For those visitors travelling to the Valley, M&E not only offers the opportunity to meet with peers and suppliers directly, but also provides a good excuse to take time out to explore one of NSW’s most popular tourist destinations.
However, getting down to business, M&E 2005 has attracted exhibits from around Australia, as well as the US, Poland and the Philippines. This preview explores some of the products and services on display, some of which are making their Australian debut at the show.
M&E 2005, 20 – 22 September, Muswellbrook Showgrounds. For more information or to register visit: www.me.reedexhibitions.com.au or phone: 02 9422 2563.
Afcos
stand 2087
Afcos is agent, distributor and stockist to a number of major Australian and overseas companies. Its facilities allow specialist servicing in mining, steelmaking, power/energy, petrochemical, marine and major plant construction.
The company’s range of valves extends to many special material and alloy valves designed for wide and extensive service. Its extensive range of spray nozzles and ancillary equipment with particular nozzle specialities and support are available for mining, steelmaking and energy industries.
Australian Safety Specialist stand 1082
Australian Safety Specialist is one of Australia’s largest suppliers of PPE.
It distributes the following: Respiratory – Frontier, 3M, Survivair and Sundstrom; Hearing – Bilsom, Unisafe and Howard Leight; Eyewear – Frontier, Uvex and Bolle; Clothing – Frontier and Yakka; Footwear – Victor (Mongrel), Bata and Blundstone; Hand protection – Frontier, Ansell and Profas; Spill containment – Chatoyer; Signage – Brady Australia; Environmental safety – PBA Safety; First-aid – Uneedit Supplies; Hygiene – Deb Australia and Kimberly Clark; Janitorial – Oates Clean.
Burn Brite Lights stand 2110
Burn Brite Lights, a family owned and operated Australian manufacturer of safety lighting products, will release its fully floating, intrinsically safe power supply tested with major roof support manufacturers’ control systems.
The company supplies lighting systems to major sites around the country including WMC’s Olympic Dam upgrade and in NSW, Mandalong, Dendrobium, Tahmoor, Dartbrook and Glennies Creek.
Control Logic stand 2001
Distributed by Control Logic will display the new G3 HMI Series from Red Lion Controls.
This is a range of operator panels that offer up to five communication ports, as well as “next-generation” software and a built-in gateway to web-enable most devices. This delivers remote access, monitoring and virtual operation either via company LAN or the Internet to allow real-time operational access and data logging from a remote PC.
All G3 HMIs feature an integrated gateway that converts any attached device's serial protocol to on-board 10 Base T/100 Base-TX Ethernet. A built-in USB port provides data exchange with a connected PC, and CompactFlash support allows almost unlimited data storage, free from battery concerns. One RS422/485 port and two RS232 ports are provided as standard, and each port operates at up to 115,200 baud. One RS232 and RS422/485 ports are available with an optional card, enabling up to five communications ports per G3 HMI.
Also on display from Red Lion is the new CUB5 dual counter/rate meter with many of the same features and capabilities as the larger 1/8 DIN PAX panel meter, in half the size. The new unit comes with a user-programmable green or red backlit LCD display with adjustable intensity, or with a standard reflective LCD display.
The relay output module features a form C relay that can switch up to 1A. The backlight version can also change the display colour when a setpoint is reached, which provides a quick visual indication for machine operators.
The communications module is available in either RS232 or RS485 formats and provides serial ASCII communications for sending commands and receiving data from the meter. Using this card, the unit can also be programmed using Red Lion’s free Crimson 2.0 programming software.
Also on display is the new Novaris SL series of plug-in surge protectors.
CR Industries stand 2162
CR Industries, formerly SKF Sealing Solutions, was founded in 1878 and started making grease seals for Henry Ford in 1910.
Since this time, the company says it has led in oil seal technology, patenting the first oil seal in 1928, developing and patenting synthetic rubber and the bonded rubber process in 1940.
CR Industries also has the heavy-duty HDL seal for electric wheel drive motors in haul truck applications and the HS10 split finger spring seal for dragline applications.
