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News
In this issue, Komatsu brings its PC88MR-11 excavator to Australia, the new Case CE Minotaur is released, Holcim turns to electric Cat loaders, plus much more! 6–8, 58–69
Features
With new electric Volvo machinery being introduced to the Australian market, CJD Equipment explains why switching from diesel is the way to go 10
Ant International manufactures attachments that are designed and built for Australian conditions 12
Nordmann has released a new range of jaw crushers to the Australian market, now available through Crusher Screen Sales & Hire 14
Ag-Pride has imported Bomford Turner’s remote control Flailbot range into Australia 16
Cobra Equipment Sales specialises in Shantui equipment and machinery a little ‘out of the box’ 22 Komatsu has brought its new WA475-10 wheel loader to Australia 26
Onetrak opens a new rental yard in Adelaide, offering a total rental solution to customers 31
Keestrack’s K6 scalping screen, available through Screenmasters Australia , brings decades of experience 36
Tilly’s Crawler Parts has recently expanded its attachments offering with a new facility in Adelaide 40
Coffee meets concrete in an RMIT research trial looking to reuse organic waste in new pavements 42
Editorial & Design
Editor Cat Fitzpatrick
catherine.fitzpatrick@primecreative.com.au
Journalists
Darragh Bermingham, Jackson Haddad
Contributors Damian Long, NAWIC
Art Director Daz Woolley
Managing Editor Andrew Hobbs
Industry voice
Sage Civil owner Asha Russell discusses setting up her own business and how pink and purple machinery is generating conversatons around getting more women into civil 28
CCF QLD’s Damian Long wonders how headline-grabbing budget promises will translate into application 46
To increase women’s participation in the industry, a multipronged approach is required, says NAWIC 50 Economic recovery on the horizon, suggests the Queensland Investment Corporation 52
Event news
Looking ahead to BULK Expo 2024 in Melbourne 56
Regulars
Introducing Electric Volvo Compact Equipment
The Volvo Electric Range is backed by a 2-year/2000-hour warranty on genuine Volvo parts, while the battery and electric components are covered for 5 years/5000 hours, whichever comes first.
ELECTRIFY YOUR PERFORMANCE
Proven performance
• Same performance as a diesel equivalent
• Outstanding visibility and operator comfort
• Range of Volvo attachments
Innovative battery technology
• Lithium-Ion 48V battery - 40kWh
• Fast Charging possibilities
• Theft protected fixed battery
Less maintenance
• Maintenance-free electric motors featuring auto shutoff to save wear
• Easy ground access to lubrication and maintenance points
Zero Emissions
• No power consumption when machine is not working
• Low noise level
• No emissions locally
EXCAVATOR
Komatsu brings PC88MR-11 excavator to Australia
New arrival
With improved hydraulic flow, the newly-introduced Komatsu PC88MR-11 midi excavator promises a seven per cent productivity boost, according to Komatsu Australia national sales manager – utility Carl Grundy.
hydraulic system, which lets operators get the most out of their attachments for the different types of jobs.”
The PC88MR-11, recently launched in Australia and New Zealand, is designed for tight-access applications, including excavation, rock work and utilities projects.
“We’ve made upgrades from the previous model, and seen some great improvements in productivity, comfort and serviceability,” he says.
“In particular, we’ve made some improvements to the hydraulic flow that mean greater productivity and fuel efficiency for operators.
The blade profile has also been redesigned, which makes backfilling and grading easier with this model.
“This model delivers 12 per cent greater attachment circuit hydraulic flow than the previous model with
The short tail swing and swing boom make the PC88MR-11 ideal for tight spaces in residential areas and its compact size means it can be easily transported on equipment trailers from site to site, Komatsu says.
“We’ve also looked at the serviceability of the machine and how we can make that easier for customers,” Grundy says.
“This model has three service access doors, including new doors at the rear of the machine, improving access for maintenance or repair.
“The cab is also designed with the operator in mind, ensuring it’s a quiet and comfortable work environment and all the controls are easy to reach.”
The PC88MR-11 also comes
New case
state of the art wireless monitoring system.
“Komtrax gives owners and operators an easy way to track their machines, monitor their performance and stay up to date about the status of their equipment, saving time and maximising profits.
“The machine is backed by the service and support of our widereaching Komatsu branch network, meaning no matter where your jobsite is, our team is available to help with any issues.
“The previous model of the PC88MR was very popular, and we’re looking forward to rolling this newest model out to our customers.”
For more details and specs on the new PC88MR-11, head to www. komatsu.com.au/equipment/ excavators/1-8t-to-10-3t/pc88mr-11
Case Minotaur DL550 compact dozer loader. Image: Case CE
of a dozer with the agility and versatility of a compact loader.
The Minotaur DL550 weighs over 8.4 tons (7.6 tonnes) with a 114-horsepower (85kW) engine, with Case describing it as being “a true multi-tasker”, designed for land clearing, roadworks, trenching, storm cleanup, landscaping, utility work and trail blazing with its ability to doze, grade, load and rip.
The machinery manufacturer says the Minotaur DL550 compact dozer loader combines the power and performance
Case CE says a significant advancement in the Minotaur’s design is the detachable chassis-integrated C-frame that “provides operators with a full range of dozer controls and responsiveness,” it explains, while the sealed and pressurised ROPS/FOPS Level 1 enclosed cab includes air con, heating and an AM/FM Bluetooth radio with USB port.
, Case Construction Equipment (Case CE) has announced the release of a new machine to the Australian market.
The Case Minotaur DL550 compact dozer loader has been launched in Australia
DOZER LOADER
Emission reduction
In an effort to reduce its carbon emissions, Holcim Australia has introduced electric-drive Caterpillar wheel loaders into its quarry operations
Holcim Australia’s quarry sites in Gosnells, WA and Petrie, QLD have introduced the latest Cat 988K XE wheel loaders – the first wheel loaders models from Caterpillar that use a high-efficiency electric drive system.
The company says this initiative will reduce fossil fuel consumption and cut exhaust emissions on both sites, with a third 988K XE loader to be integrated into its Pakenham, Victoria, quarry at a later date.
Compared to its older Cat models, Holcim has found that there is a 35 per cent reduction in fuel consumption in the loaders’ first 500 hours of operation.
Holcim Australia’s aggregates division performance improvement manager Tim Millis says the new technology wheel loaders will be part of the businesses’ ongoing operations, rather than a shortterm trial.
“Our HME [heavy mining equipment] Replacement Program represents another step towards fulfilling our operational improvement and sustainability objectives,” he says.
“Across all parts of Holcim’s business, we seek solutions that are both innovative and environmentally responsible, through sound investment
Toyota HiLux. Image: Jan Kliment/stock.adobe.com
UTE
The Cat 988K XE wheel loader will help to reduce Holcim’s emissions. Image: Holcim Australia
and application of impactful technologies.”
Millis also notes that the new loaders have a longer maintenance cycle than the previous models, providing further cost benefits over the life of the machine.
Using the electric-drive wheel loaders will also decrease the total amount of machines needed for Holcim’s Gosnells operations, Millis says.
Also having joined Holcim’s fleet, is a Cat 972 XE wheel loader, that has been added to the Southeast Queensland aggregates business.
Roev will turn from vehicle manufacturing to EV transition software
Focus shift
Australian electric conversion company Roev has announced that its development of an electric version of the Toyota HiLux has come to an end after it was unable to secure the funding for its conversion program.
The Brisbane-based startup had originally planned on creating electric versions of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger for the Australian market by developing an electric ute conversion kit.
Despite EV/hybrid leasing and rental business CarBon announcing in July 2023 that the first electric HiLux utes would be made available in February 2024 for commercial fleets, Roev’s founders say that they were not able to continue the program at the level of “safety, reliability and scale” required.
Instead, Roev will discontinue its vehicle manufacturing and instead focus solely on EV transition software, which it describes as being an AI-powered tool designed to help businesses reduce transport emissions by identifying opportunities for CO2 reduction and electrification in fleets.
BUDGET
This year’s Budget includes $1.9 billion for Western Sydney road and rail infrastructure. Image: Taras Vyshnya/stock.adobe.com
Investment announcement
The latest federal Budget has allocated $16.5 billion for new and existing infrastructure projects over the next 10 years
The latest federal Budget announced a provision of $16.5 billion for new and existing projects across Australia over the next 10 years.
Of this total, $4.6 billion will be invested in 69 new projects, including:
• $1.9 billion for Western Sydney road and rail infrastructure
• $ 300 million for Metronet to deliver a capacity signalling program in Western Australia
• $177 million to deliver bridge and intersection upgrades along the Warrego Highway in Queensland
• $80 million to upgrade the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk in Tasmania
• $120 million for the Princes Highway to deliver interchange upgrades at Mount Barker and Verdun in South Australia
• $ 50 million to plan for Stage 2B of the Canberra Light Rail
• $12 million for the Bridgewater Road and Portland Ring Road intersection upgrade in Victoria.
This also includes $540 million to improve the reliability of the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s interstate freight rail network, including $150 million to upgrade the Maroona to Portland Line in Victoria.
The government is also investing $10.1 billion into current projects, including an additional:
• $ 3.25 billion for North East Link in Victoria
• $1.4 billion for Metronet projects in Western Australia
• $1.15 billion towards the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line in Queensland
• $ 50 million to ensure the delivery of the existing Appin Road project in New South Wales
• $27.1 million to deliver the duplication of William Hovell Drive in the ACT.
To support additional enabling infrastructure for housing, the Budget also makes available $1 billion for states and territories to deliver enabling infrastructure through the Housing Support Program – Priority Works Stream.
Funding under the Black Spot Program for increased road safety will increase from the current commitment of $110 million to $150 million per year.
To ease the administrative burden on applicants, the government has merged the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and the Bridges Renewal Program into a new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program with at least $200 million available each year.
Electric moves
CJD Equipment has brought new electric Volvo machinery to Australia
With new electric Volvo machinery being introduced to the Australian market, CJD Equipment explains why switching from diesel is the way to go
CJD Equipment, the Australian dealer of Volvo construction equipment, has recently introduced a new lineup of compact electric machines to Australia.
Among these are the Volvo ECR18 and ECR25 electric compact excavators and the L25 electric wheel loader. For those contemplating embracing a more environmentally conscious path forward, here are five reasons the company says Volvo electric construction equipment makes an excellent addition to earthmoving businesses.
Reduced operational costs
The battery system of electric machines eliminates the need for maintenance, resulting in decreased downtime and lower operating expenses. Additionally, electric machines are generally cheaper to run than their diesel counterparts, contributing to decreased operational costs.
With fewer components requiring regular maintenance,
electric machines typically have longer service intervals, allowing businesses to optimise their operations and minimise disruptions.
By eliminating oil changes, fuel filter replacements, or other maintenance associated with diesel engines, it translates to reduced downtime for servicing and decreased labour costs throughout the lifespan of the equipment.
Progress sustainability targets
Many businesses aim to meet sustainability goals in line with initiatives such as the sciencebased target initiative and the Paris Agreement.
Setting science-based goals shows a company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental care. Not only does this practice enhance brand reputation, but it also creates trust and appeals to socially conscious consumers.
Environmental aspects are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. Companies
investing in zero-emission construction equipment can reduce their carbon footprint and are taking a step forward for a cleaner and greener future.
By embracing electric solutions pioneered by Volvo CE, businesses can achieve environmental benefits without compromising performance. This not only aligns with sustainability objectives but also positions them as leaders in the transition towards a more ecoconscious industry.
Improved operator safety
These machines produce minimal noise, fewer vibrations and zero emissions – promoting better environmental conditions. The electric motors are significantly quieter than their diesel equivalents and have fewer moving parts, resulting in a reduction of vibration and noise.
This creates a conducive environment where operators can effectively communicate with coworkers, easily hear warning
Images: CJD Equipment
signals and maintain situational awareness while working.
This will enhance the operator’s overall comfort, especially during extended operations periods, contributing to a safer and healthier work environment.
With Volvo’s dedication to advancing safety standards, prioritising operator safety and comfort, businesses can mitigate risks and create a workplace that prioritises well-being and productivity.
Emission-free environment
The absence of exhaust emissions from Volvo electric construction machines not only helps to improve local air quality but also reduces the overall carbon footprint associated with construction activities.
By operating with zero emissions, Volvo electric construction machines have the advantage of accessing environments either indoors or underground, densely
populated areas, or locations where emissions could pose significant health or environmental concerns.
