BSC

taking stock
 Features

Taking stock: Motion Australia’s best methods for planning ahead

The Australian manufacturing industry is looking ahead to restock for a new year, and part of this process is considering current and future challenges of warehousing and distribution, particularly when sourcing offshore product.  Mark Watson, group forecasting and planning manager for Motion Australia, weighs in on how to approach planning stock when the only thing certain is that nothing is for certain. He likens the forecasting and planning process to a Mike Tyson quote: “Everyone has a plan until they get smacked in the face.”  Watson furthers that forecasting and planning for procurement is more than managing demand and supply, more importantly, it is working with the variability of both.  “As many of our customers are small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), who are unlikely to be looking many months ahead for their requirements, the Motion planning group takes on that responsibility to create sourcing plans that often result in POs being placed more than 1yr in advance of when we think it will be selling.”  “We don’t expect our customers to approach us with a concrete plan in place, but any guidance from them is welcome as that helps us protect their own operations,” he continued. “When I am assisting customers that operate day-to-day without a formal logistics plan or a broader awareness of what their maintenance cycles look like, first and foremost it helps to approach things as though we have a common supply chain, and we are working together to create the best solution.”   Watson reiterates that he is always happy to work with suppliers and SMEs on developing procurement plans that suit their business needs and considers their assets.  “Managing uncertainty means constant firefighting to aim for perfect stock availability,” he said. “Which means developing very close relationships with our key premium suppliers to put ourselves in a good position for supporting our customers future needs.” “As far as stock planning is concerned, our team at Motion Australia has quite a sophisticated method and system that works specifically on trying to manage the uncertainty of supply and demand,” he explained. “Our capabilities have been especially valuable in the last, say 10-12 months, where lead times and logistics have been incredibly variable.”  “In fact, some of our key suppliers now use the forecast and the flow that we provided them to try to get a better product allocation from their overseas plants,” he continued. “And that really demonstrates the credibility we have in the planning space.”  From a distribution perspective, Motion Australia has four major distribution centres across four states — Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia – with over 100 branches across the country.  The benefit of this to customers is that they always have access to stock from those centres due to the continuous flow of stock that moves through the distribution centres to continuously replenish the branch locations.  Mark Dixon, executive general manager for supply chain and logistics at Motion Australia has spent the last 25 years working in various roles across the supply chain, manufacturing, and business improvement.  Currently, Dixon heads up Motion Australia’s distribution channels, ensuring products are in the right place at the right time —preferably a customer’s doorstep.  He notes the importance of optimising distribution networks, framed by the challenges of being an industrial solutions provider.  Read More
Wacol
 Features

New destination branch opens in Wacol to better serve Mining and Quarry operations

Peter Solloway believes good business involves growing staff along with sales. He has been with BSC for more than 25 years, beginning as a driver, before moving through the sales ranks, eventually becoming State Sales Manager for Queensland. Peter’s home branch, BSC Wacol, has existed for around 30 years, undergoing a recent expansion to serve the region. The brand new BSC Wacol branch is teeming with life these days, having recently grown threefold, from a team of three to a team of ten staff members. Dan Iselin, Technical Representative at BSC Wacol, and a fitter by trade enthuses, “It’s great to have a community of fellow tradespeople and technicians who are likeminded.” “With the trade background I have got, BSC enables me to take my skills and expertise and pass it on to my customers and build relationships with them out in the field,” he adds. Being central to some of the largest players in the mining and quarrying sector, north and south of Brisbane, local quarry customers share a mutually beneficial relationship with the Wacol staff. “Quarries are a key market for us. We stock everything they need: belts, pulleys, bearings, couplings, motors, gearboxes, lubricants,” says Peter. “These products are our core business, and they fall under day-to-day requirements for a quarry, so we need each other but we also help each other succeed.” Dan recently provided a solution to a local concrete plant that was struggling with the maintenance process on one of their shakers. In this case, the shaker needed some isolation mounts with the blind, threaded holes for bolts rather than studs to move the hopper sideways without having to lift it out. Explains Dan, “this particular shaker fed into a bin with a shroud around the outside of the bin. The shaker was so snuggly fit in this shroud of the bin, that when they need to do maintenance on the shaker, they had to undo around 60 bolts on the bin to remove it.” “The way the bin shroud was mounted, it had about 60 bolts, and dismantling it to do maintenance was taking about six hours out of their day,” he elaborates on the cost of labour to the operation. To remedy the problem, the site maintenance manager enquired if Mackay mounts could supply isolation mounts that took bolts rather than studs to cut down their maintenance time. “The shaker was part of a process that moves stones from the concrete slurry by allowing water to travel downwards and the stone to travel upwards into a collection bin. This happens by an isolating, shaking motion,” explains Dan. “The Mackay isolation mounts have a round rubber cylinder in the middle, with a plate on each side and blind holes, so they screw a bolt into it, rather than having a stud sticking out,” he adds.  “It’s an improvement on their isolation mounts that reduces maintenance time, so now instead of being a six-hour job, they can do it in three hours.”
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coupling
 Features

