Australian Mining September 2014 by Prime Creative Media

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VOLUME 106/9 – SEPTEMBER 2014

SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The right to

blast

Pilbara Spotlight

The Western Frontier More than just mining

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Crushing

A new approach

Building underground crushers P.20

Safety

Explosive battle over blasting methods

Worker protection

The latest safety developments P.26

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Power Generation

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COMMENT

Mining Mining calling it splits Australian

Cirrus Media Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Associate Publisher – Martin Sinclair Email: martin.sinclair@cirrusmedia.com.au Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 8484 0652 Email: ozmining@cirrusmedia.com.au Journalists – Vicky Validakis Tel: (02) 8484 0964 Email: vicky.validakis@cirrusmedia.com.au Brent Balinski Tel: (02) 8484 0680 Email: brent.balinski@cirrusmedia.com.au Ben Hagemann Tel: (02) 8484 0884 Email: ben.hagemann@cirrusmedia.com.au Group Sales Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 8484 0829 Mob: 0420 550 799 Email: tim.richards@cirrusmedia.com.au Key Account Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@cirrusmedia.com.au 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 Cirrus Media 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 Cirrus Media Suite 203, 3700 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: (1) 949 756 1057 Fax: (1) 949 756 2514 Email: lharthur@ix.netcom.com Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley Production Co-ordinator – Tracy Engle Tel: (02) 8484 0707 Fax: (02) 8484 0966 Subscription Rates – Australia (surface mail) $140.00 (incl GST) New Zealand A$148.00 Overseas A$156.00 Reader Services – 1300 360 126

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Is BHP (Billiton)’s demerger the start of a new trend in mining?

o BHP ‘Billiton’ has finally done it, and carried out one of the least surprising major moves of a company this year, as it split itself in half, demerging ‘non-core’ assets. In August the global miner demerged a variety of assets, around half, into a new, imaginatively-titled company called NewCo (for now). This move has seen BHP keep only 19 out of close to 50 assets. However, these 19 assets made approximately 96 per cent of the company’s EBIT in 2014. Only the highest performing assets made the cut, if they didn’t do 70 per cent or so better than BHP’s FY14 projections, they got the axe. Consequently, a very large chunk of the company got the axe.

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@cirrusmedia.com.au Essentially it sold most of the assets that came with the historical Billiton merger in 2001, 13 years ago. In doing so it has stepped completely out of Indonesia, the UK, and Africa and in the meantime is heavily backing iron ore, and in turn Australia (to a degree). The Northern Territory assets, the Cannington mine, the Illawarra coal mines, and Tasmania’s TEMCO refinery didn’t survive the chop. A lot of workers’ futures have been put up in the air by it all, with their ongoing conditions unknown under

the auspices of ‘NewCo’. However, for BHP the move only makes sense. In the current economic climate mining companies simply can’t afford to have what it believes is ‘dead weight’ in terms of assets. If they continued under BHP then the likelihood of asset neglect as they attempted to sell off the division was high. Just take a look at BHP’s treatment of its Nickel West assets (which curiously enough were kept in the company). Putting operations on

FRONT COVER

Average Net Distribution Period ending Mar 2014 8,050 Printed by Bluestar Print 83 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128 Tel: (02) 9748 3411 Published 12 issues a year

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care and maintenance, shutting others down, and all in the face of what may soon be a nickel boom. Rio Tinto is also getting in on the game by finally exiting its overpriced Mozambique coal assets. In fact there seems to be a bit of an exodus from Africa at the moment, with Anglo American in line to sell its platinum, and apparently Lonmin will be following suit by looking to shed shafts and cut up to 20 per cent of the workforce. Yes, the mining boom has well and truly ended, and we are now entering the great age of ‘rationalisation’. As automation becomes more prevalent throughout the industry, as costs rise, it’s really anyone’s guess as to what will be the next ‘great age’ of mining.

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ON the front cover we’ve profiled a shot being primed. In this issue we look at the basics of blasting, and the current battle between blasting and explosives giants Orica and Dyno Nobel over shotfiring methods Orica has attempted to patent, and whether methods which some claim are common throughout the industry can indeed be claimed as intellectual property.

AustralianMining

September 2014

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Contents M&E NSW Preview

September 2014 issue

Diggers & Dealers Awards

An insight into the high achievers of 2014...p10

Touring the Pilbara

What’s on show for M&E NSW 2014...p52-59

More than just mining...p16-18

Features PILBARA SPOTLIGHT Powering Rio’s Pilbara expansion How gear units are helping to power Rio Tinto’s rail hoists .........................................p12 Opening the veil on FIFO mental health Delving into the issues of FIFO mental health and suicide.........................................p14 QUARRYING, CRUSHING & SCREENING Six ways to take crushing underground A how to for installing underground crushers .................................................. p20-22 SAFETY Fighting fire, fluorine free Fluorine fire suppression systems .................p26 Head first into high visibility New electronic hi-viz helmets .......................p28 How to reduce fatigue Three ways to fight common causes of hand fatigue in mining ........................... p30-31 4

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AustralianMining

A bird’s eye view New technology gives operators a 360° view ..p32 DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS The right to blast The ongoing patent battle between Orica and Dyno Nobel...........................................p34 Rebuild, remanufacture, reinvigorate The cost of rebuilding drills..........................p36 Maintaining a true heading Keeping drillers orientated ...........................p38 Bigger boring Faster shaft drilling ......................................p39 Hydraulic hard rock drilling New hand drills hit the market.....................p40 More energy, better blasting New innovative two phase blasting system.... p42 POWER GENERATION Building the gas revolution The next source of power for mining ..... p44-46

SOFTWARE Stimulating simulation Supply chain simulation software is helping miners make efficient decisions ... p50-51 BOOK REVIEW Blue Flames, Black Gold An interview with the author of new book detailing Santos’ history ...............................p60 FUELS & LUBRICANTS Fuelling change The development of clean fuel ......................p68

Regulars INDUSTRY COMMENT ..................................p6 PRODUCT FOCUS: Cranes & Lifting..... p62-67 PRODUCT SHOWCASE ......................... p70-73 JOBS ............................................................p76 EVENTS .......................................................p78 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-05-27T13:58:36+10:00

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

The right to protest – but at

WHAT COST? The Conversation’s Sinclair Davidson discusses the limits of legitimate protesting.

ere is a tough question – what are the limits of legitimate protest? As Lord Keynes is famously reputed to have said, everything depends on everything else. What is protest? What is legitimate? I’m going to take as my starting point that protest is legitimised by the rule of law. The kind of acceptable behaviour that one might observe in a liberal democracy is very different from that in a dictatorship. Another way of stating the case is to argue that the social licence to protest varies in time and place. Many protesters, however, are of the view that they have unlimited licence to protest. That once their intentions are self-declared to be noble that there can be no limit on their behaviour.

Licence to lie?

Take, for example, the Whitehaven Coal hoaxer Jonathan Moylan, who faked an ANZ press release stating that the bank had withdrawn a A$1.2 billion loan facility due to environmental concerns. His actions were clearly illegal, yet there is a website that describes his actions as A M0 9 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ B O C being civil disobedience and an act

of good conscience. Elected members of the Federal Parliament congratulated him on his actions. Consider another example. Clive Hamilton recently complained that Australian security agencies were monitoring anti-coal activists. Small-l liberal minded people might be horrified at that prospect – until we also read Elizabeth Farrelly in the Sydney Morning Herald telling us democracy has failed, and calling for a “people’s revolution”. To be fair, Farrelly might be engaging in some hyperbole, but our security agencies are paid to be paranoid.

The rule of law

The thing is this: however noble “saving the planet” might be, in a liberal democracy, under the rule of law, protest must be conducted through both non-violent and noncoercive means. Restricting violence and coercion is a legitimate function of government. As the great liberal economist Ludwig von Mises indicated: One must be in a position to compel the person who will not re1 2 0 1 4 - 0 8 - 1 9 T1 1 : 4 9 : spect the lives, health, personal free-

dom, or private property of others to acquiesce in the rules of life in society. This is the function that the liberal doctrine assigns to the state: the protection of property, liberty, and peace. We might want to believe that environmental activists should be able to issue false media releases, or even conspire to overthrow the democratically elected government without interference from the authorities. But the proper way to do so is to campaign for those changes at the ballot box. As it turns out, the environmental movement is failing to convince voters or politicians of their cause. Last year the International Energy Agency reported “15% of global 1 3 +2 1emissions CO 0 : 0 0 receive an incentive

of $110 per tonne in the form of fossil-fuel subsidies while only 8% are subject to a carbon price.” Small wonder the broader environmental movement is turning to non-liberal and non-democratic means to pursue their aims.

Making environmentalists accountable

The fossil fuel divestment campaign is a prime example. This is an internationally orchestrated, well-funded, and apparently sophisticated campaign against fossil fuel investment. Once you strip away the apparent sophistication of their argument you end up more or less with a call for a series of secondary boycotts of fossil fuel producers and their sources of capital.

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September 2014

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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. BHP Billiton splits in half, demerges its assets BHP Billiton has announced a massive shift in the company, announcing that it will spin out approximately half of its existing assets in to a new company. In a company announcement released today BHP said it “plans to create an independent global metals and mining company based on a selection of its high-quality aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel, and silver assets”. The company has been imaginatively dubbed NewCo for now, and headquartered in Perth. BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie stated that BHP will retain its four pillars of iron ore, copper, coal, and petroleum, which are comprised of 19 assets and accounted for 96 per cent of the miner’s underlying EBIT in 2014. Australia has come out relatively well in the split, with Western Australian iron ore and the Olympic Dam copper mine remaining in the mix. Coal wise BHP will retain its Queensland (both BMA and BMC operations) and NSW coal assets, but has stated it will demerge its Illawarra metallurgical coal assets which include the Dendrobium, West Cliffs, and Appin mines. Other Australian assets to be spun out include the Cannington operation and the alumina refineries at Worsely. In regards to manganese the Northern Territory GEMCO mine and the TEMCO alloy operations will also be included in New Co. However it added that it is continuing to review its Nickel West operations. Approximately 24 000 workers will be spun out in to the company built out of these new assets. Commenting on the demerger BHP Billiton Jac Nasser said “we believed the proposed demerger, if implemented, will accelerate the simplification of the group’s portfolio”. He went on to say the chairman of this new company will be David Crawford, with current BHP CFO slated to head the business, as well as other changes in the existing BHP management team. BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie added: “In a single step we will significantly increase BHP Billiton’s focus on the exceptionally large resource basins that underpin its competitive advantage. The move had been signalled by the market earlier that month following the miner’s announcement of a portfolio simplification to make the company “simpler and more productive”. BHP revealed plans to pull out of West African operations in March, prompted by a significant drop in the price of iron ore to $80 per tonne. On April 1 BHP announced its plans to demerge non-core assets such as nickel, manganese and aluminium, many of which were acquired in the merger with London-listed Billiton in 2001.

September 2014

AustralianMining

It explained that by “separating these businesses via a demerger it has the potential to unlock shareholder value by simplifying the group and creating two portfolios of complementary assets”. However Mackenzie did add that “the assets that will form the new company are not of the same size as those in our major basins, but many are among the largest and highest quality in their sectors”.

Wongawilli coal mine to close Wollongong Coal has announced it will put the Wongawilli coal mine into care and maintenance. The mine’s future has been uncertain for some time, following falling coal prices, Wollongong Coal’s uncertainty, and a decision to sack a swathe of workers from Wongawilli and the Russell Vale coal mines earlier this year. Wongawilli’s future was first put in doubt following the burial of a longwall shearer at the site after a roof collapse, which hampered production and reduced the need for a number of operational workers on site. An attempt to negotiate a new EA, in the hope of saving jobs, was voted down by employees when Wollongong Coal proposed they work for $21 an hour and slashed other provisions such as accident pay and annual leave entitlements. “It would have given us one of the worst enterprise agreements in the coal industry, and would have lowered the wages to 1970s or 80s wages,” CFMEU district president Bob Timbs said. “Why would you go and work in one of the most hostile workplace conditions in the country, when you can go and work outside in the fresh air for the same rate?” Workers claim the company did not negotiate the EA in good faith and say it was Wollongong Coal’s intention to go back to mining a single unit on day shift at Wongawilli, requiring just 15 employees. The move saw 105 workers go in a single day. Now production at the mine will cease completely. CFMEU district vice president Bob Timbs explained that “in the near future it will be put onto full care and maintenance”. ‘‘It’s been one step back from care and maintenance anyhow and we’ve only had a skeleton crew up there. They were going to do some limited production. ‘‘The company has reviewed its position and they no longer wish for that light production work to be done so they’ve made a decision to remove those people from their positions at Wongawilli and put the mine on full care and maintenance.’’ Around 16 redundancies are expected when it enters care and maintenance on Thursday, although Wollongong Coal is reportedly looking to transfer workers to other operational parts of the business.

Australian Mining gets the latest news every day, providing mining professionals with the up to the minute information on safety, news and technology for the Australian mining and resources industry. “It’s certainly upsetting. From our point of view, over the last couple of years our members and the union have put in a lot of work into trying to keep the mine viable,” Timbs said. “It’s crushing that it’s come to the point that it’s all been for a loss.”

Carmichael coal to hire 5000 in construction phase Carmichael mine developers Adani are now taking expressions of interest from people wanting work in the mining industry. The indian-owned company said it plan on hiring 5000 people during the construction phase, with the first round of workers to be hired next year, double the estimates made when approval for the mine was announced. The company has encouraged people to submit their details now at the Adani Mining website. A spokesman for Adani said the company would favour local people from the Mackay and Whitsunday areas. “As part of our local procurement policy, we will also maximise Australian participation by sourcing, where possible, from regional Queensland and Australian businesses,” he said.

New gas pipeline to link east and west markets Federal industry minister Ian MacFarlane announced plans to build a national gas network that could prevent gas shortages in NSW and the corresponding price hikes. MacFarlane said part of the plan would include a 1000km pipeline from Alice Springs to

Moomba in South Australia, at a cost of $1.3 billion, linking the Northern Territory to the east coast gas market. Combined with the pipeline currently under construction from Darwin to the Browse Basin, the national gas network would allow Western Australian gas to be sold into the domestic east coast market. MacFarlane said that an impending gas shortage in NSW would cause gas prices to rise significantly in the winter of 2016. “It [gas] could become very expensive. There are people speculating it could cost $10 a gigajoule or more,” he said. MacFarlane has been in discussions with NT chief minister Adam Giles, and said that the plan is “more than a vision”. The industry minister said the plan would be necessary to keep NSW well supplied, as the state only produces five per cent of its own gas, and shortages will occur even if Santosled gas drilling projects in the state reach production. “The only solution to the gas supply problem in NSW appears to be interconnection,” Macfarlane said. “Theoretically you could deliver from Browse to Sydney but it wouldn’t ever happen, it would be done on the basis of swaps [of gas from one market on to the next]. You wouldn’t see the molecule actually delivered into Sydney.” He said the new pipeline could deliver gas to NSW within three years, two years faster than developing its own projects.

Boart Longyear future looks uncertain The continued future of Boart Longyear is cloudy following the driller’s latest negative financial results, giving less than 12 months for the company, or the market to turn around. The company has recorded a massive fall in revenue in its latest first half results, seeing a fall of nearly US $300 million year on year. The situation for the company is grim, with Boart Longyear CEO Richard O’Brien stating “as indicated in our most recent market updates, we feel we are at, or approaching, the bottom of the market”. In the results, the company added that “the ability of [Boart Longyear] to continue as a going concern is likely to depend on the company successfully concluding its strategic review of recapitalisation options with completion of a recaptialisation transaction no later than 30 June 2015”. “Without such a transaction, in order to continue as a going concern, the company would need to either experience a significant and rapid improvement in market conditions and the financial performance of the company, or secure a future amendment to the terms of the credit agreement to provide additional head room at 30 June 2015, none of which is being assumed at present.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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CASE STUDY

CASTROL OPTIVAL

DELIVERING OPTIMUM VALUE TO THE MINING INDUSTRY

TAILORED LUBRICANT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN MINIMISES SITE DISRUPTION AND COSTS Castrol has developed a Lubricant Implementation Plan to manage the change of lubricant supplier to Castrol supply. The management plan addresses and manages the potential risk to site and the associated cost impact in changing lubricant suppliers.

IDENTIFY It is important to have a formalised plan to help manage a change in lubricant supplier. Over a number of years Castrol has changed a large number of mine sites to Castrol lubricants. While many items are common to all sites, every site needs to be engaged, at a range of levels, in a number of departments, prior to a changeover, to ensure all site specific issues are covered in the Implementation Plan.

AGREE The implementation process is managed in 3 parts. 1. Project Plan - Includes the management plan, risk management plan, process, authorities, contacts, timeline 2. Product Supply - Includes product requirements, equivalents, supply assurance, usage, logistics, administration 3. Technical Support - Includes lubricant survey, audit, compatibility checks, technical support, training, facility audit, value add projects.

DELIVER The outcome of the Castrol Lubricant Implementation Plan is to ensure minimal disruption and cost impact to the mine site whilst meeting corporate requirements and timelines.

Conclusion Castrol OPTIVAL is a clear point of difference delivered by a highly experienced team, offering true value beyond the supply of quality lubricants to mining industry customers.

Customer Service - 1300 554 890 Technical Helpline - 1300 557 998 www.castrol.com.au

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DIGGERS & DEALERS

Diggers and Dealers Awards 2014 The Diggers and Dealers conference has passed for another year, with another bevy of happy winners fresh from their awards ceremony at the Westrac Gala Dinner held at the Sponsors Marquee at the Goldfields Arts Centre.

lthough deeming it unnecessary to appear in person, Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave his best to the audience at the Diggers and Dealers awards with a pre-recorded message, in which he pledged his government’s determination to help the resources industry to remain competitive, and reiterated several familiar lines. “We are sending a clear message to the world that Australia is under new management and open for business,” he said.

Dealer of the Year

Digger of the Year

The Digger of the Year award was won by the Tropicana Joint Venture, run by Anglogold Ashanti and Independence Group. Diggers chairman Barry Eldridge said there was a record number of companies up for the award, with so many companies transitioning from asset development to successful operation. “Despite the rhetoric that we have seen in the last year that the resources boom is over, we see it differently,” he said. “The construction phase is largely complete but the real part of our sustainable industry, operations, is alive and well with most companies focused on and delivering productivity efficiencies.” On the award winner, Tropicana, Eldridge said the project was delivering at the lowest quartile cost structure and in the highest quartile from a production profile. Production for Tropicana commenced in September of 2013, only three years after development approval was received in 2010. The forecast annual production at Tropicana is ex-

pected to be 500,000 ounces with a cash cost between $590 and $630 per ounce. All-in sustaining costs in the March and June quarters were $750-$777/oz.

After the amount of meRay Finlayson Medal for Leadership and dia coverage attracted this Academic Excellence year, it was no surprise to Mining Engineering student see Dealer of the Year won Samson Pastor was awarded by Northern Star Resources, the Ray Finlayson medal for with a grinning managing dihis outstanding achievement rector Bill Beament stepping in the field of academic exup to the podium to receive cellence, to recognise the the award. high hopes that Diggers and Northern Star produced Dealers have in his future as approximately 100,000 a leader in the mining indusounces of gold from the try. Paulsen’s project in Western The award is sponsored Australia. by the Kalgoorlie School of However, it was the busiMines Scholarship Trust, ness side of the venture that which was established by won Northern Star ResourcRay Finlayson, the mayor es the title of Dealer of the of Kalgoolie between 1976 Year, with strategic acquisiand 1989, then mayor of the tions of Plutonic, Kundana, and Kanowna Belle for only $100 million, and more recently the Jundee purchase for $82.5 million. Jundee produced 63,000 ounces in the June quarter. With these resources Northern Star will be able to produce more than 550,000 ounces a year with an all-in sustaining cost of less than US$975. This will make Northern Star the second largest gold producer in Australia, behind Newmont. Diggers & Dealers attracted the cream of the industry. 10 September 2014 AustralianMining

newly amalgamated cities of Kalgoorlie-Boulder until 1992.

Emerging Companies Award

Taking top honours over eight emerging new companies was Aurelia Metals Limited, with Rimas Kairaitis receiving the award on behalf of the company. Judging for the award was aided by Trevor Sykes and Ross Louthean, who were thanked by Barry Eldridge for their ongoing support for the promotion of explorers and their emerging producers. “We do need to fund emerging projects and exploration or we will end up a stagnant industry,” Eldridge said.

GJ Stokes Memorial Award

This year the GJ Stokes award was won by Jim Walker, former managing director of the Westrac Institute. The GJ Stokes award is given to recognise the contribution of an industry leader to making a sustainable and positive impact on the resources sector, which in recent years has been faced with major challenges in the form of skills shortages, which made it difficult for many projects to meet expanding

personnel requirements. The award was presented by Diggers and Dealers owner Kate Stokes, who said that during his time Walker oversaw the largest employer of apprentices in Australia, with approximately 600 apprentices and trainees in WA, NSW, ACT and China. “A successful mine is only operational with competent fitters, electricians and a range of other tradespeople,” Stokes said. “Jim, who has made an enormous contribution towards ensuring the availability of premium skills to the industry, is known as a passionate supporter of the resources sector and a most competent executive who has operated at the highest level in the business sector.

Media Award

This year’s winner of the Media Award, Nick Evans from the West Australian Newspaper, was hailed by Eldridge as an enthusiastic supporter of the positive contributions made by the resources sector who ensured appropriate reporting of issues, and provided pragmatic overviews of industry activities. Eldridge said Evans uses his journalistic skills to ensure issues are highlighted “when industry participants deserve a rebuke.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MMD Sizers

breaking coal

Established in 1978 to design and manufacture equipment for the UK underground coal mining industry, MMD patented the Twin Shaft Mineral Sizer. Since 1978, the company has refined and improved the Sizer design and today MMD size over 70 different minerals, in over 50 countries worldwide. However, coal remains at the core of the company’s business, with a wide range of machines available for this industry. From the original pick and scroll machines; usually positioned close to the coal face, that accept high tonnages and reduce ROM to a conveyable size, whilst eliminating “surf-boards”, to maximise the efficiency of outboard conveyor systems, to segmented tooth machines designed for a specific product size in the coal preparation plant. MMD’s experience, together with a close working relationship with

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Power Rio’s Pilbara rail

expansion Compact but powerful Bonfiglioli helical bevel gear units are helping to power rail hoists for Rio Tinto’s Rail Capacity Enhancement Project in Karratha.

ellingham Engineering far more reliable than some was contracted to de- of the other major comsign and construct a panies,” he said. Long Welded Rail Crane for The Bonfiglioli A Series the new 8 mile Flash Butt Helical Bevel Gear Units Welding Facility in Karratha, provide lightweight confor which they needed a high struction, while maintaining new railways for mines. quality gearbox that could strength and durability. Bates said Bonfiglioli withstand adverse weather The Karratha project be- engineers were efficient and conditions such as high heat gan over three years ago, and reliable when it came to inand cyclonic weather. was an all-in-one job, involv- stallation and delivery. They chose the rugged ing designing the systems, “The Bonfiglioli enginand durable Bonfiglioli A 05 fabricating and installing the eers are just as reliable as 2 and A 90 4 Helical Bevel components, and now fur- their technology – they alGear Units, which provide ther expansion work is being ways turn up on time. I’ve 1.1 and 7.5kW of power re- done. never had any issues with spectively to traverse hoists, The project involved an them, or the drives they supwhich allows Rio Tinto to lift extension of a rail welding fa- ply,” Bates said. up to four pieces of railway cility with a long-welded rail Bonfiglioli, which is this at once, greatly increasing crane consisting of 27 mono- year celebrating 25 years sertheir operational efficiency. rails, each with an 8t hoist vice in Australia, prides itself Bellingham Engineering and specialised rail grab unit. on engineering services inProject engineer Mat Bates All 27 hoists are able to cluding those provided by its said the Bonfiglioli motors operate simultaneously, with Drive Service Centre (DSC). are good quality, with a the whole crane capable of The DSC – operating good gearbox, a nice paint picking up 400 metres of throughout Australasia – finish resistance to rust. rail at once, which can either combines local engineering “We’ve selected Bonfig- be taken to storage bays, or skills with the global resourclioli in the past and again on loaded onto trains for trans- es required to tailor larger, M0 7 1 4 _ 0 1 2 _ T U R 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 6 - 2 4 T1 6 : 1 3 : 5 5 + 1 0 : 0 0 thisA project because they are portation, often to provide sophisticated and efficient

drives to the needs of individual customers. The A Series units selected for the Karratha project have a wide ratio range (with up to four reduction stages), allowing one gear unit to be used where previously two were needed, saving Rio Tinto space and cost. Operating efficiencies are enhanced by high performance helical bevel gear pairs, which also give the units significant energy savings. They are also innovatively designed for lower noise levels by locating the bevel gear pair on the second reduction stage of the gear motors. In addition to this, the monobloc universal housing offers optimum sizing and perfect gear alignment,

which adds to the total noise reductions of the units. The A series units are functionally designed with a large ratio range of 1700 to 1 in a single gearbox with up to four reduction stages. Depending which A Series unit is used, power outputs range from 0.09-55kW, with torques from 150-14,000. Bonfiglioli Transmission (Australia) is part of the international Bonfiglioli group, with 2500 employees worldwide. The full Australian branch is part of a global network of 14 full branches and eight production plants supported by nearly 80 national distributors and an Australasian network of distributors with offices in Australian and New Zealand.