This capability enhances the work experience for operators and opens up new business opportunities.
By allowing construction in areas where traditional diesel-powered equipment may be restricted, these machines allow companies to work on zero-emission job sites without compromising productivity.
Electric construction machines also assist companies in meeting strict environmental regulations, showcasing their dedication to sustainability and responsible business practices, creating a safer, cleaner and more sustainable construction sector, benefiting both businesses and communities.
The quieter solution Electric machines boast significantly lower noise levels compared to their diesel counterparts. This advantage is particularly beneficial in noise-
sensitive environments where diesel machines may be restricted.
Diesel engines rely on the combustion of fuel to generate power, which essentially creates noise due to movements within the engine. As electric machines do not have combustion engines, this eliminates the presence of loud noise associated with fuel combustion.
Electric motors deliver power instantly and more consistently when compared to diesel engines, which often need to rev up and down. This means electric machines can operate at a more consistent RPM, which contributes to a more stable and quieter operation.
If you would like to find out more, please reach out to your local CJD branch at 1300 139 804 or visit cjd.com.au
Electric machines are generally cheaper to run
Material matters
Ant International uses its manufacturing facilities to provide quality earthmoving attachments that are designed and built for Australian conditions
Operating as a family owned and run business, Ant International has been supplying quality earthmoving attachments to the Australian market for more than 20 years.
Having started out as a foundry business in 1985, producing metal castings, Ant International used that knowledge and experience to move into earthmoving attachment fabrication in 1999 –where it has been supplying bucket manufacturers and machine dealers ever since.
With its workshop based in Rocklea, Brisbane, the business had previously focused on providing attachments locally in Queensland, but in the last decade has moved to offer its products nationwide.
“Up until 2016 we had only been supplying to major dealers and bucket manufacturers locally, but since then we have been retailing our excavator attachments and wear parts as well,” Ant International general manager Charlotte Liao says.
Manufacturing
Ant International is not just a
distributor of quality earthmoving attachments – it’s also a manufacturer.
Compared to its competitors, Liao says Ant International’s point of difference is that it manufactures attachments specifically for Australian conditions within its own facilities.
“Some of our competitors don’t have their own manufacturing facility, so they import ready-to-go products out of China and other countries and sell it directly to customers,” Liao says.
“What separates us from those businesses is that we have our own manufacturing facility and workshop located in Rocklea, which enables us to provide our customers with customised service.”
Ant International supplies a wide range of excavator attachments, including GP, mud and tilt buckets, rippers, hydraulic grabs, hitches and compaction wheels – all designed and built for Australian conditions.
“We design our products with full control over the production process and the materials used,”
Ant International production manager Lex Treloar says.
“This means we have complete control over the quality of tools we sell, and we never settle for less than the very best.”
Built to last
With many of its products being ordered daily, quality and durability are key selling points of Ant International attachments, Liao says.
Depending on customer needs the business can fabricate customised earthmoving attachments that are built to last.
“Our custom designs provide more variety for customers and our team of experienced and professional staff can work closely with the customer to make the attachment or accessory to the customer’s specification,” Liao says.
“We expect that every single product we send out the door will thrive on worksites and in the field, lasting many years.”
To back up its high-value products, the business also offers an aftersales service to help its customers with
Images:
Ant International designs and builds earthmoving attachments for Australian conditions
anything they may need, such as spare parts.
Ant International stocks spare parts at its Rocklea-based workshop and warehouse, from large components such as hydraulic cylinders down to small spare parts such as bushes and bearings. If the parts needed are not in stock, it can provide a suitable alternative solution for its customers.
Treloar says that, with its competitively-priced products, customers can be assured that Ant International’s attachments are produced to the highest standards.
Ant International is a proud member of the ‘Hardox in My Body’ program, which is a symbol of world class quality. Combined with its background of foundry experience and metallurgical knowledge, it can select the right steel for Australian conditions.
“Our partnerships and knowledge signifies that our products are made of first-class steel that delivers the highest level of wear resistance and
impact strength,” Treloar says.
Saving time and money over the lifespan of the attachment, the Ant International production manager says choosing quality steel reduces overall bucket weight by 20 to 25 per cent, with its useful life being extended by 50 per cent.
Looking to the direction Ant International plans to take in the new financial year, Liao says the business
will be actively pushing its new hydraulic hitch models suited for machines of eight tonnes and under.
“We believe in our quality, and we are able to back this up with genuine aftersales service as well.”
For more information on Ant International’s earthmoving attachments, visit ant-get.com or call 07 3710 6700.
Correct material selection ensures the toughness and longevity of every Ant International product
Ant International provides ‘built to spec’ attachments to suit the working conditions, ensuring peak performance
Jaw-dropping machines
Nordmann has released a new range of jaw crushers to the Australian market, now available through Crusher Screen Sales & Hire (CSSH)
CSSH has recently welcomed a new range of Nordmann crushers to its product offering – the T-750 tracked jaw crusher and the K-750 hook lift crusher.
Manufactured in Northern Ireland, these Nordmann crushers have been operating in Europe for quite some time, but CSSH says the line-up is new to the Australian market.
Based in Yatala, Queensland, CSSH is the Australian distributor of Nordmann equipment, and its new product offering allows operators to use a crusher that can run on electric power.
Traditionally these types of crushers are diesel hydraulic, but the T-750 and K-750 are both dual electric-powered.
“There’s been a move in the industry to move more towards hybrid diesel electric machines, because they produce a smaller carbon footprint and reduce fuel consumption,” CSSH manager John Andersen says.
With reduced fuel consumption on the dual-powered machines, Andersen says operators can save a lot of money by switching from the traditional diesel crushers.
The electric drive on both jaw crushers allows for quiet operation, with its reduced carbon footprint
making the T-750 and K-750 suited to work in built-up areas. Weighing 14 to 20 tonnes, Andersen says they can work in locations that larger crushers would struggle to fit in.
“There are not a lot of options in this size range, so Nordmann have identified these machines as an essential for inner-city work,” he says.
Both machines are the same size, but the CSSH manager says they are differentiated by tracks. The T-750 is track-mounted, while the K-750 is a fixed-position plant. This flexibility on the T-750 allows operators to have the choice of a more mobile plant that can move from site to site much easier than a fixed plant.
The Nordmann T-750 tracked jaw crusher has an optional single-deck attached screen
To further enhance flexibility for operators, the T-750 comes with the option of a 6’x4’ (1.8m x 1.2m) singledeck attached screen box that can produce two finished products – such as a road base and drainage rock.
For operators looking for a cheaper machine, Andersen says the K-750 is the perfect choice.
“Unlike the T-750, the K-750 doesn’t have tracks and must be moved by a hook-lift truck, which reduces the price and makes it a perfect entrylevel crusher,” he says.
Both machines provide a 700mm by 500mm crusher box opening, with a six-tonne single toggle jaw. This is accompanied by a reverse crush and jog function for sticky material, with options of a fine belt and over band magnet.
“The T-750 and K-750 are perfect jaw crushers for use in small quarries and recycling concrete and bricks,” Andersen says.
“These Nordmann crushers are particularly effective on small construction sites where material can be crushed and reused on site – reducing transport and dumping costs.”
For more information on the Nordmann T-750 tracked jaw crusher and the K-750 hook lift crusher, visit crusherscreen.com or call John Andersen on 0424 181 056
The K-750 is the same size as T-750 but isn’t mounted on tracks
Images:
CSSH
Slope safety
The Flailbot range can work in areas that larger machines would struggle to access
Ag-Pride has imported Bomford Turner’s Flailbot range into Australia, with the remote-controlled track mowers emerging as an essential product in vegetation clearance
Growing up, most people loved the joys that remote controlled toys brought them, but that’s just the beginning of what remote control capability can be used for now.
With Bomford Turner’s Flailbot remote-control track mower range, vegetation in challenging terrains can be cleared from a safe distance –making operators’ lives much easier and safer.
These machines are no toy. Instead, they are emerging as a crucial companion for vegetation management contractors and those who need to access more hazardous areas.
UK-based Bomford Turner products are distributed locally through Ag-Pride Australia, which has identified that remote-control track mowers will be more widely used in the near future.
“These machines are well established in Europe, but there’s not as many in Australia,” Ag-Pride product manager Lance Hills says.
The underbody skin prevents external debris from entering internal components
“It’s an emerging market in Australia and people are starting to realise that the cost of buying a tractor is almost the same as these Flailbots – but you don’t get remotecontrol operation with a tractor.”
Offered in four different models with a range of sizes including mini, compact, standard and supreme,
Ag-Pride believes that the Flailbot original model is ideally suited to the market, with it boasting a 50 horsepower (37.3kW) Perkins engine.
Remote-control
Hills says the core beneficial aspect of the Flailbots is that they can reach hard-to-access areas and
Images:
Ag-Pride
top dogDirt in the
Bred Toyota tough, Huski skid steer loaders are the perfect mix of performance, reliability and durability. Developed and tested in Australia, Huski features best in show strength, manoeuvrability and driver comfort, and can handle operating loads from 320kg to a whopping 900kg.
Best of all Huski skid steer loaders are backed by Toyota’s trusted reputation for delivering quality equipment and loyal after sales support. So if you’re looking to put your business at the head of the pack, you can’t go past a Huski. Australia’s Top Dog in the Dirt.
slopes, without the operator having to sit or stand on the machine – improving safety.
Using remote control, operators can drive the Flailbot from up to 150m away at speeds of up to 7km/h, keeping them at a safe distance.
The tracked mower is designed to operate on slopes with up to a 55-degree working angle, with Hills saying that most sit-on mowers and larger machines would not be able to access areas on this type of angle.
“On these types of slopes, you need a low-profile machine that’s very stable,” he says.
“There aren’t really any machines that operators can sit on when working at a 55-degree angle, so that’s where the Flailbot is essential.”
If operators were using sit-on mowers for this kind of work, it could lead to a roll over and potential injury, so Hills says remote-control ability provides much more safety when dealing with challenging terrain. The remote control also allows operators to remotely stop and start the machine, as required.
Versatility
Versatility is one word that encapsulates this compact, but impressive, mower range.
The machines can be used in a wide variety of applications thanks to the many optional tools and attachments, including a forestry
head, stump grinder, trencher and front end loader to name a few.
“These tools and attachments replicate a tractor by turning a single machine into a multipurpose unit,” Hills says.
These options are in addition to the standard flailhead on the original model, suited to cutting all types of green vegetation with a diameter of up to 35mm.
Versatility is once again highlighted, with three different track options offered on the Flailbot. The standard rubber tracks are made with a low impact tread pattern and have been designed for general terrain, while the ‘hi-grip’ option has a deep tread pattern – offering better grip for more challenging surfaces.
For wet areas and steep slopes, Hills says the metal spiked track option is the way to go.
“It has steel-linked tracks with spiked studs that protrude from the tracks, and this aids in the stability of the machine,” he says.
The ability to widen the tracks is also available as standard on the original model, Hills says, which allows the operator to extend individual tracks by up to 250mm –offering additional stability on steep slopes.
Ease-of-maintenance
With any mowing work, grass and other materials are destined to cover
can drive the Flailbot using the remote-control from up to 150m away
a machine, but Hills says Bomford Turner’s compact innovation makes cleaning and maintenance easier.
The cooling fan inside the machine can be put in reverse operation to blow material away from the radiator – reducing potential damage and making cleaning on the run easier.
A tough underbody skin is also structurally integrated into the frame, with Hills saying it further prevents debris from entering the Flailbot and protects its internal components as a result.
The frame includes flashing LEDs, while powerful headlights are included to maintain high visibility and allow for night work.
With other brands of these types of machines starting to emerge in Australia, Hills believes Bomford Turner stands alone due to its history of more than 100 years.
“The quality of the Bomford Turner brand and its history in vegetation control machinery make the Flailbot remote-control track mower stand apart from its competitors.”
For more information on the Bomford Turner Flailbot remote-control track mowers, head to www.agpride.com.au or call 02 4964 8818.
Operators
THE REAL DEAL.
Specialised service
Cobra is working with Shantui to finalise the certification of a 19-tonne electric loader
Cobra Equipment Sales specialises in Shantui equipment, whilst also answering specific machinery inquiries that can be considered a little ‘out of the box’
Travelling in and out of China for nearly 20 years, Cobra Equipment
Sales director George Nason has seen his fair share of Chinese-made earthmoving equipment.