Good vibrations with high performance steel grid coupling

In the mining sector, an effective grid coupling needs to stand up to earth-shattering vibrations, while at the same time, lending some flexibility to an application. “A heavy shock load can devastate a coupling arrangement even on the most robust equipment, which is why Rexnord developed the Falk Steelflex T-design range,” says Steve Hittmann, BSC’s National Product Manager for Mechanical Drive Systems & Belt Drives. “The aim with this product was to surpass competitors in performance and durability under high-impact conditions.” “In mining and quarrying, grid couplings will generally be used in the crushing, grinding, and agitating of material,” explains Steve. “They are also used in pump, conveyor, dragline, and high-speed gearbox applications, where they are really about the protection of the driven unit through their ability to absorb massive amounts of vibrations,” he adds. “Third party testing found that Falk Steelflex grid couplings are 4.7x more durable than a leading competitor’s grid coupling and 16x more durable than other brands,” furthers Steve. “Even though many grid couplings appear similar, a huge gap in performance remains between brands,” he emphasises. The technology was originally used in the production of aircraft components that carry heavy loads and deflect high vibrations in air. According to Steve, the key is torsional ability. “The Steelflex Grid Couplings employ torsion to deflect normal shock or vibratory loads, making them durable and flexible to changing load conditions,” says Steve. “In addition to this, Steelflex tunes the drive system. It absorbs the energy of impact by spreading it over increments of time, dampening the vibrations and reducing peak loads by as much as 30%,” he adds. The Falk Steelflex T10 Grid couplings are fabricated from steel for maximum strength; machined to within 0.001 inches, permitting utilisation of any hub surface for measurement of shaft alignment. “The tapered grids are made of high strength alloy steel, quenched, and tempered to spring hardness,” explains Steve. “The grid surface is then precision shot peened to compress the surface molecules for increased strength.” “The effect is a dramatic increase in rating, providing reserve strength for longer life or allowing a smaller size coupling to be selected,” he enthuses. Read More
fluid
 Features

Fluid mobility

Mobile machines on mine sites are essential workers, and similar to human resources, they need fluids to run efficiently. However, the quality of those fluids are integral to performance – which is why customers seek assurance from BSC in regards to their lubrication needs. According to Steve Keown, BSC Australia’s National Product Manager for Lubricants, customers stand to benefit from BSC’s partnership with Shell by Viva Energy Australia, in terms of both the supply of quality products, and in having access to local expertise. “Shell is the number one brand globally and we are providing a top-of-the-line solution to our customers that is unsurpassed in the market,” enthuses Steve. “Shell has a long history of research and development when it comes to lubricants for mining and quarry applications – they work very closely with equipment manufacturers to ensure the lubricants will provide operational efficiency for equipment.” Of course, preventing downtime is high on the agenda. “Shell has been providing lubrication products to this sector for nearly 100 years,” explains Steve. “They have a very long history of tailoring lubricants to a specific application and providing a cost effective solution to prevent the unforeseen downtime of equipment.” Importantly, Steve says BSC work together with Shell to match the right products to suit each customer’s application and can ensure the lubricants are complying with OEM warranty requirements. “Customers can be confident in the quality of the lubricants and assured that their manufacturer’s warranty is in place – which is very important,” expands Steve.  “As a national distributor of Shell products, we can also offer customers access to services such as the Shell technical help and Lube Analysis, which tracks how a lubricant is working on a particular piece of equipment.” Having this support and analysis offers customers peace of mind. “It takes the arduous work out of the customer’s hands knowing that they have local technical backup,” explains Steve. “In addition to that, dealing with a brand such as Shell hand-in-hand with BSC, they can be secure in the fact that they have premium support in place.” This is where BSC’s partnership with the global Shell Brand proves particularly beneficial for customers. “We are currently working closely with a customer where we are facilitating with Viva Energy’s Shell Lubricants technical engineers to perform trials on some of our customer’s equipment,” Steve expounds. “It’s a very open line of communication between BSC, our customer and Shell, who is a global leader. Essentially, we are providing high-level global assurance on a local level.” Moreover, customers can rely on BSC to help them manage their inventory and lubricant usage. “In our experience, customers want to use a brand and product that is suitable to their application and minimise inventory as much as possible,” explains Steve. “The Shell Lubricants range often ticks all the boxes, as it covers all major mining equipment needs, however, we will work with our customers to select and match the right lubricant to their application.”
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greener
 Uncategorised