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AustralianMining

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Opening the veil on mental health The number of suicide victims found in mining camps in recent years is a great cause for concern to the FIFO community, a problem starting to get the recognition it deserves. Ben Hagemann reports.

ast month the West Australian parliament unanimously backed an inquiry into the link between FIFO mining rosters and suicide, a move which begins in early September. The initiative has been met with relief from many in the FIFO community, who believe that it is time for an investigation of the impact working FIFO rosters can have on mental health. The Education and Health Parliamentary Standing Committees will examine the problem with focus on “systemic issues”, such as the contributing factors leading to mental illness and suicide in FIFO workers, current legislation and policy for workplace mental health in WA, and improvements to current government initiatives. It has been widely reported that in the past 12 months there have been nine suicides among workers in the Pilbara alone. Committee chairman and MP Dr Graham Jacobs said the inquiry would not be easy, but that it was important to attend to immediately. “It’s important we look at the current initiatives employed by Government and by industry... what responsibility employees have and what responsibility employers have,” he said. Dr Jacobs said the new inquiry, comprised of five

A WA parliamentary inquiry will look into the FIFO world, focusing on “systemic” issues

members (three Liberal Party, two Labor) will look at a number of issues such as the services that are available for FIFO workers, availability of mental health and first aid facilities, counselling and advice, as well as other services on site. With a view to maintaining focus on the issues, Dr Jacobs hopes the inquiry will have a preliminary report before parliament before Christmas adjournment, followed by a final report on the first Thursday of the year. “In the original motion there was the issue of urgency, so we didn’t want to make an inquiry that would last 12 months, people sometimes start an inquiry and it disappears into the ether

for 12 months,” he said. “We didn’t want that to happen, we want to keep it rolling, we’ve got a fair bit of work to do.” The interest in FIFO-related suicide prevention has been warming up throughout 2014, with Rio Tinto’s iron ore chief executive Andrew Harding accepting an invitation to join the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention in July. Harding has said the mining industry is still at the beginning of addressing mental health issues. “Twenty years ago we were learning about physical safety. Mental health-type stuff has been quite a bit more recent,” he said. “We’re not at the very

Camp life can be extremely depressing, even without a pre-existing mental illness

September 2014

AustralianMining

beginning of the journey, we’re at the beginning of how we work with these sort of issues.” Early last month a worker was found dead at Barrow Island, and in July a worker was found dead in his room at the Gateway Village in South Hedland. However, the number of FIFO related deaths is undoubtedly higher, as a number of workers have committed suicide while on break in their homes over the past year. Three deaths have been recorded in association with the Tropicana mine since May: one man was found dead in his room, another was found dead in the camp grounds after he was punched by a fellow worker, who himself was later found dead after he committed suicide while on break. The family of mining supervisor Steven Migas, who committed suicide in November while working for FMG in Port Hedland, have thrown their support behind the new inquiry. Migas’ brother John said the news of the death came as a complete shock as he had talked to Steven only four days before the death, that he was excited about

Christmas, and that he had no history of mental illness. Migas had been working on a 3/1 week roster, although many workers around the country in construction roles work on the longer 4/1 roster, which workers and unions blame for exacerbating dysfunctional home and family life. Recently efforts to make a change from 4/1 week rosters to the more ‘family friendly’ 3/1 rosters were voted out by a majority of workers on the Curtis Island LNG projects in favour of higher pay rates and increased daily financial benefits. Union members at the Cape Lambert facility in the Pilbara are preparing to take protected action in the coming weeks, in order to renegotiate the site EBA with contractor Laing O’Rourke in favour of a 3/1 roster. WA mental health commissioner Tim Marney has said it is not surprising that there has been an increase in suicides by FIFO orkers, as there proven suicide risk factors prevalent in the FIFO lifestyle. “The majority of suicides happen in the 15- to 44-yearold age bracket and the average age of FIFO workers is 38,” he said. “Four out of five suicides are male and 80 per cent of FIFO workers are male. “Social isolation, family or financial stress, and high risk-taking behaviour, those are three proven risk factors predominant in an age and gender cohort already predisposed to suicide. “Add to that shift work, which has been clinically proven to mess with mental health.” Marney said mental health services in WA are underfunded, under resourced and underdeveloped. “We probably only have 30 per cent of supply we need in those services.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_AXA

Axalta Mining Aust Adv HR.pdf

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September 2014

AustralianMining

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hile the Pilbara currently relies on the steady iron ore price to keep its economic engine turning, as many will tell you there is definitely more to the region. So what can the Pilbara region do now to create a better future for itself? Look to tourism. The founder of Contiki, John Anderson, has urged the Pilbara to promote its mining industry as a tourist attraction. Addressing the Pilbara Pulse Economic Summit, Anderson pointed to mining as a way for the region to differentiate itself from other tourist regions in Western Australia, using the massive scale of the region and its operations as a drawcard. He explained that the recent film Red Dog has piqued a number of peoples’ interest in the region and its mining history.

“I would love to go and see a working mine,” he told the conference. “I mean these are huge, and the size of the machines – the wheels are twice as tall as I am, so I would love to see that in real life. “People are always looking for something that is different, something they haven’t seen before.” However he went on to clarify that the region, and its mining industry, should take a niche market approach. “You are not going to get the mass market coming here, but if you have got something special, particularly nature, then you [need to take] not the shotgun approach, you use the rifle approach,” he said. “You think: ‘What sort of people Continued on page 18 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-08-08T14:34:16+10:00

MT309a Australian Mining Full Page Advertisement September 2013.indd 1

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 16

would be interested in seeing these wonderful things that we have got?’. “So you go into their particular magazines, not try and broadcast to everybody because it’s too expensive anyway.” The Pilbara is not the first region to look to its mining industry as a lure for tourists. Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s massive Super Pit has long been a draw for the West Australian town. Broken Hill has also capitalised on its mining history as a tourist attraction. Four NSW Central West councils have come together to create a mining trail tourism route. The original proposal, developed by China Molybdenum’s Northparkes underground mine, persuades visitors to see mine sites around Orange, Parkes, West Wyalong and Cobar. Katrina Dwyer, Parkes’ tourism manager, explained that there is a growing interest for mining based travel. “It’s becoming a real topic for people to become interested in,” she said. A“Not M 0 9only 1 4 just _ 0 self-drive 0 0 _ E Atourists S but also school groups. So it’s really

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AustralianMining

good education, looking into the history of mining and the impact it has on the region and also how current mine sites operate and the spin off benefits they have for communities.” It’s not just in Australia where the mining industry is opening its doors in a bid to attract tourists. Chile’s copper industry is going on show, with plans to open up many of the country’s mines. In a move set to add to the country’s visitor numbers, next year 24 mines will open their gates in an initiative labelled the “Mining Tourism Route.” Brainchild of the Antofagasta Regional Branch of the National Tourism Service (Sernatur) and with the backing of local authorities and mining companies, the tour will focus on the country’s northern region of Antofagasta. Visitors will be able to get a close-up view of some of the world’s largest mines, including the Chuquicamata mine, located 1585 kilometres north of the nation’s capital of Santiago. From viewing areas, tourists will see the expanse of the mine and its massive machinery as well as the 1 copper 2 0 1 extraction 4 - 0 8 - 1and 9 T 1refinement 6 : 1 2 : 4 8 + 1 0 : 0 0 processes. The massive mining equipment can be used to interest tourists.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-08-19T11:55:04+10:00

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Australian Mining_2014 Campaign_SEPT-14.indd 1

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QUARRYING, CRUSHING & SCREENING

Six ways to take crushing

UNDERGROUND Underground mining presents a unique set of challenges, so careful planning pays off. Metsoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eero Hamalainen examines the big decisions in taking primary jaw crushers underground.

ub-surface mining sets unique requirements on equipment as well as on safety and maintenance issues: excavating for and assembling a primary crushing plant underground is complicated and costly, so careful planning really pays off. What are the big decisions when starting an underground primary jaw crushing plant?

1. Sizing the plant

Real estate in an underground mine is not cheap, so the design of primary crushing plants faces more limitations underground than on the surface. However, the primary crushing and transportation of ore to the surface are often the determining factor that decides on the capacity of the mine. The required capacity defines the size and type of crushing equipment and also the number of parallel 20 September 2014 AustralianMining

crushers or plants required to meet the mineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production rate. Most suppliers and EPCM providers have simulation and calculation tools for basic equipment and capacity selection.

2. Jaws or a primary gyratory?

Jaw crushers are the most common solution in underground applications when the throughput is less than 1000 tons per hour, depending somewhat on the scalping solutions. Above 1000 tph primary gyratory crushers begin to look interesting, and after the throughput reaches 2000 tph, jaw crushers are very rare, with the exception of a parallel plant layout. Capacity is also determined by the feed size and material type introduced to the plant, as well as the required product curve. In most cases, the first stage of crushing really has two functions: to get the material small enough to be

transported out of the mine, as well as to get a suitable product curve for the next stage of comminution. In either case, the top size of the material ends up typically in the range of 200-350 mm, which is good for belt conveyors and fits into most secondary crushers without causing process risks. To achieve this top size, the crusher setting is in the range of 200 mm or below, depending on the rock characteristics. If a belt is not used in transporting the crushed ore out of the mine, the other method of transporting ore from underground applications is via skip hoist. Depending on the size of the skip, the ore being transported may need to be finer. Picking debris out of the primary feed is always a challenge. If there is a belt after the crusher, it makes sense to place a magnetic separator there to get rid of at least the magnetic parts of unwanted materials.

This way, it will not get transported to the next stage of comminution. Underground mining methods mostly produce a feed that is finer than in a typical open-pit mine, resulting in higher capacity through the plant. However, surprises do happen, so be prepared to handle oversize feed material when required.

3. To scalp or not to scalp?

Scalping is usually recommended before a jaw crusher, whereas gyratory crushers can handle the excavated ore as such. This is because primary gyratories are not as sensitive to fines: they are large, steep and have a relatively short stroke compared to settings that allow fines to flow through more easily. The primary gyratory kinematics produce a straight, compressive crushing function without the grinding action found in a single toggle www.miningaustralia.com.au

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QUARRYING, CRUSHING & SCREENING

jaw, therefore the liner wear is not as high per ton of crushed material.

Scalping is recommended for a jaw crusher for three main reasons:

• Capacity increases when material below the crusher setting bypasses the crusher; also the energy consumption is lower. • The life of wear parts increases; a jaw crusher usually wears more manganese steel per crushed ton than a gyratory crusher. • Feeding fines into the crusher may increase peak stress loads because of packing, i.e. material being compacted as far as it compacts. This is enhanced by moisture, which again is highest in the fines and quite common in underground mines. The most compact way to scalp is with a vibrating grizzly feeder. However, using a separate feeder and a scalper allows both components to be optimised for improved process control and performance.

Points against scalping:

• A separate scalping grizzly adds a new piece of equipment into the process, increasing capital costs and requiring maintenance. The installation also calls for chutes and other bypass arrangements, which may hinder maintenance access. • In an underground mine, the feed tends to include more foreign objects than in a surface operation. Debris, such as rock bolts, wire mesh, cable, pieces of pipe or wood etc., may get stuck in the scalping grizzly. • If the crushing plant will be operated remotely and as highly automated as possible, the debris can cause unpredictable clogging of the grizzly. Getting someone to the plant to clean things up can take a while, and the cleaning itself takes time. Downtime leads to lower long-term capacity and weaker process reliability. • In practice, issues like debris and occasional slightly oversized feed can be resolved by selecting a crusher size that is clearly above the theoretical need and thus less sensitive to variations in the process.

4. Don’t forget to plan for future capacity

Installing the machinery can prove quite challenging, as the primary crushing plant is usually built close to the deepest part of the mine. Ramp access gives some flexibility in the installation phase, at least compared to having to sling everything through a shaft. www.miningaustralia.com.au

Sizing the plant if crucial in underground crusher construction.

The most demanding unit is the crusher itself; feeders, bins and plate work are easier to handle when it comes to size and weight. From this perspective, modular bolted construction is a definite advantage. Some jaw crushers are built in this way, and practically all gyratories break into bolt-connected modules. Although the modules themselves can be pretty bulky: a top shell of a 54-inch machine weighs approximately 85 tons, so lifting capacity is definitely an issue, in addition to size. The heaviest part of a Metso C200 jaw crusher for maintenance is the pitman assembly, which weighs approximately 40 tons and requires 5 meters of vertical space plus clearances for lifting. Although designed for maintenance, cranes and other lifting equipment can also be used for the installation. Overhead bridge cranes are the most common in underground crushing plants as they can utilize the available space and have a constant lifting capacity throughout the area. In selecting lifting equipment and reserving space for lifting, keep in mind that future demands on capacity and reliability have a tendency to increase the weight and sometimes Continued on page 22

In building crushing plants operators should plan for potential future expansion. AustralianMining

September 2014

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QUARRYING, CRUSHING & SCREENING

Continued from page 21

the size of key components. When eventually replacing the current machine, you are likely to opt for a slightly bigger one, and it should fit into the same plant layout without excavation work or major modifications. Often, the crusher is built below or on top of an ore pass, which brings up practical and safety issues in installation and also in maintenance. Safe and quick personnel access needs to be planned on the top and bottom of the installation, and a lift might be a consideration.

5. A maintenance-friendly plant design maximises availability

In order to achieve high process reliability and availability, it’s important to consider future maintenance needs already when planning the crushing plant. Routine maintenance includes lifting wear and spare parts, in which case well-located jib cranes or monorails may be the answer. For large crushers, even the tools needed for opening or tightening bolts can get bulky and benefit from having a lifting device handy. One question often overlooked is: ifAyou M 0 lift 7 1 something 4 _ 0 0 0 _out L AofN thecrusher, where do you put it? Suffi-

cient floor space and headroom are essential. One tip for saving space is to build a hole in the floor for the main shaft. Then, you lay the pitman from the jaw crusher on its side to work on bearings or place the gyratory main shaft upright. When the hole is not in use, it must be covered. Preventive and predictive maintenance is largely based on good planning and follow-up, including the discipline to follow visual inspection and lubrication schedules. If a service point is not readily accessible, there is a temptation to neglect it. With today’s 3D CAD tools, it is quite simple to review service access to various points before construction. Automation and centralised lubrication are cost-effective ways to improve the maintenance process. Underground plants generally operate unmanned, so make sure to utilise the automation and diagnostic systems, like placing cameras at key points.

6. Put safety first

Safety 1 2 0starts 1 4 -with 0 6 the - 1 plant 8 T 1 design. 1 : 0 2 : 1 6 + 1 0 : 0 0 When the majority of service pro-

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AustralianMining

cedures can be carried out from the ground level or from proper service and access platforms, climbing onto wet or dusty surfaces can be avoided. Preventing objects or people from falling through the crusher, especially in a jaw crusher, where wear parts are changed quite often, is also crucial. Surprisingly, medium-sized objects are the most dangerous ones to lift. Large components seem to get a higher level of attention and planning, and small parts don’t cause as much reported damage. There is often limited time for routine maintenance procedures and these procedures do not always receive the necessary attention. Typical issues include not using the proper lifting devices or procedures, which often results in hand or foot injuries and sometimes even more serious consequences. Instructions, training, discipline and availability of information play a key role in injury prevention, as does the availability and condition of the correct tools, such as lifting equipment. Dust suppression on the feed side of a primary plant is always a challenge. In practice, a proper water mist is the only universal solu-

Common types of safety issues regarding a crushing plant are related to: • Lifting wear and spare parts • Slipping on or off machines • Clearing blockages in the crushing chamber • Removing unwanted material from the feeder, grizzly or crusher • Protection of moving parts • Dust

tion. In more confined spaces, such as transfer points under or after the crusher, it is easier to install suction and filtering to keep the air quality under control. Dust gathering on horizontal surfaces over time must be washed away. This requires floor inclinations, drainage and potentially sumps and pumps. If heavier accumulation of material is expected, e.g. under conveyors, leave space for a skidsteered loader. Fire suppression and fire safety procedures should be given careful consideration, not because fires in crushing plants are common, but because any fire underground can have severe consequences. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-08-25T10:27:03+10:00

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2014-08-14T08:57:44+10:00

2014

QME 2014 Wrap An insight into this year’s 2014 Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition.

he Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition has come to an end for this year, with the event showing the development of the industry despite depressed markets. The first day of the Queensland Mining Expo was regarded as a great success, with Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney as guest of honour to open the show. Seeney was accompanied by chief govt whip Vaughan Johnson and MP Jason Costigan. In their tour of the expo throughout the day, the Queensland state members met with a number of businesses exhibiting at the show, including Mackay airport, the Resource Industry Network (MAIN), Comlek, CPE, and Rapid Crushing and Screening. Highlights of the first included a safety panel discussion on transitions to production phases and issues facing inexperienced, or cleanskin workers. The Queensland Government together with Resource Industry Network also ran a panel on innovation and leadership in the resources sector, a discussion which was hosted by local ABC radio presenter Kim Kleidon. A spokesperson for QME said the event was attended by around 70 people, with questions from the floor showing a great deal of audience participation. Throughout the day the expo hosted 114 safety focussed suppliers; 95 suppliers of electrical products and systems for improving efficiency; 63 suppliers marketing conveyor equipment technology; and over 85 suppliers showcasing material handling solutions. 24 September 2014 AustralianMining

Day two of the event saw busier traffic despite the apparently depressed state of the Australian mining industry. Event director Paul Baker of REEDMININGEVENTS said he was satisfied with the turnout and level of activity at the show compared with the first day. “It’s definitely busier than yesterday, so its been pretty steady,” he said. “It’s good to see lots of visitors still travelling the halls and pavilions, so its been quite a good day. “At the end of the day, as long as the exhibitors are happy and making really good business contacts, that’s what its all about.” Last night QME celebrated its 21st birthday, inviting all exhibitors to join them for a party at the Mackay Convention Centre. Baker was joined by the mayor of Mackay, Dierdre Comerford, in cutting a spectacular dump-truck cake for the guests. Wednesday held a number of highlights, according to Baker, including Channel 7’s Sunrise program doing

New equipment was the star at the event.

live weather broadcasts from the show in Mackay. “We’ve had a lot of media coverage around the event as well which has been pretty exciting, and helps to highlight the industry in a good light,” he said. Baker said another one of the main highlights was the Women in Mining day, which included a panel discussion on women’s issues within the industry with and ‘Bubbles and Boots’ networking session. “It’s quite a successful initiativeWe had a full house in terms of the panel session,” he said. Guest speakers on the panel included Jodanna Pullen (commercial key account manager for Puma Energy), Leah Ross (Thiess mining superintendent at Curragh North and winner of the outstanding operator award at the 2014 Queensland Resources Council Resource Awards for Women), and Kym Clark (CEO of She’s Empowered), with Lainie Anderson (director of Mining Family Matters) as panel moderator. Baker said he thought this year’s expo was quite different to last year

in terms of focus leaning towards production innovation, demonstrated by the subject matter of the Tech Talks held by various companies throughout the day. “The Tech Talks have been going very well and those sorts of innovations and new ways of doing things in terms of ideas and knowledge sharing that these suppliers have for the industry,” he said. “That’s really important as the industry transitions through to production, and they’re looking for those efficiencies.” “What the exibitors are bringing to the show, it’s very much more focussed on the innovation side, it’s not about the big equipment, it’s about how they can improve current operations. “It might be the smallest thing, the smallest tangible change within a process which could result in a one per cent saving difference, and that’s what it’s all about, small changes that can make a difference to a large production line and product cycle.” On wrapping up the show Baker said “many of the visitors and partners labelled the sheer number of exhibitors this year as surpassing their initial expectations and were surprised at the size of QME considering the tough sector conditions”. “It is highly pleasing that QME confirmed its status as the largest regional business-to-business mining industry event in Australia, with both attendees and suppliers viewing the trade exhibition as a platform for the industry to become more operationally efficient and productive.” QME will return to Mackay in 2016, occurring in the off year now held by REEDMININGEVENT’s massive AIMEX event. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-08-12T10:58:44+10:00

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SAFETY

Fighting fire, FLUORINE FREE In a bid to make fire suppression more effective, Sandvik have launched a fluorine free system.

ot working conditions mixed with combustible dust – an average day for most mine site vehicles. Add to that the corrosive nature of much of the material on the site and the potential risk of an almost sponataneous fire increases. However in many cases the fire suppression system used to extinguish the blaze can be just as harmful, containing toxic fluorine. To overcome this Sandvik has launched a new, environmentally-friendly fire suppression system at this year’s Queensland Mining Expo in Mackay.

Dubbed ‘Eclipse’, the foam dispensing fire suppression system is fluorine-free and rapidly biodegrades. Fluorine has long been a problem for fire suppression system design, as it is a toxic pollutant that until now has been a necessary ingredient in conventional fire suppressing foams, which can persist in the environment for thousands of years after discharge. During regular yearly system discharges on light vehicles and larger trucks, all the foam needs to be dug up and disposed of correctly. The new Eclipse fluorinefree fire suppressant foam is the first of its kind in this

The system is easily retrofitted into a site’s existing fleet.

