless related sensors to greenfield sites to monitor plant and equipment. So how do we decide which assets to monitor? The starting point is recognition of the production ‘pinch’ points: those areas where if the assets fail in their part of the production process, significant reductions in output could result. Examples include conveyor belts distributing ore, ventilation shaft fans, vibration screens, rod or ball mill motors/gearboxes and alike. The next step is to quantify the losses associated with each asset outage and then ascertain how many times each asset is likely to fail in a given year/period. From there create a critical asset prioritisation listing. This will likely be based upon economic impact and/or more subjective measures such as an ability to remedy the process (if process issues are at the heart of the problem and that could be remedied) or lead times on more specialised items of equipment and the opportunity cost of holding inventory. From here a decision matrix will fall out and the decision is look for a technological solution to match application requirements. The next evolving paradigm will be a shift to energy management and consumption. This will not be the piecemeal approach of the past where more short term oriented projects/interests or relived cheaper energy costs of the 2000’s provided a distraction. Now with the introduction of the Carbon Tax, emergent ISO 50001 standard on energy and CO2 management, increased recognition that 30% of industries operation costs are energy related, sustainable energy efficiency is the next phase in operations strategic planning and remaining competitive. How realistic is this? A 1-2% improvement in energy efficiency is can translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings. This translates directly onto the bottom line. *Brett Biondi is the wireless business development manager at Emerson. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.MAR12.PG044.pdf

Page

6/03/12,

10:04

DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS

Black Gold sparks anger While drillers on reality TV show Black Gold pride themselves on a ‘roughneck’ attitude, Australian drillers say their image is hurting the industry.

n American reality TV show following a Texas drill rig and its workers has drawn the ire of some in Australia’s drilling industry. The program, titled Black Gold, claims to give viewers an inside look at the real life “action, conflict, and competition” of the drilling industry. The promotional material describes the show’s drillers as “men who gamble everything for a chance to make millions. “It’s a fight to the finish as the roughnecks of Rig 28 fight with the hot-tempered new landowner, fight with each other, and fight for their jobs,” it says. But JND Drilling CEO Jonathan Nitschke told Australian Mining the show was a complete distortion of the drilling industry. “For people that don’t know about our industry, it gives the perception that workers are all cowboys,” he said.

The show is a complete distortion of the drilling industry, Nitschke said.

“If our crews behaved like those featured on television, our company would be out of work within weeks.”

Of particular annoyance to Nitschke were the techniques used to dramatise the show and drilling industry.

“The way they set it up and edit it might make for good TV,” he said. “But it gives a false impression that drillers aren’t professional, that they’re fighting and carrying-on in the workplace.” Conflict is a central theme in Black Gold, with the drillers in the midst of verbal and physical violence in almost every episode. On some occasions workers go head-to-head on site throwing punches and belittling their colleages. Relations with the community and landowners are much the same, with one scene featuring an angry farmer firing a shotgun at a driller’s vehicle. Nitschke told Australian Mining that the reality of company engagement with the community was much different. He said that not only would the public not accept such behaviour, the miner hiring a driller’s services

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AustralianMining

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“Your business wouldn’t last if your miners acted like this.”

would cut the contract if workers acted as they did in Black Gold. “You’re business wouldn’t last,” he said. “It’s all about perception, and if you’ve got a drill crew that’s unsafe and fighting you wouldn’t go far in the industry.” Nitschke said not only was Black Gold a misrepresentation of the drilling business in general, it was also unfaithful to the United States drilling industry. “I’ve talked to people who have worked in the United States,” he said. “They’re good companies over there and they’re being run professionally.” “Black Gold has obviously been able to find some that aren’t, but I still think it’s a distortion of the US industry.” While workers on Black Gold hardly seem the image of professionalism, the show is not completely devoid of responsible workers. On some occasions external workers make safety inspections of the operation followed on the show, and inspectors enforce stringent rules and standards. The inspectors are further proof Black Gold is more a dramatisation than documentary record of the drilling industry. In defence against Black Gold Nitschke had much to say about what drillers were not. But he also gave Australian Mining a good picture of the kind of industry he had worked in. “Drillers are professional and hard working people that enjoy working outside,” he said. “They’re smart, mechanically minded, and have many skills.”

Nitschke said drilling was a serious business with millions of dollars at stake, and investors had no tolerance for poor management of this responsibility. “If you’re a driller, depending on the operation, you could be in charge of a $3 million to $10 million piece of equipment,” he said. “You’ve got to run and maintain an important position in the mining industry.” He told Australian Mining he wasn’t sure where or how the myth of unruly drilling workers had started, but suspected it had its roots in the industry’s early days. “That might have been what it was like 15 or 20 years ago but it’s long since changed,” he said. Nitschke said safety regulation in the mining industry had improved quickly over the last decades and it had contributed to a continuing professionalising of the industry. “Safety requirements have gone forward in leaps and bounds over the years,” he said. “There’s now strict rules on training and hiring competent people. The whole structure has changed, years ago you could get a job just by showing up to work, but that’s no longer the case.” Nitschke said a “knowledge gap” had developed in the public’s understanding of the drilling business and it was up to the entire industry to address the problem. “We get on and do the job but there’s perhaps not enough work done on promoting the industry. “Drilling is a job where you can earn well and have a long successful career, we definitely need to promote that more.”

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March 2012

21.02.12 09:10

DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHAnICS

Silo storage solutions The creation of massive emulsion silos on site is solving a blasting issue for BMA.

ne of the major problems hitting mine sites right now is a lack of ammonium nitrate. Without it you can’t blast, and if you aren’t blasting then you aren’t digging. Overall efficiency drops and mining slowly but surely grinds to halt. The situation has become so dire in the Hunter Valley that some mines have already predicted lower proThe mobile emulsions silos are 200 and 300 tonnes. duction. So having access to ammonium nitrate stores on are much larger than any tested, inspected, assembled, site is an important issue. existing silos”. and delivered the silos. Which is why the BHP Costing more than $1.6 Each silo features a Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance million, the silos were trans- turbo diesel air compressor (BMA) commissioned Mel- ported to the mine via road. which provides air and powco Engineering to build two The miner previously er to the diaphragm pumps of the largest emulsion silos leased a number of smaller for the emulsion transfer ever fabricated for its Saraji silos however it looked to process. coal mine. Melco to increase its supply The silos also have an ulThe Mackay engineering levels on site. trasonic probe to automatifirm has created a 200 tonne “BMA needed to pro- cally detect and measure the and a 300 tonne mobile vide their mining operations emulsion levels within. emulsion silo, which are 20 with sufficient ammonium The 300 tonne capacmetres and 28 metres long nitrate emulsion storage to ity silo, which weighs 34.5 respectively. ensure blasting was not de- tonnes when empty, and Melco project manager layed due to a lack of emul- the 200 tonne silo, which Glenn Ellen explained that sion on site,” Ellen said. weighs 26.5 tonnes, both “these silos are very unique, Mackay firm Engineer- have stabiliser legs and firstly because they are mo- ing Group provided the landing feet for increased bile – which hasn’t been design and detailed shop steadiness and can later be A D _ A ML I F MA R _ 1 2 . p d f a ge 1 3 / 0 2 / 1 2 , : 3 2 PM done before at this capacity, drawings Pfor the project, removed for3transportation. and secondly because they while Melco fabricated, Melco’s Ellen explained that

Both silos are roadworthy and meet haulage guidelines.

“both silos are registerable, meet Australian design rules and are roadworthy for unladen haulage on public roads under guidelines and conditions set out by Queensland Transport and the Department of Main Roads. “Both Silos can be towed and run Hendrickson tri-axle units with electric over-air brakes and ABS, and can be transported by prime mover. “Because of the sheer size and mass weight of the 300 tonne unit there will also be a dolly attached so there’s another set of brakes,” he added. According to Ellen, the creation of the emulsion

silos was a highly technical operation which required a lot of subcontractor involvement at the inspection and testing, electrical, and compliance stages, not to mention having to measure up to BMA’s specifications for explosions handling. Final testing for both units to commission the compressor and pumping systems for functionality and leaks, as well as an assessment of the system’s brakes, were carried out late last year. At Saraji, the mobile silos are loaded by semitrailers with product from an ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant at Moura.

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AustralianMining

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Greener blasting Blasting is becoming more environmentally friendly by using recycled oil in ANFO, Cole Latimer reports.

A D _ A MB R E MA R _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 1 7 / 0 2 / 1 2 , The explosives manufacturer has been utilising ANFO with recycled oil.