A greener cleaner for mines

Every major industry shift starts with a small step. The movement to ‘go green’ in the mines and quarries sector is no exception – with the adoption of greener cleaning products being one of the early markers of this shift. “Mining and quarrying managers have been increasingly seeking cleaning solutions for on-site that are comprised of safe and environmentally friendly ingredients,” says Michael Greelish, BSC’s National Product Manager for the Mines, Quarries and Resources market segments. For years, the CRC Brakleen product has been a best seller at BSC, serving as the go-to, premium, cure-all, cleaning solution for mine sites. The standard Brakleen product works by cleaning and degreasing a surface instantly, before evaporating with no residue. “The turnover for Brakleen has been huge over the years. Mine workers love the easy to use, spray can in-hand option,” says Michael. “But there is one drawback– the product emits strong vapours into the air that contain some harsh cleaning solvents.” This is what led CRC to develop the Brakleen Water Based, a completely biodegradable, non-toxic, non-flammable product that can safely be used in confined spaces, like those found on a mine site. According to Michael, this new formula comprises all the ingredients needed in a quality, stand-alone, multi-purpose cleaning agent. “To be a truly ‘cure-all’ solution, health, safety, and the environment need to be at the top of the shopping list,” he states. David Bailey, Business Development Manager for CRC Industries, concurs. “Customers have been asking for more sustainable substitutes to our much-loved staple products like Brakleen,” he says. “By delivering Brakleen Water Based to the market, we are aiming to provide a safer alternative to our end-users and improve the overall safety of our customers.” CRC work closely with Michael Greelish and the BSC team. It’s a true partnership in the very meaning of the word. “Through BSC, we have gained many opportunities to get our products onto mine sites,” says David. “In the last 18 months, the reps at BSC have been doing a lot of the groundwork for us to get the right information to the right sites.” With so many contaminants on a mine site, robust cleaning products such as Brakleen are required around the clock to ensure equipment, cables and bearings are free of dirt and grease and continue to perform well. Michael travels frequently to visit BSC customers across the country, working alongside OEMs and maintenance technicians at mine sites and power stations to oversee the performance of gearboxes, pumps, screens, crushers, conveyors, heavy earth moving and mobile equipment. With a wide range of products available through the BSC stock range, part of Michael’s job is to look for ways to improve systems and processes for customers and the CRC product range is rich with versatile solution offerings to choose from. Read More
motion
 Features