September 2014

AustralianMining

application in the world. Developed and produced in Australia, it can be used in all new and existing Sandvikcompliant fire suppression systems. In addition, it fully complies with stringent new environmental regulations being proposed in Queensland and Western Australia which will impact on fluorine-based foams. Sandvik Fire Suppression’s sales manager Michael Sargaison said the new system complies with AS5062 2006 Fire protection for mobile and transportable equipment, while offering best practice in environmentally sustainable foam-suppression technology. “Because of the environmental impacts of fluorinebased foams, Queensland and Western Australia are proposing new regulations imposing strict new requirements on the use of these foams,” he explained. “In contrast, Sandvik’s Eclipse fully biodegrades, with none of the regulatory restrictions now being proposed on fluorine-based foams. “In addition to its environmental benefits, Eclipse

is superior to fluorine-based foams in that it delivers faster knock-down while still maintaining post-fire protection – making it more efficient at putting out mobile equipment fires. “At the same time, it saves on money and time involved in the costly clean-up and EHS reporting required with fluorine-based foam systems,” Sargaison said. Sandvik demonstrated the new foam in action during the Queensland Mining Exhibition in Mackay. As an authorised fire suppression system supplier and installer, Sandvik Fire Suppression recommissions

the bulk of Sandvik systems in Australia. “With the cost of Eclipse being very similar to fluorine-based foams, there will be negligible cost-impact for our customers – and major cost savings when the system is discharged,” said Sargaison. “Once we change a compliant Sandvik system over to Eclipse, it can then be recommissioned by us as a fluorinefree system, including all the required documentation. “Over the next 12 months we plan to convert all Sandvik-compliant fire suppression systems that we service across to Eclipse.”

The system no longer uses toxic fluorine in suppression foams. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_LAD

2014-08-15T10:10:51+10:00

AM0914_028

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2014-08-27T07:57:57+10:00

SAFETY

Head-first into High-visibility A new type of electronic tape is lighting the way for improved worker safety.

igh visibility clothing has come a long way since the turn of the millennium, but we haven’t seen a lot of major changes since 2010. However, a new type of high-visibility tape may become a game changer, one that will have us spotting our co-workers from miles away. Scott Safety has been in the R&D phase of implementing an electronic neon tape on their safety helmets, which may be available on the market by the end of the year. David Starbuck said there’s been a lot of research that’s gone into finding the most visible colour, which The artificial lights last more then ten hours in all conditions. happens to be blue. “We’re always keen to develop up in bright neon blue, charged by “We wanted it to be as low pronew accessories for our safety hel- a 30g battery pack on that back of file as possible, and we were also mets: customisation and adding val- the helmet. very cautious to ensure that the ue to the helmets is huge business for The tape is also able to flash and weight on the helmet would be limus,” Starbuck said. strobe for higher visibility settings. ited,” Starbuck said. “We already have high-viz tapes The tape is manufactured by EL “We frequently add a lot of acthat go on our helmets, but they re- Australia, who have been fitting the cessories to our helmets, whether quire artificial light.” tape to safety vests and motorcycle face shields or hearing protection, now AThe M 0 tape 9 1 4is _able 0 0 to 0 _take S Pan I elec1 helmets, 2 0 1 and 4 - 0 8 - Scott 1 9 Tis 1bringing 3 : 1 3it: 5 and 3 + they 1 0 :would 0 0 weigh more than the tric current which causes it to light to industrial uses. battery pack.

September 2014

AustralianMining

It enables high-visibility for people who are working in dark areas where there is little light, underneath loading docks, roadworks at night, and general nightshift work done outdoors, where traditional reflective tape would be of little assistance without artificial light sources. Starbuck showed off the prototype helmet at the Queensland Mining Expo in July, adding that development has since been ongoing. “We’ve now developed it to be wider and brighter,” he said. “We’re at the point where we’re nearly ready to present the finished product. For people who really see a need for it right now we can start to release some units, all we have to do is complete the branding, and although there will be some early sales to specific customers, the new high-viz helmet will be ready for the shelves by November.” The rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack life is around 10-11.5 hours, or 20 hours on strobe function, and the pack is waterproof.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0514_000_CAL

2014-04-11T15:18:56+10:00

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AM0914_030

- 30

2014-08-12T10:18:20+10:00

SAFETY

How to reduce fatigue in three of mining’s most common jobs Hilti’s Ryan Jones examines ways to fight hand fatigue and increase productivity.

ining is one of Australia’s primary industries and a major part of the economy despite employing slightly more than two per cent of the country’s total labour force. In many ways, Australia’s mining industry serves as an example to the rest of the world, but there is still one area in which we are trailing behind – safety. We have yet to adopt the strict European standards on dust, noise and vibration exposure, and fatigue is one of the most common reasons for onsite injuries. It is also one of the most preventable. Many miners are FIFO workers and the excessive commuting times, long working weeks and tendency towards shift work impact heavily on the levels of fatigue, making it even more important to recognise the signs and symptoms of muscle exhaustion. However there are simple way to overcome the top three most common causes of fatigue in the industry, and reduce these everyday issues.

1. Drilling

Rotary hammer and combihammer drilling over long periods of time can cause high levels of fatigue and when your hand and arm muscles tire, it leaves you more at risk of the tool rotating in your hand from a drill bit jam. Drill bit jams are a common issue in mines, as you’re

Long periods of hand drilling can cause severe hand and arm injuries and fatigue for operators.

dealing with a range of different rock types, textures and densities. The first step to avoiding injury is to make sure you’ve got the right sized equipment for the job. Bigger is not always better, especially when you’re performing a repetitive task over many hours. Bigger tools are heavier and take a lot more energy

Repetitive tasks are one of the main causes of hand injuries.

September 2014

AustralianMining

to operate and when they’re used on a job that requires smaller equipment, it is more dangerous and increases your risk of injury. One mistake that people make when choosing their drills is looking at the weight class, as opposed to the impact energy provided by the equipment. The impact energy is what you should be judging a tool by, as the weight class will only be relevant if you’re working in a downward orientation (floor). If you’re drilling into a wall or ceiling, weight class is insignificant. Another misconception is that the harder you push the drill, the better it’s going to work. Drilling is a process of a chisel bit that’s rotating and pulverising the base material into dust, so it all comes down to impact energy and how effectively that’s transferred from tool to the end of the drill bit. The higher quality tools will have a higher energy impact, making them an easier, safer and more effective choice. When drilling into concrete or rock, the dust generated can cause a long list of serious issues, from

asthma and breathing difficulties to eye, ear and throat infections – there’s even links to cancer. Although it’s strongly recommended you wear a mask whenever working with concrete, they offer limited protection. Opt for Dust Removal Systems (DRS) which eliminates the debris that’s been created and leaves you with a clean work area while reducing your exposure to dust. It also improves the speed of the job (as there’s less dust getting in the way of the chiselling or cutting) and it helps prevent your tool from overheating, increasing its longevity. Hilti has also recently launched dustless drilling technology, whereby the pulverised material is removed from source which is the working end of the drill bit into either a standard wet-dry vacuum cleaner or a hybrid cordless/corded vacuum cleaner, making the system totally flexible to your jobsite requirements.

2. Demolition

Once again, it is imperative to get the right sized equipment for the job. Hilti has a team of project and www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_031

- 31

2014-08-25T10:37:10+10:00

A M0 9 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ E S S

2 0 1 4 - 0 8 - 2 2 T1 0 : 3 6 : 2 6 + 1 0 : 0 0

SAFETY

Excessive vibration is a common cause of hand and finger injuries in mining.

field engineers who offer a comprehensive technical advisory service to help your mine site choose the right tools for the specific application. If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ll be familiar with the painful white knuckle syndrome that stems from long-term use of vibrating machines or tools. This is a serious disease that affects the nerves, joints, blood vessels and muscles in the fingers and hands causing numbness, change of skin colour and loss of strength – in extreme cases sufferers have had to have their fingers amputated. The best way to minimise this is to invest in tools that have Active Vibration Reduction (AVR) technology which reduces the vibration caused by the pneumatic hammering action during operation by separating the handle of the tool from the body of the tool. When using a breaker for floor slab demolition, it’s important to start from the perimeter and work your way in, as this reduces the strain and the force required. It’s also a good idea to check the exposure action value (EAV) of the tool. This value tells you how long it’s recommended that the tool be used without a break. Using it past this point will significantly increase the risk of injury from fatigue. The EAV can be found by contacting your tool manufacturer. Hilti has this information for review as guidelines and best practice.

3. Anchoring

Anchoring is another repetitive task that is common in the mining industry, and is generally considered a mundane and mindless chore that requires little skill. Many of the miners I speak to haven’t been exposed to any www.miningaustralia.com.au

formalised training for anchor installation and it tends to just be an expertise that’s Chinese whispered from colleague to colleague. Hilti offers comprehensive training performed by anchoring professionals who provide tips on everything from bore hole cleaning to choosing the right tools and materials to complete the task. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a result of muscle fatigue, generally associated with actions such as constant pulling of the trigger on the chemical dispensing tool, putting unnecessary pressure and strain on the operator, meaning you can only do this particular job for a certain period as you’ll tire quickly. Opting for cordless dispensing technology will completely eliminate the risk of this and although these are sometimes considered a ‘luxury’ on-site, not only do they reduce injury but they increase productivity and reduce wastage because you pre-measure the amount of chemical required. For mechanical anchoring, you can use a torque bar which allows you to install stud anchors and tighten to the correct force in just three seconds. These torque bars speed up the installation process and also increase accuracy as they remove the potential of under or over-torquing stud anchors with a ratchet element which cuts out at the prescribed force. The mining industry is currently going through a reinvention with conventional wisdom and methods being ditched in favour of more innovative solutions and productive methods of practice. With this reinvention, a push for new technologies has come, making the injuries and lack of productivity that traditionally stemmed from fatigue almost completely preventable. AustralianMining

September 2014

AM0914_032

- 32

2014-08-12T10:20:37+10:00

SAFETY

A bird’s eye view New technology is giving heavy vehicle and plant drivers 360 real time vision.

ll drivers, from the day they begin to learn, are taught to watch their blind spots. Understanding what’s happening around your vehicle is of utmost importance, particularly when you are driving a massive truck or heavy piece of plant. Only last month a serious incident occurred at Rio Tinto’s Brockman 4 iron ore mine when a haul truck hit a light vehicle dragged it for 40 metres, and was unaware of the incident or even that the truck was there until the occupants radio the driver. Luckily no one was injured in the incident, but it demonstrated the importance of total situational awareness and how an operator’s blind spot affect safety on site. However it is not just heavy vehicles where this is an issue. Late last year a fatality occurred at the Ravensworth coal mine when an LV driver went through an intersection after failing to see an oncoming haul truck in their blind spot. To address these issues and avoid incidents like these occurring again Continental has released a new system designed to give operators a total 360 degree view around their vehicle as they work. Dubbed VDO ProViu it “improves the ease of manoeuvring large vehicles while decreasing the risk of accidents, improving turna-

The system combines four cameras to give a 360 degree bird’s eye view of the machine and its surrounding.

rounds and downtimes associated with damage to a vehicle”. The innovative VDO 360 degree surround view is a retrofit system built to enhance safety. “It takes a giant leap forward in OH&S by providing real time high quality images utilising four specialised cameras with 187 degree fisheye lenses that give the driver [or operator] full 360 degree all-round vision with unprecedented view of the vehicle’s surroundings,” Continental stated.

“Suitable for retrofit and original equipment application on a wide range of tracks and special purpose vehicles, this latest development from VDO [which is distributed by Continental in Australia] is designed to assist in risk reduction and cutting accidents and life threatening incidents on site.” The rugged camera system mounted on the top of the machine is linked to provide all-round visibility for the operator, reducing blind spots and displaying other vehicles, workers on

the ground, and potentially dangerous situations that may not be visible in the side and rear vision mirrors. The transmitted images are then overlayed on to one another and adjusted perspectively to create a preview on a single bird’s-eye view. “The cameras integrate all the individual functions in one bird’s-eye view image. “Unlike CCTV and other mostly re-active monitoring systems the VDO ProViu is a passive, proactive system,” the company said. “Perfect merging, ‘alpha’

blending and grading are a standard feature; the entire system is designed for accuracy and has the advantage of a flexible SW tool chain with multiple screens, configuration, custom user interface etc. “A light/dark balance is achieved by the automatic balancing of the whole image on the screen reducing the differential between the images. “The system is built to the highest automotive standards and has full certification for EMC and type approval.”

Australian first gloves ELLIOTS has released new Australian gloves that are the first to reach a new standard of certification. The release comes as hand injury rates increase in the mining industry. According to Safe Work Australia, in the 2012-13 FY alone there were more than 116 000 serious claims relating to hand injuries in the workplace. In the mining industry itself hand injuries account for the second most common cause of lost time injuries.

September 2014

AustralianMining

On the back of this Elliots has developed new gloves, dubbed the G-Glex range, which are the first safety gloves of their type to be certified to AS/ NZS2161.3:2005 Occupational protective standard which provides protection against mechanical risks, and is rated to CE Standards that is European Standard. “On most sites in Australia, you cannot wear safety glasses, hard hats, boots, respiratory equipment that is not certified to Australian/New Zealand

Standards,” Elliots managing director, Anthony Elliott, explained. “So why not gloves? This is what led us to developing and certifying the new G-Flex range of gloves. We are all about quality safety gear and are very focused on industry standards, whether Australian or international standards,” he said. There are five different varieties of the new gloves, according to Elliott, which all provide both cut and impact resistance. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0714_000_TYCO

2014-06-11T15:30:59+10:00

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AM0914_034

- 34

2014-08-12T10:25:01+10:00

DRILL & BLAST

The right to A patent dispute between Orica and Dyno Nobel over blasting methods is entering its fifth year. Cole Latimer reports.

BLAST

lasting is a complicatAnd this battle has been ed process that re- raging for a number of quires skill, experi- years, as Dyno Nobel fights ence, and a lot of knowledge Orica under sections 27 and to carry out well. 28 of the Patents Act. There are numerous ways to set up a blast, and once Patenting processes certain methods take hold the When a patent comes under lessons learnt on one site can the scrutiny of these two secquickly be applied to an- tions of the Act, it is because other, spreading until they another body believes that become an industry standard. there is “information showEveryone uses these mething that an invention is not ods as they are safe, tested, new (novel) or does not in- appears to claim in the case,” is buffered in the direction volve an inventive (or inno- he said. and most importantly work. of the cast blast (i.e. essenBut happens when a vative) step”. “There are essentially tially restricting movement in In other words, Dyno two tiers for patentability: the bottom layer during the company invests time, money, and research into devel- Nobel believes that Orica one is the newness, the other blasting process), that there has attempted to claim own- is inventiveness – whether or is a 500 millisecond delay beoping these new methods? Should they have control ership and the rights to a not the method would be ob- tween layers, and that at least over a method or application common blasting practice. vious to a skilled worker in ten per cent of the cast blast is Speaking to patent and the field – this is what Orica thrown beyond the free face.” that makes mining operations safer and, especially in IP law firm Baxter IP senior seems to be focused on.” Dyno Nobel stated that this economic climate, more associate Phil Burns, he told According to Dyno Nobel it believes Orica’s “claimed Australian Mining that the Orica “applied patents cover- blasting techniques are the efficient? The question then arises case appears to hinge on coming the blasting of multiple standard work of a drill over who has the right to use mon practice weighed against layers of overlying rock to a and blast engineer, who is these methods or product the method’s inventiveness. free face in a single blasting responsible for blast pattern “In this instance if the cycle where the top layer is design in the mining operaname, and while technology is easily patentable with practice is widespread and fired first and as a cast blast, tions of mining companies”. a trail of development that common in the industry then and the bottom layer is subject “In particular, Dyno can ensure the right people it would be difficult to patent to stand up blast conditions”. Nobel believes Orica is atare recognised as the inven- as it is common knowledge, “The main claim de- tempting to claim the mere tors with all the rights that which is what Dyno Nobel fines that the bottom layer combination of well-known entails, how can you do the same with a basic process? This is the problem now facing Orica, after it applied for patents on improved methods for shotfiring techniques and electrical conductive elements. While this isn’t the first time that the explosives manufacturer and contractor has applied for IP patents, these two applications focused on blasting in differing layers and levels of rock would be different. The right to claim ownership of these methods, in particular Australian patent No. 2004293486 – entitled ‘Method of blasting multiple layers or levels of rock’ have been challenged by Dyno Dyno Nobel claims Orica is attempting to patent a common knowledge blasting practice. Nobel. 34 September 2014 AustralianMining

blasting methods into a single blasting cycle. However, combining different blasts into a single cycle has been a longstanding approach that has been used in blasting for several decades. Therefore, there is no ‘invention’ in Orica’s claimed blasting techniques, which are an obvious adaptation of well-known prior art blasting methods.” It went on to say that the combination of these wellknown techniques is not patentable, and miners should be free to use these blasting techniques as they have in the past. “If Orica’s patent application is granted, drill and blast engineers who work for mining companies would be significantly constrained by no longer being free to utilise these common blasting techniques, which will inhibit the industry’s move to greater efficiencies.” Orica were unavailable at the time of publication. As this article goes to print, the battle for the rights to this practice remain contested. It will be up to the courts to decide whether Orica has the rights to it, or whether the case is essentially null as the practice has become too widespread now and is no longer patentable. Does one player own the rights, or do they belong to the people? www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_BLA2

2014-08-14T12:54:29+10:00

AM0914_036

- 36

2014-08-12T10:28:54+10:00

DRILL & BLAST

Rebuild, remanufacture, reinvigorate The mining industry is looking to rebuild its machines to cut costs, and make them better, faster, harder, stronger.

s the resources indus- in to Sandvik’s Kalgoorlie’ try globally looks to customer service centre for a reduce costs across remanufacturing. the board it is still focused The scope of the works on maintaining productiv- for the DD420 rebuild inity. volved stripping the rig right One way is looking to down to its base chassis and its existing equipment base, components, replacing specand ensuring that it remains ified items, and repairing or reliable by rebuilding older replacing other parts as necmachines to almost as-new essary to ensure it was once condition. again OEM compliant. However there are some This includes new powerdifficulties in doing this. trains; tyres; carrier compoOne of the major hurdles nents; a full testing of electric is that it requires equipment motors and air compressors; suppliers with the facilities, rewiring of the carrier and skills, and factory backing to drilling circuits; re-hosing; rebuild equipment to a high, fitting a new fire suppression OEM-compliant standard system; and dismantling the with inbuilt durability and drilling module for overhaul product quality expected with replacement compofrom the machines. nents including inner tubes, An Australian nickel feed rails, and feed cradles. miner recently went down According to Nathan this rebuild route, bringing Bradshaw, a workshop suits seven year old Sandvik pervisor at the CSC, the 11 DD2420 development drill week rebuild process result36 September 2014 AustralianMining

ed in a drill that can work for another seven years; however there was one caveat in the rebuild process. The machine had to be re-specced from a drill designed for a nickel mine into one that would be compliant with Queensland silver mine standards. “The two mine sites have widely varying compliance requirements – both are rigorous, but both are very different,” Bradshaw explained. As a result of the rebuild the machine is “in as-new condition and is covered by a 12 month/1500 hour warranty”. Importantly “the silver mine it was rebuilt for is getting an updated, as-new development drill for around 70 per cent of the cost of a new machine,” the company said. “Following the rebuild,

all service, parts, and safety bulletins, as well as machine upgrades, will have been completed so the finished product is as up-to-date as any machine can be – given it is a seven year old carrier and drill rig,” Bradshaw stated. “Throughout the process we liaised closely with the customer and the response back from them is that the durability and quality was built into these underground rigs from the beginning, so we already had that solid carrier and drilling module to work,” he said. Sandvik Mining’s region Australia vice president Jim Tolley said this DD420 rebuild, and other of a similar scope being carried out, are an example of how the mining industry is driving more value out of its existing equipment, and their suppliers.

“Just a few years ago a drill rig of this age would probably have been retired and replaced with a new one,” Tolley said. “Now with miners looking to better ‘sweat their assets’ and get more out of them as part of an industry wide drive to reduce costs, options such as rebuilding older machines to as-new OEM-spec condition are becoming increasingly popular. “But to do this, they require the combination of product durability, design, and reliability to justify the rebuild investment, and the ability of a supplier to bring equipment back up to asnew condition,” he said. This new focus on rebuilding and remanufacturing may help miners reinvigorate their older machinery, cutting costs and creating efficiencies. www.miningaustralia.com.au

PA0514_000_KEL

2014-02-12T11:03:55+11:00

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AM0914_038

- 38

2014-08-22T13:44:19+10:00

DRILL & BLAST

The system is designed to cut the number of parts needed by drill crews and allows one tool to always be in the hole.

Maintaining a true heading New drill orientation systems are helping drillers cut time and costs.

s the mining industry slows

efficiencies, new technological develWith this in mind Boart Longopments new integrated 1 2 0 1are 4 -being 0 8 -seen 2 1 as T 1the 6 :way 2 7 : year 1 4 +has 1 0developed : 0 0 slashing costs and creating forward. instrumentation for drillers to increase efficiency. The company has created TruCore, a device which it claims is “a first-in-industry integrated core orientation system that enables drillers to increase productivity and decrease spend on consumables”. Core orientation is essential in the mining industry as it marks out and determines the precise orientation and position of core while in the ground. This information helps drillers determine faults, cleavages, joints, • Contamination-Free mineral lineation, and any other Dispensing Stations geophysical properties of the site that can lead to better mapping for exploration and site development. “While essential for mapping exploration and mine site development, core orientation is part of the drillDESIGNED & RED MANUFAC TULIA ing process that has only experienced IN AUST RA incremental product improvements through small changes to the processes and equipment, until now,” • Relocatable Bulk Dangerous Boart Longyear global product manGoods Storage Units ager Chris Lambert said. “The innovation behind TruCore improves productivity and reduces the number of parts drill crews need to maintain a core orientation system which in turn reduces PH 1300 134 223 EM sales@storemasta.com.au costs,” he said. One of the main differentiations Do your own FREE Online Compliance Audit at storemasta.com.au of the system is that additional extendown AM 0 9 1 and 4 _ 0the 0 0focus _ P RisI on-

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September 2014

AustralianMining

sions are not needed when the integrated TruCore housing combined with Boart Longyear’s outer tubes, reducing the number of joints and high wear on outer tube extension barrels. This system’s core marking technology now allows one tool to always be in the hole. “The ability to send a second TruCore tool down immediately after the first tool is retrieved combined with wireless communication means core readings can be taken without having to break a joint in the inner tube, which leads to a faster drill site operation,” Lambert said. The design uses optical communication to send measurements to a hand-held control device allowing the drill string to stay assembled. A pocket sized controller simultaneously controls the two core orientation instruments, increasing productivity by validating measurements while minimising errors. Highly visible flashing LEDS aid direct alignment, reducing total tool measurement time. Boart Longyear added TruCore comes in sizes BQ through to PQ. It went on to state “TruCore is the first product in Boart Longyear’s first ever line of instrumentation solutions, which will include TruShot and TruProbe, which are slated for late 2014 and 2015 respectively”. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_039

- 39

2014-08-21T10:17:50+10:00

DRILL & BLAST

Bigger boring New machines are speeding up sinking times.

ne of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaders in ing carried out simultaneously. mechanised tunnelling, GerWith laterally extendable hyman engineering company draulic cylinders, the 15 meter high Herrenknecht has created a modern machine braces itself before every version of shaft boring machines. drilling stroke in the shaft, steadyThe new generation of Shaft ing the machine, allowing the thrust Boring Machines for Shaft Enlarge- cylinders to push the rotating cutterment (SBE) have developed from the head against the borehole floor. rodless, V-Mole technology which Hydraulic cylinders ensure prehas been available for decades. cise vertical alignment of the shaft Working closely with Thyssen boring machine to the target axis, Schachtbau and Murray & Roberts which is constantly transmitted to Cementation, Herrenknecht has up- the machine operator by a laser aimDepth is only technically limited by the length of the initial pilot hole, Herrenknecht says. dated the technology to current con- ing device. ditions and requirements for high The rotating anchor platform is sinking speeds and maximum work- located on the drilling deck above the with a pilot hole, drilled from the Shaft depth is only limited by the ing safety for shaft boring using a pi- cutterhead, and from there anchors top down, to set the vertical axis of initial pilot borehole. lot borehole. and steel mesh can be put in place by the shaft. The high precision afforded by The modern version of V-Mole two powerful hydraulic drill rigs. Once the drill string reaches the SBE, in terms of verticality and circular technology, the SBE, can cope with If required, a shotcrete unit on bottom of the hole, the bit is removed shape of the shaft cross-section, as well shaft boring diameters of up to 9.5 the shaft boring machine secures the and replaced with a reamer to en- as the virtually vibration-free ground metres through hard rock under op- shaft wall immediately after expo- large the hole by raise-boring until treatment, are further advantages of timal conditions, at faster speeds that sure of the rock outcrop. the correct pilot borehole diameter the shaft boring technology compared can reduce conventional shaft sinkThe machine operator controls reaches the top of the hole. to the conventional shaft sinking mething speeds by 20 to 30 per cent. all operations safely and convenientIn the final stage the SBE can en- ods with drilling and blasting. The The SBE works like modern ly from the interior of the machine. large the pilot borehole from the top sinking cycle runs continuously and hard diameter, while in- is not interrupted by drill and blast A Mrock 0 9 1tunnel 4 _ 0 boring 0 0 _ Nmachines, EW 1 2It0uses 1 4 three - 0 8 phases - 1 9 Tof1operation 1 : 5 0 : 1 down 2 + 1 to 0 :the0 final 0 with advance and primary shaft lin- in order to sink a shaft, beginning stalling the primary lining of the shaft. times or dispersal of explosion gases.