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he mining industry has a bad reputation for waste. Many of the byproducts of mining are toxic and difficult to dispose of safely. One product the industry tears through is oil. The industry typically uses a high level of oil in normal vehicle and machinery operations, so what happens to all this waste oil? Previously it was just discarded, or recycled at some expense, but it had purity problems and created expensive, lower quality oil that was not as good as new oil. So what could be done with this waste? Downer Blasting Services is now refining a process that uses this waste oil as a partial substitute for the diesel fuel used in ammoni-

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DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHAnICS

um nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) blasting mixtures, cutting down on oil waste and diesel usage on site. Speaking to Downer Blasting Services’ executive general manager blasting, Cliff Gale, he told Australian Mining that the company has been moving quickly in this area. “We have already carried out field trials in the use of waste oil blended ANFO at a Downer serviced coal mine,” Gale said. While the potential of waste oil in ANFO has been investigated before, it has never had any major research done into its use in blasting. “Others have toyed with the idea before but we have put a significant focus on the technology, with a view on being the leaders in this field,” Gale stated. According to the company it carried out trials of a ten per cent blend (ten per cent recycled oil and 90 per cent diesel) at a Queensland coal A mine between D_ A M A S G March MA R _ and June last year.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Recycled oil may also increase sleep time, Gale said.

Downer Blasting Services is now reportedly looking to conduct field trials of a new 30 per cent blend, which has already been proven in laboratory tests. 1 2 .“Laboratory pdf P a results g e 1also1 indicated that the recycled

oil may also increase the “Currently the waste oil sleep time of the ANFO” al- is taken off site where it is lowing for greater planning partially refined for addiof blast patterns ahead of tion to ANFO, however the time. aim is to close the loop so Gale went on to say that the processing facilities are 7 “waste / 0 2 / fuel 1 2 is , really 1 2 :an1 ex9 P at M the mine, so that the oil citing development area. never leaves the site.”

Downer Blasting Services added that if recycled oil in ANFO is implemented permanently at a mine site, it will significantly reduce the amount of diesel required on site, providing both a solution to waste oil and the rising cost of diesel fuel, which is set to increase from July due to the cutting of the Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme. According to the company, it has an agreement in place with an unnamed environmental technology provider to develop a wide, cost-effective reprocessing solution for waste oil, and following these developments, plans are in place to move through to the next stage of trials. Downer Blasting Services is also working on blasting products with lower fume production, looking to create emulsions with lower water contents to prevent nitrous oxide fume events from occurring. “The aim is develop more mine specialised products,” Gale added.

AustralianMining

March 2012

DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHAnICS

Blasting away misconceptions fewer blasting engineers on sites means more digging in the future, Cole Latimer reports.

ne of the main problems with the skills shortage is that many outside the industry think it is a broad based shortage, instead of an acute shortage of technical and engineering positions. Mining engineers are in very short supply and one niche of this sector – blasting engineers – are even rarer. Speaking to Downer Blasting Services’ executive general manager blasting, Cliff Gale, he explained to Australian Mining that the blasting industry is facing a number of constraints in key areas. “While there is plenty of opportunity for growth, it’s hard to find quality people,” Gale said. “The problem with this industry is that it is a niche of a niche, blast engineers are a subset of mining engineers, so these guys are few and far between and getting particularly thinner on the ground.” So what is the answer? Training courses are the main recourse but the fact is that blast engineers and shot firers are a special breed of people. “The operational guys who want to work on blast crews have a job that is outside, on the benches, the kinds of people who

Blast engineering, a subset of mining engineering, is a niche of a niche, Gale explained.

gravitate towards these role aren’t the traditional mining guys, these guys are out in the elements a lot and it doesn’t suit everyone,” Gale told Australian Mining. “While we run shotfirer courses and the turnover is fairly low (only around 16 per cent) and there is no problem retaining blasting

workers, the real problem is keeping up with demand, as the industry grows so fast we are starting to have feeding the beast so to speak,” he said. Although a lot of people want to get into blasting, and recruits keep coming in at a small rate this will cause flow on problems as

they need to be trained up and will often have to take on more complicated roles earlier. This will lead to blast design work carried out by less experienced engineers, which in turn leads to less efficient blasting. There is also the attrition of blast professionals

as they make the move to owner miners such as BMA “as they offer more job security” but takes shotfirers away from smaller miners. “However they tend to be less dynamic in these positions,” he added. If this trend keeps up the industry is in for a dire future.

Testing reliability If a drill rig’s motor breaks down while on a remote mine site or exploration tenement you can’t call in for spare parts immediately. That rig is down and will stay down for some time. While maintenance and monitoring can aid operators, ensuring that the motor is in top working condition before it even leaves the factory or repair shop floor goes a long way to ensuring your drill doesn’t unexpectedly break down. Seeing this need, froude Hofmann, through its subsidiary Go Power Systems, has developed the

50 March 2012

AustralianMining

dynamometer system – a drilling motor test rig for Boart Longyear. This new test system is designed to test drill motors prior to assembly as well as complete mobile drilling rigs including self propelled, stationary, and truck mounted, and is currently working from Boart’s Adelaide facility. The system has two brakes which form the basis of its torque measuring system, which are linked via a right angle drive 1:1 ratio gearbox and an alignment device to the drill rod of the drilling rig.

The whole system is installed in a pit to allow the drilling platform truck to be positioned directly over the test rig, where the drilling rod is connected vertically via a coupling and cardan drive shaft. The testing system was created in Australia, before being built in Detroit then shipped to Australia where it was installed and commissioned. According to froude Hofmann chairman John Harris “this system allows customer rigs to be carefully load tested in the refurbishment process.

“Given the remote locations in which rigs often operate, the ability to load test at the shop seriously reduces the risk of unwanted downtime when the rigs return to service.” Harris added that the dynamometer system allows sub-assemblies to be fully load tested prior to final assembly, which improves the build process. Load testing data can be carried out on the complete rig, and can collect information such as bearing temperature, oil pressure and load charts. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Davey Bickford Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 298, Osborne Park, WA 6917 T 08 9207 1066 E admin@daveybickford.com.au www.daveybickford.com.au

Untitled-5 1

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DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHAnICS

Rig relationship sours A fragmenting relationship between a driller and investment firm has put the future of a revolutionary rig at risk.

lot can happen in just over a year. Little more than two year ago Australian Mining spoke to Coretrack and Warren Strange about the company’s new drill rig – the GT3000 [See AM August 2010]. At the time, Strange said the rig would change geothermal exploration, and set itself apart by being mobile as well as through its ability to drill through hard rocks such as granite. It was touted as a breakthrough in drilling, but more than a year on from the drill’s release and the relationship between Coretrack and Warren Strange, which had previously been strained, has now soured completely. The two had signed a number of IP agreements, and after a disastrous trial at Newcrest’s Telfer mine a legal battle has erupted over these agreements. One that saw Coretrack’s share price slashed almost 40 per cent and may force the sale of its subsidiary Globe Drill. The legal battle itself essentially rests on Strange’s claims that Coretrack breached its IP by “fitting improvements or accessories to the GT3000 drill rig for the Newcrest Telfer contract without seeking permission, and using the rig at Telfer without agreement”. According to Coretrack, it had to cut short its contract work at the Newcrest gold mine after facing unexpected cavernous ground and massive water flows of up to 250 litres a second. Bernie Kelly, Coretrack’s CEO, said “while we had hoped to drill more using our faster air drilling system the massive water inflows meant we had to do the majority of the job using our mud drilling system which is slower in certain ground conditions. 52 March 2012

AustralianMining

The GT3000 mobile rig was designed for drilling through hard rock.