Keeping Australian mines in Motion

With the Australian mining industry experiencing record demand for product, there is increased pressure on plants to achieve heightened productivity targets. While this comes with challenges, CBC, BSC and WebsterBSC – all part of Motion Asia Pacific – are well placed to provide solutions, says Grant Gray. “We’ve had a long association with the mining industry – in fact one of our businesses has been serving this sector for over 100 years – and we are in a favourable position to support the sector in times when physical site access and supply issues are posing challenges,” enthuses the General Manager of National Sales for Motion Asia Pacific. “This is due to the level of technical competency we have behind us, coupled with our ability to supply the world’s best brands through our Premium Partners.” Motion Asia Pacific’s national branch footprint provides an invaluable advantage. “This not only helps with our distribution channels, but ensures we have people in key positions around the country,” Grant explains. “We have a significant workforce available to provide triage when required, even at short notice.” Providing quick fixes, however, is not Motion’s modus operandi. “Our mode of working is solutions-based with the objective being to provide an outcome that brings long-lasting benefit and value to the customer,” Grant states. “We’re aligned with our Premium Partners in the process and delivery of these solutions-based outcomes.” To address challenges at the forefront – such as ensuring mining machinery is in uptime to meet productivity targets – Grant says understanding the customer’s business and their pain points is critical. “The productivity targets of our customers are increasing every year – the challenge for us, whether it’s a mobile or fixed plant – is getting access to the site and that equipment. Invariably there is a small window for us to get in and identify the problem, and react with a solution,” Grant expounds. “What the solution looks like will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of componentry. At a micro perspective, that can pose a large challenge, but in terms of the big picture, what it provides is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of what success looks like for the individual customer.” Gaining this understanding will come through developing a trusted rapport with the customer. “It’s vital that we understand what success looks like to them before we provide answers. What are their expectations, what are the demands they have to meet, what are their issues with equipment?” Grant shares. “This knowledge comes from developing a high degree of familiarity with the customer and their business.” Importantly, Grant says this in-depth understanding of the customer’s needs aids in the supply of parts. “Understanding exactly what their demand plan moving forward is necessary to cater for them, and to work with our Premium Partners to make sure customers have the critical spares required to keep their mine in productivity,” Grant explains. “What we need to consider is that the requirements associated with certain bearings or power transmission products can be large and complex. Which means long production lead times. And of course, this is compounded by a larger issue of global supply and demand right now.”
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grouting
 Features

Building on solid foundations

In the search for the perfect epoxy grouting compound to install critically aligned machinery for mining, site engineers often look for these attributes: high compressive strength, high impact strength, resistance to fatigue, ease of mixing and levelling, fast curing, low shrinkage and resistance to weathering and chemicals.  The Epirez® Chockfast® Red and Chockfast® Orange compounds from ITW Polymers and Fluids (ITW P&F) meet all of those requirements, and more.  As Michael Rowe, BSC Product Manager for Adhesives and Sealants explains, the three-component Chockfast Red epoxy has been formulated with low exotherm to allow for large-volume pours of up to 450 millimetres in thickness and 2.2 metres in length without shrinkage or cracking.  “This makes Chockfast Red the ideal product for the final positioning of heavy machinery such as compressors, pumps, bearings blocks, crane rails and other such applications,” he says. While the Chockfast Red is best suited for large volume-pours, the Epirez Chockfast Orange is best suited for chocking in depths of 12 to 100 millimetres. In Australia, as Michael explains, the Chockfast Orange compound has come to be known mostly for its applications in the marine industry.
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Features

Robust and versatile welding solutions for mines

While BSC, part of Motion Asia Pacific’s group of businesses, is well regarded in the mining industry as a supplier of specialty bearings and power transmission solutions, BSC Welding Product Manager Michael Rowe would like to reiterate that BSC staff are also all qualified to help their customers when it comes to choosing the right welding machines.  “BSC is a distribution partner with Welding Industries of Australia (WIA), which offers a range of versatile welding solutions from leading welding brands such as Miller and Hobart. BSC branches across Australia have access to the full range of WIA products. Our staff are also supported by the WIA sales teams in every state, who provide them with assistance not only in choice and selection, but also through training and education on the WIA product line,” says Michael. Fuhai Liu, WIA’s Product and Sales Manager for End Markets, says WIA’s engine driven and multi-process invertor welding machines are designed to address many of the common challenges faced by welders in remote mines sites – both on the field and in the workshop. One of the usages for welding equipment in the mining industry is for gouging. These types of repairs often take place on remote sites, where the welder is working far from the power source. Fuhai says the engine driven Miller Big Blue®machines are the perfect fit for such applications. Read More
Features

Shielding bearings from silica dust

While the adverse effects of silica dust on human health are well documented, it is a less known fact that the product – often found in mining, quarrying, and recycling industries – can also have detrimental impacts on machine components.  This was confirmed by engineers from BSC as they were studying the root cause of frequent bearing failures for one of their clients, a building waste recycling company. The bearings were installed at the two ends of the main shaft of an impact crusher that crushes large quantities of bricks and concrete blocks and is therefore exposed to dirt and dust ingress from the construction material.  Read More