At M&E, CR Industries will release two new products: the Expeller bearing isolator seal and the PDX positive displacement pump seal.
The Expeller is made in either bronze or stainless steel to provide an effective seal against splashes, dirt, and dust as well as oil and oil-mist. It seals from both sides and is effective even in flooded installations. Easy to install, the seal accommodates misalignment and shaft movement, without wear or friction and may be used in low or high-speed applications.
The PDX is a pump seal designed to minimise friction and shaft wear and can easily replace gland packing to provide a low power consumption sealing method.
Cutting Edges stand 1014
Cutting Edges has announced that it will launch the new Hammerless R-Lock GET retention system at M&E.
The ground engaging tool (GET) is an attachment system that safely speeds up fitting and removal of bucket teeth and adaptors on draglines, rope shovels, hydraulic face shovels and excavators.
Cutting Edges sales director Bruce Gale says the system has been five years in development.
“Five years ago we recognised there were some serious OH&S concerns in mining and construction in the use of hammers in attaching ground engaging tools to excavating equipment,” Gale says.
“You can’t safely swing a hammer at high speed in a mine these days as there are always risks from flying shards of metal. The potential for injury is too high when hammers are used in completing repetitive tasks on any major mine site.”
Gale says the company has invested heavily R&D to explore new ways of safely changing worn consumables such as bucket teeth.
The result is a system that Gale says will increase productivity, reduce downtime and allow operators to save money without impacting on OH&S requirements.
Gale acknowledges there are other locking systems available, but he claims there are none like R-Lock GET.
“We are using a system incorporating simple rotation to provide an alternative patented method of loading the resilient rubber locking element onto the steel pin.
“The R-Lock GET Retention System is scaleable from small systems to the bigger mining environments. It also has the potential to be utilised in shrouding systems and other mining applications where there is a need to lock something in place and you don’t want to use drive pins, bolts or springs.
“Our system is incredibly simple to lock and unlock and we invite visitors to M&E to come to our stand and find out more about this innovative system,” Gale says.
Filter Technology Australia stand 2147
NSW-based Filter Technology Australia says its filtration systems deliver low cost, compact and easy to maintain systems suitable for use in hydraulics, fuels, final drives and engine oils.
The company can tailor a system to suit specific needs from the smallest to the largest plant and equipment.
At M&E the company will introduce the new RCI Fuel Purifiers for the use in fuel farms to remove all water and heavy contaminates.
Gencom stand 1099
Gencom is a supplier of mobile communication systems, including the latest GPS, products in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions of NSW.
In the Hunter Valley, Gencom is the exclusive dealer for Navman’s Internet-based vehicle tracking system, which monitors fleet vehicles and retrieves information such as speed, idle times, mileage and stop times. The company will display this new product at M&E.
HunterNet stand 3028
Priestley Electrical will exhibit at M&E as part of the Hunter Valley engineering co-operative network, HunterNet.
Priestley Electrical will introduce its new visible and lockable load break isolator, Visi-Lock, at M&E.
The Visi-Lock is a 63A to 800A local isolator panel with visible red/green colour coded electrical contacts for the operator to verify that equipment is electrically isolated before it is worked on. To ensure safety, the isolator is locked in the off position using standard personal protection locks. The panel door is mechanically interlocked with the switch to prevent the door opening while the switch is in the on position.
The Visi-Lock is particularly suited to mining and heavy industry, being made of stainless steel with IP66 weatherproofing. The viewing window is made of 6.3mm laminated diamond fusion treated glass that maintains the robustness of the Visi-Lock. Local control push buttons and auxiliary contacts can also be incorporated in the panel to suit a variety of installation requirements.
The company says these features provide increased benefits to conventional load break isolators and provide enhanced safety for maintenance personnel.
The Visi-Lock isolators are made in Priestley Electrical’s Cardiff factory.
Hyden Engineering stand 2152
Hyden Engineering develops, makes and markets various devices and/or systems to reduce the operating costs of machines. Based in Rutherford, NSW, it is a family-owned company with 11 staff.