“On one occasion the ground was so cavernous that it sucked up our entire mud system inventory of 18 000 litres of mud drilling fluid within just minutes… necessitating regular drilling stoppages and a time delay of two to three hours each time to formulate replacement mud.” Kelly went on to say that “equipment reliability in the very wet conditions experienced at Telfer presented new challenges to the drill and its ancillary equipment. “Some parts were commissioned for the first time at Telfer and some time delays were also due to minor equipment failures, some of which were due to insufficient waterproofing – most of which were fixed on site.” According to Strange it was at this point that Coretrack fitted the “improvements” to the rig. However Coretrack refuted this, stating that many of the items fitted to the drill rig (which Strange has used to terminate the IP agree-

ment) were either repairs and maintenance items or necessary to fix a problem or overcome a lack of capacity, power, or capability “Some of the items that were relied upon for the termination of the IP licence agreement were nothing more than minor items such

The legal battle escalated quickly.

as the installation of a safety handrail that was fitted for the safety of the rig staff and the replacement of a small worn hydraulic fitting and worn air hose.” The argument quickly escalated, as Strange sought out a court order to take possession of the drill rig,

the two meeting in the Supreme Court to agree to a set of orders pertaining to the GT300. The court found that Coretrack will retain custody of the rig for now, but will refrain from selling, offering for sale, modifying or dealing in any way with the drill rig, and the rod handler and tracks attached to the secondary rig platform. It also ordered Strange Investments to post a security of $50 000 within the next week for legal costs in case the legal action fails. However, this is not the end of the legal battle as Coretrack is now countersuing Strange Investments for a loss of earnings and damages. In this fight, one of the major losers has been Coretrack subsidiary Globe Drill. According to the driller the legal actions have forced it to “immediately downsize Globe Drill and commence hiring out (either directly or by way of joint venture) or selling of our drilling and workshop equipment.” This disintegration of their working relationship was heralded during Strange’s earlier attempts to dry hire the rig for a contract in Slovakia. Coretrack agreed to dry hire the rig to Strange, but did voice its disappointment that Strange had not sought the contract on its behalf. However, the drilling company soon discovered that the company to which Strange was hiring the rig had only just set up, paid $2 for the rig, and had only one director and shareholder – Strange’s son, the drilling company said. Coretrack stated that it required a guarantee to protect its asset, and claims that Strange reused to provide one. At the time of publication the drill rig case was still ongoing. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Mastering CONTROL Adding automation to remote control operation can be the icing on the cake.

utomation is about efficiency and safety. By giving over a lot of the repetitive, tiring, and exacting work to automated machines the likelihood of getting the same result over and over again – without human error – is higher, allowing mining companies to provide consistent outputs and more accurate forecasts. Combined with remote control operations, it has the ability to remove the miner from dangerous work environments and dramatically increase output while reducing wear and tear on machines. This has already been seen at Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future operations in the Pilbara, where haul trucks are controlled remotely from Perth. The miner is also looking to make the move to fully automated trucks at its Yandicoogina iron ore mine. However, it is underground mining which has been at the forefront of remote control mining developments, as it one of the most hazardous work environments on earth. Remote Control Technologies, a company that is known for remote machinery control, has just commenced the marketing for its new underground vehicle guidance system to make mining more efficient, and most importantly safer. Its Control Master Guidance System was formerly launched last year and is proving itself underground.

The system works by assisting the operator of a teleremote loader by automatically adjusting the position of the loader to its optimised tramming position within the drive. These automatic adjustments reduce the risk of the operator causing damage to the machine by hitting the walls of the drive as well as removing the risk of a miner being crushed by an LHD hitting the wall, as has happened at a number of underground coal mines. The Control Master Guidance system also eliminates the need to double handle the ore in certain stoping areas, and allows the operator to tram the load at a higher speed compared to normal operations, improving overall tramming cycle times. Currently around twenty systems are being used at mines around Australia, with RCT reporting an average 25 per cent improvement in productivity for Control Master Guidance System assisted loaders compared to standard teleremote controlled units. A recent trial carried out an unnamed underground mine found that “in certain stoping areas the productivity increase may be as high as 50 per cent…because the guidance system maximises the capabilities of the LHD vehicles by making long trams directly back to a dump hole possible, eliminating rehandle,” RCT’s national sales and marketing manager Craig Buchanan explained.

RCT reported an average 25 per cent productivity improvement.

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

He went on to say that a longhole stope underground mine in Australia also reported that its recent evaluation of a 14 tonne payload LHD and a 17 tonne load haul dump tramming up to 300 metres, above the average 200 metres, between the stope brow and the dump area showed the guidance system fitted LHDs as more efficient and had less wear over time. The mine itself stated that “the guidance system decreased tramming time. “The trial concluded that a 16 per cent increase in productivity was achievable when mining stopes with the use of the guidance system, and that in certain stoping areas this increase in productivity may even be as high as 50 per cent,” the mine said. A guidance assisted cycle has been measured as 77 seconds faster, on average, than teleremote control, which resulted in a production increase of 26 per cent When calculated as buckets per hour, the unit with the automated control guidance system moved around 12.5 buckets per hour compared to only 10 per hour under regular teleremote control. However, it was noted that fillingA the D _ bucket A M N H and P M Athen R _ dumping 1 2 . pd ore still took the same amount of

The automated units moved around 12.5 buckets per hour compared to only 10 buckets per hour under the teleremote system.

time as before. Following these recWhile automation is seen as the ommendations from the operators way of the future for many in the of the Control Master Guidance mining space, it is not inevitable acSystem, RCT has further developed cording to RCT commercial execuit, improving load cornering and al- tive Noel Northcott. lowing for higher overall speeds “up “Some mines are opting for to third gear if the drive allows,” higher f Pa ge 1 2 2 / 2 / 1 2 , 1 1 : 2 1 levels A M of automation than Buchanan said. other and there is a small market

where full automation makes a lot of sense … but full automation is not for everybody,” Northcott explained. As part of its underground mining focus, RCT recently opened a new office in Brisbane to service the Queensland mining space.

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Unions Vs Rio: The Automation Battle Workers fear Rio Tinto’s push into automation may kill their jobs, Andrew Duffy reports.

he driverless trains Rio Tinto, that reinforced and trucks of Rio the company line. Tinto’s Mine of the While the report Future program are the strengthened the pro-ausource of much excitement tomation arsenal, it was in the Pilbara. dismissed by unions as selfBut beyond the hype serving modeling used to the company’s workers are back Rio’s cause. increasingly worried the adIn short the CFMEU acvancements signal the begin- cused BAEconomics of hiring ning of the end for their jobs themselves out to say whatand livelihoods. ever the company wanted. In the public arena Rio Tinto has run a standard Just the facts line assuring employees In an interview with Auswon’t lose jobs and the ad- tralian Mining BAEconomvancements will instead re- ics managing director Brian Fisher said the report was an sult in job creation. But the unions, to no attempt to turn the automagreat surprise, have accused tion debate towards a factthe company of lying to based discussion. “Rio commissioned us to workers and using automation to cut labour costs and stimulate debate about this technology so we can have a reduce personnel. Earlier this year bou- full, proper, and transparent tique firm BAEconomics debate,” he said. joined mantra, A D _Rio’s A MP O S M AreleasR_ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 2 2 / 0 2 / 1 2 , 8 : 5 6 AM Continued from page 58 Driverless trains (see page 16) have ignited debate for workers on automated sites. ing a report, bankrolled by

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Continued from page 56 At its core the pro-automation argument of BAEconomics is quite simple. They argue that automation will be good for business, and what’s good for business boosts industry expansions and job creation. “People will be fearful about the potential for losing their jobs,” Fisher said. “But what they should be concerned about is making sure the industry is competitive with international competitors.” CFMEU Western Australia mining secretary Gary Wood told Australian Mining Fisher’s report could not be trusted. “He’s talking nonsense, and justifying a report commissioned and paid for by Rio Tinto,” he said. “There is a lot of bias in his report.”

Smooth transition

Fisher told Australian Mining “community acceptance” would be one of the biggest challenges companies faced in the broader rollout of automation. He said it was important people understood the technology wouldn’t mean workers would lose their jobs overnight. “What we have with automation is a smooth continuous process not a radical change,” he said. “The demand for truck drivers is high and workers currently driving trucks will continue to do so. “It’s more about new people coming into the system and the jobs they’ll have, not displacing people and telling them to get different jobs if they’re already employed.” Fisher said automation would make machinery more efficient and in doing so make the mining industry larger. “You need to weigh up the questions of how many truck drivers would be lost in a mine versus the total number of people in the industry,” he said. “Some positions may go but there will be more people in aggregate.” 58 March 2012

AustralianMining

Artificial intelligence on the mine site is still 30 to 40 years away, Fisher said.