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AustralianMining

September 2014

AM0914_040

2014-08-25T14:31:02+10:00

DRILL & BLAST

Hydraulic hard rock drilling New hard rock hydraulic hand drills have been developed.

tlas Copco has launched a new series of one-handed hydraulic underground handheld rock drills for deep mines. The new drill system, called HRD100, is reportedly one of the most powerful underground handheld rock drills on the market, according to Atlas Copco. With a greater focus throughout the industry on achieving maximum productivity and efficiency, Atlas have designed the HRD100 with a higher drill rate and “considerable energy efficiency compared to conventional pneumatic or electrical rock drills,” Atlas said. As the system is hydraulic, rather than pneumatic, noise has also been slashed with “measured noise approximately 50 per cent lower One of the most powerful hydraulic hand drills on the market. than that of a pneumatic drill”. “The polyurethane cover shields of the rock drill (the RD100), the ated with sustainability as well as noise and makes the unit shock- power pack (the PP100), and a se- wear and tear in mind, with the proof as well, with the rock drill able lection of water pusher legs. HRD100 featuring a five-step wato handle a drop from up to two On top of this all hoses and ter adjustment to help operators use metres.” of water for each A M0 9 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ D O M 1 cables 2 0 are 1 4 included. - 0 8 - 2 1 T 1 6 : 5 6 : 5 the 8 +right 1 0 :amount 0 0 The HRD system itself consists The drills have also been cre- step – and when the drilling stops

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the flow also automatically stops. “We really made an effort to provide high drill rates at low operational cost. But it is equally important to create a system that save the operators energy by being light and reliable,” Oleg Korobotchkine, the product line manager, said. Operational usability and worker fatigue have also been addressed, with the drill featuring a one-handed operation and carrying handles. The stackable PP100 power pack essentially manages itself, with smart functions that automatically monitor oil flow and oil temperature, whilst water-cooling and automatic overheat protection increases safety and the system’s overall reliability. The system also monitors oil volume and compensates for pressure differences, which allows operators to work with the PP100 at a 45 degree angle without power loss. A simple design also makes it easier to top up hydraulic oil while in the mine.

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September 2014

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AM0714_000_ISUZU

2014-06-11T10:07:56+10:00

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AM0914_042

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2014-08-15T11:05:01+10:00

DRILL & BLAST

More energy, better blasting New high energy blasting techniques are increasing throughput and cutting dust. Cole Latimer writes.

rica has won an award for its research into ultra-high intensity blasting. The group’s Dr. Geoff Brent and his research team have been awarded the 2014 CEEC Medal by the coalition for Eco-Efficient Comminution. Brent was congratulated by Orica managing director Ian Smith, who said “the quest to use chemical energy in explosives to improve ore fragmentation and deliver a step change in mine processing efficiency has been a priority”. “This research is a demonstration of Orica’s commitment to the development of resourceful solutions through innovation to improve mine productivity. The use of electricity to mill ore is usually the largest consumer of energy on a mine site and ore comminution constitutes a significant percentage of electricity consumed worldwide,” Smith said. “Independent modelling has indicated that increasing the explosive energy by several fold can lead to increases in mill circuit throughput of up to 40 per cent and savings of tens of millions of dollars annually.” Brent explained that to date it has not been possible to blast at these ultra-high explosive energies or powder factors due to both safety and environmental concerns. “People have been looking to increase the level of energy in blasts for finer blasting for years, as you achieve a much finer throughput when you can increase the energy of

the blast,” he told Australian Mining. “So people have been incrementally increasing the levels of explosives by 10, 20, 30 per cent, but they reached a limit as they found that if the energy of the blast was too high it became unsafe, causing a high chance of flyrock, as well as the dilution of ore, so the potential of blasts have always been constrained.” However it has been needed in mining as by utilising explosive energy in the pit to produce much finer ore miners can increase efficiency and throughput of the downstream comminution processes of crushing and milling. The overall energy consumption across the mining and milling cycle can be reduced with a consequent reduction in emissions, providing a step-change in ore processing. “The new technique demonstrated for the first time that not only can these ultra-high energies be safely utilised but they can also deliver improved mine productivity and reduce environmental impacts in open pit mines,” Brent stated. He told Australian Mining that the development came about due to the recent leaps forward in electronic detonation technology that allowed for much more precise blasting. “The key to the breakthrough has been to use the rock itself to contain the explosive energy by the selective deployment of state-of-the-art digital electronic initiation systems in novel blast designs. With electronic detona-

More precise electronic detonation systems has allowed for the technology.

September 2014

AustralianMining

The innovative blasting process is a two phase system carried out in a single blast.

tor technology we can blast the top layer first so that it comes back down and forms a confining blanket layer, after which we used high energy blasting underneath to create finer blasted rock. “While it is done in two phases, we’ve actually carried it out in a single blast using precise electronic detonation,” Brent told Australian Mining. The new method was thoroughly tested in blast models and then verified in large scale production blasts, with these trials demonstrating a powder factor of four to five Open cut gold mining looks to be the major winner from the development of this technology, as it can allow for constraints on production to be lifted, as well as for improved recovery. “This breakthrough approach is particularly important given the worldwide trend of decreasing ore grades. More ore needs to be ground and processed in order to achieve production targets and this method has the potential to generate a step change in mine productivity, par-

ticularly in complex or lower grade ore bodies. It can render ore bodies that might ordinarily be uneconomic both affordable and practical to extract,” Brent said. He went on to say the technique has the potential to cut emissions associated with grinding by close to a third. “Additionally, one of the positive spinoffs has been a reduction in dust during blasting, as it is held in the rock – one mine in Latin America is actually looking at this technology specifically for its dust control capabilities. “It also controls vibrations,” Brent said. “Despite it being high energy there is actually less vibration due to the screening effect, as the ground vibrations are travelling through is already broken, so the vibrations are actually dissipated.” This technique means that more high energy blasting in closer proximity to mine highwall and other key infrastructure such as underground orepasses. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_TOW

2014-08-21T07:53:25+10:00

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AM0914_044

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2014-08-26T14:34:10+10:00

POWER GENERATION & DISTRIBUTION

Building the

GAS REVOLUTION

The trend for moving towards gas power is gaining momentum in Australia, taking some of the expense out of tradtitional diesel power remote site costs.

The great distances encountered in mining generate high costs for power distribution infrastructure.

September 2014

AustralianMining

iners face a number of serious issues when operating in this country, the heat, dust, the climate, and importantly – distance. The tyranny of distance is one of the major issues facing Australian miners, particularly in the hard rock mining sector, where iron ore, gold, nickel, copper, and lead mines are located hundreds, if not close to thousands of kilometres away from major cities and major ports. This puts a strain on all aspects of miners’ infrastructure, including water, fuel, and importantly – power. In 2007 BHP used more than 1400 megalitres of diesel – accounting for more than five per cent of Australia’s total diesel consumption, and in 2013 used 2041 megalitres of distillate and gasoline, demonstrating the consistently rising demand for fuel and in turn the significantly rising costs associated with it. The remoteness of many Australian mines traditionally means it is necessary to build heavy duty infrastructure to connect to the grid, or build their own diesel fuelled www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_045

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Final_print.pdf

3/09/13

POWER GENERATION & DISTRIBUTION

generators or power stations (which are all costly options) or look to the alternatives.

Alternative alternatives

There are a number of options for miners looking to power their operations without relying heavily on diesel. These include solar (which is already in use at few Australian mines), wind, and gas. Gas has been pegged as the new cost-saving fuel for many Australian mining operations, powering not only the site itself, but also the vehicles. According to recent reports by BIS Shrapnel the LNG and gas industry is set to boom in Australia, while a study by Deloitte outlined the growing LNG sector as the foundation for one of the largest boosts to Australia’s economy over the last two decades.

For power, comms and security where there are none...

Gas driving mining

Energy giant Shell are looking to introduce LNG-powered fleets at Australian mines as part of a push to increase natural gas use beyond the export of LNG, with BHP and Rio Tinto both looking to implement the technology. The two big miners are said to be looking at LNG-powered fleets for their West Australian operations as a way to offset high energy costs. A spokesman for Rio Tinto said that it was looking at dual fuel technologies for the use in the Pilbara. “There are some real challenges with the impact on payload, refuelling frequency and certainty over supply sources, but our work in this area remains ongoing,” he said. Shell says natural gas has many advantages over diesel: it is cleaner, abundant in Australia, and cost competitive. The company said as a result it can lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, which are proving to be a major factor in a company’s decision to make the switch. Stuart Macdonald, a global LNG applications technologist working for Shell, pointed out the advantages of using the fuel in the mining industry at Shell’s Technology Forum last year. Macdonald said a 27 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from well to wheel was apparent when using engines in their current technological form, which will improve as new technology is developed. Westport Resources Australia and Caterpillar have joined forces to develop natural gas fuel systems for mine trucks and EMD locomotives. “We recently signed an agreement www.miningaustralia.com.au

CMY

The remoteness of many mines, which are located in wilds of WA, affects operators.

with Caterpillar to jointly develop direct injection engines specifically for the mine trucks the 793, 795 and 797 – and also part of that agreement is with EMD for the MD&10 engines used in the locomotives,” Westport Innovations Australia managing director Bruce Hodgins said.

Power in the Pilbara

Commodity prices are putting the squeeze on profits, but throughout a number of companies in the Pilbara there have been plans running for a couple of years to reduce the price of power generation. Diesel has been the staple form of fuel for generators and mobile plant in the mining industry for many decades, but the expense of petrochemical power generation has been identified as an unnecessary running cost that can be slashed down to size. Recently at the Diggers and Dealers conference in Kalgoorlie, Fortescue Metals group CEO Nev Power indicated that FMG planned to contribute to its strong commitment to debt reduction by slashing costs on

fuel used for power generation and in haul trucks. “If we could switch to all gas throughout our operations, it would be around 50 per cent of our current diesel costs, $400 million dollars, but how much of that we are able to achieve, because a lot of that is technology driven, how quickly we can get trucks to burn natural gas,” he said. Aside from the technological impediments associated with complete gas refits for haul truck engines, plans for gas fired power station have been in the works for a few years. “Our first priority will be switching our power stations, the Solomon Power Station will switch to gas by trucking in the next month or so,” Power said. FMG had already planned for the gas conversion, with duel fuel turbines already installed at the suite. To plan beyond trucked gas, which still depends on diesel costs, Fortescue announced the signing of a Continued on page 46

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September 2014

10:08 PM

AM0914_046

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2014-08-26T14:37:06+10:00

POWER GENERATION & DISTRIBUTION

Gas and LNG powered equipment offers significant advantages to Australia and to miners looking to cut rising diesel costs. Continued from page 45

long term gas transportation agreement back in January, one which has seen construction of a 270 kilometre gas pipeline to deliver gas from the existing Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline to Fortescue Metals Group’s 125MW Solomon Hub power station. The pipeline, worth $178 million to construct, has been built by Monadelphous and the DBP Development Group (a joint venture between the DUET Group and TransAlta subsidiary TEC Pilbara), and will be operational early next year. A“TransAlta, M 0 9 1 4 _ our 0 0 existing 0 _ Q Upartner I at Solomon, and DDG have out-

September 2014

AustralianMining

standing reputations with proven though the collapse of construction capabilities within the energy infra- contractor Forge put a kink in the structure industry. Their expertise plans earlier this year. will allow Fortescue to focus on its In addition to providing power core business of efficient, low cost at a lower operational cost, by using delivery of iron ore to customers in gas miners are also helping to cut China and South East Asia,” Power their carbon operating footprint and said. emissions levels. A 20 year, 100 per cent takeor-pay gas transportation contract Moving forward was signed between the joint ven- Kim Palfrey, general manager of ture DBPP Group and the miner, projects at New Hope Group, told with Fortescue securing Shipper Australian Mining that he expects Rights under the Gas Transporta- the technology to be slowly phased in by Australian companies. tion Agreement. “LNG is some way off yet and BHP Billiton approved the gaspowered Yarnmina Power Station will be expensive to implement,” he back in late 2011, and by projec- said. that this technol1 tions 2 0 at 1 4the - 0time 8 - it 1 4ought T 1 0to: have 3 1 : 3 2 +“It 1 0will : 0mean 0 been up and running by now, al- ogy will more likely be phased in

over time due to the extent of modification required convert to LNG power.” However, Palfrey added that the gas was an important chapter in Australia’s fuel needs. “It offers significant advantages to Australia as the mining and transport industries convert to LNG powered equipment. “We should be somewhat protected from the volatility of the fossil fuel markets,” he said. The mining industry is currently on a precipice when it comes to over-running costs and the business of operation. It must now choose to bear the cost of converting now, or bear the unrepairable costs in the future.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_KEN

2014-08-12T09:59:09+10:00

Wear Problems Exist.

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7/31/14 10:23 AM

AM0914_048

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2014-08-25T14:03:20+10:00

AUSTRALIAN MINING ONSITE

Keeping up with

the CATs Australian Mining takes a brief tour of Hastings Deering’s new Undercarriage Repair Centre in the Bowen Basin.

ervicing mining machinery and plant in the Bowen Basin is no mean task. With close to 50 mines operating in one of Australia’s strongest metallurgical coal mining regions, meeting the demand for regular and specialised maintenance on heavy plant is a logistical challenge requiring constant improvement. Mining companies have always advocated their focus on productivity, but the inflated commodity prices of the boom have been accused of sheltering operations. A recent report on mining effiency from PricewaterhouseCoopers stuck the boot into mining companies, without naming names, but certainly admonishing the inadequacies of productivity in Australia, which was rated as the second least productive mining region in the world. The report emphasised the way we use machinery on ground level, at the coalface so-to-speak, so it follows that we need as much help as we can get to minimise downtime. Hastings Deering are one of the largest service providers to the mining industry in the Bowen Basin, repairing a never-ending train of Caterpillar mobile plant from Rio Tinto, BMA, as well as contractors such as

Thiess and Leighton Holdings. Their workshops in Mackay provide essential maintenance for the toughest machinery with the most punishing jobs. Major rebuilds on trucks and track-mount mobile plant are a common part of regular maintenance, and now more than ever miners need to minimise downtime to maximise returns in a cost-pressured industrial climate, which is why Hastings Deering have taken some big steps towards increasing their productivity through efficiency gains, ensuring machinery spends as little time as possible in their yards. The CAT specialists have recently completed an expansion to their dedicated mining plant service facility in Paget, one which will soon see the maintenance time cut in half for track and frame rebuilds on dozers, excavators and other mobile plant. At present the usual time for a complete rebuild on a set of tracks and frame for one machine is four weeks, but workshop manager Paul McMartin says they are about three to four months away from hitting the new target. “The customer can pull them off, and they’ll be turned around and back to them in two weeks,” he said.

The newly designed facility services the entire Bowen Basin region.

September 2014

AustralianMining

“We’ve moved our engineering division over to our expanded mining product section and we’ll totally dedicate those two bays to the new Undercarriage Repair Centre. The undercarriage repair centre is a gleaming, new facility, with floors freshly painted white and looking more like a Tesla assembly plant than a heavy machinery workshop. “We’ll have what we call a CPS: Caterpillar Production system,” McMartin said. “It’s a complete production line to improve the flow and eliminate waste. “We’ve made the undercarriage repair centre bigger to develop our business further, it’s a good venture for us, we really want to be the only service centre that can offer such a quick turnaround.” In terms of an undercarriage servicing, dozer tracks and track frames require overhaul every 12 000 to 18 000 hours. “In terms of maintenance, the undercarriage is probably the most expensive component in running

Fixing and recoating worn tracks.

dozers because the wear is all caused by parts which are steel-on-steel,” McMartin said. The main part of the rebuild is repairs to the track frames, which involves pulling the idlers apart and replacing the shafts and bushes. The surface of the idlers is built back up by two welders working on them at once, using submerged arc welding to rebuild the surface of the idler. “It depends on the conditions, if the machinery is in a really hard, rocky environment the wear rates on the undercarriage are a lot harder on the gear than if they were in softer conditions. It depends on the mine they’re in,” McMartin explained. The tracks themselves require a pin-and-bush turn every 6000 hours, on a D11 for example, in which they pull all the links apart and turn the bushes around so that sprocket wear will continue on the unworn side of the bush, doubling the life of the track. The workshop has two track pressing machines so that a set of tracks from a single dozer can be overhauled at the same time. The tracks are each placed on a track pressing machine, which press each link apart, and then they are taken for washing to remove material from the mine. After that the bushes are turned, the pins are replaced and the links are pressed back together. Hastings Deering also recoat the cutting surfaces of ground engaging tooling, applying a hard-wearing coating of tungsten carbide chip, which triples the life of cutting edges. In addition to the new undercarriage repair workshop, Hastings Deering have also taken on the mammoth task of performing CAT warranty work on all the 16M graders in the Bowen Basin, a 12 to 18 month repair project. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_SCH

2014-08-18T12:10:13+10:00

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14/08/2014 3:50:11 PM

AM0914_050

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2014-08-12T10:32:01+10:00

MINING SOFTWARE

Stimulating SIMULATION

New simulation software is helping companies to engineer real-world profits. Sam Oliver* writes.

he mining industry is that’s as comprehensive as and simulation techniques, in a period of transi- possible. processes can be streamlined tion. In order to ensure the to enhance the decisionOperating conditions are profitability and success of making process, particularly becoming more challenging the mine long-term, ongoing regarding “future-proofing” and the industry itself is now evaluation and monitoring areas such as risk evaluation more competitive. of the supply chain and lo- and mitigation. Moreover, Forward-thinking min- gistics are essential. these techniques and the ing companies, including the A growing number of processes they result in can ‘Big Four,’ are looking at miners, including several of also improve the efficiency ways to optimise their supply our customers, are finding and profitability of the mine chains by refining processes that by applying modelling itself. to get more out of their assets while reducing capital expenditure. Their goal is to build more profitable mines in lower-cost environments and they’re using modelling and simulation technology to do so. Like any major business initiative, the development of a mine involves substantial time frames and vast amounts of capital. Because a mine can be in operation for anywhere up to 80 years after it has been developed, the decision to dig (and the specifics of how best to do so) needs to be made based on intelligence Miners are focusing on refining their processes throughout the chain. 50 September 2014 AustralianMining

Scalable, usable, interactive

Although the mining industry in Australia has been slow to pick up on the benefits of process and data modelling, those in the know are using simulation tools for all levels of decision making. From reducing exploration and development costs to optimising processes in order to increase production rates, these tools need to be scalable to an unlimited number of applications and scenarios. Perhaps more importantly for adoption, miners need to combine data from multiple sources into a single, integrated environment. To date, most miners have built up arrays of systems that each have different data formats and extraction methods, making it difficult for managers to gain a holistic view of how changes to one area may affect another. A data modelling tool such as MATLAB, developed by MathWorks, collates and analyses data from

a full range of sources, enabling customers to transition from one piece of analysis to the next without having to change tools or reinvent the wheel.

Preliminary modelling to qualify risk

Within the mining industry, MATLAB is already being used to improve configurations across the supply chain, conduct geospatial and seismic analysis, forecast economic risk and profitability, and streamline the development of mining equipment. Many customers using the software in the preliminary phases of construction are finding that a little groundwork up front can go a long way toward ensuring the viability of the mine longterm, as well as forecasting any threats that may impact its profitability. For instance, one MathWorks customer has taken on this sort of analysis to better evaluate how the location of transport infrastructure www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_051

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2014-08-21T11:13:21+10:00

MINING SOFTWARE

will impact the mine financially over a period of time. The customer’s goal is to find the “golden mean” between time to market and product quality, focusing on storage elements in the supply chain. Since larger storage amounts give a miner potentially higher product quality but slow down the time to market, it’s in a miner’s best interest to find the amount of storage that maximises margins while staying competitive. Modelling software has allowed this customer to Gaining an overall view, without siloing, will allow for proper site process modelling. properly evaluate and compare the costs associated ing the resultant scenarios, sist with more granular con- delivery schedules with far more accuracy and insight. with different build options, analysts can more accurately siderations. Apart from modelling the Even mine sites themselves particularly those that may assess the upside and downrequire additional infrastruc- side economic risks and rec- correlations between storage can benefit from modelling ture in more remote areas. ommend possible responses, volume and profit without power and water supply reThey’re using what we such as deferring, abandon- expensive “trial and error,” quirements that each specific call “Real Options Valua- ing, expanding, staging, or miners can also use statistical operation requires, as well tion,” a reliable way to assess contracting capital invest- models of ore and equipment as examining how different to evaluate the quality and supply and treatment stratethe outcomes of different sce- ment in the project. quantity that a processing gies will interface with the narios. Using this method, a plant will generate. site’s unique conditions. separate model is created for Statistical and process modelling Looking more broadly In high-cost and high-risk each aspect of the project. The models are then While this technique can be at the supply chain, pro- industries such as mining, used to simulate distribu- used to aid high-level supply cess managers can use time- this sort of predictive techdomain tions A Mof0 outcomes 9 1 4 _ 0 for 0 0differ_ M C L chain - decisions, 1 2 0 1 it’s 4 -also 0 8used - 2 0 T 1 4 : 2models 6 : 3 6to+ 1identify 0 : 0 0 nology can be the difference ent economic scenarios. Us- on a day-to-day basis to as- bottlenecks and estimate between a profitable or in-

www.miningaustralia.com.au

McLan_122x210AM_O.indd 1

solvent operation – especially when its modelling range is expanded across the entire operation and supply chain.