Hyden Engineering will introduce the new Air-Eliminator at M&E. The device eliminates the bleeding of lubrication systems and provides an alarm signal for system malfunction. It is offered as an add-on option to the Easilube pump and is cheaper than existing alarm systems.
Hytorc stand 2130
Hytorc says it is the oldest and largest maker of hydraulic torque and tension tools in the world, with more Hytorc’s in daily field use than all the other brands combined.
The company’s products are CE, TUV & ISO 9001:2000 approved.
At M&E Hytorc will release the world’s first hydraulic Torque & Tension wrench without a reaction arm. Visit the company’s stand for a product demonstration or to discuss specific requirements in torque wrench, tensioning or bolting solutions.
Ingal EPS stand 1175
Ingal EPS is actively involved in the Australian pole and column industry. At M&E the company will introduce three new lowering systems: the High Mast, Individual Lowering Device (ILD) and Telescopic Safety Pole.
The key advantage of all lowering systems is that personnel need not work at height, or use cherry pickers or scissor lifts. Ingal EPS will use animation to demonstrate its various systems.
Lee Brothers stand 2114
Tuffwear has introduced a range of Fireban fire retardant drill clothing that complies with all relevant standards. Lee Brothers, the makers of Fireban, will display the range at M&E.
Fireban is a chemical treatment that while not flame-proofing the garment, significantly retards the burning of the fabric. The Fireban chemical penetrates the cotton fibres and only decreases slightly with wearing and washing. The range consists of 100% cotton drill navy and orange trousers, shirts and overalls. Fireban garments are also low static.
Mack Trucks Australia stand 1131
Since 1963 Mack Trucks Australia says it has led the trucking industry with innovative engineering for mining and construction vehicles.
At M&E the company will display its workhorses including the Granite, Bigfoot and Metro-Liner models, each specifically designed to handle the toughest mining applications.
Mack says its mining trucks are time tested, job site proven, durable and dependable. Visitors can speak first hand with Mack’s regional manager business development mining specialist Trevor Mariner.
Minecom stand 2107
Minecom, an Australian manufacturer of innovative electronics, communications and safety systems for the mining industry, will launch a new personnel tracking and locating device at M&E: Lamps.
Suitable for underground coal mining, Lamps is intrinsically safe (IS) for operation underground and critical to the early detection of personnel, particularly in emergencies. Minecom has a number of IS systems operating in mines around the world including coal mines in South Africa and Russia, and will use M&E to launch this new safety product in Australia.
Mitchell Drilling stand 2063
Mitchell Drilling has a strong client base in the Hunter Valley, and a modern fleet of over 25 drilling rigs working in Australia and overseas. The rigs are supported by an experienced support staff and drill crews.
In addition, Mitchell Drilling is evolving directional drilling technology and techniques that are under constant review, and ongoing development.
The company will use M&E to explain its recent expansion through the incorporation of three new divisions into the Mitchell Group.
Ovesco stand 2050
At M&E Ovesco will display large diameter Recoil wire thread inserts up to 150mm diameter.
While the Recoil name is well known for thread repair products, these items are traditionally used in small diameter applications.
Damaged or striped threads in castings or fabrications, can be repaired quickly and stronger than the original thread. Large diameter Recoil can provide a fast effective, long-term repair to equipment. Items that once were sent to machine shops for expensive repairs, can be handled on site with minimum downtime. Solutions are available for mobile or fixed equipment.
The installation process is simple, and in some situations used in original manufacture to provide a more efficient locking thread. On a repair, the original thread size can be maintained by using a Recoil insert. The damaged thread is drilled out by a recommended oversize drill and then tapped with a specified tap. The wire thread insert is wound into the oversize thread and once in position the internal diameter creates a replica of the original thread.
Panduit stand 2097
Panduit will conduct hands-on training demonstrations for the correct installation of its safety, identification and energy isolation products.
The company will give participants the opportunity to completely lockout and isolate equipment safely and securely.
