Fan specialist Engart Australasia has opened a new office in Cardiff in New South Wales. Majority owned by international fan manufacturer James Howden Holdings, the company has to date sold eight units into the Australian coal mining market.

Engart's two major products are wet-bed scrubbers and free-standing auxiliary extractor fans. The first of these are typically mounted on continuous miners and roadheaders in development and place change operations. The auxiliary extractor fans are used in returns to remove dust before air is discharged into returns.

Andy Graham, Engart Australasia general manager, said the company was investigating developing a dust extraction unit suitable for use around longwall faces and around the stage loader. Research and development was being carried out in South Africa and Australia.

Graham said in the short-term the Australian market would be supported from the new facility but in time Engart would look to expand into Queensland when the market demanded. Engart also plans to offer its dust extraction equipment into tunnelling applications and hard-rock mining.