The workshop was opened by Voith Turbo Germany chief Peter Edelmann who said the company recognised the importance of its global clients.

The new 2036 square metre workshop will be the sales, service and back up centre for all Voith Turbo Power Transmission products including fluid couplings and drive shafts.

The workshop is fitted with a dual overhead crane with a five tonne and 10t capacity, and a 1000 volt test bay with capacity for drive module testing.

The workshop provides Voith with the capacity to manufacture in-house assembly of Scharfeberg (Voith) couplers.

In-house overhauls and refurbishment of all Voith equipment to as-new condition will be undertaken. Gearbox and fluid coupling overhaul and refurbishment will also be offered. Other capabilities include retrofits and on-site laser alignment.

In the longwall sector Voith supplies fill control fluid couplings on underground conveyor and AFC drives and has installations at the BHP Billiton Illawarra Dendrobium, Westcliff, Appin and Douglas mines, the company’s San Juan mine in New Mexico, and Centennial Coal’s Mandalong and Springvale operations.

Its most recent installation was the Xstrata Coal-owned Ulan mine which is extending its longwall to 400m by mid-2006.