A particular standout over his travels has been the Shantui brand, with Nason crediting its quality and cost effectiveness as an advantage over other Chinese earthmovingbranded equipment.
Using his connections in China, today his Brisbane-based Cobra Equipment Sales is an authorised dealer and distributor for Shantui equipment – and has been since 2018.
“Shantui initially approached me because they wanted a larger presence in Australia and didn’t have any dealers here,” Nason says.
This was an attractive proposition for his business at the time, as he says Shantui is the world’s largest manufacturer of bulldozers.
“There’s so many people selling excavators and loaders, but not a lot of bulldozers,” he says.
“I saw an opportunity to push the bulldozer market through Shantui’s machines.”
Originally, the Shantui brand was not that well known in Australia and Nason found it took time to
communicate its high-quality standards, but now Nason says the word is out – with many Shantui machines working across the country.
Core business units
Founded in 2005, Cobra Equipment Sales has three key business units that are integral to
its Shantui customers’ needs – new equipment, used equipment and spare parts.
Cobra’s new and used equipment business units predominately focus on Shantui machinery, ranging from
2005
Images: Cobra Equipment Sales
George Nason founded Cobra Equipment Sales in
excavators, bulldozers, graders and wheel loaders – to name a few.
“We’ve always lead with our new equipment, but our used equipment side of the business is still important to what we do,” Nason says.
“I started Cobra because I saw the potential in quality Chinese-made new equipment for customers that would normally be looking at used equipment. Before that, I had many years of experience in the sales and operation of used equipment.
“We source used equipment that we think will be the right fit and the right price for the market.”
Cobra’s spare parts business unit is also very important to its operations, as Nason says lots of customers have bought machinery from other now-defunct dealers and are having trouble finding spare parts.
“A lot of people thought they could get into the game by buying cheap equipment from China, and it didn’t last because they weren’t buying from top-quality brands,” he says.
“Once these businesses went broke and stopped trading, they couldn’t support their machines anymore and now there’s so many people trying to find parts.”
Due to this, spare parts have become a major part of Cobra Equipment Sales’ ongoing success.
With many connections in China and various brands manufacturing equipment there, Nason can help customers find specific spare parts – even if the equipment was bought from a business that no longer exists.
“A lot of equipment is badged as an Australian machine even though its Chinese made,” Nason says.
This is where Cobra Equipment can use its sources in China to help customers find parts that they would have trouble finding by themselves.
Tailor-made solutions
One key advantage that Nason says Cobra Equipment Sales has over other businesses is its ability to offer tailor-made custom machinery, as well as to source machines that Nason likes to call ‘out of the box’.
What he means by this is machines that are requested by a customer, that are a little bit different to the
standard earthmoving machines.
Most recently, a specialist services company needed an amphibious excavator to work in a mine and Cobra was able to import one from Shantui – specifically for that customer.
At the moment, Nason says the business is in the midst of supplying a custom-designed sand drying plant and filter press system.
The filter press system was requested to get rid of mud in a body of water, with Nason saying the machine will press clean water out of the mud, recycle it and drop the sludge out dry.
“Sand mining operations usually dump sludge into a dam, and it can be a headache when they need to clean it out and dispose of it,” the Cobra Equipment founder says.
“The filter press system will clean this water and produce dry materials that are easier to handle and sell.”
Using the sand drying plant, Nason says the customer will be able to dry out the sand, which will lift the value of its end product to new markets.
A company in Papua New Guinea has also posed the question to Nason about side lift transport equipment for picking up containers, while another business has asked about rough-terrain forklifts.
“I often get people calling me up wanting to know if we can provide these specialised machines and I’m very happy to deal in this space,” he says.
“A lot of larger companies are focused on selling their standard
Cobra is supplying a custom-designed and built filter press system
machines and don’t have time to focus on specialised equipment, so this has given us an opportunity to venture into out of the box machinery.”
Whilst Cobra is an authorised dealer and distributor of Shantui equipment, it can also supply machinery from a range of different brands.
“We can offer anything at all, with used equipment, people will call me asking for a specific machine, and then I’ll shop around to find it,” Nason says.
“With our spare parts business unit, we mainly focus on Chinese parts, but depending on what it is we have scope to source other brands as well.”
Over his many trips to China, Nason says Cobra Equipment Sales has helped to introduce several major brands into the Australian market, including XCMG, XGMA and JCM – all sold and supported under the Cobra brand.
Now that the Shantui is more established in Australia, Nason says it has proven to be more than up to the challenge of our environment.
“Sometimes imported products lack in quality, but we stand behind the Shantui brand and its durability for Australian customers.”
For more information, visit cobraequipmentsales.com.au or call 07 3379 9419.
New look loader
has included a suite of upgrades for increased fuel efficiency on the new WA475-10
Komatsu has brought its new WA475-10 wheel loader to Australia, boasting a 30 per cent improvement on fuel efficiency
Komatsu’s new 26-tonne wheel loader, the WA475-10, is now available Down Under – designed to be an efficient and productive model for quarry applications.
A key update for the WA475-10 compared to the previous model is that its fuel efficiency has been increased by 30 per cent: a significant advance in technology that will lead to lower costs for quarry owners.
Komatsu Australia national business manager Nick Vrontas says the significant upgrades on the WA475-10 make it an appealing addition to quarry fleets.
“The WA475-10 features the newly developed Komatsu’s Hydraulic Mechanical Transmission; an innovative solution that makes the loader more powerful and more fuel-efficient,” Vrontas says.
“Variable speed control allows operators to adjust the machine’s top speed to meet specific site requirements, and the adjustable variable traction control also limits wheel spin on the unstable ground conditions often found in quarries.
“We’ve also completely innovated the power control on this latest model. It’s never been easier for an operator to find the right balance between traction and lifting power, with the hydraulic speed
independently controlled from the accelerator pedal and the boom speed controlled by the hydraulic lever.”
The new WA475-10 has a 290 horsepower (216kW) Komatsu SAA6D125E-7 engine and 5.2 cubic metre bucket capacity, while the cab has a new five-way adjustable console and a command selector for monitor operation.
Komatsu says that a new Z-bar linkage system provides much more lift force and a higher tonnes-perhour production rate on the WA47510, and the response time of the hydraulics and the dumping or lifting can be set to specific quarry site requirements.
“The WA475-10 engine is Tier 4 compliant, and at even low engine speeds the engine puts out high power and delivers more engine torque and performance,” Vrontas says.
“The engine’s advanced electronic control system manages the airflow rate and the fuel injection, combustion parameters and aftertreatment functions, which provide optimised performance, reduced emissions and advanced diagnostic capabilities, making it a powerful, yet environmentally friendly machine.”
Other features on the new loader include Komatsu auto idle shutdown, which shuts off the engine and applies the parking brake and hydraulic lock after a preset idle time limit, and Komatsu smart loader logic, which adjusts engine torque to suit different applications.
A new bucket design improves productivity by making it easier to fill, Komatsu adds, while a travel speed control dial in the cap allows an operator to control the maximum travel speed for greater control during operations.
“The loader can also be tailored for specific applications, whether that is the demanding nature of a waste site, or the abrasive environments of quarries. The Komatsu team will work with customers to provide a solution that is tailored to the loader’s application, from enquiry to post delivery, maintaining service checks and requirements
“We’re beyond excited to have the loader on our shores, and we’re looking forward to introducing it to many quarry sites across the country.”
For more information on Komatsu’s WA475-10 wheel loader, visit: www.komatsu.com.au
Komatsu
Images: Komatsu
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Women in Industry
Pink power
Sage Civil owner Asha Russell is using custom-painted pink machinery to spark conversations on worksites about attracting more women into the industry and how to keep them there
Based on the Central Coast and in Penrith, Sage Civil has been attracting attention to the opportunities available to women in the industry by painting some of its machinery in bright pink.
This vision kicked off in 2017, and the driving force behind the business is founder and managing director
Asha Russell, who over the past 10 years has built Sage Civil from the shell of a D6 dozer into a 100 per cent Australian owned and operated multi-faceted civil earthmoving and machinery hire business.
However, not only has she built a successful business – she has used her position to champion women working in the earthmoving industry
and applied her own experience of working for decades in maledominated environments to make her own business an attractive proposition for other women looking to make the move into civil.
Earthmovers & Excavators caught up with Asha to discuss how she herself found her way into the industry and what change she’d like to see to make it an appealing option for more women.
Diesel in the blood
For Asha, growing up on worksites and around earthmoving equipment was second nature – contrary to most of her friends.
With her father being a diesel
mechanic, she’d regularly go from site to site watching him fix earthmoving machines, when she wasn’t at school.
“It was ingrained in me to be on jobsites and around these machines,” Asha says.
“This was a normal thing to do for me growing up.”
Looking to set up a family business, her father bought a few dump trucks and made them available for wet hire. With her start in the earthmoving industry seeing her driving from site to site and collecting dockets, Asha saw the business diversify into not just looking after machines, but also winning project contracts and maintaining them.
“Over that time, I built relationships that are still strong today – and that was nearly 30 years ago,” she says.
After Year 12, she was unsure what career she wanted to pursue, so she picked up a job as a sales representative for an oil company.
“I was 17 at the time and was the first female sales rep selling oils back then,” Asha says.
“In such a male-dominated industry I learned a lot, and I think it was the right training I needed to enter the civil industry.”
This eye-catching dozer is a standout in the Sage Civil fleet
A key drive for Sage Civil is how provide a welcoming environment for women
Images: Sage Civil
Asha continued to sell the company’s oil for a further 20 years as a distributor, whilst also seeing her father’s business continue to win contracts. It was inevitable that eventually she would have the itch to start her own business and manage projects.
“I always knew that I wanted to have my own business in the civil space, so when the opportunity came it made sense,” she says.
This marked the beginning of Sage Civil in 2014 – providing earthmoving and civil work solutions and providing a safe haven for women looking to work in the industry.
Sage Civil
Sage Civil creates a workplace that embraces women working in a diverse team in the earthmoving and civil construction industry, with Asha saying her mission is to overcome the constraints women face when entering the industry.
44 per cent of Sage Civil’s current staff consists of women in nontraditional roles, such as plant operators – far higher than CCF NSW’s estimation of 9.9 per cent of women working in civil across Australia.
However, it took a lot of hard work and determination for Asha to get to where she is today, having started off back in 2014 with just the shell of a D6 Cat dozer. All her savings went into repairing the dozer and bringing it back to life.
“The business really grew and took off once I started cross hiring gear but having my own skilled operators,” she says.
“I eventually started winning contracts and slowly was able to purchase my own machines, with my hard work and consistency paying off.”
Although Asha admired her shiny new machines, the D6 was not forgotten, with Asha still running it as part of Sage Civil’s 50-strong fleet of equipment.
As the business grew, Asha sought to attract more women into taking on more non-traditional roles, often with little to no previous experience of the industry. To help support them in
Women in Industry
the transition, new staff entering the business are trained up in a buddy system operating the dump trucks.
“Our buddy system allows all nonexperienced newcomers to sit with our experienced operators, who have already been trained in this system,” she says.
Once these men and women have completed the buddy system, Asha says they are booked into a registered training organisation (RTO), in order to obtain a resources and infrastructure industry (RII) statement of attainment.
By having this, Asha says operators are deemed competent to operate a machine by themselves.
“This is the gateway opening to be able to start off as a plant operator in a non traditional role in the civil game – then the doors can really open with endless opportunities,” Asha says.
“Without this statement and training buddy system it can be tricky for women to be employed. At Sage Civil they have real-world experience in addition to the statement.”
Once employees have graduated from operating dump trucks, they can be taught how to operate other machines in the fleet and are offered traineeships. Six employees at Sage Civil are currently doing a Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations that runs for two to three years.
“Our women employees are able to be up-skilled much easier at Sage Civil due to our training programs and getting them to work on-site with clients,” she says.
Custom-painted machinery
Highly recognisable, a key staple of Sage Civil’s fleet is its custompainted pink machinery, which Asha says helps spark conversations about women working in the industry.
“People ask why our machines are pink and it helps to start conversations about making women
who has been with Sage Civil for five years and in the industry for seven, is currently 30 weeks pregnant with her second child and still operating machinery – showing that pregnancy and raising a family don’t have to be barriers to a successful career in civil
Asha Russell set up her own earthmoving business in 2014
Elisha (left),
Women in Industry
feel included in the industry and keeping them there,” she says.
