In making the announcement, Peter Howard, founder and managing director of ACT, also said he had set up a UK company based in Creswell near Worksop to handle the manufacture and worldwide distribution of the Scorpion range.

Sales, technical and operational support in Australia will continue to be provided by ACT from the company’s premises in Sydney.

ACT has been the Australian agents for the Scorpion cable handler for over two years.

“The Australian coal longwall mining industry, in recognising the reliability and increased availability evident in the use of this product, has enabled us to increase our market share from 15% to over 50% in this time,” Howard said.

ACT started life as an Australian agency for JD Theile chains and connectors some three-and-a-half years ago. Other products include locally designed and forged flight bars, which account for around 45% of ACT’s total turnover.

ACT is the only Australian company to manufacture locally forged flight bars, Howard said. Theile chains and connectors account for 25% of turnover, while the Scorpion accounts for 15%. The remaining 15% derives from assembly, sprockets and consultancy.

Howard said the Australian market could expect further technical developments to grow out of the Scorpion purchase, as well as continuing good service and rapid response to customer’s needs.

The Scorpion is also sold under agency in the United States, where Howard said market share was around 25% and growing. He said market share is 100% in South Africa.