Power Serve stand 2123
Power construction company Power Serve has relocated its head office to a $3m purpose-built facility at Thornton in the heart of the Hunter Valley.
The company designs, makes and maintains overhead and underground high-voltage power systems, high-voltage substations and turnkey fibre optic communication infrastructure.
Exhibiting for the first time at M&E, Power Serve’s stand will showcase its full range of electrical engineering, construction, design and maintenance services. Hunter Valley Service centre operations manager David Meyn will head a team of electrical engineers at the stand to discuss project requirements.
Visitors can use services-locating equipment to find cables hidden in a purpose-built display. Cable strikes are a significant risk factor in any underground works and Power Serve has successfully mitigated this by using the equipment. The display will show a cross-section view of a direct buried cable complete with bedding sand, natural backfill, cable protection cover and warning tape to give visitors an understanding of how a high voltage cable is generally installed in the ground.
Very few people get the opportunity to see the workings of a power pole up close. Power Serve will have two cut-down power poles on display, as well as a termite infested pole to demonstrate the need for vigilant maintenance programs to ensure ongoing electrical system safety. A partially completed high voltage cable termination will give visitors a better understanding of the process of terminating a cable.
Red Australia stand 1134
Materials handling specialists Red Australia Equipment will display the new range of Komatsu forklifts.
The Komatsu AX50/BX50 Series forklifts are designed to optimise operational capabilities while boosting safety, performance and reliability.
The forklifts are available in both petrol and diesel engine models, with improved fuel consumption of up to 10%. The AX50 models can lift between 1t to 1.75t, while the BX50 models can lift up to 3.5t.
Rocla stand 1169
Rocla is a building and construction products company that designs, makes and distributes a broad range of precast concrete systems and components.
The company’s expertise in designing and making precast concrete products, gained over 80 years in Australia, extends to the development of pre-fabricated structures such as road bridges, retaining walls and environmental products. The company says these modular systems are quickly assembled on site to create permanent, durable structures.
At M&E the company will display its Rocla MassBloc retaining wall system.
The company says large precast blocks that weigh around 1.7t each are cost competitive, easy to transport, fast to install and require minimal base preparation. They are suitable at mine sites for retaining road embankments, erosion control, land slippage and containment of embankments around structures where space is at a premium.
Information will also be available on some of the company’s other relevant precast products such as box culverts and environmental systems. At M&E visitors can request a demonstration of MassBloc permeability.
Semikron Australia stand 2015
The new Semikube B6Ci platform boasts a ground-breaking cubic form with a low inductivity connector for 220kW to 900kW drives.
The Semikube B6Ci provides a power electronics platform solution for a standardised, compact, maintainable and flexible system for forced air-cooled inverters from 300A up to 1550A. It is the first platform solution developed by the newly established global network of nine Semikron solution centres.
SEW-Eurodrive stand 2100
M&E will provide SEW-Eurodrive with a venue to display end-to-end drives solutions tailored to applications in the mining and energy sectors. The packaged drive solutions are products of the company’s complete in-house engineering capabilities from specification through design to delivery.
The packaged drive solutions are just one element of SEW-Eurodrive’s industrial gear range on display. The industrial gear range provides compact and versatile solutions for transmitting loads up to 1200,000Nm of driving torque. SEW-Eurodrive’s display will also include the SEW-Eurodrive high-torque and power “P” series planetary gear units.
SEW-Eurodrive applications engineer Paul Sacco says for systems ranging from 75 to 500kW, SEW-Eurodrive has the people to “size it, design it, draw it and build it; in one hit”.
“One contact means complete control for the customer,” Sacco says.
Although every drive system consists of a motor, gearbox and coupling, each case is unique. SEW-Eurodrive ensures the entire package is engineered to the application; from the choice of components, to the design of the mounting base plate.
“For these larger systems every case is a special case,” Sacco says.
SEW-Eurodrive’s Australian team of engineers perform a series of crucial design tasks to ensure seamless integration of an optimal drive system in each instance.