Social cost

the health problems that ing workers to fill new roles Aside from the economic were associated with it. instead of spending millions benefit BAEconomics said “Moving people to oper- on autonomous technology. automation would have a ations centres means they’re “If you want to talk positive social impact by closer to home, which is bet- about the skills shortage removing workers from the ter for family life,” he said. then let’s call a spade a harshest mining environ“That should make for spade,” he said. ments. “It’s only the Rio Tinto’s generally better social cir“Despite the industry cumstances.” and Gina Rinehart’s of this already being extremely foBut Wood again hit back world that are saying we’ve cused on safety the mere fact over the claims. a skills shortage.” that you’ve got machinery “Many Australians “It may move people off around makes it a danger- site, but this will be to mun- would love a chance to work ous environment,” he said. dane jobs with significantly in the mining industry, so it’s “If you can move people less income,” he said. a fallacy to say there’s not away from these high risk “The facts are workers enough workers out there.” areas it makes operations will suffer significant losses “Maybe with the higher safer and means there’s less as a result of this.” skilled positions this is true, people getting hurt.” “It will be job losses and but not for the lower skilled But Wood told Austral- losses in income.” work.” ian Mining Fisher was Wood said Rio “grasping at straws” There are still many unknowns Tinto CEO Tom Alwith the safety argubanese had already moving forward in automation, ment. said the company Fisher explained. “He should rewas looking to research the amount of duce labour costs and truck drivers that have been Come clean on skills automation was at the forekilled in the last ten to 15 Perhaps the most anti-intu- front of this move. itive argument put forward years,” he said. “It’s nonsense. Where by BAEconomics was that The future the fatalities happen are in automation would simul- While automation adeptly the workshops where people taneously create jobs while forms part of Rio’s Mine work on the machinery, and helping companies strug- of the Future program there with autonomous trucks gling with the skill shortage. are already researchers lookOn this Wood accused ing beyond the technology. that will continue to be the In his report Fisher said the company of contradictcase.” Fisher said automation’s ing itself and said it was “adaptive robotics” using shift to moving workers to a time people “came clean” artificial intelligence was the ultimate endgame of autocontrol office off-site would on the skills shortage. He said Rio Tinto mation but it wasn’t a direct do away with the reliance on fly-in fly-out work and should be investing in train- concern for miners.

“That is more of a focus at the moment in research labs and universities,” he said. “It’s probably not something we’re looking at for the mining industry over the next 30 or 40 years.” In the much closer future Fisher said important changes would have to come from outside the industry. “There’s a need to adapt and we’re already starting to see that with demand for new courses,” he said. “There are already discussions going on in universities in Queensland on how to facilitate this new technology.” “People are starting to act on it already and it makes sense, as there are already automated trucks and drill rigs on Australian mines.” But Fisher said there were still many unknowns moving forward. He said until the broader rollout of automation happened it would be difficult to know what impact it had on the workforce and industry. “We haven’t thought of all the issues, and new problems are bound to surface when you organise the workplace in a different way,” he said. “It’s fairly hard to contemplate that until you start.” While Rio is aggressively pushing the technology, companies like BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group have similar, albeit less developed, plans in mine site automation. Fisher said it was still unclear how fast the technology would be taken up by other companies. “We don’t really know how widespread this technology will be in the future, it could be that it takes a long time to spread or it could happen quickly,” he said. “But before that what we need is a proper debate with communities and governments so people can understand how important this technology will be in the future.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Shaking all over The development of automated machines is creating problems for wireless controls.

hen you picture the According to Moxa, these mining industry you connectors protect the AWKdon’t picture quiet, 3131 wireless access points smooth running machinery. from the inevitable wear and You picture heavy, lumber- tear that comes from vibraing machinery and vehicles, tion, dust, and moisture. The strong vibrations, and a lot of AWK-3131 is Moxa’s basic dust. The vibrations and dust indoor wireless access point/clicaused by mining machinery ent/bridge, built to the 802.11n can often cause their data con- standard, making it backwards nections to become loose. compliant with 802.11a/b/g. Where ever a network device The device itself is housed in a is connected to a control centre sturdy IP30, full metal casing via a wireless link, an unstable and comes with Power over Ethor loose connection between the ernet+, redundant power jacks, device and the wireless access and ‘turbo roaming’, which point can impede the efficiency provides a wireless connection gained by wireless accessing that can reach data transfers of the equipment. In the case of 300Mbps as well as roaming remote control haul trucks con- handoffs at speeds of 50 ms, trolled from a distant control when paired with additional centre, this can cause a major hardware. The company went problem. Moxa has created the on to say that is has been manuAWK-3131-M12 specifically factured for the conditions offor applications where strong ten found of mine sites and has vibrations can cause network- an operating temperature range ingA D problems, _ A M R Ewith M M Areliability R _ 1 2 . pof d fbetween P a g-40 e degrees 1 1 7 Celsius / 0 2 / 1 2 , 1 2 : 1 2 PM provided by M12 connectors. through to 75 degrees Celsius. Vibrations can shake loose connections.

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The device can operate in 75° Celsius.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT FOCUS: PPVC

Pipe COUPLING processes Different pipe joining methods can potentially double service life.

ater and distance are two of the major factors in coal

mining. High density polyethylene piping (HDPE) is typically seen as a solution to water, processing, and air services issues, and is fairly common sight on coal mines. Sometimes water needs to be piped from up to 20 kilometres way for a temporary minor operation, such as the dewatering of mines or other processes, which may only run for 12 to 24 months, so being able to install a reusable pipe joining system is important on site. HDPE’s flexibility, durability, and corrosion and abrasion resistance have made it a pipe of choice where temporary piping solutions are needed in coal mines. Safety – also a major concern – comes into play, as these types of pipes do not require welding, and thus remove a potentially flammable procedure and material from the site, as well as removing the need to find a qualified pipe welder. This is especially important in underground coal mining, where more permanent piping may present a hazard. While it has many upsides there are a number of weaknesses to this piping, particularly at its joins, so choosing the right joining is crucial. Despite its hard wearing capacity, the abrasive nature of coal dust and tailings still requires regularly pipe replacement or rotation, particularly on the bends and joins in the line. Victualic’s U.S. national mining manager Brian Dotson and Australian mining manager David Greenwood stated that the company’s pipe joining system solves 64 March 2012

AustralianMining

this wear problem. According to the two, its system only requires minimal training, and no welding, flames, or toxic gases, which make it a safer and less costly alternative to traditional pipe welding. However they go on to state that a site must choose the method that best suits their operation. There are several methods for joining HDPE pipe, each offering its own advantages and disadvantages. Heat fusion is the primary joining method. This process requires a number of steps, firstly the pipe ends have to be prepared by making a level cut and deburring the pipe, after which they are placed in a fusing machine and the pipe is heated, joining the two together. While it is a common method for joining HDPE pipes heat fusion has several disadvantages, in that it requires special equipment, a trained crew, and is fairly time consuming. Victualic says as an alternative to the heat joining

Piping joins are typically the weakest part of the line, according to Victualic’s David Greenwood.

process it has created plain end HDPE pipe couplings, which, like standard groove couplings consist of three parts – the coupling housings; gaskets; and nuts and bolts. The housings are constructed of ductile iron ore for the rugged service conditions which are usually found in coal mining and the abrasive materials moved. Razor-like teeth inside the housings bite into and grip the outer diameter of

With proper couplings, pipe service life can potentially be doubled.

the pipe around its circumference, as the triple seal gasket provides a leak free environment while the bolts and nuts hold it all together. This process is simple – the pipe ends are aligned, and the pressure responsive gasket is positioned over the joint. The two couplings are then placed over the pipe ends and tightened with a wrench. While it is frequently used in the US, Victualic

says it is fairly uncommon in Australian coal mining. It went on to say the plain end coupling system is “the fastest and easiest method for joining HDPE, as no pipe end preparation is necessary and it has half as many installation steps as compared to the heat fusion process”. It also allows for the easy transition to flanged components or other types of pipes with transition couplings. A HDPE to grooved steel transition enables the incorporation of standard IPS fittings and valves directly to HDPE pipes, while a flange adapter allows for the direct inclusion of flanged components or direct pump connection to the pipes. Victualic explained that with proper couplings, pipe service life could be doubled by allowing for operators to change pipe orientation so that the wear process changes. It also eliminates the need to cut the pipe in order to replace a fitting or alter the system. Although the initial materials cost is higher, total installed cost for plain end couplings can be around 30 per cent less when factoring in materials and man hours. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMPIRFEB_11.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: PPVC

A breath of fresh air Compressor technology is making mining safer for the environment. Jamie Wade writes for Australian Mining.

fficiency and sensitivity to the environment is motivating Australian manufacturers to engineer and build the latest compressors. Best known for mobile lighting technology, Perth-based company AllightSykes has brought together local and global expertise to deliver compressors that are more compact, quiet, cheaper to run and easier to maintain. “Despite being compact and quiet, these units can easily match the output and reliability standards expected of the market’s more mature brands,” Paul Sowerby, director of worldwide sales for AllightSykes told Australian Mining. The company’s flagship Italianmade and designed rotary screw compressors have a direct transmission without step-up gearboxes. This limits wear and tear on the screw set, reduces noise and avoids overheating. asymmetric AAn D_ A M G E O M Aoil R _ 1injection 2 . pd profile is created via high pressure

Has an asymetric oil injection profile.

grinding to deliver high compression A protection device allows for performance with minimal energy cold starting diesel and a transpardispersion. ent plastic fuel tank allows for easy Integral to the compressors are level checking; there’s also a wider for2 their f Perkins P a gengines e 1 known 1 7 / 0 / 1 2qui, 1 fuel 2 : inlet. 0 0 PM et, clean and fuel efficient operation. Tough, resilient mudguards are

standard and a quick lift canopy allows for fast and fuss-free maintenance and there’s a clever emergency stop facility. Towing is also easier with a sprung axle and articulated drawbar. The latest in portable compressor technology, says Paul, is ideal for mine operators requiring reliable and constant airflow to power multiple breakers, hammers and blasters. “The Perkins engines are not only reliable, efficient and durable, but they raise the bar in environmental standards with less noise and a cleaner operation,” he said. “The engines that comply with emissions legislation tend to use less oil, with service intervals of up to 500 hours.”