Getting started

For many miners, process modelling technology is unchartered territory and considered time-consuming to master. When evaluating tools, mining leaders should prioritise access to a simple, graphic interface that’s both interactive and scalable. MATLAB, for example, maps across the collection of data, simulation, processing, optimisation, and automation so that users are never limited to how they can apply that information. Our customers are finding that when it comes to supply chain management, process modelling leads to more informed decision making across all aspects of the mine. And, it may just prevent you from throwing money down the mineshaft. *Sam Oliver is an application engineering at The Mathworks.

AustralianMining

September 2014

16/07/2014 3:52 pm

AM0914_052

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2014-08-26T14:15:24+10:00

PREVIEW

M&E NSW: What’s in store for 2014 An insight in to this year’s Mining & Engineering NSW Exhibition.

ccording to many pundits outside of the the sector the mining industry is dead. Coal in particular has been pointed to as a dead industry, and with the heavy reliance of New South Wales on its coal mining industry this would lead many to believe this means the State’s mining industry has come to an end. But this simply is not the case. Domestic coal production has grown in New South Wales over the past year, in spite of weak commodity prices. According to new statistics released by Coal Services, saleable coal production has increased by 5.7 per cent over the 2013/14 period, growing from 185 million tonnes to more than 196 million tonnes. The report also showed in the 11 months to 21 May this year, actual coal exports from Newcastle have increased more than ten per cent, jumping from 129 million tonnes to 143 million tonnes. The major export hubs have also grown in significance, as demand increases. According to the China Coal Industry Association more than two thirds of Chinese coal mining companies are operating at a loss, as new regulations plan to lift the standard of Chinese coal mined and shut around 2000 inefficient mines by 2015. This has led to increased demand for high quality Australian coal to meet the expected shortfall in Chinese domestic supply. “This growth in production and the volume of coal exported is a good sign for economic growth in NSW,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said. “These [newly released] figures show demand is still strong.” Figures from the International Energy Agency have also shown that global electricity demand may double between 2009 and 2035, with coal slated to meet more of these demand than either oil or gas over the next five years. “The NSW coal industry is well placed to make the most of this demand,” Galilee stated. “So while the local industry is 52 September 2014 AustralianMining

experiencing short-term challenges, the long term prospects are good, provided we can continue to meet the future demand.” On the back of this strong domestic production in the face of weak commodity prices REEDMININGEVENTS is set to hold its Mining and Engineering NSW Exhibition. The biennial event, which will be held in September, will showcase the latest coal mining technology for the Hunter Valley mining region. Paul Baker, director of REEDMININGEVENTS, described M&E NSW as being crucial for mining personnel in the Hunter Region, and mining regions throughout the state, due to the wide range of technological solutions on display and various mining community focused networking initiatives. “As the mining industry continues to transition from the investment phase to production phase, the importance of mining personnel attending an industry event like M&E

NSW, to ensure their mining companies are adopting the latest innovative technology, only increases,” Baker said. “However, this transition has also renewed the focus of mining companies on achieving greater productivity and improved efficiency, as means of optimising their mine site operations.” To strengthen its focus on the NSW mining industry the event has teamed up with the NSW Minerals Council. “REEDMININGEVENTS is proud to have the NSW Minerals Council as a strategic partner for M&E NSW 2014. It is crucial that a business-to-business industry event like M&E NSW is supported by industry groups, who share a common objective of facilitating and fostering a positive future for the mining industry in NSW.” Galilee described the event as an important one of the state’s mining industry.

The event is crucial for the NSW coal mining industry.

“The NSW mining industry is a strategic asset, and major contributor to the state and nation’s economy,” he said. “M&E NSW provides the sector with a fantastic opportunity to conduct face-to-face business in the administrative capital of the NSW mining sector, in Newcastle. NSW mining is strengthened by industry events that focus on providing the sector with the tools to be successful.” However it is not just the tools on show at M&E NSW. The event will also feature, in a similar vein to other REEDMININGEVENT mining exhibitions, a safety panel, a women in mining event, and TechTalks. Baker explained the show’s sister exhibitions’ TechTalks, stating that “the TechTalks have been going very well and those sorts of innovations and new ways of doing things in terms of ideas and knowledge sharing that these suppliers have for the industry,” he said. “That’s really important as the industry transitions through to production, and they’re looking for those efficiencies. “What the exhibitors are bringing to the show, it’s very much more focussed on the innovation side, it’s not about the big equipment, it’s about how they can improve current operations. “It might be the smallest tangible change within a process which could result in a one per cent difference, and that’s what it’s all about, small changes that can make a difference to production.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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TEL: (02) 9422 2500 FA

ABN 47 000 1 Locked Bag 4500 Chatswood D

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EXHIBITOR LIST

Trading Name ............................................................................................ Stand

Mato Australia Pty Ltd ....................................................................................2062 AFC GROUP PTY LTD......................................................................................3060 Molytec Australia Pty Ltd ...............................................................................8020 Amphenol Australia ........................................................................................4035 Nissan Fleet ...................................................................................................5030 Anchoring Rope & Rigging .............................................................................4034 NQ Cranes Pty Ltd..........................................................................................4041 Austmine Ltd .................................................................................................5000 Oliver Footwear .............................................................................................3080 Australia GRT Darso Industry Development Pty Ltd .........................................4071 Performance On Hand Pty Ltd ........................................................................5070 Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mining Monthly .............................................................................7062 Philmac Pty Ltd..............................................................................................3071 Bosbox Pty Ltd ...............................................................................................7040 Poles & Underground .....................................................................................3070 Brown & Watson International Pty Ltd ............................................................3065 Prysmian Power Cables & Systems Australia Pty Ltd ......................................5080 CCG Cable Terminations ................................................................................7032 R & J Batteries...............................................................................................3037 Davey Bickford Australia Pty Ltd ....................................................................7024 Rhino Water Tanks.........................................................................................7011 Ebsray Pumps................................................................................................3040 Roofsafe Industrial Safety ..............................................................................4065 Ego Pharmaceuticals .....................................................................................2040 SBA Amalgamated Pty Ltd .............................................................................2042 EPLAN Software & Service .............................................................................7052 Shanxi XinBoRui Technology Co Ltd ...............................................................7020 ESS Engineering Services & Supplies Pty Ltd .................................................9030 SITA Australia ................................................................................................3036 Force Corp .....................................................................................................6030 Sonic HealthPlus ............................................................................................7042 GE Intelligent Platforms ..................................................................................2030 Specialised Geo Pty Ltd .................................................................................4060 Gencom Two Way Radio ................................................................................8024 Spraying Systems Co Pty Ltd .........................................................................4044 George Fischer Pty Ltd ...................................................................................3045 SRO Technology Pty Limited ..........................................................................7010 Hard Metal Industries Pty Ltd .........................................................................2024 Stateside Distributors Pty Ltd .........................................................................2032 Hella Australia ...............................................................................................3064 Sunlec International Pty Ltd ...........................................................................3063 Hydraulic Controls Pty Ltd ..............................................................................8033 Teco Australia Pty Ltd ....................................................................................4070 International Magnetic Solutions ....................................................................7014 TEGA PE Piping Systems ................................................................................3034 Invision Sales Pty Ltd .....................................................................................3020 Thiess Pty Limited .........................................................................................6020 JAS Oceania Pty Ltd.......................................................................................5072 TNT Australia Pty Ltd .....................................................................................4061 JCS Technologies ..........................................................................................7015 Trimble Loadrite Auckland Ltd .......................................................................4064 Kemtek Imaging Systems ..............................................................................7050 Trotec Laser Australia/New Zealand ...............................................................7060 Kenshaw Electrical ........................................................................................3044 Ultra One Asia Pacific.....................................................................................7070 KJM Contractors ............................................................................................1310 UNE Partnerships ...........................................................................................3072 LaserBond Pty Ltd..........................................................................................2046 Wattyl Industrial Coatings ..............................................................................4045 Leussink Engineering Pty Ltd .........................................................................8031 LINAK 0 4 Australia 6 9 3 3 Pty _ TLtd I ..................................................................................3073 M 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 8 - 2 5 T 1 0 : 2 4 : 1 8 + 1 0 :WEG 0 0 Australia Pty Ltd ....................................................................................5020 Worth Recycling Pty Ltd .................................................................................4040 LRQA Business Assurance .............................................................................6080

Department of Natural Resources and Mines

Rare opportunity in North West Queensland Minerals Province, Australia promises great rewards The Queensland Government is offering exploration rights to a site in the resource-rich North West Queensland Minerals Province with quantities of easily accessible light rare earth elements Lanthanum, Cerium and some Neodymium. The abandoned Mary Kathleen mine near Mount Isa is known to contain a significant concentration of rare earth elements in the tailings storage facility with mineralised material also found in historic stockpiles and exposed in the open pit. There is also potential for rare earth elements and uranium mineralisation at depth. Download the competitive tender documentation (request no. MLR20141) from the QTender website: https://secure.publicworks.qld.gov.au/etender/index.do. Email:

LMP_Submissions@dnrm.qld.gov.au

Internet:

www.dnrm.qld.gov.au www.business.qld.gov.au/mining

Phone:

13 QGOV (13 74 68)

Blaze046933

Find out more:

Great state. Great opportunity. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PREVIEW

The coatings dramatically cut coal handling and preparation plant centrifuge basket maintenance.

Increased durability and water security in water tanks.

Liquid storage solutions AUSTRALIAN-owned Rhino Water Tanks will showcase their range of liquid storage solutions that are suitable for a range of mining applications on stand 7011. As a worldleading manufacturer of polyethylene-lined corrugated steel tanks, with holding capacities of 26,000L to 2.3 million litres, Rhino Water Tanks are a one-stop shop for the resource sector due to their tanks’ suitability to providing water storage for temporary new mine sites and accommodation, fire services, truck washes and onsite operations during the actual mining process. Rhino Tanks’ Zinacalume or ‘Colourbond’ tanks are a modular tank solution that provides a cost-effective water storage solution, which complies with relevant Australian Standards and is commonly utilised in desalination plant infrastructure, water treatment projects and RO plants. Exporting to over 25 countries globally, Rhino has many of Australia’s largest mining companies within their customer base. Made from Bluescope Steel, Rhino’s roof trusses and fasteners are dipped galvanised for added strength and corrosion resistance. Rhino Tanks’ have been fabricating their own internal tank liners in their manufacturing factor for over 20 years, drawing on the latest welding techniques and state-of-the-art machinery to produce liners of the highest quality. The new Infinity Liner, exclusive to Rhino Tanks, is a world-leading liner fabric technology that offers extra layers of strength and durability to storage tanks, as a result of its food grade, UV treated, multi-layered Metallocene film, which is laminated onto pre-existing reinforced polyethylene liner. Rhino also provides a high-grade commercial liner XR-3 that is suitable for harsh liquids with high chemical components or industrial waste. Rhino Tanks is also a distributor for worldrenowned Permastore manufactured water tanks that are suitable for projects up to 50 million litres. Permastore has over 50 years’ experience in offering water storage products and are commonly utilised for large-scale desalination plants and town water supply projects, along with mine sites that require multi-functional tank configuration options. The glass-fused-to-steel construct of Permastore tanks is ideal for housing large masses of water, effluent storage, anaerobic digestion, leachate storage and general water treatment, in harsh environments due to its optimum corrosion resistance. • Rhino Water Tanks Peter Jefferies 1800 632 410 peterj@rhinotanks.com.au www.rhinotanks.com.au

Industrial surface solution ADVANCED engineered surface solutions will be on display at M&E NSW, with LaserBond set to showcase their innovative surface technology on stand 2046. According to the company it is designed to increase the operational efficiency of machinery, reduce the frequency of maintenance and its associated costs. LaserBond are a long established company that specialises in the manufacture of components and assemblies for capital intensive industries, which require optimised surface solutions to achieve better efficiency, productivity and service life. The laser cladding systems, coatings or overlays from Laserbond feature a full metallurgical bond, which allows their customers to deposit precise layers of material, with minimal heat input and no undesired metallurgical side effects. Additionally, LaserBond’s products are able to be applied to pre-existing components and assemblies to reduce maintenance and operating costs, with their portfolio of technologies able to restore most industrial components. The formation of LaserBond coincided with the significant development of High Pressure High Velocity Oxy Fuel (HP HVOF) as a new form of thermal spraying that substantially increased the quality and performance of thermally sprayed coatings, whilst broadening the range of potential coating applications. As a result of focusing on supporting the development of HP HVOF and the increase in appropriate applications, LaserBond have been able to establish their status as a technical leader in the thermal spray market. LaserBond recently received commendation from operators of Anglo American’s Drayton open-cut mine in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW, which produces approximately four million tonnes of high quality thermal coal per annum and is processes the coal through the Drayton Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP). With a functional capacity of 2000 tonnes per hour, the CHPP utilises large centrifugal equipment to wash the coal. The CHPP estimate that over 40 per cent of their washing related costs derive from the frequent replacement and maintenance of centrifuge screens, which are subject to abrasive wear from fine coal slurry. Operators at the plant found LaserBond’s coated fine coal centrifuge baskets lasted three times longer, with no change in dewatering performance and allowed the coal to be washed more effectively. • LaserBond Francis Bonomini 02 4631 4500 francisb@laserbond.com.au www.laserbond.com.au

New access doors launched ENGINEERING Services & Supplies (ESS) will showcase their recently released safety innovation the EZI-GUARD and launch the Combi-Safe Access Door, at the Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW) Exhibition on stand 9030. As specialists within the Bulk Material Handling industry, ESS provides a range of solutions that are designed to eliminate challenges such as spillage, carryback, blockages and dust control of fugitive material. ESS developed products are designed to provide a Total Material Handling® solution by eliminating operational inefficiencies at conveyor transfer points to ensure a safer, cleaner and more productive system, which increases productivity and cost-effectiveness. The

September 2014

AustralianMining

extensive product range developed and manufactured by ESS includes conveyor belt cleaners; skirting sealing systems; belt training devices; impact cradles; support bars; air blasters; and access doors. The ESS EZI-GUARD is a system comprising of several versatile and easily installable brackets, lightweight panels and standard structural tubing to form an ‘off the shelf’ system, which is adaptable to almost any materials handling application including corrosive environments. The EZI-Guard solution is enhances the safety of operators by reducing the dangers associated with moving parts and pinch points of machinery, whilst avoiding the usual manual handling

problems of heavy and cumbersome guards. At M&E NSW, ESS will be displaying a fully operational conveyor belt system that demonstrates many of their products in operation, along with their highly trained team who will be able to handle queries about products or solve issues attendees may have in their Bulk Material Handling processes. ESS offer design, installation, inspection and maintenance services across their extensive product range and have been dedicated to providing ‘Safer, Cleaner, More Productive Bulk Material Handling Solutions’ for over 25 years. • Engineering Services & Supplies www.esseng.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PREVIEW

Hand protection

Magnetic maintenance solutions

INTERNATIONAL Magnetic Solutions (IMS) will market their magnetic products and services on stand 7014 at M&E NSW. IMS designs, manufactures and develops a range of complete magnetic solutions and products, in addition to providing an extensive test and repair service of magnetic PERFORMANCE on Hand will be equipment. By utilising the expertise of their magnet specialists, toolmakers and fitters IMS is demonstrating its newest protective able to repair any item of magnetic equipment and offers onsite testing of Magnetic Wet Drum gloves at M&E NSW. Separators. This repair service offering enables IMS to determine the condition of the magnets The company will be showcasing its newly within the drums, identify defective magnets that are reducing operational efficiency and restore released Bollwerk rCat gloves at the show. all makes of Magnetic Wet Drum Separators to a fully operational condition. According to Performance on Hand, IMS’s repair processes includes the lifting and handling of drums, which is easily conducted using when it begun the journey to create the their specifically designed Certified Drum lifting and transport carriages. IMS’s comprehensive new protective gloves it focused on the testing service is able to address the issues of controlling media density, which has a significant individuals who needed this product. Its bearing on operational performance, as well as solve issues such as magnetite sticking, partner is a world-leading procurement, flocculating together or getting missed by magnetic separators. engineering, construction and fabrication IMS’s Scale Busta solution is a product that removes the ‘concrete-hard’ scale build-up within company that provides infrastructure water pipes, sprays and pumps in underground mines or CHPP’s to ensure pipes are performing at and environmental services throughout their operational best. This solution is also ideal for treating water problems such as salinity, iron Australia and the world. and corrosion and stops the scale build-up in motor cooling jackets, cooling towers and blockage Performance on Hand claims that there of belting systems spray bars. has never before been a high protection The Scale Busta operates by producing a very intense magnetic field through a pipe wall that Exceeds cut level 5 by 250%. safety glove that works like the rCat. allows the water within to breaking down extreme mineral concentrations that are commonly We have created a product that found in underground mining applications. This also allows operators with the benefit of being able independent testing and certification has shown to exceed the highest to test effectiveness of magnetic water conditioning by removing the scale within water extraction cut level of five by 250 per cent using the ISO 13997 standard. pipes and other water infrastructure. The Scale Busta is commonly used for the following The rCat has a fully Hydrophobic SureGrip palm that resists both underground mining applications such as out flush lines, incoming lines, clean water lines, dam oil and water, meaning it not only keeps the hand dry but it also water lines, feed cooling water to equipment, on water coolers, heat exchangers, on old metal or promotes the best grip possible in any environment. polyethylene pipes and in preventing scale-build within new installations. It also has exoSkellet impact protection on the back of the hand, The features and benefits of adopting the Scale Busta solution are that it is proven in a range of fingers, and knuckle, with the finger of each glove featuring split underground mining, industrial and agricultural applications; easy to install and compatible with finger reinforcement that fosters articulation and dexterity. existing 6 inch; requiring no extensions; adds a minimal 40kg to the pipe section weight and is • Performance on Hand only 350mm in diameter; removes pre-existing scale and prevents future build-up of scale. 1300 731 336 • International Magnetic Solutions www.performanceonhand.com A M0 3 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ P C M 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 2 - 1 9 T 1 2 : 0 3 : www.imsolution.com.au 5 0 + 1 1 : 0 0

Highly Abrasive Slurries? No worries…

PCM has been supplying the mining industry for more than 80 years with reliable pumping solutions and services. PCM is the original inventor of the progressive cavity pump, which is ideally suited for the most abrasive, corrosive slurries and fragile flocculants. Our success is due to adapting our products to suit your needs.

PCM Engineers are ready to provide you with user-friendly pumping solutions that maximise productivity and reduce your operating costs. your positive displacement pump and system provider

PCM, investing in Australia.

Find out your PCM local representative in Melbourne:

www.miningaustralia.com.au

+61 (0)3 9562 9679

AustralianMining

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PREVIEW

Mining lighting

Nissan has launched the NP300 Navara, the 12th generation of its ute.

New Nissan Navara THE all-new Nissan NP300 Navara is the 12th generation of its hard-working pickup, embodying Nissan’s legacy of excellence and trust in this highly demanding segment, and now with new levels of comfort, convenience and advanced technologies. Backed by Nissan’s 80 years of global pickup truck know-how and legendary reliability, the NP300 Navara meets the needs of demanding individuals and business owners alike. The all-new model boasts highly competitive fuel economy, improved acceleration and easier operation, a more rigid and durable frame, as well as modern yet tough and strong design. The new Nissan NP300 Navara achieves lower overall running costs through a combination of improvements in powertrain performance and a reduction in body mass. Exterior refinements include a reduction in roof height and higher ground clearance, as well as a larger loading area The Nissan NP300 Navara will be represented by a wide range of body types and powertrain options when it goes on sale locally early next year. Narrow- and wide-body types, king and double cab models, as well as all-wheel drive and two-wheel drive types will underpin the comprehensive all-new Navara catalogue. Occupants will feel the clear influence of Nissan’s SUV leadership in the new Navara, through the intuitive ergonomic design and use of high quality materials, and thanks to easier ingress and egress as well as improved refinement and visibility. Overall, the interior is spacious and comfortable, offering convenience for hard-working entrepreneurs and the quiet relaxation of a well isolated space for family journeys. The material selection and elaborate treatment such as double stitching fully express its high quality and sophistication. “Since we built our first pickup in 1933, over 14 million customers around the globe have come to depend on a Nissan pickup to transport their families, workmates and cargo, sometimes in the toughest of circumstances, “explained Andy Palmer, Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer. “Nissan pickups are often the lifeblood of their communities, and they need a broader range of abilities than almost any other vehicle. Engineering a good one isn’t easy, but with the NP300 Navara, we’ve added to our accumulated 80 years of Pickup know-how, more comfort, convenience and SUV-inspired features, in-order to build a great one.“ “The Nissan New NP300 Navara sets new benchmarks for performance, toughness, versatility and running costs; all the qualities that are critical for pickup users,” adds Palmer While life-on-board is comfortable and convenient, the NP300 Navara has been designed and developed to easily and confidently handle heavy loads, while allowing ease of loading and unloading. Underneath, the NP300 Navara’s high-strength chassis and suspension have been engineered to take the punishment of intense daily usage, reflecting the expectations of pick-up customers around the world. Among the other improvements to the NP300 Navara’s characteristics are a reduced turning circle, reflecting the importance of agility and manoeuvrability in city driving. Overall, the new Nissan NP300 Navara provides fleet and individual owners improved productivity in the field and comfort on the road. This is thanks to the high quality engineering that has delivered a tough and durable frame along with a range of high performance powertrains, all wrapped in a striking design inside and out for a premium ownership experience. “We are confident that the all-new Nissan NP300 Navara will go straight to the top of pickup buyers’ shopping lists in all of the markets where we will sell it,” said Andy Palmer. “It’s combination of striking looks, efficient performance, robustness and durability will allow owners to work and play harder – enriching their daily lives. The NP300 Navara continues the legacy of Nissan’s long pickup history and, like all Nissan models; it will deliver excitement through innovation.” • Nissan Motor Co. (Australia) 07 3345 0600 joeanne_fox@nissan.com.au www.nissan.com.au

September 2014

AustralianMining

HELLA Mining Australia will market their comprehensive Lighting Application Design Service at the 2014 Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW) Exhibition, on stand 3064, in addition to their extensive range of lighting solutions and Mining lighting application design services. products. The Hella Lighting Application Design Service is a unique service offering for Hella customers, end users and OEMs, which provides them with simulated designs to accurately evaluate and review potential lighting solutions; including their projected cost and safety benefits. By using appropriate methods and proven technology, Hella Mining can provide customised solutions that are engineering-based and application-focussed. The Hella Lighting Application Design Service incorporates application 3D lighting designs; project-specific product selection; cost savings calculator; install training and product field trials; and measure, not theoretical modelling. Hella’s Lighting Application Design Service extends to both fixed and mobile plant lighting designs, with the final design contained in a clear and concise document that can be easily presented to all stakeholders and integrated into mine site maintenance documentation systems. This provides customers with greater safety, lower operating costs, greater productivity, reduced maintenance, reliable service and better value. By combining decades of lighting expertise from a range of industries globally and sophisticated lighting design software, the Hella team are able to understand the unique visual, environmental and operational requirements of the mining industry; to deliver both installation assessments and on-going consultation. The Hella Mining Center of Excellence, created in Australia ten years ago, was established to design, develop and manufacture ground-breaking products specifically for the mining industry. Hella utilises its research, engineering and logistical expertise to produce world class lighting solutions, which meet global industry standards and are applicable for mining operations throughout the world. Hella Mining products frequently meet the needs of mining companies from around the world, with the concept of Technology with Vision demonstrating their commitment to exceed customer expectations, through the production of high-quality lighting products that fulfil the harshest of industry requirements in an advance, efficient and professional manner. • Hella Australia Andrew Glavich 03 9581 9278 andrew.glavich@ha.hella.com www.hella.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PREVIEW