Polymer elements are incorporated between the coupling halves to dampen the shock forces.
“We use laser instrumentation to align the motor and the gearbox. This ensures that no external forces caused by coupling misalignment are present on the gearbox and motor shafts. Not only does this optimise performance, but it further increases the life of the bearings,” Sacco says.
Another feature is an axial flow cooling fan mounted onto the gearbox high-speed shaft that improves the thermal performance of the gearbox.
For large bulk material handling type conveyor systems, the company designs and incorporates heavy-duty base plates. A torque arm provides the mechanical link between the base-plate and existing site steelwork. The torque arm comprises two polymer flexible bearings to absorb most of the shock at start-up. Each bearing consists of an internal and external sleeve separated by a rubber compound.
Another important aspect of the company’s packaged drive solutions is maintenance and support. A full customer operations and maintenance manual, specific to each system, accompanies each drive system delivered. This handbook includes the engineering drawings, alignment report and individual maintenance manuals for each component: motor, coupling, reducer, and so on.
Spinefex stand 3006
Spinefex will launch the latest technological developments in the Lifeguard Electrical Safety Systems range that includes residual current protection, power reticulation systems, power towers, cascading lighting and temp master switchboards.
Sykes stand 1179
Sykes will introduce the Solingo, a new variable message sign and the latest addition to the Sykes Safeway range of traffic management equipment.
Combining portability and wide angle visibility by using the latest technology in high grade LED output as well as non-glare polycarbonate facing, the Solingo gives the highest viewing angle and visibility, while also displaying an endless variety of messages.
The name Solingo encompasses two of the signs primary features: “Sol” represents the signs efficient solar energy source while “lingo” signifies the signs multilingual capability.
The sign offers full matrix ability to display multiple sizes of characters, arrows, graphics and symbols with customer edited animations. The software terminal comes with 40 pre-programmed messages and 88 user-defined messages that allow six pages per message. All messages can be previewed on the LCD keypad before anything is displayed on the LED screen.
An important feature of the sign is the display mode, which is automatically photocell controlled based upon the environmental conditions. The photocell control in conjunction with the battery/solar power also helps minimise energy consumption.
Thermo Electron stand 2142
Thermo Electron makes on-line analysis, inspection, weighing, monitoring and control equipment, specialising in process instrumentation and automatic control using various measurement technologies.
Products for the coal and energy industry include: on-line PGNAA elemental analysers, belt weighers, conveyor surveillance devices, level indicators, tramp metal detectors, sampling systems, coal blending software, bulk material flow switches and meters and density gauges.
Thermo will exhibit a model of its Gamma-Metrics Coal Quality Manager (CQM), which it says is the most accurate and best selling PGNAA elemental sample stream analyser in the coal industry. The CQM is suitable for controlling coal quality at load-outs to meet customer specifications and maximise customer resources , and in power plant feed situations, where the best accuracy available is critical to the process, maintain best boiler operating efficiency and limiting sulphur emissions. This is achieved in the CQM in conjunction with its automated blending software, Cobos.
The Gamma-Metrics CQM measures and reports ash, sulphur, ash oxide constituents in the coal: calcium, iron, aluminium, silicon, titanium, potassium and sodium, in some cases. It calculates and reports heating value and ash fusion temperature based on customer specified empirical relations.
Thiess Services stand 2181
Thiess Services provides total waste management solutions to numerous coal mining operations throughout the Hunter Valley.
Its service is tailored to meet legislative, environmental and safety requirements as well as key performance indicators developed in consultation with clients. Thiess Services focus on the avoidance, reuse and recycling of material with an emphasis on minimising the amount of waste that goes to landfill.
The company’s display at M&E will illustrate the different waste streams found on mine sites and the different methods it employs to ensure maximum reuse and recycling of these materials.
TJ Tools stand 2135
TJ Tools says it is the largest service sales and repair centre in NSW for hydraulic torque wrenches and porta power rams.
The first company to establish specific on site service and testing of hydraulic wrenches and porta power tooling, TJ Tools has had a major impact on OH&S in the industry, which helps reduce the chance of injury through its maintenance services.