“The girls see the colours and get excited about it. They all believe in our mission and it’s just been so wonderful to watch how diversity is moving forward, and inclusion onsite and in the field.”
Some of the brightly coloured machines in the fleet include a pink Cat D10 dozer, pink Cat 730C and 740B dump trucks and a Cat 320 next-gen excavator with a pink boom.
Other machines that are custom painted include Cat 315, 335, 336 and 349 excavators, a 12M grader and skid steers.
“Slowly but surely our vision is coming to life before our very eyes, and it’s a part of who we are as a team,” she says
When asked how the idea for custom-painted machinery came about, Asha credits CCF NSW’s mentoring program for helping her realise that change was needed to attract more women to the industry.
When entering the mentoring program, she didn’t know if she should be applying as a mentor or a mentee – as she still thought she had much to learn.
Realising there were so few women in management roles and barely any who owned their own business in the industry, she decided to be a mentor so she could help inspire others and help change this trend.
Asha’s first match as a mentor was a young female engineer, who shocked Asha with how low the number of
“I think I learned as much from her as she learned from me, and I was the mentor,” she says.
Sitting with her mentee and brainstorming ideas on how to attract more women into the industry, Asha decided to paint her machinery in eye-catching colours –dedicating Sage Civil’s Cat D10 dozer to the Women in Civil CCF NSW mentoring program.
“We spray painted the D10 pink and I put the Women in Civil CCF NSW mentoring program’s logo all over it,” she says.
Asha’s mission is starting to pay dividends as she says CCF’s recent surveys show women in nontraditional roles has jumped from 4.2 per cent in 2017 to 9.9 per cent currently.
“We’re starting to see much more women out in the field now, with a lot more plant operators,” she says.
“Those stats don’t include traffic control either, which has seen its numbers spike recently, so it would be much higher if it included that role.”
Love of industry
Relationships are a huge part of Sage Civil’s ongoing success; something that Asha says she loves about the industry.
“I like the integrity of old-school relationships. I still believe in it, and I spend a lot of time going to see my clients face to face,” she says.
“A lot of them are also my friends so
it’s great to form these relationships.”
She says what she finds most rewarding as a woman working in the earthmoving industry is changing other women’s lives by introducing them to a rewarding career.
“When these women walk into the industry they often have little to no experience, and to help them and watch their life change absolutely thrills me,” Asha says.
“To think I was possibly a part of making this happen for them, makes me so happy.”
To reward her tireless work, in 2019 Asha was awarded the ‘Excellence Award: Women in Civil Construction’ at the CCF NSW people awards. In 2021 she was also awarded the ‘President’s Award’ at the CCF NSW people awards.
“This was a huge achievement for the business and I, due to our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” she says.
Looking to the future, Asha strongly encourages more women to enter the industry, as she hopes to continue to see more women on job sites.
“Don’t hold back, if there’s an opportunity, take it,” she says,
“If you really put your mind to it and build strong relationships with people, the sky’s the limit. I am also a big believer in ‘work hard and the rest will follow’ – you have to consistently put in the effort and show commitment to your job role.”
women working in the field was.
A variety of different machines have been custom-painted in the Sage Civil fleet
Strength to strength
Onetrak is continuing to expand its rental business in Australia with a new yard opening in Adelaide
National machinery dealer Onetrak has recently opened a new rental yard in Adelaide, bringing even greater rental support to South Australian customers.
Onetrak national rental manager Rhodes Cousland says that Onetrak’s rental business is proving to be a highly popular choice for customers across Australia, with a total service offering making Onetrak a strong choice for customers looking to try out Hidromek, Anaconda and Striker machinery.
“Onetrak Rental started off in Victoria, before branching out with bases in New South Wales, Queensland and now South Australia, as well as doing remote
projects across all Australian territories,” Cousland says.
“Onetrak is a family-owned company, with a can-do attitude, which means we can cut through
red tape very easily and cater to customers’ needs wherever they are.
“We’ve just opened a rental yard in Adelaide and we’ve started putting machines on the ground there.
The 23.4-tonne Hidromek HMK 230 LC is part of Hidromek’s new H4 series
Images: Onetrak
Onetrack can visit a site to suggest the best processing train solution
There is a lot of subdivision work and infrastructure work that’s starting to kick off, so it’s an exciting milestone for us.”
Complete
offering
Onetrak offers a wide range of machinery and material processing equipment for dry hire, including excavators of between three and 50 tonnes capacity, wheel loaders, backhoes, graders, dozers, rockbreaker attachments and mobile crushing and screening machinery.
“The Hidromek brand offers heavy-duty excavators and we’ve been able to get a decent market share with customers, particularly for jobs such as digging basements and large trenching/pipeline work. These machines perform really well in those conditions and their ease of use really stands out,” Cousland says.
“We’ve been able to branch out to similar types of customers up and down the East Coast, and a lot of our customers from Victoria may be doing work in Sydney or Brisbane or the Gold Coast, etc. So that’s one way in which we’ve been expanding and
making a name for ourselves.”
All Onetrak rental machinery is low-hour and Tier One compliant, he adds, with clients renting machinery for a wide range of major infrastructure projects, including the Sydney Metro Tunnel, M1 Freeway and the Coffs Harbour Bypass.
“We’ve also got our crushing and screening side,” he says.
“So, anything from small trommels, to screens, to large jaws. We’re able to put a full package together in that space.
“This means we have a different offering to other rental companies, who may just focus on crushing and screening, or construction equipment, whereas we have both. We cater for everybody, whether they just need a 24-tonne excavator, or a complete crushing train with excavators and loaders.”
Onetrak describes this as providing a ‘total solution’ for a customer’s particular project – not just offering a particular machine but taking the time to work with the client to craft the best solution for a specific job.
“We’ll come out, evaluate a site and
we’ll offer Agg Flow Simulations to show throughput along with a crushing and screening cost per tonne analysis. These tools allow the customer to make an informed decision on whether the work they’re undertaking will be profitable through the life of a project,” Cousland says.
“We also support our customers through the project itself, be it through commissioning, parts and service, quick response to breakdowns, on site or remote training or just being on hand at all times to advise on ways to increase production. We do all these extra things because we understand the importance of making the most of the time our customers have on site.
“We’ve got a crushing and screening specialist and a construction machinery specialist, and these guys are always available to give advice and make sure the rental solution offered to a customer
Onetrak offers a range of Hidromek excavators, starting with the 16.8-tonne HMK145
is going to help them be profitable throughout their project, whether it’s an excavator or a complete crushing train.
“In a sense, it’s almost like rock to road, where we offer machinery that takes the takes the rock out of the ground, processes it and prepares it to be put back into the ground as a finished product.”
In addition, Onetrak offers 3D GPS systems on its Hidromek excavators, which Cousland says is proving popular with a lot of customers who buy machinery, so is now being offered through the rental side as a cost-effective way for clients to access this technology.
“We are moving quite heavily into 3D GPS systems at a very competitive rate,” he says.
“I think one of the stumbling blocks of GPS is it can be quite expensive. We have good relationships with our suppliers to make sure that we’re very competitive.”
One point of contact
Cousland says Onetrak’s rental offering is a vital part of its machinery supply business, with customers often engaging with the rental side to ‘try out’ the brands on offer before making a purchase.
“The great thing about renting is that a customer gets to try the machine out, test its capabilities, find out the dig force, how much fuel it uses, whether it’s comfortable to operate, what functions it has, etc.,” he says.
“But another important thing is that they get to know the people they’re dealing with. They get to know Onetrack as a dealership, and the same people that you’re renting off, you will be dealing with on the sales side as well.
“This means that there is that consistent contact with just one representative from the company, which is quite unique.
“A lot of other dealers will have a rental rep, a sales rep, and then there’ll be another rep for something else, but we have account managers and I think that builds a lot of confidence in customers.”
Cousland says Onetrak’s ethos is built around keeping its customers up and running, through enabling fast decision making and providing a full support service, even in the remotest areas of Australia.
“A lot of money can be lost if a machine goes down,” Cousland says.
“This is why, if we’re sending machines to quite remote areas, we
Onetrak rental can provide a total solution for a project, including earthmoving machinery as well as a full crushing and screening train
will either arrange for a mechanic to become a resident mechanic there or used recommended subbies in the area. So, however remote it is, we do move with our customers to where they need to go.
“We also have a rent to buy option too where, if a customer doesn’t want to put an item on their books straightaway, they can rent it for so many months, and then purchase.
“Once again, this could be a 20tonne excavator or a complete crushing train. It means a customer can build the capital to purchase the machine or to give it back once a job is completed.
“All of our machines are low hour –you won’t find many of our machines over a few thousand hours; they are constantly turned over. All of these aspects combined are what sets Onetrak apart from the competition.”
For more information on Onetrak’s rental offering, visit: www.onetrak.com.au/rentals
The Keestrack K6 scalping screen, available through Screenmasters Australia, brings decades of experience of high-throughput screening
The ‘original’ direct fed mobile scalping screen, the Keestrack K6 was first introduced in 1996 and has redefined primary and secondary mobile screening, says exclusive Australian distributor of Keestrack crushing and screening equipment Screenmasters Australia (SMA).
“The K6 scalper continues to lead the industry, due to its ability to process materials at rates competing scalpers simply can’t keep up with,” SMA national sales manager Ciaran Lagan says.
“The Keestrack K6 allows operators to separate a variety of materials and produce up to three products at once, at a capacity of up to 600 tonnes per hour.”
After being the industry benchmark for nearly 30 years, Lagan says the Keestrack K6 epitomises reliability and durability.
“One of our customers has a K6 unit with over 30,000 hours on the clock and is still reliable, efficient and producing daily,” Lagan says.
This is just one example of these scalpers providing customers with high production that lasts over a long period of time.
The heavy-duty K6 screen also provides customers with versatility, as it can adapt to a range of applications from primary scalping to secondary and fine screening.
Mounted on tracks, Lagan says the machine is highly mobile – allowing
it to thrive in environments involving recycling, contaminated construction and demolition waste, aggregates, quarrying and mining.
With a high capacity to handle wet and sticky materials, the Keestrack K6 can better process these more challenging substances than some larger scalping screens, Lagan adds.
“Due to its eccentric shaft screenbox, driven through a variable displacement pump, the K6 delivers an increased throw that is perfect for sticky material separation,” Lagan says.
“In addition, the K6 saves end users downtime and additional capital costs because, if the machine is not
The Keestrack K6 was introduced in 1996 and continues to be a reliable and durable machine. Image: SMA
Dual pin lock – Locks both front and rear pin in the event of loss of engagement force
working, it’s not earning you money.”
K6 features
Available in various diesel, electric and zero drive options, SMA says that operators will find the user-friendly controls make the Keestrack machine easy to use and preserve.
An accessible hydraulic liftable screenbox makes screen changing and maintenance effortless, and all conveyors have sealed bearings, eliminating daily greasing requirements and stopping broken grease lines. Powered by a Cat C4.4 engine, the K6 features a 16 foot by 6 foot (4.9 x 1.8m) double deck extralong screenbox with hydraulically adjustable screen angles, allowing operators to control and fine tune production.
“Accompanied by a heavy-duty
The K6 is mounted on tracks, increasing mobility. Image: SMA
steel apron feeder, this makes processing large feed sizes easy, while reducing the need for belt replacements of a traditional belt feeder,” Lagan says.
“Load sensing hydraulics help to reduce fuel consumption by four to six litres per hour or up to 25 per cent compared to conventional drives. The eight cubic metre hopper means more raw material can be fed to the screen and hydraulic folding walls makes the K6 more compact and easier to transport.”
Keestrack K-range
SMA currently has new and used Keestrack K6 scalping screens in stock plus a variety of other K-Series models, from the compact K3 (9’ x 4’ or 2.7 x 1.2m) up to the largest scalper on the market – the K8 (20’ x 7’ or 6 x 2.1m) – which is able to produce four products with just the one machine.
Countless SMA customers have been reaping the benefits of the
K-range’s reliability and durability, with one K3 unit currently having worked in excess of 30,000 hours.
“Keestrack’s K series is undoubtedly the best range of scalpers on the market and offer durability, application flexibility, cost effectiveness and high production,” Lagan says.
“Revolutionising primary and secondary mobile screening, this range of scalpers set the industry standard, that stands unmatched. Every business deserves a machine with this kind of performance and quality.”