Mining Georg Fischer Piping Systems has the solution for safe conveyance of water, slurries and chemicals - around mine sites. From plastic pipes, jointing technologies, valves, automation, measurement and control. Contact Us: t: 02 9502 8000 or 1300 130 149 f: 02 9502 8090 australia.ps@georgfischer.com www.georgfischer.com.au

66 March 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

PRODUCT FOCUS: PPVC

Fight the floods A new release from Australian Pumps is hoping to help miners following the recent floods.

hile the mining industry is booming businesses servicing the sector are also experiencing the benefits. In the pump business the talk of the industry is now ‘mine spec,’ or making products available for use in the mining industry. Pumps are a necessary part of all mining operations, but the heavy NSW floods this year and the 2011 QLD disaster have rammed home the importance of reliable equipment. With that in mind Australian Pump Industries has announced the launch of an extended range of stainless steel submersible pumps. Australian Pumps said unlike other pumps with a pressed stainless steel jacket their SFQ range was made with cast austenitic stainless steel with 316 stainless steel wetted parts. It said the pumps were made to handle corrosive water in the most extreme applications. David Seaman from Australian Pumps industrial division told Australian Mining in a statement the SFQ pumps had the ability to meet the needs of the mining industry. “We’ve recognised the potential for the SFQ pumps, in particular the higher capacity versions, to meet demand from mines across Australia,” he said. “The SFQ series is ideal in terms of design and materials for appli-

cations in process plants, quarries, mines, and lime pits.” The SFQ series pumps offer flow capacities of up to 2,000 litres per minute and heads as high as 44 metres. They include 50mm and 80mm discharge options, with three phase two pole motors available up to 11kW. Australian Pumps said the Tsurumi Pump manufacturer had developed the equipment after demand from United States and Japanese markets for the mining and petro chemical industries. Tsurumi produces more submersible pumps each year than any other submersible pump maker in the world. It’s also one of the world’s oldest pump manufacturers, first manufacturing submersible pumps in 1953. It said both industries faced processing aggressive wastewater daily and needed durable equipment to stand the test. Australian Pumps said a mechanical seal with silicon carbide on both surfaces was designed to lift seal performance on its submersible equipment. It said the system was unique in that no part of the mechanical seal came in contact with the corrosive water being pumped. It also said the longer seal life meant less failure, downtime, and

Port operations can be seriously delayed by flooding. www.miningaustralia.com.au

David Seaman from Aussie Pumps with the new SFQ range pump.

maintenance when the equipment was used on site. The Tsurumi SFQ pump has a high capacity semi-open impeller, which means the pump can pass suspended solids without damage to the equipment. The impeller and suction cover are both made from corrosion resist-

ant cast 316 stainless steel. While suited to draining water from pits and quarries, the SFQ series can also be used for a number of applications. The pump is also suited to liquids carrying sludge or sand, general dewatering duties, and storm water drainage.

Last year’s Queensland floods devastated the industry. AustralianMining

March 2012

PRODUCT FOCUS: PPVC

The peristaltic pumps wear rates increased processing throughput overall.

The pumps had to handle a number of different abrasive materials.

Keeping coal clean Hard wearing, blockage free pumps have helped the up-scale of clean coal technology pilot plants.

lean coal has been touted as the energy source of the future. Its use in power generation and as a fuel source with low emissions has garnered a lot of attention. Ultra clean coal (UCC) technology has been developed by the UCC Research Centre which converts raw coal into ash free coal that can be used as a diesel substitute. Part of this technology development saw a number of WatsonMarlow Bredel pumps used in the up-scaling of the procedures at the Centre’s working pilot plant in Cessnock, NSW. Pilot plant superintendent Richard Jackson explained that “we needed accurate and reliable pumps D _ Athe M Slow C Rflows, M A Rand _ 1 centrif2 . pd to A handle ugal pumps just couldn’t cope.

“The pumps also needed to be sidering some of them are in operaflexible to handle a variety of flow- tion most of the time”. rates.” The UCC pilot plant used a The UCC Research Centre group of SPX50, SP40, and SPlooked to Watson-Marlow Bredel’s SPx32 Bredel pumps as “they are peristaltic pumps as the solution well suited to our duty cycles, can be to their processing issues as one of easily controlled via the central conthe main advantages of the pumps trol system and the pushing action is that they are self-priming and dry makes them ideal for the slurries we running, making them much easier process,” Jackson stated. to run. The pumps are used through Additionally peristaltic pumps the pilot plant’s interconnecting have only one wearing part and modules to move an assortment of there are inherently no intrusions in different coal based slurries and the flow path, which diminishes the process fluids. risk of blockages in it and ancillary After the coal is crushed, then equipment. finely ground, it is mixed with Maintenance is also easy, Jack- caustic soda and then pumped by son saying “they’re pretty good to SPX40s as a slurry into the reaction maintain…the boys can do a sock vessel pumps. Following digestion f change P a gvery e 1 2 2 /and 0 2easily, / 1 2 the , 3 the : 5product 0 D_ PA MisMconveyed A P R I M Ato R filtration _ 1 1 . p quickly hoses last a good distance too con- by another SPX40. This filtered coal

is then mixed with sulphuric acid and moved through the remaining washing and filtration circuits using a combination of SPX50s and SPX40s.In addition to this main process, all recoverable minerals and chemicals are reused or formed into byproducts such as gypsum. Filtrate from the system is pumped to the process solution regeneration process using a number of SPX40s and SPX32s as required. At various stages, the pumps were also used to recirculate slurries during the reaction process. According to the UCC Research Centre, the Watson-Marlow Bredel pumps played a significant role in the upscaling of the pilot plant and will be considered by the designers for d pumping f P a gwhen e 1the4technology / 0 2 / 1 1gets , 1 1 : 1 8 to a production size scale.

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68 March 2012

AustralianMining

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www.screenprocesscircuits.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.MAR12.PG069.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: PPVC

Inline bore treatment COMPRESSED Air Australia has released N-Fix Inline Bore Treatment to solve inline deposit problems. According to the company it resolves the issues of the four inline sludge deposits associated with bacterial growth, related to iron bacteria, manganese deposits, sulphur deposits, and Solves deposit problems. iron sulphide. The treatment is a biological formulation which eliminates the use of acid based products that cause corrosion and can potentially contaminate ground water. It raises the alkalinity of water by encouraging autotrophic bacteria and causing rapid oxidisation. CAA says that high concentrated N-Fix solves the inline deposit problems and optimises pump capacity and reduces the need for heavy duty maintenance; eliminates blocked pumps, drains, pipes, and filters; improves flow rates of pumps; improves water quality; and importantly is non-toxic and safe to use. The company explained that iron bacteria are generally resistant to chemical methods of control, but N-Fix is successful due to its ability to complete the nitrification process in a reasonable period of time. • Compressed Air Australia 08 8983 3999 info@caasafety.com.au www.caasafety.com.au

Hand pumps ENERPAC have debuted its new series of hand pumps. The ULTIMA series of steel hand pumps have been designed of rugged applications. They feature an innovative design for greater ease of use, which reduce handle effort by 20 per cent with out compromising speed. The pumps’ bypass Reduces handle effort by 20 per cent. system further reduces loads created by two stage pumps. The series incorporates a ‘power push’ handle grip and linkage design which better distributes loads and reduces felt loading while pump – minimising fatigue. • Enerpac 02 9743 8988 info@enerpac.com.au www.enerpac.com.au

CSD compressors SULLAIR has unveiled its new CSD compressor range, to complement its existing CSE range. The gear driven CSD compressors are currently available in two sizes, the smaller 55kW unit – the CSD55 – has output pressures of 7.5bar or 10bar, and is rated for a maximum free air delivery of 163l/s. The larger 75kW CSD75 has similar output pressures provides air deliveries of 210l/s. According to Sullair Australia national product manager – stationary air power, Simon Wood, “the CSD range is ideal for mine-site operations and very harsh operating conditions”. • Sullair 1300 266 773 sales@sullair.com.au www.sullair.com.au

People You Know. A Brand You Trust There’s an exciting new force in Australasia’s ustrala asia’s air compressor market, and the well-known -known n team behind it is motivated by a single objective - to en engineer ngineer and build ruction projects solutions which make mining and const construction s safer and more productive while being sensitive to the environment. ghtSyk kes, the high quality Exclusively available through AllightSykes, co ompact, quiet, Italian-made Rotair compressors are compact, n. cheap to run and easy to maintain.

compressors c omp o

For more information on the range of Air Compressors visit us at www.allightsykes.com/fullyloaded or contact one of our sales and project efficiency experts on 1300 ALLIGHT.

