Perth-based Advanced Braking Technology has spent 10 years developing its patented Sealed Integrated Braking System, which has earned mining industry recognition around the world.

ABT says the brake housing is fully enclosed so the critical components of the SIBS, such as the single rotor, brake callipers and brake pads, are totally protected from normal environment contaminants like mud, stones and brackish water.

“These factors are usually the cause of brake component failure and/or increased servicing costs – or a combination of both at times when vehicle downtime is least welcome, especially on busy minesites,” ABT said.

The SIBS brakes are also “wet brakes”, meaning the brake’s enclosed rotor, callipers and pads operate in a bath of specially designed cooling fluid.

ABT chief executive Ken Johnsen said this was a key safety feature of the brakes.

“Because the brakes function in a ‘wet’ environment, their operating temperature always stays well below that of standard brakes,” he said.

With less friction and heat generated, the wet brakes are less prone to fade, and ABT said tests in Australia confirmed the brakes operated at about half the temperature of standard brakes over the same number of stops.

SIBS at Tolukuma

Mobile maintenance superintendent Sandie Iparas got Tolukuma’s fleet of Toyota HZJ75 Landcruisers fitted with the SIBS brakes more than two years ago.

“We were first attracted to the idea of the wet brakes due to their capacity to work under very tough environmental conditions,” he said.

“Being in the tropics in Papua New Guinea, our vehicles are subjected to some of the worst conditions you can imagine.

“Our Landcruisers are driven round the clock in wet, slippery and rough conditions in an underground mining environment. There is no let-up throughout the year as the weather here is consistently wet and humid.

“Our own risk assessment indicated that if the wet brakes performed according to specifications, we would be able to demonstrate significant benefits in terms of safety and maintenance cost savings.

“The experience we have had so far with the brakes has been excellent. We have had dramatic improvements in safety and maintenance costs.”

ABT says its SIBS brakes are also available for the Toyota Hilux, the Nissan Patrol (leaf spring model) and a range of Hino trucks, with customised brakes for industrial applications also offered.

State-owned resources company Petromin purchased the Tolukuma gold mine and 11 exploration licences from Emperor Mines back in February 2008.

Petromin was also keen to manage the PNG government’s stake of the PNG LNG project, but lost the battle last year to rival state-owned resources company the Independent Public Business Corporation.