For more information on the Keestrack K6 scalper and the rest of the K-range, visit Screenmasters. com.au or call 1800 571 464.
SMA has recognised the work of its customer’s maintenance teams with a K6. Image: SMA
Korean made track link assemblies
DCF track link assemblies meet or exceed OEM specifications
The DCF Group has been a leading supplier in the market since 1955, producing Undercarriage Parts for Excavators and Bulldozers. DCF has a worldwide reputation for strong reliable products at a competitive price. Such as crankshafts, track group assembly, segments, sprocket and many more.
Leading the way
Tilly’s Crawler Parts has recently expanded its attachments offering with a new facility in Adelaide
In the ever-evolving landscape of construction and earthmoving machinery, finding reliable, high-quality attachments can make a significant difference in efficiency and project success.
Tilly’s Crawler Parts, based in Toowoomba in south east Queensland, has been a trusted name in the industry for 40 years, providing quality new alternative parts and attachments for earthmoving machinery.
With its recent expansion of attachment offerings in Adelaide, Tilly’s continues to meet the needs of its customers with competitive pricing, high quality products and short lead-times.
“We’re proud to be a stockist of Bedrock attachments – a brand recognised as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction machinery attachments,” the company says.
Bedrock is renowned for producing durable, cost-effective alternatives, Tilly’s says, which aligns perfectly with Tilly’s mission of delivering quality products built to last.
Tilly’s stocks a wide range of Bedrock attachments such as longreach booms, ripper groups, scrub canopies, front blades, sweeps and stick rakes.
Wheel loader forks and various quick hitch and thumb attachments are also on offer – suitable for an array of excavators.
These attachments are compatible with leading machinery brands and models including excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and graders.
A select range of attachments is available for inspection by request at Tilly’s Adelaide facility with a dedicated parts interpreter available for initial consultation by phone for queries and easy ordering.
For items not immediately available in stock, Tilly’s says it can guarantee fast and cost-effective delivery to anywhere in Australia –and beyond.
Tilly’s extensive inventory doesn’t stop at attachments. With over 40,000 new alternative part-lines in stock, it guarantees comprehensive solutions for machinery maintenance and repairs.
“We’re dedicated to providing longterm solutions and quality products to our customers,” Tilly’s says.
Central to its operation is its team of 14 highly experienced parts interpreters.
These experts take the information provided by customers and translate it into the perfect solution, ensuring
Tilly’s Bedrock range includes long-reach booms, ripper groups, scrub canopies, front blades, sweeps and stick rakes.
Image: Tilly’s Crawler Parts
that the right part or attachment is delivered every time.
Understanding the specific requirements of its diverse customer base across Australia, the parts interpreters at Tilly’s pride themselves on delivering fast, efficient service and turnaround times.
Tilly’s says this embodies its ‘right part, right price, right now’ guarantee. Its dedication to customer service also extends to credit account offerings, with new customers able to take advantage of a $3,000 inc GST credit account.
“This makes the purchasing process simpler and more convenient,” Tilly’s says.
“The application process is straightforward, and account holders benefit from 30-day accounts, online account management, quick and simple re-ordering 24/7, faster turnaround times, beneficial pricing based on order history and updates on new products.”
This ease of doing business solidifies Tilly’s position as a customer-focused supplier in the industry.
Over the last 40 years Tilly’s has built a reputation for reliability and quality in the earthmoving machinery parts and attachments market. Its expansion into Adelaide with an impressive range of attachments, competitive pricing and a commitment to excellent service ensures that Tilly’s remains a leading choice for customers both in Australia and around the globe.
“For enquiries and assistance, the team welcomes all customers and is dedicated to keeping your projects on track with the right solutions,” it says.
To learn more about Tilly’s Crawler Parts and explore its extensive range of machinery, attachments and new parts, visit its website at www.tillys.com.au or call Tilly’s sales manager Andy Waldron on 0439 214 208.
2012 CATERPILLAR 140M B9D
$174,900 + GST
2013 JOHN DEERE 670G 653850
$253,600 + GST
2023 BOBCAT S510 B5K211189
2020 CATERPILLAR NEXT GEN 307.5 GW7
$76,300 + GST
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$240,000 + GST
2016 TAKEUCHI TL12V2 412000436
#ZM009057 $96,800 + GST $180,000 + GST
$61,800 + GST 2021 CATERPILLAR 313D2GC MTM
2021 CATERPILLAR 305.5E2 WE2
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Coffee concrete
A footpath in regional Victoria is paving the way for an alternative approach to concrete – using waste coffee grounds and other organic material instead of sand
RMIT University has teamed up with Macedon Ranges Shire Council in Victoria to conduct a world-first coffee concrete footpath trial.
Several other upcoming infrastructure projects around Victoria will also turn spent coffee grounds into biochar and showcase how this simple product can have huge benefits for Australia’s construction industry.
Led by a team from the School of Engineering at RMIT, the researchers are looking for viable ways to achieve a circular economy where organic waste is reused in building material rather than being dumped in landfill, where it would otherwise decompose and produce greenhouse gases.
However, not only is there scope to replace sand in the concrete process with organic waste biochar, but it has been shown that the biochar actually increases the strength of the finished concrete by 30 per cent.
Earthmovers & Excavators
spoke with project lead Dr Rajeev Roychand to find out how the team went from a pile of coffee grounds to a groundbreaking approach to improving sustainability in the construction industry.
Inspiration strikes
When asked how the idea of using waste coffee grounds in concrete came about, Roychand says that the team was looking for a way
to transform organic waste into a reusable product and discussing ideas over a cup of coffee.
“As we were drinking coffee, we thought ‘why not start with coffee waste?’,” he says.
“So, this is what we first looked at when approaching the larger issue of organic waste ending up in landfills and how to reduce the resulting greenhouse gas emissions.
“We started with the raw spent coffee grounds but found that it was
The new footpath in Gisborne. Image: Chris Matthews, Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Council officers and the RMIT research team were present for the pour of the coffee concrete in Gisborne.
Image: Bodey Dittloff, Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Hydraulic Steels Melbourne Branch is now carrying a full range of 1045 Chrome Bar on the floor!
Our 1045 Chrome Bar is a high quality European medium tensile carbon steel, supplied with a chrome plated finish. In stock and ready for immediate despatch, we have a huge range of imperial and metric sizes available, from ½” (12.7mm) right up to 6” (152.40mm).
That makes Hydraulic Steels the leading supplier with the biggest and best size range of 1045 chrome bar in Australia!
1045 CHROME BAR FEATURES
Corrosion Resistant
European Medium Tensile Carbon Steel
Excellent Quality and Straightness
Good Machinability and Weldability
Huge range of sizes available for immediate despatch
Suitable applications include Agriculture, Transport, Waste, Construction and Earthmoving
significantly hampering the strength of the concrete. The issue was the organic compounds being released during the cement hydration process, which were hindering the binding reaction.
“The next step was to modify its structure so that no organic compounds were left, but we didn’t want to burn the coffee because this process would again create greenhouse gases. So, we developed a low energy process that basically roasts the organic waste at about 350 degrees centigrade in the absence of oxygen to create a biochar.”
The team found using this biochar as a replacement for sand in the concrete mix provided a benefit –significantly increasing the strength of the finished product through the prevention of microcracking.
“The carbon-rich porous structure of biochar acts as microscale reservoirs that replenish water when concrete needs it,” Roychand says.
“As you might have seen in a footpath or other concrete structure, it can develop microcracks, but replenishment of microscale moisture reduces shrinkage and microcracking and increases the concrete strength.
“Within our subsequent work, we will focus on how different organic materials and different quantities used in concrete affect this further.
“Sand is getting scarce over time, and this waste can replace up to 15
per cent of the sand in concrete. We can also look at reducing the amount of cement used.”
Gisborne footpath
As a proof of concept, a concrete footpath was poured at the beginning of May in the regional Victorian town of Gisborne, containing coffee waste biochar, with plans for additional footpaths using biochar made from wood chips sourced from green waste generated by council landscaping work.
“It’s very exciting to see this worldfirst trial of our coffee and woodbased biochar in these footpaths collaborating with Macedon Ranges Shire Council,” Roychand says.
“We have already passed the 28-day design point and it’s looking fantastic. The council is very happy, and we have subsequent field trials planned to take place with the construction company.
“The council was proactive in supporting us, which was great because there can be concerns that what works in the lab doesn’t work in the field and there are costs involved. Now that this field trial has been successful there’s been a lot of interest from other construction companies.”
Roychand says that discussions are already underway as to how to turn this idea into a commercial reality for concrete contractors, with input being sourced from waste collection businesses and a multinational
coffee chain. There is also the potential to expand into other organic waste streams to expand the benefits further.
“We are currently working on all different forms of organic waste from food processing facilities and agriculture,” Roychand says.
“Our future work will even cover residential organic wastes like vegetable and fruit peels, etc.”
He adds that the potential benefits of this research could be significant for contractors, particularly with the government actively promoting a closed loop economy.
“There’s the potential to reduce the amount of cement used, there’s a significant increase in strength and contractors will be supporting the diversion of waste, which is currently ending up in landfills,” Roychand says.
“There’s no downside to it.”
The team has published several peer-reviewed publications that provide evidence and analysis of their results related to these trials with Macedon Ranges Shire Council. For more information, please contact Dr Rajeev Roychand at rajeev.roychand@rmit.edu.au.
Dr Rajeev Roychand and Professor Jie Li adding coffee biochar to concrete. Image: Carelle Mulawa-Richards, RMIT University
Budget time
Will headline-grabbing announcements from the Queensland state government budget make any difference?
Budgets ahead of elections are full of pork barrelling and land mines with delay triggers for potential new governments. As I write this, the Queensland state budget will be handed down in the next week and the usual leaks have started. What is a little unusual is that there have been pre-budget announcements funded under the current period that have all the earmarks of vote grabbing tactics.
As previously flagged, all Queensland households will receive a $1,000 credit to their power bills. The federal government has added from its budget a further $300 rebate. Neither of these rebates are means tested.
The Queensland government also recently announced a trial of reducing all public transport fares to 50 cents. This will apply from August 5 for six months and includes all regional buses and bus, train, ferry, tram and on-demand services in Southeast Queensland. The aim of the government is to increase public transport patronage and reduce congestion on Queensland’s busy roads. In addition, the government aims to help with cost-of-living relief.
A few days later it was announced that, for the same period, airport train fares would be halved.
The cost to Queenslanders for both trials amounts to $160 million for the six-month trial.
In my experience, which is shared by others, public transport fares in Queensland have been too expensive and a review of the fare structure is needed with the view of reducing them. However,
Damian Long, CEO CCF QLD
in Queensland public transport is clunky with not enough services going to places you want to go. Parking at many of the railway stations is limited or non-existent and some services – whether it be ferry, bus or rail – are at capacity.
I’m not sure that by simply cutting fares patronage will, or is able to, increase.
The issue is that the discussion of fares must be included in a transport strategy that addresses connectivity, accessibility, reliability and capacity. All require additional funding for infrastructure.
This announcement also advantages Southeast Queensland over regional Queensland.
Further leaks are:
• t hat the state government has set aside $554 million of funding to expand the rollout of the European Train Control System to more of the Southeast Queensland rail network
• a nnual Bruce Highway funding will be increased to $250 million
• f unding for Queensland’s Big Build, which underpins the state’s renewable energy transformation, will also be increased.
These announcements will be made clearer once the full budget is released.
What is clear is that the Queensland
Cuts to public transport costs will only work if the network goes where it is needed. Image: arliftatoz2205/stock.adobe.com
Labor government has started its election campaign. The backdrops of press conferences are adorned with 50 cent fare and Big Build banners.
The premier held a function in the XXXX brewery for selected guests on Queensland Day to give a speech about the successes of the current government and its vision for the state. Slipped in were a few upper cuts to the opposition. The maroon gods also shone on the event, as it was held the day after Queensland’s victory of game one of the State of Origin Series.
Another thing that is obvious from the announcements and speeches is that the state debt is rising at an alarming rate. Costs of projects are increasing due to government policy and general inflation.
The full reason for debt increase will be demonstrated in the budget. If debt is to increase, it must deliver better productivity outcomes for this state. Road and transport budgets must be increased to cater for inflationary factors and to deliver more infrastructure to close the infrastructure gap.
