Published in the September 2010 Australia’s Mining Monthly
A support vehicle custom-designed to provide ground engaging tool service at the minesite has been introduced by Bradken to further its one-stop-shop approach in the Hunter Valley.
The vehicle has been fitted out with the equipment needed to perform onsite monitoring, service, repairs and to changeout and install GET components.
Bradken region manager Hunter Valley – mining Darryl Pyne said safety, productivity and flexibility were key factors in the vehicle’s fit-out.
“We developed the concept in response to discussions with a key customer,” he said.
“They wanted to ensure monitoring, repairs and changeout of GET on their site was managed in a consistent and safe way, with the least downtime possible, by people with the right specialist training. We agreed the best way forward was for Bradken to take ownership of the entire process and provide a service that gives peace of mind to the customer in knowing all their own safety and productivity objectives are being met consistently and systematically.”
Pyne said the vehicle fit-out started with a loading crane and security cages.
This means parts can be loaded and transported safely to site and easily unloaded there.
“The vehicle is equipped with all the right tools needed to perform repairs and maintenance on GET, which means tasks can be performed efficiently and safely,” Pyne said.
“With the installation of a powerful welder and compressor unit, our field service specialists can make wear package repairs and fix cracks on the spot.”
The GET specialist vehicle also comes with non-destructive testing equipment. This is used to pinpoint areas needing immediate repair but also proves invaluable in regular wear monitoring.
Bradken account managers can use this information to develop appropriate maintenance programs and implement systems to track and report GET cost and downtime to their customers.
There is a green aspect to the truck too. Pyne said worn GET was loaded onto the vehicle and taken to be recycled.
Besides the GET truck, Bradken also has 12 fully equipped service trucks and two 20 tonne Franna cranes plying the Hunter Valley.
It has three workshops in the region that operate around the clock. These are located at Singleton, Muswellbrook and Gunnedah.
The Mount Thorley workshop, near Singleton, is staffed by 36 people working across three shifts. It has 250 square metres of undercover workshop area and nearly 17,000sq.m of serviced yard space.
The workshop can handle everything from dragline, electric face shovel, excavator and dozer components to excavator booms and mainframes and even haul truck and dozer fuel tanks.
Dump truck bodies are repaired and upgraded, excavator crawler shoes are repaired and reclaimed, and mobile plant access ladders are made and repaired.
Infrastructure at the Mt Thorley workshop includes cranes, a metal pressing capability, profile cutting, grit blasting and painting facilities.
Customers include Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Vale, Leighton, Thiess and Downer EDI Mining.
The facility also specialises in the supply and installation of wear package materials to buckets, bodies and blades. It is the only original equipment manufacturer supplier and stockist of Wearalloy, Duaplate and Vidaplate wear plate products and Chok Block wear bars in the region with facilities to support design and installation.
Further up the valley, Bradken’s 17 Muswellbrook workshop employees are putting the finishing touches on several truck bodies for Anglo Coal Drayton Management and the Bengalla Mining Company.
During the year the Muswellbrook team repaired numerous truck bodies, water carts, excavator and loader buckets, dozer blades, and dragline buckets.
As part of its push to get workshop and support services closer to customers,Bradken set up a facility at Gunnedah. This workshop has nine field staff on permanent shift roster onsite. These workers use the facility as a base to service the Whitehaven Group and Downer EDI.