LIGHT

www.miningaustralia.com.au

WATER POWER

AIR

AustralianMining

March 2012

AD_AMBLUMAR_12.pdf

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11:48

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AD_AMADAMAR_12.pdf

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Bigger Stronger Tougher Hyster Big Trucks bring any job down to size. These work horses thrive in the most demanding conditions, tackling the most monumental loads. With a broad capacity range from 8-48 tonne, ﬁnding a Hyster Big Truck to suit your needs is easy, making today’s tough challenges yesterday’s problems.

1300 880 335 aalhysterforklifts.com.au STRONG PARTNERS. TOUGH TRUCKS.

HYSTER.COM.AU

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

articulated dump trucks

Heavy duty hose reels

HitacHi has released the latest generation of its D Series articulated dump trucks. the newest incarnations, the MkVii generation, The new trucks have decreased driveline sees the B40D and B50D models drag. fitted with new engines to provide increased power and better driveline. in tests, Hitachi says the B40D MkVii outperformed an unnamed competitor’s truck by six per cent, and also used 13 per cent less fuel. Similarly, the B50D, which has a nine per cent power increase from 350kW to 380kW, has achieved significant fuel savings compared to competitor trucks working in a mining application. Musilah said the “new MkVii is much faster and able to complete more cycles per hour due to its increased speed. in addition, operating engine rpm has been reduced by optimal tuning of the driveline”. the B40D has a net increase in power of 8.3 per cent, as well as reduced driveline drag. • Hitachi 02 9888 4100 www.hcma.com.au

recoila has released its latest heavy duty spring rewind hose and cable reel, the t-Series, for the mining industry. the t-Series reels Spring rewind hoses. are of metal construction - power, hand, and spring rewind - that are customisable for tasks such as transfer of fuels and lubricants, general fluid handling, large truck servicing, watering, highvolume compressed air, and fire fighting services. these reels are fabricated from welded, heavy gauge steel plate to ensure rigidity and strength. available in right-hand or left-hand configurations, t Series units have an optional auxiliary bevel crank drive with disengaging drives. the crank connection point has been designed to allow the operator to rotate the crank drive from different angles. Stainless steel roller guides are also provided. the main axle is machined from stainless steel to maintain strength and rigidity while preventing corrosion. Stainless steel fasteners are used where applicable. the t Series has a heavy duty welded spool allowing the hose to be wound ‘charged’ or ‘uncharged’, so it ensures there is no crushing effect if charging of an empty hoses need to be carried out on the reel. Full flow high-volume, 1½ inch fluid paths are standard on all t Series reels. other fluid paths such as two inch and three inch are available for models that are designed for hoses of those respective sizes. Standard working pressures of 800psi can be increased up to 10,000 psi on request. construction and fluid paths are available in stainless steel, mild steel, HDPe or a combination of the above. a high-quality baked on powder coat finish is provided in three layers of corrosion protection for up to 1000 hours salt test. recoila t Series reels are available with 12-24 VDc rewind motors, 110-240 Vac rewind motors, hydraulic rewind, pneumatic rewind, reduction drive bevel crank and hand crank options. • ReCoila Michael Pawson mpawson@recoila.com.au www.recoila.com.au

Safety boots Mack Boots have released a new range of safety boots for industrial environments. the new boot range includes the aero, Boss, President, Freeway, Wolf, Venus, kelpie, Are heat and slip resistant. Heeler, Peak, terra, Zero, Jupiter, Barb, Blast, earth, tradesman and Saturn boots. the boots are all durable, slip and heat resistant, and are built to withstand the extreme conditions found on a mine site. they have also been designed for comfort. • Mack Boots 1300 350 216 www.mackboots.com.au

Underground refuge chambers MiNearc has released new ultra-portable refuge chambers, the HrM-elVP (Hard rock Mine - extra low Voltage Portable), designed for tight underground confines such as single entry headings and development areas.the Portable mine safety. units are available in both four and six person configurations and uses an extra low voltage control system to power the chamber’s internal life support systems - which require no permanent connection to the mine’s ‘main’ electrical power. they do however, require charging every three months. Both the HrM4-elVP and HrM6-elVP can be positioned and repositioned with ease; ideal for development area where continuous drilling and blasting carries on in front of loaders, boggers, and other manned machinery. • MineARC info@minerarc.com.au www.minearc.com.au

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Portable work shelters PoP’N’Work Portable pop up shelters have been developed for use in mining. able to erected in less than a minute, the tents come in a Quick Pak easy storage wrap that cuts down unassembling Flame retardant. time while at the same time it allows air to dry any wet fabric. the integrated frame and covers of the ground tents have exceptional wind stability, as they are free standing. covers are made withUrethane coated Polyester, are flame retardant to meet cPai-84, are water repellent, and UV treated. the tent’s non-breakable hinges are made of cold rolled steel and are bolted at both ends, and feature twin doors to accommodate any work situation, while the pitched roof provides extra headroom and structural strength to hang tools and lights. Various sizes are available from 1.2m x 1.2m to 3.6 x 3m with a minimum 2m at peak. Welding tents which are flame proofed for steel welding and come standard with a ventilated mesh roof are also available. • Smart Innovative Products www.smartinnovativeproducts.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMEMEMAR_12.pdf

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When pumps go down, so does my production. To see which pumps are in danger, I need real-time monitoring. But how can I afford the upgrade?

With low-cost implementation and easy integration, Emerson Pump Health Monitoring means big savings now and in the long run. Our real-time predictive technology tells you what to pay attention to and when, so you stop wasting time, money and manpower. Automated asset monitoring also helps you avoid risks to operation, safety and environment, thereby increasing the reliability of your refinery. And with the advantage of Smart Wireless, installation is quick and painless. See how to unleash your plant’s and your people’s potential at EmersonProcess.com/PumpHealth

AM.MAR12.PG076.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Coal mining cable bolt

Ambient air supply

DYWIDAG Systems International (DSI) has released a new torque tensioned resin-anchored cable bolt for coal mining dubbed the EZI-ten. The new Torque tensioned reson anchored bolts. 23.5mm bolt is an evolution of the company’s previous HI-ten cable bolt. It utilises a strand locker to combine a barrel and wedge supported 23.5mm cable with a threaded tensioning system. Pretension of the cable is achieved with a regular bolting machine by using a 56mm AF dolly without the need for a specialised hydraulic tensioner unit. Available as 3.5 metre, 6.0 metre or 8.0 metre bolts, the new addition to the company’s flexi-bolt range is designed to overcome installation problems – such as the location of the drill pot – associated with some of the later model bolting methods and machines. Bolts are delivered to site assembled and ready to install. The bolt utilises a proven HI-ten strand cable with a minimum yield strength of the new bolt of 480kN (typically 500kN) and minimum tensile strength of 590kN (typically 610kN). Tail length is a minimum 160mm but will typically run out to between 180mm to 250mm. The minimum aperture required to install the bolt is 75mm. The tensioning dolly maximum diameter is 74mm. • DSI 0409 609 191 Steve.mackaway@dywidag.com.au www.dywidag.com.au

FANQUIP has designed and engineered ambient air supply solutions for mines and smelters. The two main products in the line are the direct drive axial flow fan and the short case axial flow fan. The Underground ventilation. direct drive axial flow fans are hot tip galvanised for long lifespan in exposed conditions or remote locations. Intrinsically safe motors are available and they can be dust proof or hose proof to IP66 standards. Sizes range from 300mm-1500mm in diameter; motor power from 0.19kW to 5.50kW; and air volume from 654 L per second to 25,500 L per second. It also has short case axial flow fans which are also hot tip galvanised, but they have a short casing length to allow operation in restricted spaces. Its motor is rated to IP55. Air volume is from 600 L per second to 4416 L per second. • Fanquip 1800 224 308 www.fanquip.com.au