The premier said immigration is the reason behind the housing shortage and congested roads. The reality is that Queensland’s historical growth predictions are on track. It is the government that has failed to deliver the infrastructure needed to cater for these growth predictions.
Blaming immigration or slashing public transport fares in order to fix or explain congestion won’t cut it.
Strength to strength
Brisbane Mini Excavator
Increasing women’s participation
To increase women’s participation in the industry, a multipronged approach is required, says the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Construction is the second most male-dominated workforce in Australia, after mining. The scale of construction needed to support the housing, infrastructure and renewable energy transition for our growing population requires an expansion in workforce that should be met by increasing women’s participation.
Improving women’s participation in the industry doesn’t have a single fix – we need a multifaceted approach to attracting women to the industry. We need to make the industry a safer and more equitable place to work and work together to understand the factors that many women experience which cause them to leave the industry.
At NAWIC, we are dedicated to increasing the number of women entering the construction industry to 40 per cent by 2030. If we want to reach this target, we need more girls and women to see the industry as a place for them to thrive.
We also are committed to focusing on their retention and career development. We know women are less likely to return to the industry after parental leave or see no future paths in leadership. NAWIC’s Five Priorities aims to close these gaps and create an equitable construction industry where women fully participate.
Women in leadership
The lack of women within senior leadership positions directly relates
to the lack of women who see themselves in them. Providing leadership training, mentoring programs, scholarships, key performance indicators and addressing bias will support their growth. We want to see 30 per cent of women in leadership positions in top 20 construction companies by 2030.
Women in trades
We need to see better representation of women in the trades. Tradies are well paid and see real economic growth. Let’s promote the trades to young women and girls, and show university pathways. Our goal is to increase the current statistic of women only representing three per cent of those working in trades.
Sexual harassment
We need to focus on prevention and enforcement on zero tolerance policies for sexual harassment. This includes education, anonymous reporting, legal aid for complainants, mandating induction topics and enforcing workplace termination policies for perpetrators.
Safe and appropriate facilities on all worksites
There are often no safe or close toilets for women on remote worksites. We need government recognition and regulators to take action on legislation by requiring companies to document their safe and equitable facilities.
To encourage more women into the industry, various challenges such as toilet access, equal pay, sexual harassment and leadership pathways need to be addressed.
Image: Martinan/stock.adobe.com
Close the pay gap in construction
Women are paid 20 per cent less than their male counterparts. We need to close the gender pay gap in construction by auditing businesses, advancing women into leadership roles and reconsidering renumeration of female roles.
Why are we talking about toilets?
We hear from our members, especially on remote work sites but also in residential workplaces, that the facilities on sites are not fit for purpose. Women are told they can’t use main facilities, need to travel long distances to use toilets, are forced to use unsafe facilities or don’t have access to toilets at all.
This is a workplace safety issue and the government needs to take action to enforce requirements around safe and accessible facilities through regulators and audits on government infrastructure projects.
No single measure is going to fix the issue of not enough women in construction. The government, membership organisations and construction firms need to work together to attract and retain women, support women into trades, make worksites safe places for women and close the gender pay gap in construction.
NAWIC is a not-for-profit organisation led by a team of employees and volunteers who all strive to champion and empower women to reach their full potential. Our mission is to drive changes that will aid in the increased recruitment, retention and further vocational development of women in the construction industry. You can join the conversations on our socials @nawicau and keep up with our advocacy, events and opportunities at www.nawic.com.au
While the Australian construction industry struggles with high inflation and interest rates, the Queensland Investment Corporation is optimistic that the economy will recover quickly.
Jackson Haddad reports
High rates of inflation and interest may be placing a dark cloud on the Australian economy, but Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) chief economist Matthew Peter took to the stage at the Civil Contractors Queensland 2024 State Conference in May to outline where he sees Australia’s construction industry going in coming years –and it’s not all doom and gloom.
“Core inflation is sitting at four per cent, which is one and a half per cent higher than the Reserve Bank of Australia’s [RBA] target of two and a half per cent,” he says.
“This is a really high level and the RBA has raised interest rates to 4.35 per cent, which is also high.”
However, he says that where the
economy is sitting right now is its lowest point – and from here the only way is up.
Moving into the second half of this year, Peter says there are several
2025 is expected to see a much brighter economy for the construction industry. Image: Imaging L/stock.adobe.com
factors that will contribute to higher consumer spending, meaning economic recovery will happen sooner rather than later.
“The worst of it is now, but the good news is, once we start to see inflation come down and interest rates slow, economic recovery can be relatively quick.”
Announced in the recent federal government Budget, some support will soon be provided, with stage three tax cuts coming in July – which Peter says is worth 1.3 per cent of disposable income. The household sector will also get a $300 rebate on electricity bills, starting from July 1, with Queensland households getting an additional $1,000 off their electricity bills in 2024–25.
“Once some of this additional support kicks in we should start to see a recovery and I expect that we will be back at trend by the second half of 2025,” Peter says.
Turning to construction material costs, Peter says these are starting to ease, due to falling steel and timber prices.
Inflation for steel prices is running at negative 10 per cent on a yearly basis, meaning the price of steel is 10 per cent less now than a year ago.
“The prices of timber have also levelled out to help ease input costs
and I expect steel and timber prices won’t go up anymore,” Peter says.
Employment and wages
While there are reasons for optimism in the near future, Peter says it’s important to understand where the economy sits right now and what some of the reasons for it are.
With a current unemployment rate of 4.1 per cent, up from 3.7 per cent at the same time last year, Peter believes that number will continue to creep up.
His reason for this is employers have struggled to get skilled labour into their businesses after COVID-19, so they’ve held on to workers even though growth is slowing in a tight market.
“If you hold on to workers while your demand for products and sales slow – what happens to productivity –it declines,” he says.
On top of that, if employers are told they need to pay higher wages, not only is there a drop in productivity, but there are also increased expenses. Because of the drop in productivity, the cost of labour per unit of output produced is currently running at six per cent nationwide.
Businesses are dealing with less productivity and higher costs of labour per unit of output produced. Image: Kalyakan/stock.adobe.com
“With wage growth running at approximately four to four and a half per cent, it means that the cost per unit of labour is going up more than the wage growth,” Peter says.
This means every worker is producing less than they would produce before and therefore productivity is negative.
Higher unit costs of labour are one of the main reasons why inflation is struggling to get down from four per cent, into the RBA target range of two and a half per cent, Peter says.
“Businesses are now forced to go under, or deal with higher costs of labour in a market seeing less product demand and slower sales,” he says.
With inflation struggling to drop down into the target range, Peter says interest rates will continue to remain high.
“It will continue to be tough for the remainder of the year, but the economy will look much brighter in 2025.”
BULK handling
The Australian Bulk Handling Expo will showcase a range of emerging technologies and automation products, providing valuable solutions for engineers in the bulk solids sector
The Australian Bulk Handling Expo (BULK2024) will present various equipment that is essential for handling bulk solids – including silos, conveyors and dust control systems – but automation is increasing as a theme in the industry.
With safety being a top priority for those in the bulk handling industry, due to its hazardous work demands, emerging technologies such as automation could be key to making work safer.
As Australia’s only dedicated exhibition for the bulk solids handling industry, BULK2024 show director Lauren Chartres says the event promises to showcase the latest automation technologies that provide ongoing solutions for bulk handling.
“Automation can make bulk handling work cheaper and more efficient,” she says.
“Even though it may remove a manual job, it can provide opportunities for workers to be trained to use technology that they haven’t used before.”
Work in this sector presents hazards such as heavy loads and dust, with Chartres reiterating that repeated manual work can cause wear on tear on workers’ bodies. Due to this, Chartres hopes that the exhibition will showcase new automated solutions for worker safety, whilst also contributing to the success of the industry.
“The more we can use these types of technologies, the safer people will be,” the show director says.
To be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event will focus on everything from agricultural workers handling grain, wheat and sugar, construction workers handling cement and stone, and commodities workers in mining and resources.
Managers that procure new equipment will find the exhibition beneficial as they will be presented with potential technologies that can be used in their own business, Chartres says.
“People that understand these types of technology, such as engineering managers and project managers, are going to find that the expo is very useful,” she says.
On the show floor, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with new clients, learn about new markets and connect with customers they might never have met elsewhere.
Already confirmed to be at the event, one key exhibitor that will be showing its bulk handling solutions is Martin Engineering.
Some of its bulk handling solutions include belt cleaners, dust management solutions and industrial vibrators.
“Martin Engineering will have a big presence throughout the exhibition,” Chartres says.
As well as showcasing all the
BULK2024 will focus on emerging technologies such as automation in the bulk handling sector.
Image: Prime Creative Media
latest solutions in the bulk handling industry, BULK2024 also offers attendees access to a two-day conference, free-of-charge –discussing how businesses can take the next step to remain up to date in a constantly changing industry.
“We are going to be hosting a really useful and informative conference, that will focus on how emerging technology – such as automation – can be taken to the next level,” Chartres says.
“In addition to automation presentations, the conference will cover safety and compliance.”
To add even more value for attendees, showgoers get access to one of Australia’s biggest transport, logistics and supply chain events –MEGATRANS – and its conference as well, with one ticket granting access for both events.
The 2024 Australian Bulk Handling Awards will also be hosted at BULK2024 – the only awards program specifically dedicated to the bulk handling industry.
Nominations are currently open for the awards night and can be submitted online at the Bulk Handling Awards website. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner to be held on the opening night of the expo.
Chartres said the awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding achievements and successes of companies and individuals that have demonstrated innovative practices and superior performances across the year.
“We’ve updated the awards to better reflect the themes of the event, rather than having two programs in isolation,” Chartres says.
“We’ve seen how impactful bringing the industry together was at BULK2022 and are excited to see the industry continue to grow.”
BULK2024 will be held from 10am – 5pm, September 18–19 in Melbourne. For more info visit: www.bulkhandlingexpo.com.au
CR
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IMS DI ST RI BU TOR
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IMS have added the new BP1200-48TB track electric twin power blender to its impressive collection of blenders and pugmills, the new BP1200-48TB has four separate feed hopper each five meters long holding 12m3 each. All feed hopper conveyors are fitted with belt scales and controlled by a PLC control and recording system that can be operated from an iPad or phone from its own Wi-Fi system from a loader or site office. A Cat C7 Generator powers the Nord electric motors all fitted with invertors offering variable speed to each feed hopper conveyor. The generator can be connected to mains power and could power an extra 24-meter radial stacker increasing the stockpile capacity.
for Sale In Stock Yatala
Plant for Sale In Stock Yatala Qld
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New & Used IMS – PM1050-16TB Track
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Pugmill, fully automated and available with IMS Mobile Silo
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Pugmill, fully automated and available with IMS Mobile Silo From $285,000 Plus GST
New IMS – BP1200-48TB Track Blender, twin power electric drive with Cat C7 Genset, four 12m3 feed hoppers, fully PLC automated - POA
New IMS – BP1200-48TB Track Blender, twin power electric drive with Cat C7 Genset, four 12m3 feed hoppers, fully PLC automated - POA
New IMS – BP1200-48TB Track Blender, twin power electric drive with Cat C7 Genset, four 12m3 feed hoppers, fully PLC automated - POA
TRUCKS
Heavy haul
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced the addition of two new hauling options for quarrying and light mining customers
TRUCKS
Electric enterprise
Caterpillar to test battery electric haul trucks
Caterpillar has partnered with Brazilian mining company Vale to test battery electric haul trucks, with the aim of reducing Vale’s scope one and scope two emissions.
Caterpillar is currently in the process of developing haul trucks powered by batteries, with a 218tonne (240-ton) truck set to be tested by Vale at its operations in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Vale says Caterpillar is also developing energy transfer solutions for trucks, which will be tested at the mining company’s operations in Pará, Brazil over the next few years.
As part of this agreement, both companies will focus on a dual fuel solution for haul trucks operating on ethanol and diesel fuel.
Out of all mining equipment, Vale says haul trucks consume the most diesel and contribute the most to emissions. The Brazilian mining company is looking to Caterpillar to help combat this issue.
“We are developing a portfolio of options to decarbonise Vale’s operations, including electrification and the use of alternative fuels in the mines – the most viable solutions will be adopted,” Vale’s energy and decarbonisation director Ludmila Nascimento says.
Volvo CE has announced the availability of its 55-tonne payload R60 and 65-tonne payload R70 rigid haulers, expanding its range of rigid haulers to three models.