At M&E TJ Tools will launch new products including the new air tool range, Sidchrome, angle grinders, die grinders, hammer chisels, nut runners, drills and impact wrenches. Its display will also feature hydraulic wrenches, air and hand wrenches, impact sockets and porta power with experts on hand to discuss individual needs.
Total Erosion and Pollution Control stand 2180
For the past 35 years Total Erosion and Pollution Control (TEPC) has supplied a wide range of high quality products for erosion, site regeneration, spill and pollution management to the mining and allied industries.
TEPC’s Spill Kits can be tailored to suit any application and include a range of effective and environment-friendly absorbents. TEPC can provide regular and scheduled servicing of customer’s spill control needs.
TEPC Fabrications offers a range of floating booms, silt curtains and ancillary items, all designed to provide performance, quality and durability. TEPC is able to custom manufacture a range of items from woven and non-woven geotextiles and high strength coated fabrics.
To complement the extensive range of erosion control products, TEPC has a range of bush regeneration products. The range includes paper, jute and coir tree mats, milk carton and poly tree guards and bamboo stakes.
Transpacific Industries Group stand 1018
Transpacific Industries Group (TPI) says it is Australia’s largest liquid waste collection and recycling company. TPI operates within three major divisions: Waste Management and Recycling; Industrial Solutions; and, Commercial Vehicles.
TPI provides the mining industry with total waste management and facility management services. Nationwide Oil, Transpacific Technical Services, Transpacific Industrial Solutions and Environmental Recovery Services are the main TPI companies servicing the mining industry. TPI provides the mining industry with collection and processing of waste oil, oily water, oily rags and oil filters; the supply of fuel oil for power plants; industrial solutions such as plant and equipment cleaning; and, the supply parts washing equipment, spill kits and absorbents.
TPI’s M&E display will feature total waste management solutions for the mining industry, with a focus on recover, recycle and reuse, for waste minimisation and maximum commercial return for clients.
Videotronics stand 2154
Videotronics specialises in providing a wide range of communication solutions, and installs and maintains custom-built industrial CCTV camera systems.
Videotronics provides surveillance equipment for OH&S applications, mining companies, sugar industry, coal ships and tugs, major fast food outlets, service stations and the banking and financial sectors.
At M&E Videotronics will display a fully operational surveillance system. The display is hands-on so exhibition goers can experience using Videotronics products. The company’s display will also focus on promoting its custom-built surveillance kits that are easily installed anywhere.
Warwick Australia stand 1090
Warwick Australia has recently released the MD 200 Silent, a completely autonomous, mobile hot/cold/steam pressure cleaner.
The MD 200 is diesel-driven and can be trailer-mounted. The steel body shell is fully insulated, which gives the unit very low noise levels. It has a dB rating at 4m of 73dB.
In addition to the new MD 200, at M&E the company will display a broad range of Warwick industrial cleaning equipment and accessories including cold and hot/cold/steam electric pressure cleaners; cold and hot/cold/steam petrol and diesel-driven pressure cleaners; wet/dry industrial vacuum cleaners; walk-behind sweepers; and, pressure cleaner accessories.
WorkPac stand 1086
WorkPac is one of the largest Australian-owned recruitment companies specialising in services for the mining industry.
Zip Heaters (Aust) stand 2166
Australian-owned company Zip says in 1975 it introduced the world’s first instant boiling water heaters. The company’s products are now used throughout Australia and exported to 12 countries.
At M&E Zip will introduce two new products: the Zip Hydrotap and the Zip Chilltower.
The Hydrotap provides instant boiling water for coffee, tea and soup. It also provides safe and clean filtered chilled water, immediately. HydroTap saves time, energy and money and is safer than bottled water solutions.
The Zip Chilltower is an upright bubbler that provides filtered chilled or ambient water and does not need to be drained to waste. With the HydroTap, staff need not continually lift and fill bottled water. Once installed it is almost maintenance free.