The new business, called SkillPro Services, encompasses all the previous staff of ACIRL, who will continue the well-proven mining and risk engineering services with Terry O'Beirne, David Humphreys and Shirley Edward being the principal consultants.

Included in the deal is ACIRL's interest in Abye Mining Vehicles, a joint-venture business with Inbye Mining to develop non-flameproof Toyotas and similar machines.

SkillPro has also taken over the licence from CSIR in South Africa to distribute the bag barrier product (see related story). All the MineRisk business and risk management products, as well as the instrument calibration and electronics repair centre in Emerald, go with SkillPro. The Emerald facility continues to be managed by Len Woods.

"In the longer term we want to expand our products business, particularly those products that have a niche safety-engineering/major hazard engineering image. To that end we're working with a South African company on some very innovative fire protection systems which will be applicable to vehicles and machinery, both surface and underground," O'Beirne said.

All of ACIRL's current mining and MineRisk projects will be completed under the ACIRL banner to minimise customer disruption. ACARP research projects being conducted by ACIRL likewise continue with the prior staff.