The R60 has a body volume of 36.04 cubic metres, while the R70 offers 42.4 cubic metres, providing quarry and light mining customers with a greater range of production options, Volvo CE says.
With the two new models joining Volvo CE’s offering of rigid and articulated haul trucks, its Site Simulation tool can be used to make an operator’s on-site logistics more efficient, depending on the terrain and size of site.
Volvo CE says that while rigid haulers thrive on sites with wide, firm, well maintained haul roads, where they can travel up to 61km/h over long distances, articulated haulers are better designed for uneven, narrow, slippery and steep haul roads, where the haul cycle is shorter.
Productivity
Maximising tonnes of material moved per hour is a core tenet of the design of the R60 and R70, Volvo CE explains.
The new machines feature a V-shaped haul body designed for maximum load retention, while at the same time having minimal material carry-back post dumping.
The dumping process itself is also speedy, thanks to a fast-tip system, while the optional on-board weighing provides real-time insights on payloads.
When it comes to grip, the high drive axle multiplication ensures maximum traction, Volvo CE says,
while the automatic adaptive gear selection offered by Volvo Dynamic Shift Control improves fuel efficiency.
The engine also has a selectable eco mode that defaults to the most efficient gear, while the auto engine idle shut down reduces engine wear.
Safety
Volvo says that, as with the R100, the R60 and R70 are havens for operator comfort and safety.
From a safety perspective, the R60 and R70 both feature a ROPS/FOPS certified cab, with access on both sides via anti-slip steps.
When on the move, the haulers feature gear-dependent speed control, and a selectable brake or transmission retarder.
The gearbox also has overspeed protection, a neutral coast inhibitor for downhill operations, fail-safe braking and a secondary steering system.
Maintenance
Volvo CE says that one of the strengths of the new R60 and R70 models is their ease of maintenance.
Helping to keep repair costs and downtime down, the units have long 500-hour service intervals, groundlevel tagout and easy-to-reach service points, while common-sized bearings keep parts stockholding simple and cost effective.
For fleet owners, on-board service diagnostics and a CareTrack telematics system help to rapidly identify potential faults and maximise uptime.
A 218-tonne Caterpillar battery electric haul truck will be tested on a Brazilian mine site. Image: Caterpillar
The 55-tonne payload R60 rigid hauler. Image: Volvo CE
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TOILETS
Facilities fall short
Over half of residential building sites inspected didn’t have adequate toilet facilities. Image: Vladyslav/stock.adobe.com
An inspection of residential building sites has identified where some fall short in providing clean, adequately provisioned toilet facilities for workers
A snap inspection undertaken by SafeWork SA of portable toilets on residential construction sites in Adelaide has found many were unclean, unhygienic or lacked basic amenities.
SafeWork SA audited 168 residential building sites in metropolitan Adelaide over a six-month period, issuing builders with 103 toilet-related improvement notices.
A total of 90 residential construction sites either did not provide clean, hygienic or conveniently-located toilets with a further 13 of those sites failing to even provide a toilet – a breach of an employer’s obligation to construction industry workers.
Of the 90 sites that were noncompliant, the audit found:
• 93 per cent did not have a sanitary bin for women
• 67 per cent had an inadequate supply of paper towel
• 64 per cent had little or no soap provided
• 49 per cent failed to have a bin
• 4 3 per cent had little or no toilet paper
• 39 per cent were not regularly cleaned
• 10 per cent were not located in a secure place with safe access. Some of the toilets were so filthy
that workers resorted to balancing on bricks or wooden blocks to avoid direct contact with the seat.
The audit, conducted between July and December last year, formed part of a broader SafeWork SA campaign around managing the risk of falls on residential construction sites.
So far this year, SafeWork SA has issued a further 54 improvement notices relating to toilets. About 49 of these toilets were on construction sites with residential construction accounting for 88 per cent of these non-compliances.
In March last year, SafeWork SA published new guidelines on toilet facilities at construction sites.
“Portable toilets must be maintained and serviced in a hygienic way to minimise the risk of infections and disease for workers and others that may use them,” SafeWork SA executive director Glenn Farrell says.
“A safe construction site starts with the fundamentals of having a clean toilet, equipped with the necessary facilities to accommodate all who use them.
“Over nine months, we’ve issued 157 improvement notices for unclean or poorly maintained toilets on construction sites, which is extremely disappointing.
“If the builder has a blatant disregard for suitable toilet facilities supplied to workers, there’s a good chance that other standards and safety performance on site are compromised.”
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has also recently launched a campaign to address the inadequate provision of toilets on construction sites, called ‘Better’ Just to hold it in?
“The fact that more than half of all construction sites audited by SafeWorkSA did not have adequate and safe facilities is consistent with what we hear from our members all around Australia, and it’s undeniably a workplace safety issue,” a spokesperson for the group said..
“We launched our safe and equitable facilities campaign because having nowhere safe or clean to go to the toilet is a barrier to encouraging more women into the construction industry. We wouldn’t accept it in an office, why do people working in construction deserve any less?”
Through its campaign, NAWIC reiterates government advice that toilets should have a seat and a lid, adequate lighting and ventilation, be signposted and fitted with a lockable hinged door, toilet paper and bins.
XCMG’s Technical, Service and Parts Centre will provide support to Brooks Equipment customers. Image: Brooks Equipment Sales
Parth parts
XCMG has introduced its first Australian Technical, Service and Parts Centre in Perth – focusing on advancing mining and construction machinery
XCMG has opened its first Australian Technical, Service and Parts Centre in Perth; its fifth worldwide.
The Perth-based XCMG Australia Technical, Service and Parts Centre is the latest addition to the Chinese manufacturer’s global research and development network.
XCMG says the centre signifies a strategic focus on advancing mining and construction machinery, while also addressing localised product development and global market demands.
“The establishment of the XCMG Australia Technical, Service and Parts Centre marks another solid step in XCMG’s journey towards becoming more open and innovative on the international stage,” XCMG vice president Hanson Liu says.
XCMG chief engineer Shan Zenghai adds “the centre places paramount emphasis on understanding customer needs, ensuring market adaptability and providing comprehensive lifecycle support.”
As the exclusive distributor for XCMG equipment in Western Australia, Brooks Equipment says the centre will be valuable in providing technical support to its customers.
The Technical, Service and Parts Centre is located next to Brooks Equipment’s head office in Welshpool.
Looking ahead, XCMG says the new centre will play a pivotal role in addressing environmental and sustainable initiatives, while advancing green technologies.
ROADS
Project pathway
Labour hire company Yurringa is working with Major Road Project Victoria to provide a pathway into construction for Indigenous workers
Two Indigenous footballers from the Fitzroy Stars have joined the Ison Road Overpass project in Victoria as part of a partnership between labour hire provider Yurringa and Major Road Project Victoria’s (MRPV) construction partner Decmil.
Jai Burns has been employed as a spotter, directing trucks on the site, while Keadin Ronnan is undertaking labouring and plant operation at the Victoria’s Big Build site at Manor Lakes on the far western edge of Melbourne.
The overpass will provide Manor Lakes and Wyndham West with a link to the Princes Freeway, passing over the Melbourne-Geelong railway line. Up to the beginning of May, 236,000 cubic metres of soil had been trucked to the site to build the 8m-high embankments.
Established to help Indigenous communities overcome inequality and disadvantage, Yurringa aims to improve the prosperity of First Nations people through employment opportunities.
The Indigenous-owned-andoperated firm works with employers committed to diversity and inclusiveness, defining success as employees feeling safe and welcome at work.
MRPV’s Program Delivery Approach (PDA) ensures that construction partners meet social
procurement requirements to support Indigenous businesses, social enterprises and jobseekers from across Victoria.
“Working with organisations like MRPV and Decmil, who are committed to fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces, is vital to our commitment of assisting Indigenous people achieve prosperity through employment,” Yurringa managing director Daniel Briggs says.
“Achieving positive employment outcomes while supporting employers’ social procurement objectives is a win-win for all Indigenous people involved and for our business partners who provide the opportunities.”
Due for completion by the end of 2025, the overpass is set to cater for nearly 29,000 vehicles a day by 2036. Around 505 tonnes of rocks and logs from the project have also been donated to a new Asian elephant habitat at Werribee Open Range Zoo. The purposebuilt Elephant Trail will comprise a 21-hectare open range habitat to accommodate Zoos Victoria’s growing Asian elephant herd following its relocation from Melbourne Zoo in late 2024.
Jai Burns and Keadin Ronnan on site at the Ison Road Overpass project. Image: MRPV
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The crushing project includes the building of a 12km-long conveyor for mining operations.
Image: John/stock.adobe.com
CONVEYOR
Conveying contract
CIMIC’s Sedgman and CPB Contractors have won a $757 million crushing and conveying contract in Western Australia
Sedgman and CPB Contractors, in joint venture, have been selected by BHP to undertake the Western Ridge Crusher Project in Western Australia.
The project, which will generate revenue to CIMIC of $757 million, involves an end-to-end solution for design and construction of a new 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) primary crusher (separately procured by BHP) and a 12km overland conveyor, radial stacker and associated stockpiling systems, with a capacity of 30 mtpa.
Sedgman and CPB Contractors have worked with BHP during the past 12 months to progress engineering, design and long-lead procurement for the project. The team commenced construction at the end of May 2024.
“The unique combination of Sedgman’s mineral processing experience and CPB Contractors’ construction expertise provides our clients with the certainty of a proven track record in the delivery of major process infrastructure in the mining industry,” CIMIC Group executive chairman Juan Santamaria says.
The Western Ridge Crusher site is on Nyiyaparli Country in the Pilbara region, approximately 21km southwest of Newman.
Autonomous Australia
Scania autonomous mining trucks are now available in Australia
Scania has opened up orders for its two autonomous mining trucks, the 40-tonne and 50-tonne autonomous heavy tippers, for mining.
As a first step, Scania will start sales of its autonomous mining solutions in Australia, with first deliveries and start of operation scheduled from 2026.
“The transition from research and development to the launch of a commercial product is a major milestone for us and for autonomous heavy transport in general,” Scania vice president and head of autonomous solutions Peter Hafmar says.
“This is the most advanced product Scania has put on the market so far.”
Scania says that mines have long been seen as one of the most promising environments for autonomous vehicles, as they can contribute to safer working conditions and more efficient operations.
The company says that its mining solutions with smaller, civil-class trucks also have overall potential advantages over the industry’s traditional heavy haulage trucks, both in terms of emissions and productivity. By utilising Scania’s autonomous mining trucks, the overall mining footprint including energy and infrastructure
Scania autonomous mining trucks are now for sale. Image: Scania
requirements can be reduced, meaning that capital and operating expenses may also be reduced at suitable sites, it says.
“Another benefit with our solution is that it allows mining companies to more quickly take the next step towards zero-emission operations,” Hafmar says.
“It’s easier to electrify operations with Scania’s autonomous trucks compared with traditional heavy haulage trucks.”
Over the past ten years, Scania has invested heavily in the development of self-driving vehicles, working closely with its mining customers.
Innovations include applications for hub-to-hub transport on highways as well as autonomous vehicles for confined areas such as mines and other sites.
“It’s probably the most ambitious research and development project we have done so far together with a customer, and I am very pleased about the result,” Hafmar says.
“Thanks to all the rigorous checks and numerous on-site tests, we have been able to develop an optimal autonomous transport solution for mines.”
ACQUISITION
Advanced automation
Epiroc will acquire the remaining shares of US autonomous solutions provider ASI Mining
Epiroc will buy all remaining shares of ASI Mining, a US-based autonomous mining solutions company, expanding from its current 34 share.
ASI Mining, based in Mendon, Utah, is a subsidiary of Autonomous Solutions, Inc., a developer of mining automation systems, such as remote control, teleoperation and fully autonomous solutions. Its solutions are OEM agnostic, meaning they work regardless of machine brand and therefore can be applied across mixed fleets, and can be retrofitted to machines. Once the remaining shares are purchased, ASI Mining will become a subsidiary of Epiroc Group.
“Epiroc and the innovative team at ASI Mining are already collaborating closely to bring the most advanced automation solutions to mining customers,” Epiroc president and CEO Helena Hedblom says.
“We look forward to complementing their solutions fully with our offering and together continue supporting customers on their automation journey.”