Diesel transfer units SILVAN Australia has unveiled a new 50 litre capacity Diesel Transfer Unit. Using a small compact 50 litre capacity Polytuff tank which is both U.V stabilised and impact resistant 50 litre units. the new Selecta Diesel Transfer Unit is judged as ideal for applications in the construction agricultural, off road vehicle or marine sectors. It offers a diesel fuel resource complete with a twelve volt self priming pump and a manual shut off gun with four metres of delivery hose. It can be stored on a vehicle, construction machinery, or any diesel fuelled equipment where an emergency supply or top up resource of fifty litres of diesel. Silvan Australia’s spokesman, Greg Everett says that the 50 litre Selecta Diesel Transfer Unit is fully fitted including alligator clips and three metre power lead to connect the pump to a battery power supply. The Polytuff tank also has calibrated easy to read fill marks, a suction screen internal filter and has preformed tie down points within its profile so it can be securely tied down in a fixed location. The twelve volt delivery pump can be run dry without damage and achieves a fourteen litres per minute open flow with an on-off switch mounted at the pump. The overall dimensions of the fifty litre Diesel Transfer Unit are a length of 700 mm, a width of 400 mm and a height of 300 mm, with an all up dry weight of eight kilograms. • Silvan Australia 1300 745 826 info@silvanaust.com www.silvanaust.com.au

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Lightweight boots BLUNDSTONE have unveiled a new range of rubber soled safety work boots. Dubbed the XFoot Rubber, the boots feature a bamboo lining which provides thermal regulation while at the same time deodourising, and providing anti-bacterial; antifungal; breathable, and quick drying properties. Blundstone is also utilising PORON XRD in the underfoot comfort system material, which provides increased underfoot shock protection and comfort. The soles of the XFoot Rubber boots have been designed to reduce overall weight of the boots, improving comfort and reducing wearer fatigue. • Blundstone www.blundstone.com

Temperature regulators PACIFIC Sensor Technologies has launched the new H0530 temperature regulator with Ethernet interface. The H0530 temperature regulator with Ethernet interface Transmitter is equipped with three binary inputs for detection of two-state events – e.g. water, smoke, glass break detection, door contact. Degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit is user selectable. Parameters are easy adjustable from transmitter keyboard or from the computer. Transmitter is equipped with two relay outputs Has three binary outputs. for alarm indication or control of external devices. For each relay setting of delay, hysteresis, audible alarm is enabled. Pacific Sensor Technologies’ H0530 temperature regulator with Ethernet interface allows for the easy creation of online data acquisition system from Ethernet sensors by using new low cost database software. • Pacific Sensor Technologies 1300 662720 sales@pacificsensortech.com.au www.pacificsensortech.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMTYRMAR_12.pdf

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REM 10

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AM1854_FP.pdf

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NOVEMBER, SYDNEY For close to ten years the Australian Mining Prospect Awards has recognised and celebrated innovation and performance in the industry. Last year close to 400 of the industry’s best gathered to highlight an industry that is excelling amidst a global down turn. And now it plans to gather again to showcase all that mining in Australia can do, and those that are making a difference. Are you?

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES • Mine of the Year • Hardrock Mine of the Year • Coal Mine of the Year • Explorer of the Year • Mine Manager of the Year • Contract Miner of the Year • Minerals Processing Plant of the Year • Contribution to Mining

• Employer of Choice • Mining’s Woman of the Year • Young Achiever • Community Interaction • Innovative Mining Solutions • Excellence in Mine OH&S • Excellence in Environmental Management

AND NEW FOR 2012 The People’s Choice award, which is chosen from the awards recognising individual achievement and is voted on by an online poll at www.miningaustralia.com.au

DON’T MISS MINING’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS

BE A PART OF IT! Download the nomination kit at www.miningaustralia.com.au/awards

For further information, please contact (02) 9422 2759 or email awards@miningaustralia.com.au SPONSORED BY:

AM.MAR12.PG080.pdf

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MINING JOBS To advertise a new job contact Hussein Azzan at 02 9422 2851

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily. ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – BARCLAY RECRUITMENT Description: We represent several clients across Australia who are now seeking experienced, enthusiastic Environmental professionals. To fulfil these demands we need expressions of interest as soon as possible from interested candidates. If you have experience in the following fields we can advise you of current and upcoming opportunities that will suit your skills and desire for career progression; Opportunities cover a diverse range of industries including Mining, Petroleum, Agriculture, Waste, Water Management, Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com. au/jobs MANAGER ‘ONE MINE’ PLANNING LOCATION – WA COMPANY – BHP BILLITON Description: At BHP Billiton Iron Ore we are revolutionising our mining operations, and seek innovative people to execute the ‘One Mine’ vision. The ‘One Mine’ concept is focused on creating a single, simplified set of operating procedures to apply to our current and future operations. The Manager Mine Planning is a pivotal role responsible for influencing and managing all mine planning (up to 2 years) at numerous sites presently operating, and future sites. Reporting directly into the Head of One Mine Services this role will provide you with unparalleled exposure to exciting projects and the opportunity to affect change. This unique role will showcase your capability to embed solid mine planning systems and impart your sound technical knowledge across a range of mine management scenarios. This credibility will be critical in establishing resourceful and meaningful relationships within the One Mines team with the goal of embedding preferred culture across our world class Iron Ore Sites. This role is accountable for the governance and verification of standards adherence across all mine planning, and ensuring timeframes are met. You will be vital in simplifying, standardising and harnessing new technology to deliver improved production, safety and cost targets. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs or email Belinda.bennington@bhpbilliton.com SUPERINTENDENT PROJECTS LOCATION – WA COMPANY – BHP BILLITON Description: The Superintendent Small Projects and Modifications will support our ongoing operations at the Mount Whaleback Mine Site through involvement with the conception, planning and implementation of projects. The position will encourage your commitment with health and safety, leadership, delivery, and cost aspects of the business to achieve the successful delivery of projects within budget and on time. This role will require the successful candidate to manage a team constituted of Engineers, Construction Supervisors, Project Controller and Project Planner that will effectively manage a portfolio of engineering requests and processes for modifications of the onsite plant and equipment. You will also be required to lead the bi-annual planning of the portfolio in partnership with the 5 year plans of the department. You will also have an opportunity to participate in per reviews for other mine sites, and conduct peer reviews on your home site. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com. au/jobs ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER – RESOURCES, MARINE PORTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – BARCLAY RECRUITMENT Description: A well-respected global consultancy with large value heavy industry projects in oil and gas, mining, marine ports and infrastructure. Due to an increase in projects work the environmental team is expanding and in need of dedicated and proficient Environmental Scientist. Reporting to the Technical Director, you will be working alongside a team of like-minded professionals to deliver major EIS projects. Using your strong stakeholder engagement skills combined with the ability to problem solve and think outside the square, your role will focus on attaining approvals for heavy industry clients. People enjoy working in this company because of the amazing projects they get involved in and through seeing the tangible benefits to the community when they are completed. The supportive and progressive

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team culture allows you to realise your full potential allowing you to progress further with the company. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs MINING ENGINEER – AREA C LOCATION – ASIA-PACIFIC COMPANY – BHP BILLITON Description: An exciting opportunity exists for a highly motivated and experienced professional to contribute to the continued success of our Mining Area C operations as a Mining Engineer. As one of the best and most challenging ore deposits in BHP Billiton’s repertoire, you will grow and succeed by utilising your strong planning capabilities and your understanding of all aspects of mining, processing and product quality to deliver best in class short term plans. To be considered you should have a tertiary qualification in Mine Engineering or related field, together with a few years experience in open cut mining. Superior computer skills, particularly with spreadsheets and mine design software such as Vulcan and XPAC will be highly regarded. As the successful candidate you will have strong technical skills and be a practical problem-solver which will compliment your demonstrated commitment to safety and continuous improvement. Finally, good communication, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a small team are essential. You must have a minimum C Class Driver’s License to be considered for this position. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com. au/jobs SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT/EIS SPECIALIST LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – BARCLAY RECRUITMENT Description: Reporting directly to the Director, you will work alongside a team of like-minded professionals on large and often challenging projects in the resources sector. Your role will include engaging closely with clients and regulators to work through the process of completing the site environmental impact statement and find a winwin solution for all parties. About the company: Known by their clients for their exceptional service and professionalism, this medium-sized boutique consultancy is seeking another Senior Environmental Consultant/EIS Specialist to join their progressive and outcomes focused team. With the office in the heart of the CBD it is only 2 minutes walk from Central Station and the bus depot. This company will provide you with an ‘outcomes driven’ culture that is supportive and friendly and a management team that cares about their employees and gives you the autonomy and trust to get on with the job. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs MINE MANAGER – UNDER GROUND COAL LOCATION –WA COMPANY – BARCLAY RECRUITMENT Description: A global leader that has strived for an unrivalled reputation of excellence and on target production delivery in the mining industry currently has a unique opportunity for an Underground Mine Manager to manage their New South Wales flagship operation. Every now and again an exceptional management opportunity within the resources arena arises where you will have the opportunity to make a real difference with your ability to have a collaborative and driven approach combined with an unwavering work ethic will ensure your success. Our client is a global player that has created a dynamic, professional and innovative environment backed by an unrivalled reputation. This will be an interesting opportunity for a motivated and innovative leader with a passion for excellence and the ability to manage external and internal relationships to achieve optimal extraction results. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs or contact Sue Farmer immediately on 07 3211 1433 MECHANICAL ENGINEER, PROJECT & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – BARCLAY RECRUITMENT Description: This well regarded materials handling and transfer operator is now recruiting a Mechanical Engineer to support maintenance and capital projects. This position looks after vital construction and maintenance projects on site ranging anywhere from $50,000 to $50M in capital value.