Mine collosion avoidance technology PYOTT-Boone Electronics (PBE) will be showcase various products from their product range that are suited to mining applications, including their Proximity Alert System (PAS), on stand 6083 at the Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW) Exhibition. PBE’s mine safety technology has a long standing presence in the Australian mining industry and is designed to improve mine site safety for both human personnel and equipment. The Proximity Alert System is designed to enhance workplace safety by reducing risks of collisions through asset and personnel detection and warning. The PAS incorporates the following technological features to achieve this solution including 900 MHz bidirectional tags (suitable for vehicles, obstacles and personnel)l; 900 MHz tag readers (installed in vehicles); electromagnetic proximity sensors (used for close range detection); RADAR (used for mid-range detection – Optional); GPS Tracking modules for surface tracking; and real time video surveillance (Optional). Beyond the high resolution screen and audible warnings, ambient coloured lights provide drivers with additional warning notifications; which is enhanced by a comprehensive and secure setup menu. The option of real-time video surveillance also provides views of blind-spots at the touch of a button for further driver security and safety. The PAS also utilises Geofencing technology to alert drivers to pre-defined physical hazards, like feeders, dump zones and load-outs. These Geofences act as invisible barriers, which emit an alert or warning as these hazards approach; the PAS allows for up to 32 individual Geofences to be created. The PAS is managed by PBE’s MineBoss technology, which has recently been updated to MINEBOSS 2.0 and provides a unique solution for displaying the location of miners and equipment throughout any underground mine, tunneling operation or industrial facility. MineBoss provides the integration and visibility for site-wide activity and allows control from a centralised location; making your mine site safer. MineBoss is able to provide a monitoring and reporting system to improve behaviour correction, beyond just providing a collision warning, by utilising multiple detection technologies; multiple object recognition; overlapping detection technologies for redundancy and safety, customisable user interface options. This site management solution is suited to applications including: air flow, battery charging stations, fans, fire extinguishers, mine offices, power centres, pump control, water level and weight scales. • PBE Group 03 8877 8910 AHubka@pbegrp.com www.pbegrp.com

Industrial recycling AS first time exhibitors to the Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW) Exhibition, Worth Recycling will display their comprehensive environmental treatment and waste collection capabilities on stand 4040. With over ten years’ experience working within the Hunter Valley region across numerous industrial sites, Worth Recycling are an ISO accredited industry leader in the collection, transportation, processing and recycling of liquid, sludge and solid waste. This service offering includes solid waste collection and treatment – including contaminated soils, waste grease, oily rags and empty drums; liquid waste collection a treatment – including oily water, waste coolants and blast oil; engineered waste collection solutions and technology; and industrial cleaning and super suckers. Worth also provides an industrial cleaning service, operates their EPA Licensed Waste Treatment Plants and utilises a diverse range of equipment, which allows them to be able to find and pass-on cost savings for waste collection to mining companies through direct contracts. By adopting Worth’s cost-effective and efficient waste service solutions, mining companies are afforded the following benefits such as state of the art and modern equipment inventory, including the Combo Unit/Super Vac for onsite unblocking of drains and pits, cleaning of heavy vehicle wash-bays and washing broken-down equipment ready for the workshop; significant financial savings across all hydrocarbon based wastes by utilising their own EPA licensed facilities; and staff with years of experience in servicing the mining. Worth has invested in a range of non-destructive digging units, which can be small and economical enough to do one pothole or large enough to ensure that onsite production is maximised by large holding capacity spoil tanks. Worth Recycling are also licensed to remove/dispose of non-friable asbestos impacted materials. • Worth Recycling www.worth.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

Wi-Fi, RFID tagging, and digital radio communications systems designed for mining.

Mining communications GENCOM Two Way Radio are set to showcase a range of communication solutions for above and underground mining, on stand 8024 at the M&E NSW Exhibition. These new communications platforms are designed to increase operation efficiency and mine site performance. As the largest supplier of two way radio communications solutions to the mining and energy sector in NSW, Gencom has deployed significant digital radio platforms for both open cut coal mining and hard-rock underground mining such as the Tetra, P25 and MotoTRBO (DMR). Gencom is Motorola’s Preferred Partner in Minerals & Energy, having been awarded the Motorola Solutions Partner of the Year Award in 2013, which stemmed from their expertise in mine site WiFi and Mesh networks, point to point backhaul links and traditional voice communications. Gencom also has extensive competencies in emergency management; alarm escalation; process control and telemetry; RFID tagging; ruggedised mobile computing for industry; access control; remote worker; stockpile monitoring; gas detection. At M&E NSW, Gencom will be showcasing several solutions from their 4RF, Motorola, Damm, Sepura and Cambium Networks product ranges, including the 4RF’s Aprisa product range and the Motorola MotoTRBO Digital Radio System. The Aprisa product range, developed by market leaders 4RF who specialise in data communications solutions for remote monitoring applications, is specifically designed for the harshest conditions by offering narrow and wide band solutions for well-head monitoring, pump/process control and environmental monitoring. The Motorola MotoTRBO Digital Radio System is a the digital radio platform choice for the mining and energy sector when a soft-upgrade path from analogue is required and are able to replace existing radios onsite until a critical mass is achieved, when a digital switchover can take place, due to their Analogue Mode feature. • Gencom www.gencom.com.au

Pipe system couplings GEORG Fischer are set to display their piping system solutions, with a particular focus on their electrofusion couplers, at the Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW) Exhibition on stand 3045. Constructing large dimension pipelines presents various challenges and requires pipeline components to be specifically designed, which is why GF Piping System’s electrofusion couplers for water and gas applications are design to provide a quick, reliable, durable and safe connection for your pipes and spigot fittings due to the active reinforcement. The coupler range available from GF Piping Systems consists of two main types of categories based on the technology they incorporate. The d900-d1200mm couplers feature a flex groove design that provides a more effective joint as a result of special geometry and wall thickness, with the d355-d800mm couplers providing active re-enforcement through refined and proven pipe-in-pipe technology. GF Piping System’s coupler range features active reinforcement, which ensures a more comprehensive solution when compared to rival products. This unique operating feature is derived from manufacturing technology and provides a stronger or ‘fused’ connection by pressing the outer pipe over the inner pipe, which is fused by heating the inner ring, whilst applying pressure through the reinforcement ring on the outside, to ensure gaps are eliminated and the expansion of the coupler is prevented. By applying constant pressure from the outside during the cooling process the coupler shrinks onto the pipe. • Georg Fischer www.georgfischer.com AustralianMining

September 2014

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2014-08-26T15:26:59+10:00

BOOK REVIEW

Author interview:

Kristin Weidenbach Blue Flames: Black Gold. An Australian resources history.

arlier this year author these huge bits of kit, infraKristin Weidenbach structure into the middle of put the finishing touch- the desert, things that had es on a long term project, de- never been done before, and tailing the history Australia’s I suppose that these days it most iconic gas company. seems more routine. The history of Santos “Back then they had has been carefully, compre- some Americans and Canahensively trapped in a single dians who knew about it, tome, entitled Blue Flames, but none of the Australians Black Gold. had done this before. This incredibly detailed “It seemed very seat-ofwork of history captures your-pants, very tough gomany of the most important ing.” moments in the history of With more than 40 key a company that helped to identities interviewed for shape the energy landscape this in-depth study, one of of several Australian cities. the most notable figures to Weidenbach spent well appear between the pages over two years working on is Alan Bond, the man who this, and interviewed some once bought 37.5 per cent of 40 people in the research Santos only to be knocked phase of the project, in- down by SA government cluding all of the surviving legislative changes against managing directors, chair- anyone owning than 15 per men, geologists, journalists, cent of the company. financial analysts, and even “Alan Bond was the drillers. most memorable, in terms of The author said she tried celebrity factor I suppose,” to get all the different staff Weidenbach said. from the company, not just “He was really accomthose at the top, including modating, and as much as interviews with drillers and he could be, his involvement some of the old construction was back in 1978, so that’s workers from Moomba who a long time ago and I guess were involved with building he hasn’t really thought the original gas plant back much about Santos for a in the 60s. long time. The key differences be“But he reflected on the tween the modern gas indus- personalities in the company try and exploration during he was involved with, and the 60s that Weidenback no- what he was like back then ticed in her research involved and how he had changed the level of existing knowl- over the years… it was good edge about how to start large to get his insight and comgas projects. ments to add to all the re“Pioneering is really the search I had done.” word that comes up all the Weidenbach observed time,” she said. that she understood Santos “It was something that and South Australia may no-one had really done be- have held some bad blood fore, to build a pipeline and for Bond, and that his help bring gas to the capital cities in adding to research on the of Adelaide, Melbourne and book added a little flavour Brisbane, they all got gas in that might not have been the same year, and the peo- found elsewhere. ple involved had to learn as “He had done nothing they went. wrong at all, he bought the “They had to take all shareholding in good faith 60 September 2014 AustralianMining

and the government retrospectively legislated against it,” she said. “The press and the shareholders association all said the move was scandalous, and Bond said he would never invest in South Australia again. ‘I don’t even like to fly over it’ he had been known to say.” But what is involved in producing such a detailed history, in 430 pages, of our most significant resources company? Weidenback said the hardest part of the journey was doing the research. “I started out by sitting down and reading 57 annual reports… You have to get all that background information before you can go ahead and start doing the interviews,” she said. “The difficulty was the amount of material, and the geographic spread of the company, as well as the nomenclature to cover, because the names of the different permits changed over the years.” However, her favourite part of the book comes in the last chapter, with a little story about a Texan named John who had bought four hundred stock units in bearer shares. “He finally got in touch with Santos in 2013, and I happened to be sitting next to the share registrar at Santos, briefly while I was doing some research there, and she said to me ‘you might like to hear about this guy

who has got in touch with us’,” Weidenbach said. “Once they chased up all the two-for one share issues and dividends he was entitled to, he was paid out about $90,000. “When I talked to him about getting the money he said it was lucky he’d taken his heart medication that night. It’s a nice little story at the end.” Anyone who has had anything to do with the gas industry, whether greasing pipe or trading shares, will certainly find Blue Flames, Black Gold an interesting read. In particular the book has a lot in store for anyone aspiring to be a part of the production industry, such as a geologist, to get an idea of what’s in store for a career in gas exploration. Weidenbach said she thinks anyone in the industry will enjoy it, as it covers the development of the whole oil and gas industry in Aus-

tralia, but also that she wrote it with the hope that readers interested in Australian history would enjoy it. “I tried to make it accessible for them: It is pretty technical in places, and there’s lots of industry jargon in there, but I tried to make it a story that general readers would like as well… there is so much social history and political history, particularly for South Australia. “I had some nice comments about the book: The company secretary, who had worked for Santos in the 60s and retired in the 2000s, he wrote a lovely letter when he received his copy of the book, saying that even after all that time with the company there were still things he learned from the book about Santos. “It was nice to think that even people with such a lot of knowledge still had something to learn from the book.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0414_009.indd 1

26/03/14 5:40 PM

AM0914_062

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2014-08-28T13:46:34+10:00

CRANES & LIFTING

Manitou makes mine-spec mods in Italy The world’s most recognisable telehandlers have had some serious developments leading up to their 40th birthday in Australia, including the Mining Competency Centre, and the new 4-tonne super-sized telehandlers.

anitou Australia was first set up as a subsidiary of the French company in 2005, but the original Manitou rough terrain forklifts were first imported to Australia 40 years ago. Since then the Manitou rough terrain telehandler has become indispensable in mining construction and production. Manitou Australia managing director Stuart Walker is very enthusiastic about the level of service that Manitou provides to the mining industry through the modification of mine-specification machines at the new Mining Competency Centre in Italy. “We have just delivered the first of the mine-spec machines prepared in Italy at the Mining Competency Centre,” he said. “We actually decided to launch the machine in production based on an MDG15 specification, which is basically what we consider to be the mandatory specifications you always need for mine machinery based on mandatory requirements we’ve observed around the world.” MDG15 is the guideline for mobile and transport-

able equipment for use in mines, which assists in assessing the safety standards relevant to mines, surface of underground mines and product processing plants. Recently Manitou Australia has delivered a minespec, 22.5 tonne telehandler to BHP Billiton in WA. “It was specifically bought with a cylinder handler for grabbing the hydraulic cylinders on mobile plant for maintenance, it’s quite a specialised bit of machinery.” Walker said the new centre in Italy is an important part of servicing the high standards of mining clients in Australia. “You can use a standard machine, but you can’t just take a standard machine and put it to work on a minesite and expect it to perform to the expectations of those clients,” he said. “That is why some of our machines, which come from our French manufacturing facility, will be shipped to our Mining Competency Facility in Italy where they are prepared specifically for mining operations. “They’re obviously

An artist’s conception drawing of the supersized handler.

September 2014

AustralianMining

working in very harsh environments, long hours, difficult terrains, so what we do now is we take the competencies that we’ve learned from research with clients around the world and we modify the machines from the factory.” The Manitou forklifts and telehandlers are kitted out for full MDG15 wiring compliance, hydraulics, lowered cabs, failsafe braking, as well as a whole range of modifications specifically for the mining industry. “What a lot of people don’t realise is that the telehandler in the Manitou range doesn’t comply with the underground braking re quirements,” Walker said.

“People think you can take a machine off a construction site and put it in an underground mine, but of course it won’t be compliant and will run into a few problems.” “So we’ve done a lot of work in the last three years to bring this online, which is kind of ironic because the boom is over, but we’re very well positioned to service our clients, new and old,” Walker said. Thanks to the post-boom increased production there is still demand for our support vehicles, so we think what we’ve learned in the last few years will help us to make sure our support structures are correct, but also the product that we deliver conforms to the correct specifications.” Walker said that in the post-boom economy Manitou has seen a slight drop in sales of around 20 per cent, which he thinks is related to the slowdown in investment, in particular with the resources infrastructure construction sector. “In terms of machines that are actually utilised in mining, so that means ma-

chines that are used around washbays, machines that are utilised in the maintenance of heavy plant, tyre handlers and machines with underground applications, we haven’t really seen a huge drop off. “There has been a slight decline, because obviously budgets are tighter in terms of the way people are assessing and looking at their needs on the mining operations, but we haven’t seen it fall off the cliff.” Manitou is continuing to develop its systems to evolve in the industry, including for comfort and fuel efficiency, and significant investment in research and development has kept them ahead of the pack, and the new 35 and 40 tonne supersized telehandlers which were announced in March this year are now available for sale in Australia. Manitou has already delivered the first of this range to a client in South Africa. Manitou has also released some concept art for feeling out the future of how telehandlers will look, which will no doubt have clients visualising the new look of telehandlers in years to come. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_000_ADA

2014-08-18T11:18:29+10:00

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AM0914_064

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2014-08-21T11:17:24+10:00

CRANES & LIFTING

The cut of their jib A new crane has been developed giving operators greater movement awareness and reach.

erex has developed a new “This crane offers extremely range of luffing jib tower high lifting capacities and reach as cranes, which have two and well as ease of transport and assemhalf times the load moment than the bly,” the company stated. previous largest Terex crane. The CTL 1600 has a maximum Dubbed the CTL 16000 crane, it freestanding height of 89 metres on also has a ten metre longer jib than a concrete base and 88 metres on a the previous model. chassis. “We have decades of experience It uses HD 33 tower segments, in luffing jib cranes. To create the which come equipped with preCTL 1600 tower crane, we tapped assembled tower platforms, aluinto all we knew about them and minium ladders, multiple lifting went a step further,” Marco Gen- points, and Terex’s new “Engage tilini, vice president and general System”. manager for Terex Tower Cranes, “This crane offers extremely high explained. lifting capacities and reach as well Topping the existing Terex tow- as ease of transport and assembly,” er crane portfolio of eight CTL luff- Terex said. ing jib models, the new extra large Apart from being the largest and CTL 1600 crane provides heavy heaviest lifting model in the Terex lifting power with easy assembly, luffing jib tower crane range, the operator comfort, and increased job CTL 1600 also has a number of site safety. innovative features focused on inIt has a maximum lifting capac- creased performance, ease of assemity of 66 tonnes, a maximum load bly, and safety. moment of 1600 metres tonnes, and These features include the standis equipped with 75 - ard1 jib 2walkways A M0 9 1 4 _ an 0 0extra 0 _ Tlong RI M 0 1 4 - 0and 8 -handrails 1 4 T 1 0for : a3 4 : 1 7 + 1 0 : 0 0 metre jib. safe working at heights environment

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September 2014

AustralianMining

The tower crane has two and a half times the load movement of previous Terex crane models.

for technicians during set up and maintenance. All of its hoisting and luffing winch drums are linked to their own separate emergency braking system, which at the press of a button stops operation quickly, but at a gradual enough pace to avoid blocking or the potential of ropes whipping. An anti-collision system helps the operator plan and execute life while avoiding collisions with other cranes or nearby buildings. Two cameras linked to an operator display screen increase the user’s visibility and enable the operator to zoom in and out as required to gain a better understanding of proximity. A folding platform and folding A-frame which can be transported in a single piece on one standard truck slashes transportation costs and aids cost-efficiencies. An automatic slewing ring lubri-

cation feature also means less time is spent on maintenance. The CTL 1600 also has a third hoist on the counter job that can be used as a service derrick for assembly. It is also equipped with two pull lines that combine the ability of heavy lifting with fast lifting speeds. Ergonomics were also in focus during its development, with the crane featuring a Terex Cranes EVO 15 operator cab. Built with feedback from users, the EVO 15 cab features five large windows for excellent visibility; for ventilation, its front window and back door open; while sliding sunscreen blinds are available for side, front and upper windows. An all stainless-steel electronics panel is located in the cabin platform providing excellent protection from different weather conditions. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-08-28T13:25:41+10:00

CRANES & LIFTING

Taking stress out of maintenance A couple of lads from Newcastle have taken their experience in the Hunter Valley coal mines and brought a new belly jack to makes field maintenance around Australia safer.

im Lightfoot and Kevin Cant of MITS are a pair of tradesmen doing big things and helping to improve safety for miners globally. It was while working on a Rio Tinto mine that Kevin Cant was inspired to work on a safe way to change belly plates on CAT bulldozers, after a near miss. Cant had been assigned the job of changing belly plates in the field at night, using slings and cumalongs to lower the plate; however a slipped sling resulted in a belly plate being dropped, which narrowly missed Cant on the way down. Although there were already air operated A D _ Abelly M B Rjacks E M A on R _ the 1 2 mar. pd ket, these were designed mainly for

workshop use, so Cant set about designing a hydraulic, track-mounted belly jack that could operate in rugged terrain. The belly jack cuts time and costs of plate changeouts in half. Lightfoot had already started his safety-oriented company MITS year after the AIMEX trade show,” is using it as a safety lifting device. (Mining Industrial Trade Suppliers), Lightfoot said. The track-mount system funcso he and Cant joined forces to de“When I was a contractor I trav- tions like a skid steer, so it’s easy to velop the new product. elled around the Hunter Valley quite manoeuvre into position. Since coming onto the market a bit, so I had a lot of contacts on “It’s just a damned good prod18 months ago the TED belly plate different sites, which made it a lot uct,” Lightfoot said, searching for a jack has since received a lot of at- easier when it came to getting peo- way to explain its fast success. tention, around Australia and on the ple on board.” “Anyone with half a clue, who US market. The jack, which has a WLL of knows what they’re doing out there, So far a number of companies 800kg, is remote controlled mean- knows that this is really going to imhave picked up the device, including ing the worker doesn’t have to prove their safety. Theiss (all sites nationally), Glen- be anywhere near it during opera“It cuts costs in half; it takes core, Rio Tinto, Peabody Energy, tion. 25 minutes to change a set of belly out while in use plates using TED, but up to 70 minf Yancoal P a g and e 1Anglo-American. 1 7 / 0 2 / 1 2 , 1 2 : It1can 1 be P locked M “We struck pretty hard last to prevent operation while a worker utes using the old way.”

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September 2014

AM0914_066

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2014-08-28T13:31:16+10:00

CRANES & LIFTING

The high tech future of lifting Synthetic braid rope has been in use in the maritime industry for some time, but onshore in Australia we are starting to see new recognition for the technology, which has a number of advantages when compared with traditional steel cable.

nly in the last 12 months we’ve seen Bullivants begin to supply Samson’s 98mm synthetic braid, which is being used at BMA’s Peak Downs operation for dump ropes for dragline operations on open cut coal mines. Synthetic is lightweight and easy to handle, and by diameter even stronger than flexible steel wire rope. Braid is also perfect for winching and recovery, due to the ease of handling, storage and transport, which makes it quite popular for use in recreational settings. For use on draglines, the synthetic rope has three main advantages, A M0 9 1 4 _ 0 0targeted 0 _ UNI after preliminary testing on

Colour/ Code

Rio Tinto sites in the Hunter the additional payload that Valley. can be lifted by the gear. First, the dragline dump With the rope weighing 500rope is super light at 100kg, 900kg less, this represents whereas a traditional steel more product the dragline dump rope weighs some- can safely lift, a huge boost where in the order of a tonne. for productivity over time. Installation of steel rope Synthetic ropes have therefore requires use of a also made some exiting new mobile crane, while a syn- developments in crane techthetic rope can be easily nology, with North Amerimanhandled, which saves on can manufacturer Samson installation time. recently releasing a new line Using synthetic braid, of rope called KZ100, the the changeout for a dragline first synthetic braided fibre rope is about seven minutes, suitable for use as hoist line whereas steel takes 30-40 for mobile cranes. minutes, which can mean This is the first time a huge savings in loss of pro- synthetic rope has been speductivity for the largest and cifically made for use as a most important machinery hoist line in cranage applicaon 2 site. 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 8 - 2 0tions, T 1 0and : 4there 9 : 5are 5 +a 1num0 : 0 0 The braid is lighter but provides increased lifting. The other advantage is ber of benefits to its use.