The acquisition of the remaining share requires regulatory approval from US competition authorities and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024.
SkyTrack released
JLG Industries has unveiled its remastered SkyTrak telehandler to the North American market, with a range of new updates on its predecessor
JLG Industries’ new SkyTrak 8042 telehandler comes with a range of updates, including a new lightweight design, hydrostatic transmission, advanced control system, electric-over-hydraulic joystick and data at-a-glance.
JLG telehandler senior product manager John Boehme says the new model was designed with customer feedback in mind, adding the most requested features to improve efficiency and serviceability.
“This model is designed to increase productivity and boost overall job performance in pick-andplace applications, such as handling, loading and unloading bulk materials on demanding residential, commercial, urban and suburban job sites across America,” he says.
The 8042’s new lightweight design features an optimised boom and frame structure to make transportation easier, the company says.
A single flatbed trailer can now fit two of these models thanks to the redesign, and JLG says this has not compromised the machine’s capabilities, as it still boasts the same maximum capacity and same all-steel construction.
Cab styling has been improved with the telehandler providing a larger LCD display and single-
page load charts, providing data to the operator.
The hydrostatic transmission on the new model allows operators the choice of inching – the ability to run the boom at high speeds without shifting into neutral – for faster delivery of materials at height.
Auxiliary hydraulic functions and attachment tilt capabilities are provided in the new electric-overhydraulic joystick, that JLG says elevates job-site efficiency.
Improved boom speed is complemented by auxiliary hydraulic connections on the side of the boom head for quick, efficient attachment changes.
More than a dozen different attachments are offered for the 8042, including a variety of carriages, forks, buckets, hooks and trusses.
The redesigned telehandler also comes with new technology, including an upgraded control system, that provides options such as load stability indication. JLG says these senses forward load capacity and displays colour-coded visuals to help operators.
The SkyTrak 8042 telehandler offers a maximum lift height of 12.9m, a maximum reach of 8.99m and an operating weight of 9,616kg.
ASI Mining develops technology for the autonomous control of mining machinery. Image: Epiroc
The SkyTrak 8042’s design is based on customer feedback. Image: JLG
TELEHANDLER
GEOFENCING
Geofencing of a site can trigger alerts if staff or machinery travel beyond virtual boundaries, helping reduce risks. Image: Anoo/stock.adobe.com
Safety screen
A new white paper looks into the benefits of applying geofencing to sites to keep activity within defined zones
US safety nonprofit the National Safety Council (NSC) has released a new white paper, Advancing Workplace Safety with Location Geofencing , that looks into how geofencing can increase the safety of worksites.
Often integrated into existing safety technologies like proximity sensors, wearables and vehicle monitoring systems, location geofencing allows users to create virtual barriers around defined areas, such as construction sites or machine operating zones.
This enables real-time monitoring and alerts when workers enter or leave designated zones, enhancing their safety, NSC says. For example, when an object, like a worker or equipment, enters or exits the area, predetermined actions are triggered, such as logging the event, alerting workers of potential hazards, or disabling machinery.
With the aim of reducing workplace fatalities, NSC launched the Work to Zero initiative in 2019. In its latest white paper, it investigates the potential of geofencing in reducing the risk of serious incidents and fatalities (SIFs) in various industries.
“Workers on active jobsites are often exposed to situations that pose a high risk for SIFs, including construction, vehicle-pedestrian interactions and heavy equipment operation,” NSC vice president of workplace strategy John Dony says.
“Acknowledging how this is a major concern for workers across many industries, this report provides invaluable insights into leveraging location geofencing technology
to mitigate risks and help ensure employee wellbeing, which is the ultimate goal of the Work to Zero initiative.”
The white paper looks at the use of location geofencing in safetysensitive industries, such as construction, logging and forestry, manufacturing and utilities. Some key benefits identified were:
• R isk mitigation: The technology serves as an effective risk mitigation tool by alerting workers and supervisors of potential hazards, improving situational awareness and enabling two-way communication for workers
• E nhanced worksite visibility: Geofencing increases worksite visibility, enabling data-informed decision making
• I mproved efficiency: Automation of safety processes reduces the need for continuous human supervision
While the report examines the benefits of location geofencing, some barriers include:
• Worker concerns regarding data privacy and security must be addressed through transparent communication and strong data privacy policies
• H igh initial capital and resource investments may hinder adoption
• Accuracy and reliability issues, as well as compatibility with existing systems, should be considered.
The full white paper can be accessed at: www.nsc.org/faforms/ work-to-zero-safety-technology
DISTRIBUTION
Sany spreads
WATM Equipment is now the exclusive distributor for Sany equipment in WA and NT
Sany construction equipment will now be distributed exclusively by WATM Equipment in WA and NT.
Based in Bayswater, WA and with a service workshop in Newman, WA, WTM Group began business in 1974 with a focus on cranes.
A new business division, WATM Equipment was set up last year to expand its offering into construction and other lifting equipment and now offers Sany and Kalmar machinery.
The Sany excavator range now available through WATM Equipment runs from the 1.8tonne SY16C mini excavator with a 14.6kW (20 horsepower) Yanmar engine through to the 78.6-tonne SY870H with a 377 (506hp) Isuzu engine.
WATM Equipment is also offering the 15-tonne Sany SSR150C-8 SD roller, which has a rated power of 119kW (160hp).
WATM Equipment’s offering has expanded with a new Sany distribution agreement. Image: Sany
Event News
construction events
Here are upcoming construction events for 2024. Information was current as of going to press
Queensland Mining Expo – Mackay
Queensland Mining Expo (QME) connects leading suppliers and technical experts with those seeking better efficiency, better productivity and increased optimisation for their business and site. QME will feature over 230 suppliers as well as a free-to-attend seminar series that will give visitors the opportunity to hear from industry professionals who will address the current needs of the industry. With live demonstrations and topical presentations, QME will be the ultimate destination for the QLD mining industry.
WHEN: July 23–25, 2024
MORE INFO: www.queenslandminingexpo.com.au
Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo –Sydney
The waste, recycling and resource recovery industry is continuing to transform and has quickly become the nucleus for driving Australia towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. AWRE is designed for waste professionals to join forces and work towards this common goal.
WHEN: July 24–25, 2024
MORE INFO: awre.com.au
Timber Construct 2024 – Melbourne
Organised by the Timber Development Association, the Timber Construct Conference and Exhibition represents Australian forestry, timber manufacturing and timber construction interests.
WHEN: August 12–13, 2024
MORE INFO: timberoffsiteconstruction.com
Workplace Health and Safety Show –Sydney
The Workplace Health and Safety Show will feature a program of events including live demonstrations, seminars, interactive forums and round table discussions on health, wellbeing, manual handling, major hazards, innovation, technology advancements, new safety products, injury prevention and height safety, amongst other topics.
WHEN: September 4–5, 2024
MORE INFO: www.whsshow.com.au
International Future Mining Conference – Sydney
The 6th International Future Mining Conference is organised by AusIMM and UNSW Sydney and will cover topics such as digital transformation, mining in extreme environments, future skills requirements and innovations in energy and decarbonisation.
WHEN: September 2–4, 2024
MORE INFO: www.ausimm.com/conferences-andevents/future-mining
Henty Machinery Field Days – Henty
Located in the heart of the nation’s food bowl in southern NSW, Henty Machinery Field Days is an agribusiness supermarket attracting more than 60,000 visitors each year.
WHEN: September 17–19, 2024
MORE INFO: hmfd.com.au
NT Resources Week – Darwin
NT Resources Week combines three resource and construction industry events – the South East Asia Australia Offshore & Onshore Conference (SEAAOC), Mining the Territory and the Environmental Management & Decarbonisation Forum. It has fast become the leading meeting point for captains of industry in mining, exploration, petroleum, oil/gas, engineering, construction and infrastructure.
WHEN: September 18–19, 2024
MORE INFO: ntresourcesweek.com.au
Bulk Expo and MegaTrans –Melbourne
A dedicated exhibition for the bulk solids handling industry, the Bulk Expo showcases bulk solids transport solutions for domestic and international trade. The event will feature an expansive trade show, showcasing the latest solutions for the industry, as well as hosting an informative twoday conference. Hosted alongside Bulk Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, MegaTrans focuses on the sustainable supply chain of the future, with exhibitors showcasing technology and initiatives for the logistics industry.
WHEN: September 18–19, 2024
MORE INFO: Bulk2024 – www.bulkhandlingexpo. com.au / MegaTrans – https://megatrans.com.au
Elmore Machinery Field Days –Elmore
Begun in 1964, Elmore Machinery Field Days is one of Australia’s key agricultural field days, held at Elmore Event Centre in Victoria. A large number of exhibitors cover earthmoving machinery, GPS and guidance equipment, laser and levelling equipment, IT and lifting machinery, among other categories.
WHEN: October 1–3, 2024
MORE INFO: www.elmorefielddays.com.au
WA Mining Conference – Perth
WA Mining Conference will focus on the best practices, technologies and strategies advancing mining in Western Australia to help you increase production, lower costs and prepare for a sustainable future. WA Mining Conference will address the most important issues shaping mining in WA.
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Clean sweep
New formula makes CLR Grease & Oil Remover an easy workplace solution for oil and grease spills
Occupational health and safety plays an important role in the modern workplace and regular cleaning is key to ensuring workplaces are safe to prevent injuries to staff. Slipping, falling or stumbling make-up 26 per cent of workplace accidents and can result in common work-place injuries such as sprains, strains or dislocations. For occupations where working with oil and grease is an everyday occurrence, cleaning up spills is a priority.
CLR Grease & Oil Remover has just launched its new advanced formula providing a fast-track solution to cleaning oil and grease spills.
CLR Grease & Oil Remover is a powerful, versatile formula that cuts through oil, grease, tar and built-up grime. Making driveways, factory machinery and equipment, and garage floors look almost like new, CLR Grease & Oil Remover also suits commercial kitchens, removing baked on food and fats from ovens, rangehoods and stovetops.
Non-flammable and non-acidic, CLR Grease & Oil Remover’s new
formula contains no abrasives or petroleum solvents. It is perfect for use outdoors too as it is readily biodegradable and will not harm grass, shrubs, or surrounding vegetation. Getting started with CLR Grease & Oil Remover is easy. Simply apply the solution directly onto the surface with a sponge or brush. Let the solution rest for five minutes before coming back to scrub away stains. Stubborn stains may require another visit with CLR Grease & Oil Remover.
CLR products are available from hardware stores and select supermarkets nationally. CLR’s Grease & Oil Remover (750ml) RRP$19.89, is available from Bunnings, Coles, Mitre 10, Home Timber Hardware and BCF nationally.
For more information visit clrclean.com.au
Plant & Equipment
Mann-Filter cartridges use an open-pore dessicant with a high drying performance. Image: Mann-Filter
White knight
New basic option takes German manufacturer Mann-Filter’s air dryer cartridge line-up to four
German filtration technology developer Mann-Filter has added a new basic air dryer cartridge to its line-up – adjusting the colours of its existing product range.
Mann-Hummel senior range manager for the automotive aftermarket Jörg Schömmel says the basic cartridge will be suitable for all applications with low compressed air requirements.
“It offers an optimal solution for continuous long-haul operation, where dry compressed air is important,” he says.
“Very little compressed air is consumed during long-haul use, meaning there is reduced abrasion of the compressor and therefore minimal oil entrainment.
Consequently, ‘marathon runners’ only need dry air, which is why the costeffective basic solution is adequate.
“For the drying process, our new, white air dryer cartridge is equipped with a powerful molecular screen,” he adds.
Mann-Filter’s expansion of its air dryer cartridge range to four will see the previously white standard cartridge now coloured black, which the company says will make it easier for customers to find the filter that best suits them.
Along with the white and black filters, Mann-Filter also has a silver cartridge with coalescing filter for improved system protection against harmful oil droplets, and a golden premium version with additional stage drying and optimised oil separation for protection under the toughest operating conditions.
Like any other filter, the air dryer cartridge must be replaced regularly in line with the replacement intervals specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
Upgrading a standard cartridge to a cartridge with a coalescing filter is easy and improves the protection of systems operated with compressed air – especially the brake system, Mann-Filter says.
“Whatever our customers need, we have the right Mann-Filter air dryer cartridge in original equipment quality for almost every requirement,” Schömmel says.
CLR Grease & Oil Remover is suitable for engines, motors and machinery and some factory floors. Image: CLR
