Companies come and go, but Perth-based ventilation and ducting supplier ACME Group has survived and thrived thanks to some clever inventions.
From the foundation of ACME in 1939 and throughout the Second World War, the company was engaged in the manufacture of tents, tarpaulins and other associated canvas articles of military equipment for the Australian and American Armed Forces.
As with all organisations, says ACME Group sales & marketing manager Steve Broadhurst, the company has had to face the challenge of change.
“It responded to this challenge where necessary by changing its structure, embracing new technology, diversifying the product range and also building on its experience and seeking out the real needs of the mining industry,” Broadhurst told Australian Mining.
“In consequence the company has developed and patented many underground ventilation products.”
ACME developed and, in 1975, patented its Layflat Lo-K Flat Ventilation Ducting system to replace conventional metal ducting in underground mining and tunnelling operations.
There have been many technical advancements, innovations and improvements since then.
“This flexible ducting system provides operators with safe, practical, reliable and cost-effective secondary ventilation, and is in use in many major Australian and overseas underground mines,” Broadhurst said.
The company also developed and patented the Regulator Parachute Stoppings for temporary air stopping or controlling airflow, insulated ducting for ‘hot’ mines, and the Lo-K Joint said to reduce leakage to virtually zero and now used by many of the manufacturers of ventilation ducting.
ACME has also lead the way in ventilation products with use of low friction coefficient coated slit tape woven polyethylene tape fabrics.
“All our ventilation ducting and fittings are manufactured of high quality, double coated tightly woven polyethylene,” Broadhurst said.
“Furthermore all products have low friction and minimum leakage coefficient plus high tensile weft and warp strengths. This ensures maximum airflow and efficiencies at low cost.”
The company also produced the first applicable resistance chart for ventilation ducting and pioneered the system of sealing seams on slit tape type materials used in the manufacture of ventilation ducting.
ACME also pioneered the welding of woven taped fabric ducting and the introduction of Welduct to the mining industry.
Today ACME is said to be one of the leading manufacturers of ventilation, filtration and industrial products to the mining, mineral-processing, manufacturing, agricultural and industrial markets.
“ACME’s export business is growing, due to an increasing focus on strengthening existing overseas relationships and a strong commitment to developing new markets,” Broadhurst said.