Rated WLL

Thickness Under Load

Width Under Load

Minimum Attachment Hardware Diameter

Minimum Load Edge Diameter

Minimum Load Edge Diameter with secutex® Sleeve

Maximum Length

Minimum Length

Weight Per Metre

mm approx.

metres

410100

1000

N/A

0.5

0.3

410200

2000

N/A

0.5

0.5 0.80

410300

3000

N/A

0.5

410400

4000

N/A

1.0

1.00

410500

5000

N/A

1.0

1.20

410600

6000

N/A

1.0

1.40 1.80

410800

8000

N/A

1.0

411010

10,000

N/A

1.5

2.2

411510

15,000

115

N/A

1.5

3.2

412010

20,000

135

N/A

1.5

4.4

412510

25,000

150

N/A

1.5

5.6

413010

30,000

170

N/A

1.5

7.4

414010

40,000

190

111

N/A

1.5

10.0

415010

50,000

190

195

N/A

1.5

13.0

416010

60,000

220

225

N/A

1.5

14.8

418010

80,000

230

258

N/A

1.5

20.0

419110

100,000

260

288

N/A

1.5

26.0

419210

125,000

120

325

120

360

N/A

1.5

33.8

419220

150,000

144

390

144

432

N/A

1.5

41.6

September 2014

AustralianMining

410100 - Violet

410500 - Red

410200 - Green

410600 - Brown

410300 - Yellow

410800 - Blue

410400 - Grey

411010 - Orange

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM0914_067

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2014-08-28T13:31:54+10:00

CRANES & LIFTING

The most practical benThe rope even strengthefit of synthetic rope is that ens under cold conditions, it is 80 per cent lighter than such that if the ambient non-rotating FSWR. This temperature is less than zero makes it much easier to han- celcius, the breaking strain of dle for riggers involved in the rope increases by 10 per checking the line, reeving, or cent. simply handling it in general. The new rope was deIn turn there is a signifi- veloped in conjunction with cant removal of the poten- Manitowoc Cranes, and tial for hand injuries from was named for the engineer broken wires while handling Karim Ziyad, who helped the rope. pioneer the use of synthetic The decrease in weight crane hoist ropes, but passed does not affect the strength, away in a cycling accident in however, in fact a load chart 2013. easily demonstrates the Unfortunately, the KZ100 most striking advantage of rope will be exclusively using synthetic braid versus available on Grove cranes, FSWR. as Manitowoc secured 24 At 16mm ordinary FSWR months of exclusive sales has a Safe Working Load of thanks to its involvement in two tonnes, and feels like it the development phase. weighs nearly as much. However, with six However, a 16mm months down, there’s only KZ100 rope only weighs 18 months before other reabout 170g per metre, yet tailers, including Bullivants, even keeping to a 5:1 safety will be able to sell the revofactor, the rope is good for lutionary new hoist line. an astonishing 21.4 tonnes. There is a legislative At 28mm FSWR is safe catch though, according to for approximately 6.3 tonnes, Bullivants specialist rope The braid decreases the risk of hand injury during handling. but the KZ100 can lift 60 manager Guy Duffy. tonnes, it _only Grove A M 0 yet 9 1 4 0 0 0weighs _ K O N - “There 1 2 0are 1 4 no - 0 issues 8 - 1 2 T 1 5 : crane 3 5 : 4if9 it’s + 1 0OEM : 0 0 catch with it is there’s no 500g per metre. with using the rope on a componentry, but the big Australian standard for

these high performance synthetic ropes,” he said. “It could fit in under federal specs from the US, but AS1380, which is the fibre rope standard in Australia has been withdrawn, they’re actually rewriting it, it’s 30 years old, so it may cover the synthetic ropes in the future.” Synthetic braid also has anti-wear properties, so that when running over sheaves the rope can compress and spring back into shape, unlike steel which wears the outer wires and requires lubrication to function safely. KZ100 and other forms of synthetic rope are covered with a proprietary coating, a substance which is the secret to the success of the high-performance synthetic ropes. “It’s the coating that makes it perform,” Duffy told Australian Mining. “They won’t even want to tell us what it is, so they can keep it secret… and we don’t want to know either: What we don’t know we can’t talk about.”

ARE YOUR CRANES FIT FOR THE FUTURE? Crane Reliability Study delivers the answers. Rising maintenance costs. Challenges to meet current production needs. Safety concerns. All problems crane owners face every day in a changing operating environment. Konecranes Crane Reliability Study (CRS) provides accurate information detailing the current condition & future needs of your crane. CRS guides maintenance and modernisation decisions and provides information to increase the safety and productivity of your crane. Visit www.konecranes.com/CRS and learn more on how Crane Reliability Study helps you lift your business. 31 Sales and Service Locations across Australia and New Zealand. Ph / AU 1300 937 637 / NZ +64 9634 5322 Visit: www.konecranes.com.au Email: sales.australia@konecranes.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

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FUEL & OILS

FUELLING the industry W

hile major capital equipment costs hit mining companies hard, it is the everyday costs associated with keeping these pieces of capital equipment in top shape. When it comes to diesel fuel, there is no alternative, as the fuel is literally the life blood of the industry – without it every single part of the resources industry (as well as transport and logistics associated with it) grinds to a swift halt. Even when the proposed abolition of the diesel fuel rebate scheme reared its head, there was little the mining industry could do if it had passed, as fuel plays such as critical part in operations. In fact after labour costs fuel is the next biggest expense for miners. However there are steps miners can take to get more out of their fuel. Using more fuel economical vehicles, using advanced fuel formulations, using cleaner fuel – are all options for companies, to reduce their fuel bill. There have been concerted efforts by stakeholders in the fuel industry to ensure high standards of fuel quality, with one aspect being the development of the Worldwide Charter Standard by OEM’s, with an ISO code created to denote the quality of fuel. This three-digit code denotes the number of particles larger than 4 microns, 6 microns and 14 microns you would find in a sample of 100 millilitres of fluid. In other words, in 100 millilitres of oil or fuel with a WCS count of 18/16/13 you could have approximately two to four million particles larger than 4 microns, one to two million particles larger than six microns and between one hundred and thirty thousand and a quarter of a million dirt particles larger than fourteen microns. A fuel with a rating of 16/14/11 will have only a quarter the number of these particulates so it will be substantially cleaner. According to studies if fuel is cleaned to a cleanliness level of 16/14/11 compared to fuel 18/16/13, they estimate the average fuel saving could be as much as three per cent over the life of the vehicle. 68 September 2014 AustralianMining

New advances in clean fuel technology are helping miners get more out of their vehicles. The benefit of using clean fuel in modern mining machinery is significant in both costs and downtimes, added BP’s fuel technology experts. BP recently undertook a field trial with a large iron-ore mine in Western Australia, testing the effects of clean fuel on the engines of Caterpillar 793C dump trucks. After tests they observed a more than five per cent increase in power, 2.6 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and considerable reductions

in carcinogenic particulates and CO2 emissions when using clean fuel. The mine valued this improved productivity and engine durability in the tens of millions of dollars. BP Global mining technology manager John Appleyard was an integral member of the project team and explained why the company had invested heavily in a clean fuels project. “Achieving fuel cleanliness onsite is a difficult task,” he said.

After labour costs, diesel and gasoline are the largest expense for the mining industry.

“We wanted to help our customers keep fuel clean because it substantially improves fuel efficiency. “The Fuel Integrity and Technology (FIT) program is a comprehensive clean fuels strategy that can be personalised to any business in the mining industry.” The education of workers onsite is important in preventing fuel contamination because they are directly involved in the storage and handling. Trial participants also welcomed the fact that BP’s clean fuel program included an interactive training module that could be accessed online, took less than an hour and delivered the best-in-class fuel education for supervisors and operators. Appleyard said BP provided greater access to its global fuel technology experts. “Our mobile team conducts site assessments and audits on fuel facilities,” he said. “We use the results from these studies to provide personalised advice so our customers can prevent fuel contamination onsite.” The FIT program launch is supported by the continued rollout of Ultimate Diesel across the country, highlighted by a new supply point at the updated BP terminal in Gladstone. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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If what you do depends on Lime, talk to us.

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UNM13793

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Industrial sensors ADM Instrument Engineering presents the EYC THS84/85 series multifunction temperature and humidity sensors for industrial applications. Featuring built-in temperature compensation and linear correction to ensure accurate reading in harsh environments, EYC THS84/85 series humidity and temperature sensors have an operating temperature range of -40°C ~ +120°C for the THS84 sensor, and -40°C ~ +180°C for the THS85 sensor. The measurement sensors are available in a choice of two different output functions including relative humidity, absolute humidity, temperature, dew point, frost point, wet bulb temperature, vapour pressure, mixture ratio or specific enthalpy; or alternatively, a programmable version with MODBUS RS485 output. Standard output signal options include the industry standard 4-20ma, 0-10v and 0-5v as well as 0-20ma and 0-1v. The THS85 sensor can also be optionally supplied with a 2m or 5m fitted cable, or an industry standard M12 connector. The device can also be supplied with a fitted display. • ADM Instrument Engineering 1300 187 865 www.adminstrumentengineering.com.au

Generates up to 63 harmonics and dips and swells on all three channels.

Three phase power FLUKE Australia announces the launch of the new 6003A three phase electrical power source designed to cost-effectively provide the superior accuracy and performance of three independent phases in one compact device. Fluke Calibration’s 6003A electrical power sources offer the appropriate accuracy for calibration laboratories, with specifications of ±0.038 per cent for power and ±0.01 degree for phase. The compact form factor of the 6003A makes it easy to transport and maintain in manufacturing companies, electric utility meter shops, and organisations that manufacture, maintain, and calibrate power meters, energy meters, power quality analysers, and similar tools. Key benefits of the 6003A electrical power source include ability to deliver the accuracy and functions found in more expensive three-phase systems; three independent phases of precise voltage and current; ability to source power quality phenomena, including harmonics, interharmonics, and dip/swell variations; and measurement capabilities for DC voltage, DC resistance, and frequency for measuring outputs from power and energy transducers. The compact 6003A can be used to test workloads in situ, taking up less bench space, and is more cost effective to maintain than multi-piece units. Its graphical user interface enables users to set up complex harmonic signals quickly and easily while the simple operation allows new users to learn and become productive quickly. Specialised capabilities can be added to the electrical power source including an energy option, which adds a pulse counter and pulse output; a power quality option that enables the 6003A to calibrate power quality instrumentation by generating up to 63 harmonics. • Fluke Australia 1300 296 625 www.fluke.com.au

Slurry density gauges ULTRA-Dynamics Pty Ltd presents the densiMAG, a low cost, user-friendly and portable slurry density gauge designed for easy collection of process samples directly from plant and equipment. MAGNASAT technology provides fast density measurements of samples taken from process streams. The portable device can be operated by a single person and allows process samples to be collected from around the plant for measurement. Key features of densiMAG portable slurry density gauges include rugged enclosure containing the PLC, operator interface and density display; interconnection cable between the measurement housing and the PLC; sample analysis container and reference coil; and long handled probe for safe access into sample streams. The densiMAG portable slurry density gauge finds application in diamond processing plants; minerals sands plants; dense media circuits; jigging plants for metal recovery; iron ore processing plants; coal washeries; university research; and various industrial/minerals processing environments. Key benefits of densiMAG portable slurry density gauges include ease and speed of use allowing instant results; lightweight, rugged construction allowing use in plants. • Ultra-Dynamics www.ultradynamics.com.au

September 2014

AustralianMining

Eliminates risk of incidents arising from uncontrolled towed vehicle movements.

Mine tow hitches SOTO Consulting, a multi-discipline design engineering company and Leussink Engineering, a diverse and highly resourced manufacturer have collaborated to develop the SWIFTA and a Mine Tow Hitch, both designed to substantially increase underground mine safety. According to SOTO Consulting Managing Director, Mr Frank Soto, the 100 per cent domestic relationship lays a much higher emphasis on safety in design and manufacturing outcomes. He adds that engineers are better aware that anything designed, developed and manufactured by the SOTO-Leussink alliance will be made completely to relevant MDGs and Australian Standards. The two companies actively encourage managers and engineers from the mining sector to approach them with their challenges as it could lead to an innovative development. SWIFTA, the Safe Wheel Installation Fitting Transportation Apparatus is built for safer wheel changes where miner’s interacting with LHDs is a significant safety concern. The driver of the LHD can leave the ‘parked’ vehicle, move to the hydraulic control panel on the SWIFTA, and safely operate its functions to undertake the wheel change. However, controlling the operation without any obstruction and removing men from the potential ‘crush zone’ between the LHD and a shuttle car are the main features of SWIFTA. The Tow Hitch was developed to address the hazards miners are exposed to in underground mines when towing and moving large equipment. The Mine Tow Hitch maintains a rigid connection to increase control of movements while towing heavy equipment underground, such as shuttle cars and other rubber tyre machinery. Developed in consultation with mine operators at Centennial Coal Myuna to allow for the controlled and efficient transport of heavy equipment from the surface to within the coal seam of the mine, Tow Hitch provides superior features to other towing devices and is rated to 50T. Key advantages of the Mine Tow Hitch include eliminating risk of an incident caused by uncontrolled movement of the towed vehicle, reducing damage to machinery and infrastructure along the tow path; and lower manpower requirement for towing operations with an optional hydraulic steering/ braking kit utilised by the LHD driver to control these functions for a towed shuttle car. • SOTO Comsulting 02 4298 8888 www.sotogroup.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Tank washers

Loctite has released a fibreglass pipe repair tape that can be fit to odd shaped and sized pipes.

Pipe repair HENKEL has developed a new emergency pipe repair solution, and other emergency asset maintenance. The company has released the new Loctite pipe repair kit, which is an easy to apply fibre glass tape designed for the temporary repair of metal, plastic, and composite pipes. The tape can be applied to odd shape and sized pipes, and can be used in a range of different operating temperatures, from minus 29 degrees through to 121 degrees Celsius. It cures in 30 minutes, and is made from hi-viz material aid identification. The tape comes in 50 and 100 millimetre widths. In addition to this the company has also released Nordbak fast set steel putty and Fixmaster magna-crete. The fast set steel putty is a steel filled system that bonds to steel, cast iron, stainless steel, and other substrates and cures in 10 minutes - allowing for ultra-fast emergency repairs to reduce downtimes. It is typically used to repair fuel and gas tanks, leaks on pipes and welded joints, and repairing cracked battery cases. Fixmaster magna-crete is a unique two-component, rapid setting concrete repair and grouting system that out performs conventional concrete repairs under typical service temperatures ranging from -26 degrees to 1090 degrees Celsius. It is able to be used for light service in as little as 60 minutes and, unlike concrete, bonds to new and old concrete as well as most construction materials including wood, glass, and steel. With high impact resistance and high compression strength, it can be applied over existing structural reinforcements, and is typically used in repairing floors, loading docks, ramps, concrete pillars, and for areas affected by spalling corrosion • Henkel 1300 885 556 www.loctite.com.au

TECPRO Australia introduces the Breconcherry Tempest, a new range of high-flow jetting tank washers specially designed with longer nozzles to maximise power and efficiency in industrial tank cleaning applications. Recommended for precision cleaning of large vessels in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, coatings and transport industries, the Breconcherry Tempest tank washer features long nozzles that produce four heavy and highly focused jets rotating in a spiral pattern to provide a powerful 360° coverage. Powered entirely by the wash, the rotating head maintains an optimum jet peripheral velocity that maximises jet impingement and chemical dwell times. The short, efficient wash cycle minimises downtime as well as water, chemical and discharge water costs. The Breconcherry Tempest tank washers are designed for simple and cost-effective maintenance. Constructed from only 48 parts, which can be dismantled and reassembled in minutes, the unit can be serviced with the basic repair kit containing just 10 parts. Key features of the Breconcherry Tempest tank washers include sleek external design; selfcleaning backwash nozzles improving hygiene by preventing product from settling on the cleaning head; new carbon filled Teflon bearings improving performance and eliminating contamination risks associated with wear and tear of ball bearings; food/pharmaceutical grade Teflon bearings optionally available; lightweight and compact design; 1.5” BSP connection requiring a minimum manhole/flange opening of 210mm for unit insertion; pressure of 10 Bar and flow rate of 390 L/min delivering cleaning radius of 9.5m and wetting radius of 17m; and working temperatures up to 95°C. • Tecpro Australia www.tecpro.com.au

Shock resistant transducers BESTECH Australia has released new digitally compensated pressure transducers for use in front callipers on mining trucks. According to Bestech they provide high vibration and shock resistant operation, with the pressure transmitters offering high performance over temperature. “Krystal Bond Technology alone offers excellent non-linearity and nonrepeatability performance. When it is combined with the ASIC, the AST20HA stands out for its high performance pressure sensing at an affordable price,” the company said. They provide real time thermal compensation and real time linearity correction, as well as turndown capability. Bestech stated they can be used in Caterpillar mining trucks and crawlers, and Liebherr mining trucks. • Bestech www.bestech.com.au

Multipurpose gloves ANSELL Industrial Healthcare introduces a new range of multipurpose gloves featuring liquid repellence technology to offer hand protection and grip in a wide range of industries. The new Ansell HyFlex 11-926 glove combines greater comfort and efficiency with oil repellence to provide hand protection while helping the user to retain grip on small, oil coated parts and assembly components. These properties help users perform various manual tasks across a range of industries. The comfortable, light duty oil repellent multipurpose glove employs Ansell’s Ripel liquid repellence technology and Grip technology to protect the worker’s hands against knuckle Designed to aid in liquid repellence. abrasion and oil exposure. The Ansell HyFlex 11-926 glove features a durable three-quarter dip coating to ensure full protection to the back of the fingers, and is designed to provide all-day comfort, thanks to a soft liner made from fine gauge nylon fibre. Ansell’s David Nicholls explains that the unique blend of protection, performance and flexibility features incorporated in the HyFlex 11-926 glove is an excellent improvement on the previous generation palm dip style oil repellent general-purpose gloves built on cut-and-sew cotton liners. The new glove is recommended for workers handling oil coated parts in the automotive, electrical machinery, metal fabrication, power tools and transportation equipment markets. The lightweight multipurpose glove is ideal for operations such as cutting, sorting, inspection, uploading and downloading parts of the line; inspection of machine parts and components of metal working; and assembly of components and machinery. Ansell works with Australia’s leading not-for-profit safety organisation, the National Safety Council of Australia as its training partner to ensure hand safety issues such as handling of oil coated parts are communicated throughout corporate and government organisations. • Ansell 1800 518 687 www.ansellpro.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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September 2014

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Mining drive trains TWIN Spring Coupling has introduced a new drive train coupling solution for the mining industry, with its patented design overcoming all the weaknesses of traditional drive train technology. Designed as a full thrust coupling unit and encased in vulcanised neoprene, the new drive train coupling technology is scalable, allowing mining companies and suppliers to maximise machinery uptime. The highly versatile drive train coupling solution can be used in pumps submerged in water, conveyor belts with dust and debris or in typical mining equipment to reduce maintenance and breakdown issues thanks to the lubrication at manufacture as well as the neoprene encasing. Twin Spring Coupling CEO Darren Finch describes the new coupling as the first major enhancement in 100 years of drive train technology, delivering to the mining industry a reliable coupling that also matches the unique needs of each customer thanks to its scalability. The flexibility of the springs means it can operate up to 25 degrees, more than a universal or CV joint; being directly connected from input to output, it is the only coupling that can take full thrust, resulting in a stronger coupling product that is more flexible than anything available in the market today. The two springs in the coupling make the unit multidirectional, offering the same amount of thrust in either direction. • Twin Spring Coupling www.twinspringcoupling.com

LV shock absorbers IRONMAN 4X4 has released new larger shock absorbers for light vehicles. According to the company the new Ironman 4X4 foam cell Pro range is one of the largest on the market. “The Foam Cell pro range is designed to meet all demands and challenges faced both on and off-road, loaded or unloaded, while producing a smooth ride,” the company said. 4X4 suspension product director Kristian Ristell explained that “the key to 4X4 shock performance is dissipating heat caused by suspension articulation and making sure the mounting points are big enough to cope with the stresses a 4X4 vehicle endures; on road, towing, or off road in corrugations”. “With more oil and a larger surface area, Ironman 4X4 Foam Cell Pro minimise heat buildup and maintain their ideal performance no matter what you throw at them,” he said. Features of the new shock absorbers include a 6572 mm outer body; a 45 mm diameter piston; 20 mm chrome hardened piston rods; 3mm exterior tube thickness; 360 degree welded mounts; a rebuildable design; threaded height adjustable strut spring seats; integrated bump stop; a single piece solid mounting base; a solid one piece eye ring; a twin tube construction; and a foam cell design. • Ironman 4X4 03 9532 1111 www.ironman4x4.com

Minimise heat buildup.

Mining software Notifies operators of potential failures.

Drill hydraulics warning system DRILL Doctors Australia has developed a new early warning system to notify operators of catastrophic failures in hydraulics systems before they occur. The results of a hydraulic failure on a drill can result in a range of different outcomes, from a simple loss of pressure through to whipping hydraulic hoses and potential oil injection injuries. Drill Doctors new PumpCheck Monitors provide operators with notification to avoid incidents such as these. The PumpCheck monitors can handle up to ten switches at a time and cane be used in gearboxes, stationary equipment, transmissions, and hydraulic installations. The solution features self-closing valves which come in two thread types; has no loss of oil when you check the switch; no need to prime the pump after checking the switch; ensure contaminates don’t get washed off, and helps to eliminate hot oil burns. It also warning system also has a failsafe operation; both a visual and audible warning; a configurable system that allows monitoring of one to nine sensors. • Drill Doctors Australia 02 6571 3690 www.drilldoctors.com.au

September 2014

AustralianMining

RUNGEPINCOCKMINARCO has acquired the rights to Mine2-4D, the widely used mine design and reserving software. It has acquired the rights from MineRP, and will allow RPM to develop its own mine design products and provide an integrated design capability with its other scheduling and simulation software. Under the terms of the acquisition RPM has acquired unrestricted rights to rebrand, commercialise and exploit the software code and any successor products developed by RPM. “The Mine2-4D design product has recently undergone a massive rewrite using next generation development tools to allow for greater processing capability,” the company said in a statement. RPM CEO Richard Mathews described the acquisition as exciting, adding that it “accelerates our plans to expand our capability across the mining value chain”. “The Mine2-4D product is well known in the industry and by utilising this existing foundation we have a low risk, fast track approach to getting mine design on our software roadmap and delivering a more holistic offering to our customers,” Mathews said. The mining software company has typically provided an export/import functionality for the design tools of third party vendors that allowed feedback between the design and scheduling processes, and will continue to do so, however this full integration of an RPM specific design tool with RPM’s existing scheduling and simulation applications “will enhance the mine planning process,” RPM claimed. “Having our own design tool will mean we can provide our customers with a complete planning solution; with design functionality, geological reserving, and operational scheduling,” he said. • RungePincockMinarco 07 3100 7200 www.rpmglobal.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Haul road monitoring PROOF Engineerings has released an innovative new road condition monitor for the measurement and monitoring haul road performance. Developed in partnership with Delta-V Experts, a leading team of Australian forensic and aeronautical engineers, the Proof Road Condition Monitor (PRCM) has been specifically designed for the purpose of measuring road and pit performance, predominantly for, but not limited to, mine site use – effectively and automatically evaluating the state of haul roads and determining hotspots for grading through collated live-stream data. The 12V powered PRCM device is compact in size and can be fitted to haul trucks, water carts or any other specified light vehicle operating onsite. The monitor includes an in-built triaxial system that continually measures and records vibrations generated by the vehicle as it passes over the roads’ surface. With full site mapping calibrated, the system can be viewed by mine site managers using an integrated 3G network, which highlights exactly where and when roads need to be repaired. As the vehicle travels across the site, vibration data is recorded and processed based on Has a three colour system to notify operators of road condition. the International Roughness Index (IRI) – the worldwide standard for the evaluation and management of road systems. Results are then generated and displayed in an easy-to-use colour scale, which can be accessed by mining operators via an online platform. The system provides full site mapping, showing road conditions in a simple colour scale format. The distinctive colours – green, yellow, orange and red – indicate different levels of severity allowing maintenance locations to be brought to attention for site action. As the live stream technology allows for immediate site action, Proof Engineers’ General Manager Fiorella Ignacio said the PRCM not only optimises secondary machinery use, but it also ensures mine sites maintain optimum road conditions on an ongoing basis, ensuring haulage is carried out in a safe manner, with minimum rolling resistance. The PRCM system is non-invasive and simple to use, allowing mine operators to carry out monitoring onsite with minimal training required. The PRCM can also assist sites with applying the best watering practices, as the system can identify the effectiveness of soil stabilisation additives by monitoring improvement to the roads’ running surface pre and post treatment. The new device follows the success of the Proof Mobile Dust Monitor, which was launched last year and is now currently being used to monitor dust levels at major mine sites in Australia and overseas. • Proof Engineers 07 5522 0855 www.proofengineers.com.au A M0 9 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ L O A 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 8 - 1 9 T1 1 : 5 2 : 0 6 + 1 0 : 0 0

New LOADTRAK for accurate Payload Management.

