The Perth-based company is known for its patented Sealed Integrated Braking System, which has been used in Toyota Landcruisers at the Crinum, Moranbah North and Grasstree longwall mines for many years.

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

The brakes are also used in Bucyrus’s Un-A-Trac utility vehicles for the US underground coal sector.

ABT chief executive Ken Johnsen told ILN the company was currently involved in an offshore “live” research and development project to develop SIBS brakes for a modified LCV.

“This vehicle is being designed to comply with international underground standards for coal vehicles,” he said.

“ABT's challenge in this project will be to engineer the SIBS to stay below 150C in operation, to eliminate the explosion risk.

“Of course, we are also continuing to work on developing braking systems for the underground coal sector that are far more cost-effective than present systems being used in the specialised vehicle market.

“ABT is able to adapt high-volume auto-style axles with SIBS to replace expensive purpose-built, multi plate-equipped axles currently in use.”

Johnsen said ABT’s key technology partner, Innovative Underground Transport, had started work on modifying the current model of the V8 Landcruiser to make it better suited to the rigours of underground mining.

“That project has since evolved to a point where the base vehicle is a hybrid comprising the Nissan Patrol chassis and an H1 Hummer replica body.

“ABT is working closely with IUT on the fail-safe braking system for this prototype. It is probable that by November 2009, IUT will have a working vehicle on which to perform more trials.”

Johnsen said SIBS had been working without any hitches for over a decade and the brakes might have outlasted three Landcruisers at Crinum and Moranbah North, even though they were an older generation of the technology.

“IUT – which services the SIBS on many coal mining vehicles – reports that they have very few problems, if any, from the minesites.

“Operator education and proper maintenance on the system is, of course, a key factor in keeping the SIBS running well. This is directly related to better understanding where and how the SIBS are being used. In the majority of cases, the critical components of the SIBS brakes remain in superb condition despite being hammered in challenging conditions.”

While noting that mine managers have had to contend with smaller operating budgets in the current economic climate, Johnsen said SIBS was getting the attention of some very large players in the coal mining sector.

“For instance, the Indonesian coal mining sector is now starting to notice the many safety and cost-reduction benefits of the SIBS.”

IUT produces passenger vehicles for underground coal mines.