To be considered for this role, you’ll ideally be degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering but could have trade qualifications with a high level of applicable experience. The ideal experience profile is bulk materials handling in a port environment but you may have worked in open cut mining or a comparable heavy industry sector. Your strong project management, business planning and process improvement experience will be rewarded with paid relocation, above market rate salary, rental assistance and bonus system. Due to the organisational structure, this role will offer excellent future leadership opportunities. Working with a skilled, committed, forward thinking team, you will thrive in a progressive workplace and appreciate the opportunity to live in a terrific coastal area of QLD with a short drive to the office. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs or contact Jonathan Newcomb on 07 3211 1433 ENVIRONMENT SPECIALIST – FIFO (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – TERRINGTON CONSULTING Description: With current expansion into surrounding tenements you will be provided with fascinating work that guarantees a challenging career in the company. This is a fly-in-fly-out position with high quality site accommodation with fully equipped catering facilities. Reporting to the Health, Safety & Environment Manager, this position oversees the day-to-day environmental monitoring and reporting activities at a Mine Site. Terrington Consulting is a Boutique firm. Our primary objective is to provide the best possible service to our candidates whilst upholding our driving principles of sustainability, mutuality and trust. Our recruitment process is professional and confidential. Should our current vacancies be unsuitable to you, we will work proactively to on your behalf to notify you of new opportunities as they become available. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs or email carlie@terringtonconsulting.com.au MECHANICAL DESIGN AND PROJECT ENGINEER LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – BARCLAY RECRUITMENT Description: As a motivated and energetic professional, you have a tertiary qualification in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of four years industry experience here in Australia. Exposure to projects and design engineering practices and planning as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential as is a passion for achieving results and the desire to align yourself with a company that will reward you accordingly. Future growth, success and further rapid expansion remain key focuses for our client over the next ten years. As the successful applicant, you will become an integral part of growth projections and through your active contributions will help to drive the future of this exciting organisation. The role will involve some travel within Australia. The company are constantly conscious of the importance of family life and do not expect long periods away from home. It is rare that any of the staff are away from home over the course of a weekend, and every attempt is made to minimise such interruptions. If this advertisement describes you and your goals as an Engineer; we want to hear from you no matter what your location. Full relocation is offered along with an industry leading salary package. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs SENIOR COST CONTROLLER LOCATION – PORT HEDLAND, KARRATHA & PILBARA COMPANY – BAYSIDE PERSONNEL Description: Our client is one of the largest engineering, procurement, construction & maintenance services companies in Australia and the world. They continue to successfully deliver a range of major mining, petrochemical, process and infrastructure projects globally. Our client currently has an immediate opportunity for an experienced Senior Cost Controller to join their Studies Team to provide leadership by putting in place project specific, effective cost controls and to provide appropriate advice to key project personnel. A comprehensive understanding of components of project organisation and previous experience on EPCM projects is essential. The Senior Cost Controller will also need to have the capacity to impart skills and train their subordinates. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/ jobs or contact Brittany Fox on 03 9864 6000

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBLAFEB_12.pdf

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Delivered to your Workplace

March 2012

Request your copy of the

2012 Blackwoods Catalogue at blackwoods.com.au/catalogues Tools

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Hard Rock Mine Ventilation 2012

Queensland Mining Exhibition (QME)

20-21 March, 2012, Duxton Hotel, Perth, WA

24-26 July 2012 Mackay Showgrounds, QLD

Having a flexible ventilation infrastructure can make or break the target production rates for a mine.Paired with increased awareness about hazardous contaminates such as diesel particulates, deeper metalliferous mines and the associated temperature challenges, as well as challenges in adopting Occupational Health and Safety law harmonisation, Ventilation Engineers and Officers are gearing up to reclaim their vital position in the mining industry. Mining IQ’s second annual Hard Rock Mine Ventilation conference is taking place in Perth on 20-21 March 2012 and will address the most pressing challenges in hard rock mine ventilation. This is an opportunity to address not only the methods of ventilation, but also to gain an understanding of how to best tackle hazardous contaminants underground. • IQPC www.iqpc.com.au 02 9229 1000

Shale Gas Symposium 2012 17-18 April 2012 Sofitel, Brisbane The rise in unconventional gas is reshaping the natural gas industry. New technologies coupled with the abundance of resources has seen coal seam gas move from an industry hazard to a major industry in itself in the last ten years. The 3rd annual Shale Gas Symposium is the only event event of its kind to specifically explore

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This show allows specifiers and industry professionals to come together to catch up on products and technology, industry trends and to network with mining industry colleagues. QME features free entry to all people in the mining, engineering and construction industries. • QME 02 9422 2955 qme@reedexhibitions.com.au www.queenslandminingexpo. com.au

Mining and Engineering NSW (M&E NSW) 28-30 August 2012 Newcastle, NSW

the huge potential of this future energy source. Shale gas is the next big fuel set to ignite the resources sector, having already developed into a successful industry in North America. • http://www.informa.com.au 02 9080 4300

Mine Site Automation & Communication 2012 The future of mining lies in automation. Now in its 5th successful edition, Mine Site Automation & Communication 2012 has been developed for the industry, by the industry, and focuses on the communication infrastructure that is the enabler for automative technologies and systems. Attend this event to find out about the latest and most reliable communication and automation systems that will improve the overall productivity and safety of your mine site. • Judy Hizon 02 9229 1000 enquire@iqpc.com.au

5th Annual Kimberley Resources Conference 10 May 2012 Cable Beach Club Resort, Broome 5th Annual Kimberley Resources

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Conference is your opportunity to develop your strategy for success in the booming North West and Kimberley region. Assess how the leading experts in the area are planning their mineral exploration and development and see how your mining operation can follow suit and take a lucrative slice of the future profits. IIR’s 5th Annual Kimberley Resources Conference provides you with an unrivalled means of keeping pace with the rapid level of development in this booming region, and has been praised for its straightforward, highly practical approach to the often sensitive issues facing the region. • IIR Conferences http://www.iir.com.au/ 02 9080 4300

5th Surat Basin Coal & Energy Conference 23-24 May 2012 Stamford Plaza, Brisbane Surat Basin Coal and Energy Conference is the main showcase for exploration, development, operations and investment opportunities in Surat basin’s coal and energy sectors. After previous years’ success, this original event focusing on all the latest developments surrounding

the Surat Basin coal and energy sectors has become an essential meeting point for the industry’s explorers, developers, operators, suppliers and investors. • Shreya Joshi 02 9080 4346 shreya.joshi@informa.com.au

Dust Explosions 2012 29-30 May 2012 Penrith Panthers The Dust Explosions Conference will examine the means to control dust and the latest technology to ensure the maximum safety of your organisation. The risk of complacency around combustible dust management in the workplace may not be overtly obvious but the consequences can be dire. Developed in consultation with respected Australasian and international experts, this event will examine industrial hazards, the means to control or eliminate dust and analyze the latest technology to ensure the maximum protection and safety of your organization. The event will also provide you with an overview of recent industrial case studies and new safety recommendations. • http://www.informa.com.au 02 9080 4300

M&E NSW has become a “must attend” event for all buyers and industry professionals, with over 230* exhibitors in 2009. Keep abreast of the latest products and technology as well as network with industry colleagues in a vibrant business environment. • M&E NSW Peter Thompson 02 9422 2472 Peter.thompson@ reedexhibitions.com.au www.miningandengineeringnsw. com.au

Goldfields Mining Exhibition (GME) 30 October-1 November 2012 Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA GME provides local and international suppliers with a unique opportunity to conduct business face to face with key buyers and decision makers in Western Australia. Staged by Reed Exhibitions, GME provides a valuable opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with industry colleagues in an interactive business environment. • GME Chris Ghosh 02 9422 2955 chris.ghosh@reedexhibitions. com.au www.goldfieldsminingexpo. com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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UNM13793