/////////////////////////////////////////// www.loadscan.com Contact us at info@loadscan.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

September 2014

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11th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards In this issue we have a brief word from some of the sponsors about their companies and why they choose to sponsor the Prospect Awards. Atlas Copco

MMD

For over 130 years Atlas Copco has supplied the world with mining equipment, making it one of the most experienced suppliers in the industry. Since setting up shop in Kalgoorlie in the 1950s, Atlas Copco has learned from the very specific and in many ways original Australian mining methods, which differ from the rest of the world. On top of higher demands on people and equipment, conditions faced in Australia (especially water) are very often tougher than most. One of Atlas Copco’s highest priorities is reducing people’s exposure to the drilling process and to the hostile environment often found in underground mines. With our first experience in automation over a quarter of a century ago, and having spent the past 13 years refining our common rig automation platform RCS, the performance of Atlas Copco’s production drill rigs, RCS control system, rock drills, Cable bolting rigs and innovative braking system (SAHR) have set the standard in the industry for productivity and safety. The Prospect Awards recognise personal and company achievements, and they recognise the new benchmarks these create within the industry. As a company and as individuals, Atlas Copco and its staff are pleased to support this event the Contract Miner of the Year and Hard Rock Mine of the Year awards because we appreciate how hard it is to be at the frontier of mining.

Mining Machinery Developments (MMD) designs and manufactures mineral sizing (crushing) equipment and services to the mining, metallurgical, industrial minerals, alumina and other industries. The core products; Mineral Sizers (crushers) and Feeders offer a solution to problems such as variable ore properties, product requirements, site conditions and environmental issues. Founded in 1978, to design and manufacture equipment for the UK underground coal mining industry, today MMD size over 60 different minerals world wide, in many varied process industries. MMD Sizing equipment is available for surface or underground installations, stationary or mobile, and for climatic conditions ranging from arctic to tropical. The MMD Sizer range now includes, primary, secondary and tertiary Sizers for wet and dry processing of metallic and nonmetallic minerals for mining, industrial minerals and quarrying industries. To complement the robust Twin Shaft Mineral Sizer, MMD has designed and developed a range of heavy duty Apron Plate Feeders, which convey unbroken material to the crushing plant. Standard widths available are 1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000mm on D4, D7, D9 and D11 Caterpillar sealed and lubricated tractor chain. The mobile and semi-mobile sizer systems developed by MMD are both high in capacity and compact in size when compared to the traditional technology in this field. The latest range of MMD Mobile Sizers have the ability to offer mine operators unprecedented levels of productivity, and therefore very low operating costs per tonne. These energy efficient electrically driven “Green Mining Solutions” are all designed to assist mining companies to achieve the double bottom line of being both economic and environmentally friendly. MMD is proud to be the long running sponsor of the Australian Mine of the Year award.

Metso Mining & Construction Metso is a leading supplier of technology and process optimisation services to the mining, aggregates and oil & gas industries. With around 16,000 professionals based in over 50 countries, the company contributes to the sustainability and profitability of its customers worldwide. In mining, this includes the supply, commissioning and endto-end life cycle services for equipment like crushers, grinding mills, screens, filters, flotation cells, magnetic separators, apron feeders and train unloaders. The company also provides its customers with a range of services and innovative solutions to help them reduce their energy and water consumption while getting more from their process. According to Max Wijasuriya – VP Capital Equipment, the Australian mining industry is responsible for around 190,000 jobs, 19% of the country’s total GDP and accounts for 55% of all Australian exports. “Sponsoring the ‘Minerals Processing of the Year’ category in Australian Mining’s Prospect Awards is one of the ways that we contribute to and celebrate the success of an industry that is critically important to the economy of our country and of course to our business,” he said. 74

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Be a leader in Australia’s mining industry and nominate today

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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TICKETS ON SALE NOW Tickets are now on sale for the 11th annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, to be held on October 24th 2014 Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss your chance to be a part of this prestigious night! Buy your ticket today!

A total of 15 awards will be presented on the night, highlighting companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovation and excellence in the mining industry.

DRESS: TIME: VENUE: DATE: RSVP:

Cocktail/lounge suit 630pm pre-dinner drinks for a 7pm awards dinner start Dockside Pavilion, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney October 24th 2014 Monday 29th September

To purchase tickets please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/awards

For more information visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/awards or contact Cole Latimer on cole.latimer@cirrusmedia.com.au or 02 8484 0652 PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

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MINING JOBS

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily. DISPATCH SUPERVISOR Regional QLD – Gladstone & Central QLD We are urgently seeking an experienced Dispatch Supervisor for a role based on an Open Cut Coal Mine located in the lower Bowen Basin. The successful candidate will have the following: • Current Standard 11 • Current Coal Board Medical • Current Driver License • Experience working on a Coal Mine Site • Current S1, S2, S3 • Experience using Leica Geosystems FMS or Jigsaw systems preferred There is accommodation and meals available. You will be working the Lifestyle roster, doing both day and night shifts. If you meet the above criteria, please call Kristy in the Biloela WorkPac Office on 48003740 or APPLY ONLINE! WAREHOUSE LABOURERS Our client, a global leader in Mining is currently seeking the services of a ‘Warehouse labourer for an immediate start at a large open cut Mine located approximately 20 minutes drive from Dysart. The successful candidate: • Has prior warehousing experience in Mining • Will be committed to zero harm • Has accommodation in Dysart or surrounding districts • Works effectively autonomously and as part of a team Interested? Please hit apply now attaching a copy of your resume listing at least two work related referees and then send a copy of the following documentation to miningqld@chandlermacleod. com • Standard 11 (must be the statement of attainment) • Drivers license and birth certificate or Passport • Coal Board Medical (must be less then 24 months old) Reference Number: 88580b Contact details: Donna Swinbourne, 02 9269 8666. HV FIELD MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN Regional QLD – Mackay & Coalfields Our client are looking for experienced HV field maintenance electricians for ongoing mine site work. The successful applicant will hold: • Standard 11 • Coal Board Medical • LVR/CPR Certificate • Experience working on mobile plant • Digger/Dozer Operator The roster will be 7/7. Contact WorkPac Industrial on 1300 967 572 to find out more about the job. LUBRICATION TECHNICIAN Chandler Macleod requires a specialised Lubrication Technician for our client, a top producer of Iron Ore located in the Pilbara region of WA. This position is for an ASAP start for the ‘Best Fit’ candidate working an 8 & 6 roster day shift only. This is a great opportunity for a skilled and experienced Mechanical Fitter with exceptional Lubrication skills or a specialised lubrication technician to work with one of the leaders in the mining industry and work for a company at the forefront of recruitment. Requirements for this role are as follows:• Lubrication technician experience • Strong fixed plant knowledge • Oil Sampling • General lubrication • Bulk grease fills • Inspection of grease levels on gearboxes To be considered for this role your resume must clearly address the above criteria in you work history and skillset. Please send your application to us now via the ‘apply’ button. Reference Number: 83986a Contact details: Scott Harrison 08 9228 5727 DOZER PUSH OPERATOR Opportunities exist for skilled and experienced Mobile Plant Operators who will form part of and contribute to the Mine Operations Department of a Bowen Basin Mine. An absolute commitment to working safely, complying with all site safety standards and ensuring a safe and environmentally healthy workplace is essential. It is imperative that you possess the ability and aptitude to maintain high standards of safety, equipment serviceability, housekeeping and compliance with mine working procedures. Prerequisites for this position include Black Coal Competencies in Haul Truck Operations, Dozer Operations; a minimum 6 months mobile plant operating experience; current BMA/ SGS Induction; current Generic Induction; current Coal Board Medical; current Driver’s Licence; negative Drug & Alcohol Test within 5 days of induction; and a willingness to work rotating rosters This position is offered as a 3 month contract with view to extension for the right person. To find out more about the role visit workpace.com. Reference number 718J201431125

September 2014

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SHOT FIRERS WorkPac Regional NSW – Tamworth & North West NSW Our client is a leading coal producer in the Gunnedah basin, with several mines throughout and a growing work force. We are currently looking for open cut Shot Firers for residential roles within the Boggabri to Werris Creek areas. You must have the following qualifications and experience in: • Open Cut Shotfirers licence • Unsupervised Handling licence • Manage blast site preparation • Mark out blasts • Mentor Trainee shot firers. A current coal board medical is required for these positions and inductions to be completed before commencing. Candidates must be available to start within 1-2 weeks. If you have a positive attitude towards safety, punctual and reliable plus have these skills and qualifications we would love to hear from you. Call on 1300 967 572. UNDERGROUND – SERVICE CREW OPERATOR Regional WA – Broome & Kimberley Our Client is a leading mining contractor seeking experienced Underground Operators for positions at their remote mine site in the Kimberley. They currently have vacancies for Underground Truck Operators with Service Crew experience on a 2:2 FIFO roster from Perth. The duties will involve operating a Sandvik Toro Truck, Integrated Toll Carrier, IT Loader and carrying out Service Crew works. Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate and prove their previous Operating and Service Crew experience, as well as their commitment and leadership towards health and safety on site. Must hold Working at Heights, Integrated Toll Carrier, IT Loader and Underground Dump Truck Recognition of Prior Learning to be considered and you must be able to present these on application for the role. These are 6 month positions with the opportunity to become permanent for the right candidates. Must be available to start ASAP. Subject to full pre employment medical, DAS and police clearance. Call 1300 967 572 to find out more about the job. DIGGER/DOZER OPERATOR Regional QLD – Mackay & Coalfields The job is for a worker on a 7on 7off roster. It requires an immediate start. Camp and accommodation provided, with BIBO exit Mackay. Workpac currently has a vacancy for an experienced production Digger/Dozer Operator with coal mining experience. This position is offering an immediate start and ongoing work. To be successful in this role you will have the following: • Minimum 2 years+ experience working as a Digger/Dozer Operator in a production coal mining environment (Hitachi 5500/D10-11 dozer or equivalent) • Current Standard 11 Statement or Attainment (or BMA induction) • Current coal board medical • Current drivers licence • RIIs in hydraulic excavator/shovel and dozer operations • Be able to submit a clear drug and alcohol test Camp and accommodation are provided. BIBO exit Mackay may be considered for the right applicant. Alternatively you will need to reside within 100 kms of Clermont. PLEASE NOTE: These roles are for experienced mine site operators with proven experience operating production diggers and dozers. There are no entry level applications and only applicants matching the above criteria will be considered. For further information please contact Nicole Gray, phone 53901322, email nicole.gray@ workpac.com SUPERVISOR ACCOMMODATION MAINTENANCE One of the industry’s leading coal producers is looking for an experienced Supervisor Accommodation Maintenance to join the team at one of their major open cut coal operations in central Queensland. This is a long-term contract position until April 2015 and operates on a Monday to Friday roster, with all meals and Village accommodation provided. Key responsibilities: In the Infrastructure and Asset Management department, the key responsibilities of this position are to: • Lead a team of tradespeople to conduct the general maintenance and emergency repairs on the housing portfolio to the highest level of safety whilst ensuring the works schedule is adhered to. • Participate in weekly planning meetings. To be considered for this role you must have: • Experience as a Supervisor leading work crews, and leading by example and demanding a very high safety standard. • Facility maintenance experience • Trade background. • 1SAP Literacy – Strategy development and deployment • S 1,2,3 • “Permit to Work” training issuer You will need to supply current: • Coal board medical (completed within 24 months) • Standard 11 • Passport or Birth certificate and drivers licence • 2 x work referees • Licences and RII qualifications www.miningaustralia.com.au

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To advertise a new job contact Ruth Arimado at 02 8484 0614

If you feel you possess the required attributes and wish to be considered for the role, and you have a strong focus on safety then please apply. For further information, contact Donna on (07) 3291 5407 or email donna.swinbourne@ chandlermacleod.com Reference Number: 88673a Contact details: Donna Swinbourne, 02 9269 8666.

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ENWARE’S award winning self-contained emergency shower with eyewash

PROJECT ENGINEER In partnership with a market leader and blue-chip mining client we are now seeking an experienced Project Engineer for a residential role in Central QLD. You will be joining a team of experienced mechanical engineers overseeing key projects in an underground environment. You will: • Exercise judgement based on practice and precedence to evaluate situations not covered by procedures. • Provide reports and/or technical advice for project evaluation. • Establish and implement appropriate technical, reconciliation and reporting systems which are clear and appropriate for auditing. • Optimise the use of existing business systems, processes, practices and equipment to ensure sustainable, efficient and effective outcomes. • Utilise project management systems and tools. To be considered for this role you will: • Have previous experience in the delivery of mechanical projects in an underground mining environment. • Demonstrated success in project planning and execution. • Be uncompromising in your desire to adhere to strict safety standards. • Mechanical Engineering Qualification. To be considered for this role you must also have an: • Standard 11 • S4 Medical • Australian Working Rights Documentation If you possess the required attributes, and you have a strong desire to be a part of a company that wants you to succeed, supply you with a competitive remuneration and looking for an immediate start please apply now! Reference Number: 86382b Number: 02 9269 8666 EXPERIENCED DRILLER – LNG Opportunity to join a Australian-owned drilling contractor that is continuing to grow and offer a innovative drilling solutions to their clients. We are looking for an experienced Driller to work on a conventional Triple. As the Driller you will be responsible for running the crew, drilling operations and supporting the Rig Manager. You will have: • Certificate IV in Oil & Gas • Current IWCF Certificate • 3 years drilling experience • Drilled on a double or a triple • Positive attitude towards safety What’s on offer: • Great day rate • Travel from any location in Australia • Work/Life balance on a 3 /3 roster • Further training • Career progression How to apply: To submit your resume click on Apply Now! For a confidential discussion call Desari on 07 3343 6777. Reference Number: BBBH1757_1405924181 ARTICULATED DUMP TRUCK OPERATOR Our Client is a leading Mining and Civil contractor based in Tuncurry NSW. They have recently won a contract for a major civil component of the new Maules Creek Coal Mine. Immediate start for suitable candidates with multiple positions available, with a fantastic 14/7 roster & excellent pay rates. For these position you will reside within 100km to Boggabri or be willing to supply your own accommodation. At present we are currently looking for articulated dump truck operators with minimum 12 months experience. If you have any of the following Plant compentencies it would be highly regarded: • Dozer – D6 through to D11 • Excavator – 20 tonne through to 120 tonne • Grader – 140M, 14 H & 16M • Scraper – 631 & 637 • Compactor – 815 & 825 • Roller – smooth drum, pad foot and multi tyre • Articulated dump truck – 40 tonne • Dump truck – 775 • Water trucks – 740 & 775 You will also require a currently drivers licence, reliable vehicle and white card. Multi skilled operators highly regarded. Our client has a strong safety focus and are looking for team ordinated people for this project. Inductions, medicals and drug and alcohol testing will be a requirement before commencing. Contact WorkPac Industrial on 1300 967 572 to find out more about the job. Reference Number 7212J20144330 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AustralianMining

September 2014

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to editor@miningaustralia.com.au 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 1-3 September Townsville, QLD The AusIMM Mill Operators’ Series returns to Queensland where it all began! The 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference will be hosted in Townsville, north Queensland, which follows the highly successful Hobart event which attracted over 400 industry professionals. Inaugurated in Mt Isa in 1978, the biennial conference aims to promote the sharing of knowledge in operating practices for mineral processing plants, including extractive metallurgy, process control and environmental issues. Based on feedback from previous Mill Operators’ events we are requesting papers to have a greater emphasis on practical experiences and learnings in operating plants, rather than purely academic research. This does not, however, deter from presenting successes (or failures) from the application of next generation technologies and cutting edge innovations. Much of the recent minerals boom was due to very high commodity prices, to the detriment of processing plants having to focus on lower production costs and improving their recoveries. With the current boom drawing to an end, processing plants need to consider how they will maintain productivity and profitability in coming years. • AusIMM www.milloperators2014.ausimm. com.au

Queensland Gas Conference & Exhibition (QGCE) 10-11 September Brisbane Convention Centre, QLD The Queensland Gas Conference and Exhibition (QGCE) is presented by REEDMININGEVENTS and is dedicated to the latest developments and issues surrounding Coal Seam Gas (CSG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Queensland. • Reed Exhibitions Australia www.queenslandgasconference. com.au

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14-17 September Melbourne, Vic The AusIMM, CSIRO and RMIT is pleased to announce the International Symposium on Mixing in Industrial Processes VIII to be held in Melbourne, Australia. The inaugural International Symposium on Mixing in Industrial Processes (ISMIP) was held in Quebec City, Canada in 1995. Since then the symposium has been held in countries around the world including Mexico, Japan, France, Spain, Canada and China. ISMIP8 will continue to build on the foundation of past symposiums and bring together the global fluid mixing community across academia, industry, private and governmental research institutions to share and discuss the latest research developments, as well as being a topical forum to highlight research that has industrial relevance and applications. The theme of ISMIP8 is energy efficiency, process intensification and product quality in mixing processes and the organising committee is inviting abstracts that reflect and expand upon this theme. This unique international mixing symposium is a great opportunity for those in the mixing community to learn a range of topics from basic to advanced knowledge, to network with new and old friends and to share experiences. The symposium will be held in Melbourne, Australia, a city that has been named the most liveable city in the world by the Global Liveability Survey. On behalf of the ISMIP8 organising committee, we wish to invite the global mixing community to participate in the 2014 symposium. • RMIT www.ismip8.com

7th International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining 16-18 September Sudbury, Canada The Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) is proud to host the Seventh International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining (Deep Mining 2014) in Sudbury, Canada. The conference will focus on the technical and challenging environment of underground mining as it progresses to deeper levels, with industry now extracting mineral reserves at depths that in

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the past have been considered ‘unmineable’. Deep Mining 2014 will explore geotechnical and logistical issues, including reticulation and refrigeration of fresh air that are often intense and best practices and innovations need to be implemented. One of the objectives of the International Deep and High Stress Mining series objective is to promote documentation of the latest technologies and practices of mining in deep and high stress mining environment. Running from 16-18 September 2014, Deep Mining 2014 will follow on from previous events held in Perth, 2012; Santiago, 2010; Perth, 2007; Quebec City, 2006; Johannesburg, 2004; and Perth, 2002. The ACG has enjoyed a long and proud association with the Canadian mining industry since our inception in 1992. The Conference Chair for Deep Mining 2014 is Associate Professor Marty Hudyma, Laurentian University and the ACG look forward to sharing our worldwide deep and high stress mining excellence by hosting our first international geotechnical mining event in Canada. The University of Toronto continues to provide ongoing support and encouragement of this unique event series and, alongside the University of the Witwatersrand, will be a collaborating organisation of Deep Mining 2014. Deep Mining 2014 has already attracted significant International interest within the industry and exhibitors for the event include 3M Canada, ESG Solutions, Geobrugg North America, LLC, Mine Design Technologies Inc. and Normet Canada. • Deep Mining 2014 www.deepmining2014.com

15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 17-19 September Sydney, NSW The 15th Australasian Tunnelling Society (ATS) Triennial Conference will be held in Australia’s largest city, Sydney. The organisers of this popular series recognise the industry’s fast evolution and advances in underground space engineering; the larger tunnel boring machines are only one example of such progression. Other areas of underground engineering have become highly sophisticated over

recent years, but continue to present less of a profile. This conference is the industry’s opportunity to share in the knowledge, share project and application experiences and provide you the opportunity to hear what others have to say. Case studies that show real-world applications and the implementation of new technologies are at the foreground of our industry and help us to continue on the path of evolution. The Australasian tunnelling community, particularly the Sydney ATS team, looks forward to hosting you and creating an atmosphere where underground space can be advanced together. • Australian Tunnelling Society www.atstunnellingconference2014. com

IMARC: International Mining and Resources Conference 2014 22-26 September Melbourne, Vic IMARC is Australia’s only truly international mining event. Uniting the entire mining industry, IMARC is where mining leaders, policy makers, financiers, technical experts, innovators and educators are brought together under one roof. What makes IMARC unbeatable? Support from Australia’s three key industry associations – AusIMM (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy); Austmine (The Association representing the METS industry); and the MCA (The Minerals Council of Australia) – for the first time ever. The show has the full support of the State Government of Victoria, features seven content driven conferences over five days, and also includes Mines and Money Australia – the country’s largest mining investment forum, as well as unparalleled networking opportunities with 2000+ decision makers and 100+ exhibitors. • IMARC www.imarcmelbourne.com

Mining & Engineering NSW (M&E NSW) 8-10 October Newcastle, NSW REEDMININGEVENTS is the organiser of M&E NSW which is a platform for the mining industry seeking solutions for efficiency, new innovative

technology and networking opportunities with qualified mining sector executives and engineers within the Hunter Valley and the surrounding region. • REEDMININGEVENTS www.miningandengineeringnsw. com.au

Mining & Engineering Indonesia (M&E Indo) 29-31 October Jakarta, Indonesia REEDMININGEVENTS is the organiser of M&E Indonesia which is a platform for the mining industry seeking solutions for efficiency, new innovative technology and networking opportunities with qualified mining sector executives and engineers within Indonesia & the surrounding region. • REEDMININGEVENTS www.miningandengineeringindo. com

International Mining Myanmar Conference 30-31 October Myanmar This, the first conference of its kind, is being held in association with Mining Myanmar – the 2nd International Mining and Minerals Recovery Exhibition. Myanmar is the largest country in SE Asia and with the opening up of the country to investment and development it is therefore prime territory for the discovery of previously unknown and high quality deposits. While there is a fledging existing mining industry, there is huge potential for growth; as well as the opportunity to apply more mechanised and advanced mining methods and technology to current and future mining operations there. The conference will cover regulation/ legislation in the country, resource and reserve reporting, environmental aspects, the existing mining industry, junior miner activities, as well as options for equipment supply and contract mining. There is no charge to present at the conference and John Chadwick is currently putting the program of papers together – john@im-mining.com. It will be held in the Myanmar Convention Centre, Yangon. Myanmar is the 40th largest country in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. • International Mining www.im-mining www.miningaustralia.com.au

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THERE IS NOTHING IN THE AIR TONIGHT.

From power generation and cement production to waste treatment and the distribution of natural gas – the more complex a plant, the greater the demands on systems engineering and services. When it comes to monitoring emissions, evaluating gases for optimal process control and ascertaining custody transfer measurements for pipelines, SICK is a step ahead in every segment of the industry. With complete solutions for gas analysis, dust measurement and flow measurement that are perfectly tailored for each process environment. With superior equipment availability, easy operation, certified explosion protection and robust measurement technology with long maintenance cycles. When it comes to finding a clean solution, the whole world takes measurements with SICK. We think that’s intelligent. For more information please visit www.sick.com.au or call 1300 405 807.